“I am totally against violence. No matter what cause you have you have no
right to disrupt the normal process of life,” said Alzayani, speaking in a
select briefing with a handful of international media.
“That is not democracy, that is terrorism. There are no two ways about it.
“Whether you do that hiding behind human rights, politics, religion, it’s just
wrong to do it.
“The country and the constitution allow people to protest in a civil,
non-violent way, and that is being done, which is sanctioned by the police,
going from point A to point B at a certain time of the day.
“That happens anywhere in the world, and I have no problem with that.
“But to go along and extend that to blocking roads, burning tyres, or
attacking police and civilians, the minute you do that you cross the line.
“You have no right to impose that on others.”
After the race was withdrawn from the calendar in 2011 following
anti-government demonstrations that led to the deaths of many people, the
event last year returned under a cloud.
One person was killed the week before the grand prix, and another during the
week itself as police and protesters clashed on a daily basis, as the event
went ahead against a taut backdrop.
One year on, and the build up towards the event, and the atmosphere
surrounding it, is far less volatile, although protests still occur.
Alzayani appreciates that attention on Bahrain and the race is always likely
to be heightened, in particular whilst the protest movement targets an event
that is the country’s most important in any year.
Alzayani added: “Our job is to make sure the event passes smoothly. We do our
part, and whatever happens outside the track, somebody else is responsible
for.
“I personally think it’s safe to do the race, there is no problem.
“We have five per cent who don’t like it, but the majority do, and we cater
for the majority.
“I don’t see any reason why we should worry about it (the trouble). Obviously,
it would be nice not to have it.
“If it’s there then we are just going to have to adapt and live with it. We
managed to do so last year, and we’re back here this year.
“And we’ll be here in 2014, ’15 and ’16, and hopefully onwards.”
One human rights activist yesterday claimed that since the race was first
staged in 2004 it has run at a loss, and the promised economic returns and
infrastructure have failed to materialise.
Alzayani categorically refutes the suggestion, adding: “The intention of the
track was never to be a profit-making organisation.
“We know to be in Formula One is very expensive, but our intention has always
been to promote Bahrain internationally.
“We’ve been very successful in doing that judging by the number of viewers of
our race, and the exposure of Bahrain as a nation.
“The Grand Prix Development Board has issued an economic study on every race
since we started, and the benefits to the economy far exceed what it costs
to host the event.
“So whoever says there are no benefits has to look at the macro-picture and
not the micro-picture.
“For us, the success of the event is how much it contributes to the nation,
not what it brings to the BIC.”
(Edited by Giles Mole)