MANAMA // What used to be an arching monument to Bahrain's pearl-diving heritage in the heart of its capital has vanished, replaced by a nondescript road junction that masked soldiers and armoured personnel carriers block any car from entering.
Yet just six months ago this was the Pearl Roundabout, where tens of thousands of Bahrainis converged to demand reforms and insisted on an end to policies they said discriminated against the country's Shiite population.
While the symbol of Bahrain's past has been demolished by authorities and supplanted by the characterless Al Farooq Junction, the demands voiced in its shadow have not been drowned out.
Almost six months on from the outbreak of demonstrations and the government's harsh response, opposition supporters say they have not given up their goals.
On a recent Friday afternoon, thousands of people, many draped in the red and white of the Bahraini flag, flooded a main road in the Budaiya neighbourhood for a demonstration organised by Al Wefaq, the country's main Shiite opposition group. Several girls wore scarves over their black abayas with the words, "Ready to die for Bahrain" - an indication, they said, of the seriousness of their convictions.
"We will remain in the street, remain fighting," said a 29-year-old who would identify herself only as Leila. "After six months, there should be something going on, something happening. But, [the government] faced this revolution in a wrong way. At least do some of what we asked."
Like many in the crowd, Leila said she has been directly affected by the heavy-handed response to what she described as pro-democracy protests. Her 19-year-old brother was arrested close to their home and was held for two and a half months before his family were finally notified of his whereabouts. As a helicopter hovered overhead monitoring the gathering, Leila maintained that he still had not been charged with a crime.
"We know it is difficult, but at least the government and the prime minister should be changed and all those who did this should be punished by the law," she said, referring to those she believes were responsible for the estimated 35 deaths since the crisis began.
While the Al Wefaq demonstration went off without incident, the same cannot be said for the almost nightly gatherings or protests in the largely Shiite villages, where raids by security forces have continued. Police have still resorted to the use of force, firing tear gas and sound grenades inside densely packed neighbourhoods, according to residents in areas including the Shiite stronghold of Sitra.
A school counsellor in his 20s, who would only be identified as Nabil, said the core problems remain - discrimination, slow pace of reforms and limited political rights.
"But I'm optimistic because we were in very bad conditions and the revolution made our demands heard by everybody," he said. "Nothing could be worse than the past situation. I'm insisting to have a better life."
On the other side of Bahrain on the island of Muharraq, Saudi Arabian flags can be seen fluttering alongside Bahrain flags - an apparent tribute to the GCC troops stationed on the island since the government's crackdown in March. Ahmed Othman, a 40-year-old father of three who lives in a largely Sunni area of Muharraq, said he is starting to feel optimistic about the kingdom's future.
"Many indications gave me a positive feeling - increments in salaries, the national dialogue," he said. "I like the government and I want them to stay." He said now citizens better understand politics and have become more engaged.
Bahraini authorities have taken some conciliatory steps. They appointed a panel of international legal experts to investigate allegations of human-rights abuses, including torture and unlawful killing.
There have also been pledges to expand the power of Bahrain's parliament and dozens of people linked to the protests have reportedly been released from detention.
Still, sectarian hatred appears more entrenched than ever. Mr Othman from Muharraq rejects the contention that Shiite Bahrainis are discriminated against. And he believes Iran provoked the protests.
Off the streets, the rhetoric on both sides has become increasingly bitter, particularly online and in the local media. Hardline regime supporters accuse the opposition of betraying their country. Others blame the government for inciting the sectarian tensions.
Suhail Al Gosaibi, 38, is an entrepreneur and blogger who describes himself as "moderate pro-government". He described the widening sectarian and political divides as "horrifying".
"We have a pro-government and an anti-government camp. There was a while where there were people in the middle, but you can't be in the middle any more. You've got to make your position clear," he said. "The other divide is Sunni-Shia, which is also very, very sad. We have a sectarian rift now, which we've never had before, at least not to this extent."
Esam Fakhro, a well-known figure in the business community, readily admits that there are legitimate issues facing the country. Housing shortages, he says, and job opportunities, still need to be addressed.
However, six months after the crisis began, he is among those who continue to reject attempts to lump Bahrain in with Tunisia, Egypt and talk of the Arab Spring.
"We have started this reform process 10 years ago and reform has taken place," Mr Fakhro said. "Despite what is said, the Bahraini people will come to their senses. No one wants to see jeopardy and chaos."
zconstantine@thenational.ae
TIMELINE
February 14, 2011 Anti-government “Day of Rage” inspired by popular upheavals in Egypt and Tunisia.
February 17 Police storm the Pearl Roundabout, the focal point of protests, on a Manama square. At least seven people are killed.
February 21 Bahrain cancels its Formula One Grand Prix.
March 14 About 1,000 Saudi troops are deployed in Bahrain. The UAE says it will send 500 police.
March 15 Bahrain declares martial law.
March 16 Bahraini forces crack down on protesters, clearing hundreds from the Pearl Roundabout.
May 31 King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa calls for talks on reform involving all parties “without preconditions”.
June 1 Bahrain lifts its state of emergency.
June 22 Bahrain sentences 10 Shiite activists to life in prison for plotting a coup during the protests.
June 29 Bahrain announces it is setting up an independent fact-finding commission to investigate the weeks of protests.
July 2 Talks between Bahrain’s opposition and pro-government groups begin.
July 17 Wefaq says it plans to pull out of a national dialogue.
July 28 King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa approves parliamentary reforms submitted by the national dialogue.
On racial profiling at airports
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
DSC Eagles 23 Dubai Hurricanes 36
Eagles
Tries: Bright, O’Driscoll
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey 3
Hurricanes
Tries: Knight 2, Lewis, Finck, Powell, Perry
Cons: Powell 3
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
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MIDWAY
Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
HOW%20TO%20ACTIVATE%20THE%20GEMINI%20SHORTCUT%20ON%20CHROME%20CANARY
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SPECS
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: N2 Technology
Founded: 2018
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Startups
Size: 14
Funding: $1.7m from HNIs
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
Specs
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Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)
MATCH INFO
Qalandars 109-3 (10ovs)
Salt 30, Malan 24, Trego 23, Jayasuriya 2-14
Bangla Tigers (9.4ovs)
Fletcher 52, Rossouw 31
Bangla Tigers win by six wickets
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"
Fast%20X
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North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
The five pillars of Islam
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Asia Cup Qualifier
Final
UAE v Hong Kong
TV:
Live on OSN Cricket HD. Coverage starts at 5.30am
more from Janine di Giovanni
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
HOW TO WATCH
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The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn
Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
RESULT
Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)
