Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
371. At around 11:30, groups of students accompanied by some teachers
gathered at the gates of the University of Bahrain. They reiterated some of the
demands that had been expressed in other demonstrations throughout the
country, including the call for the removal of the regime. The number of
participants in this demonstration was around 200 individuals, most of who
came from the nearby Hamad Town.
372. Demonstrations were also reported in the vicinity of some diplomatic
missions in Bahrain, including the offices of the local UN Mission and the
embassies of the Republic of Yemen and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
373. Continuing the practice of using convoys of vehicles as a protest tool,
around 90 private cars gathered at the roundabout on the King Faisal Highway
at around 15:30 and proceeded in a convoy towards the diplomatic area. As
the convoy proceeded, more cars joined the protest until the number of
participating vehicles exceeded 200. Meanwhile, another gathering of cars,
estimated to be 70 vehicles, was reported in the Sheikh Issa bin Salman Road
and then drove towards the GCC Roundabout. At 16:00, a smaller convoy of
60 cars was reported in the Jiyan district. At 17:10, the convoy that had
started earlier that afternoon at the Sheikh Issa bin Salman Road was reported
to have driven towards the US Embassy in Manama. Later that evening,
another convoy, this time of around 200 buses, was reported to have departed
from the Al-Janbeyya Road to the Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Road.
374. In the early hours of the evening, a number of gatherings were
reported in the vicinity of large shopping malls including City Centre, which
was close to the GCC Roundabout, and the Hawaj Stores in the Al Gufool
area.
375. At 20:00, a march of over 100 people was organised by students from
the University of Bahrain. The protest departed from the King Faisal
Highway and walked to the GCC Roundabout. The participating students
expressed numerous demands relating to the unfolding political situation and
criticised the administration of the education system in Bahrain. Specifically,
the students announced their support for the demonstrators at the GCC
Roundabout and agreed with their call to remove the regime. Many of them
also denounced the ruling Al Khalifa family and alleged that it was the reason
for the grievances that Bahrainis were voicing. The protesting students raised
signs stating that they were rejecting the calls of HRH the Crown Prince for
calm because government forces had killed peaceful protesters. The students
denounced sectarianism, affirmed national unity and demanded the release of
all remaining political prisoners, including Mr Mohamed Al-Buflasa.
376. Meanwhile, a large number of people began gathering in the parking
area at SMC adjacent to the emergency department. At around 20:45, these
people marched from SMC towards the GCC Roundabout in a candlelight
vigil to commemorate those who had lost their lives in confrontations with
government security forces. By 21:00, when the march reached the
roundabout, the number of people participating had grown to around 8,000,
including a large number of SMC medical staff.
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