Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
for medical equipment to be sent to the tent at the GCC Roundabout. 383 One
accused drew attention to the fact that the Gathering of National Unity, a progovernment
political group, claimed publicly in the Al Watan Newspaper on
13 August that they had organised a voluntary committee in Muharraq in
February. 384 This committee took medicine and equipment from, and liaised
with, MoH officials. He considered this to be proof that voluntary medical
committees were allowed to be set up by parties other than those at the GCC
Roundabout, and that they were allowed access to MoH medicine and
equipment, but they were not charged and arrested.
767. Regarding the accusation that medical personnel used ambulances for
illegal purposes, the University of Bahrain has submitted a report in which it
claimed that ambulances were used to transport armed protesters in the clashes
that occurred at its campus on 13 March 2011. 385 One ambulance driver
stated that a doctor asked him to transport an individual who was not hurt at
all. 386 An ambulance paramedic stated that he did not receive any orders from
any of the accused medical personnel regarding ambulance movement
between 14 February and 17 March 2011, except from the Head of
Ambulance Services. 387 A supervisor in the ambulance section, a paramedic
and an assistant paramedic gave similar accounts. 388
768. There is also some controversy as to whether the ambulances were
used to support the activities of the demonstrators by transporting them from
the GCC Roundabout to the University of Bahrain. According to the
statement submitted to the Commission by the accused medical personnel,
medical personnel did not facilitate the use of ambulances by protesters:
All ambulances [in] the period from 14th February till 16th March
2011 were operated in accordance with the rules and regulations
set by MoH and led by the assigned staff. They were staffed by
paramedics appointed by SMC. There were no breaches of these
regulations. 389
(7) Unlawful detention of patients
769. The main allegations regarding unlawful detention relate to the events
that took place on 13 March, following clashes between protesters and
expatriates. A video shows three injured expatriates of Asian background,
with their hands tied, being pushed into SMC by medical personnel. 390 The
383 Files provided to the Commission by lawyer for some of the accused medical personnel.
384 Interview with the Commission, 30 July 2011.
385 Report prepared by the University of Bahrain entitled “Actions Taken by the University of
Bahrain in connection with the Events that Took Place in February and March 2011”.
386 Interview with the Commission, 30 July 2011.
387 Minutes of court hearing on 7 September 2011 in Case No. 191 of 2011 (Defence witness
statements).
388 Minutes of court hearing on 7 September 2011 in Case No. 191 of 2011 (Defence witness
statements).
389 Email sent to the Commission on 13 September 2011 (original English text).
390 YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgsMF8q7KAY accessed 4 November 2011.
196