MANAMA // From euphoria to stalemate: this is the epitaph of Bahrain's recent experience in what some are calling the "Arab spring" of revolutionary movements.
What started out slowly in mid-February drawing a few hundred protesters gradually swelled beyond expectations into what looked like a semi-permanent presence of thousands of protesters who could, at a moment's notice, be galvanised for marches anywhere in the capital, Manama.
Its base camp at the Pearl Roundabout had a stage, big TV screens, and tents for those who stayed overnight and for the 30-plus political factions and parties spreading their views among the crowds.
It was an exhilarating experience for many Bahrainis, angry about corruption and what they said was the government's resistance to political reform.
"We saw it as something incredible," said one woman who became a regular visitor to Pearl Roundabout. "This gave us hope. We felt like, as Barack Obama, said, 'Yes, we can'."
Today, the protest movement is in tatters, many of its leaders and activists imprisoned and its followers, most of them Shiite, subject to harsh emergency laws. Where Tunisia and Egypt saw change, Bahrain saw more of the same.
The clampdown continued yesterday, as Bahraini authorities banned Al Wasat, the country's main opposition newspaper, and blocked its website.
The state-run Bahrain News Agency accused the paper of "unethical" coverage of the unrest.
Several days of interviews with Bahraini Sunni and Shiite political figures, human rights activists and journalists underscore that the tense impasse is due to mistakes on all sides, but principally, in most analyses, to the ascendancy of hardliners in both the government and the protest movement.
"So many things" went wrong, said the Bahraini novelist Fareed Ramadan, a Sunni. "So many mistakes have been made by the government. So many mistakes have been made by the Sunni leadership and so many mistakes have been made in Pearl Square" by some protest leaders.
In the beginning, the protests in mid-February were not remarkable. A few hundred young people turned out in response to a call by unidentified political activists on Facebook.
There was no visible leadership, although one of the first activists to show up was Abdul Wahab Hussein, head of Al Wafaa, a militant party that wants the royal family overthrown. This, however, never became the protest movement's majority opinion, which was for a constitutional monarchy. Although most protesters were Shiite, from the majority of Bahrain's population, Sunnis also joined them.
"What I liked was to have this space of freedom," said one young Sunni who works as a driver. "It was the first time that people said 'No,' and our royal family is not used to hearing this and they got freaked out."
The government raided Pearl Roundabout on February 17, forcibly dispersing the protesters and leaving four dead. Two days later, it reversed itself and evacuated police from the site, allowing protesters to regroup there.
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa went on television and apologised for the deaths and offered a dialogue. His son, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, reached out to a coalition of moderate Shiite opposition parties headed by Al Wefaq, the largest group.
But mindful of past, unmet promises to reform and perhaps increasingly confident as more Bahrainis joined the protests, the opposition set stiff conditions for dialogue.
According to A Nabi Salman, deputy secretary general of the small opposition Democratic and Progressive Al Minbar Society, those conditions included the release of more than 90 political prisoners, an investigation into protesters' deaths, which by now numbered seven; an end to anti-Shiite incitement in the state-run press, and the resignation of the prime minster, Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, seen as a hardliner.
They also wanted an elected constituent assembly to draft a new constitution.
At the same time, radical Shiite opposition parties were pursuing a more militant agenda, and stirring up crowds in Pearl Roundabout to reject a dialogue.
On March 8 Hassan Mushaimaa, head of Al Haq, announced that he and Mr Hussein's party had opted for "bringing down the existing regime in Bahrain and establishing a democratic republican system," Reuters reported.
This was a turning point because the government has long maintained that Al Haq has ties to Iran and though he did not say an "Islamic" republic, that is what Sunnis in Bahrain believed he meant, according to a Bahraini university professor who declined to be named.
Though Mr Mushaimaa called for a republic only once, said novelist Ramadan, "it was the once which killed us".
More provocations from hard-line protesters followed, including a march om March 11 to Riffa, where members of the royal family live, and the erection of barricades on March 13 on a motorway cutting access to Manama's financial district. A Bahraini journalist, who said he feared being identified, claimed the barricade action was organised by Mr Hussein.
"We have a big problem with radical Shias," said the journalist, who is Shiite. "They give a bad image about Shias to the regime. They are always shouting."
Another mistake was taking the protests to Salmaniya Hospital, where the car park became a tent-filled annexe to Pearl Roundabout.
Some of the predominantly Shiite medical staff of the hospital were outspoken in criticising the government.
