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April 23rd, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda
But as the Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone said, ironically more attention
was focused on the demonstrators over the past week than at any time since
last year. If the Grand Prix had been cancelled, 200 journalists would not
have been in the country to report on the demonstrators’ grievances.
The situation in Bahrain is far more complicated than often portrayed in the
media. After last year’s unrest, His Majesty King Hamad al-Khalifa invited a
group of independent lawyers and other experts, led by Cherif Bassiouni, to
Bahrain to thoroughly investigate what had taken place. Their efforts led to
the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report. Following its
publication, last November, the King acknowledged that some terrible things
had happened. Thirty-five people died during the unrest last year, and some
of those deaths were at the hands of the security forces.
These matters have not been ignored. Far from it. An independent, judge-led
investigation unit has been set up to look into the deaths and the
allegations of torture and mistreatment in order to hold those responsible
to account.
Having taken the brave step, as it has been universally acknowledged, of
accepting the difficult findings of the BICI, the King immediately set up a
committee to push through its 26 recommendations. And last month – just over
100 days since the report – it was acknowledged by a special commission that
substantial progress had been made.
One of those recommendations was to reform the practices of the police force,
which is why I was invited to Bahrain, along with former US police chief
John Timoney.
Over the past few months, we have been working with the Minister of Interior
to implement the relevant changes. A new and independent police ombudsman
has been appointed by royal decree. We are hiring 500 extra community police
officers from all sections of Bahrain’s society to improve relations with
the public. We have published a new police code of conduct. A comprehensive
programme of training in human rights has begun. The CID is being reformed,
and expert trainers are being commissioned to deliver the latest in modern
investigative techniques. There is an agreement to build a new forensic
laboratory to enable the police to rely on more scientific means to solve
crime. These are just the headlines.
Challenges remain. The decision not to give visas to certain correspondents is
one, as the Crown Prince said, that the government may wish to reflect upon.
The death over the weekend of Salah Abbas al-Qattan, an anti-government
protester, is also a powerful reminder of the tragic consequences of the
unrest. However, the determination of the police chief to establish how
Salah died and the level of resources now being applied to the investigation
is testament to the new resolve to fix things.
As I said in my letter last week to the president of the FIA, Formula One’s
governing body, I am not an apologist for what happened last year. Neither
am I ashamed of my role in Bahrain in any way. Like many Bahrainis and
expats, however, I am bewildered by the level of criticism aimed at a nation
that has acknowledged its mistakes, but has plans in place to put things
right.
John Yates is the former UK Head of Counter–Terrorism and is now the
senior police adviser to the government of Bahrain
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