Page 276 - Records of Bahrain (7) (i)_Neat
P. 276
'262 Records oj Bahrain
with a bayonot by a policoman whom ho can identify* Tho Doll'd clt* by no
moan3 sati3fiod, on tho oxisting ovidonco, that tho complaint is woll
founded but consider that it merits further investigation as, if truo,
it would bo nothing short of wanton brutality by tho policoman.
B, DISTURBANCE AT MllHARRAQ MARCH 2ND.
10. Tho gathering of a considorablo numbor of pooplo at a point near
a thickly populatod area on tho doparturo of Mr.Solwyn lloyd from Muharraq
Airport for Manama may have boon tho rosult of natural intorost. Tho Board
has certainly obtained no ovidonco to tho contrary, Tho question whethor
thoso presont should adopt a friendly or unfriendly attitude is ontirely for
thoso porsons to say. Largo numbers of tho pooplo shouted slogans such as
"Down with tho Advisor,"
11. Unfortunately. so o of tho crowd at Muharraq did not confine
themsolvos to making an orderly demonstration or to moro shouting but threw
missiloo thereby causing damago to several vehicles on thoir way from tho
Airport and danger to tho occupants, Somo of tho damage, a3, for example,
that caused to a BAPCO bus by the throwing of very largo stones wa3 considorablo.
such conduct, in the opinion of tho Board, was nothing but shoer hooliganism.
It is proper to omphasiso that tho Board heard no evidonco to suggost that
stono throwing or the damaging of vehicles was oncouragod or organized by
any responsible body or person and tho Board accepts the ovidonco that ono
member of the body then known as tho Higher Executive Committee but sinco
re-named tho National Union Committee at ono timo tried to got +ho pooplo to
disporso but without success.
12. Two witncs3os gayo thoir views as to tho causes of the disturbance
of March 2nd, They gnvo as their opinion that tho primary object of tho
crowd was to demonstrate against tho Adviser, and, to a lossor oxtont, against
the British Government, * Tho underlying reasons were stated to bo, a3 regards
tho Adviser, (a) dissatisfaction with measures taken by tho Government of Bahrain
for which tho public hold tho Adviser responsible and (b) a popular feeling
that too much control was exorcised over everything by tho Advisor, As regards
tho British Government, the reasons wore givon that there was a general belief
that that Govemmont had token no notico of certain memorials said to havo boon
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