The crown prince was still trying, meanwhile, to get talks started. But he would not accept the opposition demands for an elected constituent assembly and the immediate departure of the prime minister, his uncle.
He did propose that the prime minister, who has been in his post 40 years, would step down in three months, A Nabi Salman says.
But the opposition were slow to react, concerned that their radical Shiite brethren would make things difficult if they entered a dialogue without significant government concessions.
"We wanted to go as a unified opposition" but were "delayed by" Mr Mushaimaa and other radicals, said A Nabi Salman.
Meanwhile, the state-run television and press, which are controlled by royal family hardliners, were not helping the crown prince either. These media outlets gave almost no support to dialogue and instead consistently featured Sunni extremists speaking demeaningly of Shiites, accusing them of being loyal to Iran and suggesting they leave the country.
Government officials also raised the spectre of Iranian interference, accusing Iran of backing the protest movement. Sunni leaders such as Abdel Latif Mahmoud organised meetings at which they stoked Sunni fears about a Shiite takeover of the island.
"I attended one meeting," said the Shiite female protester who by now was growing increasingly nervous. "I heard how they filled people with this idea of how the Shia are just for Iran and made them afraid."
And a new phenomenon began to appear in Bahrain: roaming gangs in civilian clothes, armed with guns or long sticks. They were often masked and sometimes clad in military boots, which many Bahrainis took as proof that they were members of government security forces.
Amid almost daily protest marches around Manama, these gangs set up their own checkpoints and began attacking Shiites. In one incident at the university they pounced on a group of female students standing outside their classrooms.
In the days just before the government began its clampdown on March 16, the crown prince and opposition were still trying to reach an accommodation. But others in the government were pushing ahead with other plans.
On Monday March 14, around 1,200 Saudi troops entered Bahrain followed by 500 police officers from the UAE under a Gulf Cooperation Council mandate. On Tuesday, a state of emergency was called. The next day Bahraini security forces began, as it was put in an official statement, "the cleansing" of Pearl Roundabout.
A severe clampdown on all who openly supported the protest movement continues.
Last week, Bahraini officials reiterated their allegations that outsiders were fomenting the unrest, accusing Hizbollah of training Shiite activists in Bahrain, allegations the Lebanese movement angrily denied.
The flurry of claims and counter-claims led Sheikh Ali Salem, Bahrain's Shiite opposition leader, to urge Iran "not to meddle in Bahraini internal affairs".
Among demonstrators, there is a refusal to believe it is all over.
"We don't want to feel that everything is finished," said the woman who once was a happy protester.
But, she added, "they have killed every hope inside me. I am Bahraini and I just want real change as a human being. I deserve to have a better Bahrain."
cmurphy@thenational.ae
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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MATCH INFO
Maratha Arabians 107-8 (10 ovs)
Lyth 21, Lynn 20, McClenaghan 20 no
Qalandars 60-4 (10 ovs)
Malan 32 no, McClenaghan 2-9
Maratha Arabians win by 47 runs
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Shafaf, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Noof KB, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m
Winner: Taamol, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Mekhbat, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
If you go
The Flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.
The trip
Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
KYLIAN MBAPPE 2016/17 STATS
Ligue 1: Appearances - 29, Goals - 15, Assists - 8
UCL: Appearances - 9, Goals - 6
French Cup: Appearances - 3, Goals - 3
France U19: Appearances - 5, Goals - 5, Assists - 1
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm
Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh317,671
On sale: now
De De Pyaar De
Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Tips for entertaining with ease
· Set the table the night before. It’s a small job but it will make you feel more organised once done.
· As the host, your mood sets the tone. If people arrive to find you red-faced and harried, they’re not going to relax until you do. Take a deep breath and try to exude calm energy.
· Guests tend to turn up thirsty. Fill a big jug with iced water and lemon or lime slices and encourage people to help themselves.
· Have some background music on to help create a bit of ambience and fill any initial lulls in conversations.
· The meal certainly doesn’t need to be ready the moment your guests step through the door, but if there’s a nibble or two that can be passed around it will ward off hunger pangs and buy you a bit more time in the kitchen.
· You absolutely don’t have to make every element of the brunch from scratch. Take inspiration from our ideas for ready-made extras and by all means pick up a store-bought dessert.
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Abu Dhabi GP Saturday schedule
12.30pm GP3 race (18 laps)
2pm Formula One final practice
5pm Formula One qualifying
6.40pm Formula 2 race (31 laps)
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Russia v Scotland, Thursday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports