25/05/2011
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of next week's second deadline in terms of Bahrain's inclusion on the 2011 calendar, it has been revealed that almost a quarter of staff at the Sakhir circuit have been arrested.
While (publicly) the powers that be, together with the drivers and teams, have remained diplomatically quiet, the general consensus is that the sport should stand its ground and stay away until the country is stable. Truly stable.
Despite claims to the contrary, Pitpass, thanks to the fact that it has friends in the country, and sections of the mainstream media, have continued to report that many of the problems that caused the original cancellation of the season opener still exist. Indeed, in some cases they have worsened.
Now, just days ahead of the June 3 deadline, and with Bernie Ecclestone poised to reshuffle the calendar - seemingly without a care for the many thousands of people in the industry (and fans) whose schedules are in limbo - the Financial Times reports that a quarter of the staff at the Bahrain International Circuit were arrested in early April. Now almost two month later, most have been suspended or sacked.
A source tells the Financial Times that those arrested included three women and two senior staff. "They were all slapping and kicking me as they led me down the corridor," said the source. "He [a policeman] put my head between his legs, flipped me on to the floor - and then the beatings really began."
While officials at the circuit chose not to comment the FT claims a person close to the government claims the employees were sacked for "cheering the cancellation of the race".
"Allegations are exaggerated or unfounded to gain international sympathy," said Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, a government spokesman. "They should issue a complaint to the authorities."
Having declared martial law on March 15, following clashes between protestors and Saudi troops, it is understood that this will be lifted next Wednesday (June 1) at which point the crown prince, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, who also oversees the Grand Prix, will begin reconciliatory steps.
Whatever the powers that be might be saying, the fact is that the unrest continues and, as in some other countries in the region, outside news agencies and their staff have found themselves incarcerated and questioned for hour after hour regarding their reporting of events.
Whatever the powers that be might decide next week - and surely they cannot stall for a third deadline - it remains to be seen how journalists, sponsors, broadcasters, teams and drivers react to a return to Bahrain this year... far less the protestors.