Today, Sunday March 13, 2011, on the same day that Bahrain`s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa claimed the regime was open to a national dialogue on all issues, security forces violently dispersed peaceful protesters at several locations--inlcuding the Bahrain Financial Harbor and the Pearl Roundabout--with the use of batons, tear gas, and rubber bullets. Some of today`s protests were organized in reponse to the attack on a demonstration in al-Riffa` on Saturday March 12, when protesters marching towards the Royal Court were met with violence by official and "unofficial" representatives of the regime, some of whom allegedly used an illegal nerve agent gas.
In addition to the videos below, see Jadaliyya`s "Distortions of Dialogue" for a concise historical overview of regime-oppsition dynamics in Bahrain.
The first two videos show two angles of the same incident that took place today in which security forces repeatedly shot a protester at close range. Reports have indicated that only rubber bullets were used, though that clearly offers little consolation to the victim and the rest of the protesters.
This next video (Saturday March 12) shows youth mobs with sticks and shovels walking around the city of al-Riffa`, intimidating and threatening protesters.
This third video (Saturday March 12) shows security forces beginning their attack on protesters in al-Riffa`.
This next video (Saturday March 12) shows government thugs (baltagiyyah) smashing cars with security forces watching and doing nothing to stop them.
This last video (Saturday March 12) shows medical teams responding to the aftermath of the assualt by security forces on protesters. Several reports by medical staff, journalists, and human rights activists stated that the tear gas used was not the "regular" type but one with some kind of nerve agent which caused many people to collapse on the scene.