"A Formula 1 race was organized in Bahrain. I don't know who won - except of course the business-man Bernie Ecclestone who runs the Formula-circus - but among the losers are those who demand democracy in Bahrain. In their opinion, one should not bring events like this to a country, which violently suppresses its citizens' demands for democracy. But out of all branches of athletics - if motor sports should even be included in this category - Formula 1 has always been the most deaf to any views relating to human rights, as the world champion Sebastian Vettel's idiotic remarks illustrate.
The second best option to canceling the race has, nonetheless, been realized in that the competitions have given the democracy movement an opportunity to bring the country's dire human rights situation to international attention. Next, it is up to countries who favor human rights and democracy, including Finland, to raise Bahrain's situation in the EU and other fora. At that time, we must also discuss those forces which, from the outside, have contributed to the suppression of democratic demands."
See the original Finnish text on: http://www.tuomioja.org/
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