Bernie Ecclestone: Bahrain Grand Prix to go on

The Bahraini Grand Prix circuit A new plea for the cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix was made on Tuesday as security forces went out in full force in capital Manama,while protesters and police clashed with tear gas and petrol bombs on the anniversary of the Bahraini uprising.
ormula One boss Bernie Ecclestone and the sport's governing body, the FIA, have however said that the race will go ahead on April 22. Last year's event, which was due to open the season, was cancelled after two postponements.
Ecclestone, the sport's commercial rights holder, said: " I expected there was going to be a big uprising today, with the anniversary. But I think what happened, apparently, was that here were a lot of kids having a go at the police. I don't think it's anything serious at all.
"It doesn't change our position in any shape or form. If the people in Bahrain [the government] say, 'Look Bernie, it wouldn't be good for you to come over here,' then I would think again. That is what they said last year."
Meanwhile in Paris an FIA spokesman said: "The FIA, like many in the diplomatic community in the kingdom, the main political opposition, as well as the UK-Bahrain All-Party Parliamentary Group writing in the Times, believes the staging of a Grand Prix would be beneficial in bridging some of the difficulties Bahrain is experiencing.
"The FIA is not in a position to influence political matters in a sovereign country such as Bahrain and we can only wish for a long-term peaceful solution. A number of reforms have been enacted, others are going through legislation. We warmly welcome this, as does the motorsport community which we represent."
More than 60 people have died since last year's uprising was violently cracked down upon with the help of Saudi troops. On the eve of the anniversary teargas, rubber bullets and stun grenades were used to counter hundreds of protesters who broke free from an opposition party rally and marched down the main highway towards the Pearl Roundabout, the centre of last year's revolt of the Bahraini Shia majority against the Sunni royal rulers.
"I spoke to somebody recently who has returned to Bahrain to live and he told me it was just like it was out there before the problems started. Somebody did write to me to complain to me that her husband had been badly treated and wrongly arrested. I offered to go out there.
"That was six weeks ago and I haven't heard a word. I am in regular touch with the Bahrain government and they would tell me if we shouldn't be there," said Ecclestone.
In a letter to UK newspaper the Times the UK-Bahrain All-Party Parliamentary Group said the cancellation of the event would hinder reform.
In the letter the group, chaired by the Conservative MP Conor Burns, said: "Bahrain has been conveniently lumped together with other nations and labelled part of the 'Arab Spring'. Yet the response of the government of Bahrain has been notably different. Bahrain invited independent human rights lawyers, the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), to investigate and has started to implement its recommendations.
"In addition to elections that have led to a fourfold increase in women elected to parliament, Bahrain has also asked John Timoney, the former New York police chief, and John Yates, the former assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to overhaul policing. Those who want Bahrain to continue on the path of genuine reform will do the cause no service by cancelling the grand prix this year."
The letter was in response to an earlier letter, last week, from seven peers and the Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, which called for the abandonment of the race in the Gulf kingdom. "We do not believe the time is right for Formula One to return to Bahrain," that letter said.
The MPs said people who wanted Bahrain to continue on the path of genuine reform would do their cause no service by cancelling the F1 race, scheduled to take place on April 22.
"Indeed, surely the presence of thousands of Western visitors and journalists in the run-up to and during the event will act as an additional incentive to the authorities in Bahrain to show the international community its sincerity in the cause of reform and that their support for Bahrain is well placed," said the letter.