Kuwait arrests opposition leader ahead of mass protest

 

Former Kuwaiti opposition MP Musallam al-Barrak (AFP Photo/Yasser Al-Zayyat)

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/news/kuwait-opposition-leader-arrested-561/

Kuwaiti authorities arrested a prominent opposition figure over his criticism of the Gulf Arab state's ruler. It came days before an expected mass rally protesting against a reform, which critics say undermines opposition political forces.

Musallam al-Barrak, an ex-legislator and leader at the nationalist Popular Action Bloc was arrested late on Monday following a news conference at his house.

He is accused of criticizing the ruler of Kuwait, Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, during an opposition rally on October 15, when he said the emir should avoid sliding towards “autocratic rule”. The country's constitution proclaims the emir "immune and inviolable" and thus criticizing his actions is unconstitutional.

Before his arrest, Barrak called on his supporters to turn up for a new protest rally come Sunday, saying he would be with them spiritually, if not in person.

Last week Kuwait arrested three other opposition figures on similar charges. They have been released on bail after five-day detention and are new expecting trials, which are to commence in mid-November.

Barrak lashed out at the emir over a controversial change of the electoral law ordered by the ruler ahead of the December 1 election, which critics say will hamper the opposition in the parliament.

The opposition had majority in the elected parliament after the February election, putting the legislative body at odds with the government, which is dominated by the members of the ruling al-Sabah family.

The emir disbanded the legislative body this month. Several opposition factions said they would boycott the poll taken under the new rules.

The oil-exporting country has been touched less by the public uprisings in the Arab world than some of its neighbors, partially thanks to its generous welfare system.

Still, the opposition gathered tens of thousands of people in the streets to protest against the electoral reform. Kuwait City lately saw violence, as the authorities used riot police to disperse protesting crowds.

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Opposition arrests in Kuwait Political standoff deepens

 

Kuwaiti MP Msallam al-Barrak (C) speaks to the press during a protest outside the national assembly in Kuwait City. (AFP Photo / Yasser Al-Zayyat)

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/news/political-emir-opposition-country-792/

Three former opposition Kuwaiti MPs were ordered to be detained for three days on Friday. They were accused of politically undermining the emir by criticizing him publicly at an opposition rally, an illegal act in the US-backed oil nation.

­The three, Falah al-Sawwagh, Bader al-Dahum and Khaled al-Tahus, criticized Emir Sheik Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah at an opposition rally on October 10, protesting alleged government plans to manipulate election results.

“Two former [Islamist] MPs, Falah al-Sawwagh and Bader al-Dahum, have just been arrested by the state security police," former deputy Mussallam al-Barrak, told AFP reporters.

The three MPs were questioned for nine hours by authorities before finally being taken into custody on Friday.

More arrests are expected in the wake of repeated demonstrations, some of which have turned violent. Four were wounded and six arrested as police used batons to disperse some 5,000 protestors on Tuesday, October 16, angry over the political deadlock that has gripped the country for months.

Sheik Sabah dissolved the Kuwaiti parliament on October 7 to prevent opposition Islamist groups from gaining more power in the government. A parliamentary election in February gave Islamists control of the 50-seat parliament. The dissolution started a 60-day deadline to hold new elections.

Al-Barrak also broke the law by directly addressing the emir at the October 16 protest, saying, "We won't let you rule this country on your own."

“We are not scared of your new batons nor the jails you have built … violence will only lead to counter-violence…Kuwaiti people will not allow the country to be governed through an autocratic rule," he told the crowd.

It is illegal under Kuwait’s constitution to criticize the emir, who by law must be from the Al-Sabah family, a clan that has been in power for over 250 years.

Kuwait is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) nation and its plentiful oil-based economy make it the fifth-richest nation in the world. It is also a major non-NATO US ally, and the main hub for all US military operations in the area.

The movement for government reforms have placed united several groups with greatly differing beliefs on how the country should proceed. There is however, a sense of caution expressed by liberals at the agenda of the Islamists.

Bassam Al-Asoussi, a member of the liberal Democratic Forum political bloc, said “Yes, the government has many shortcomings indeed, but [the opposition leaders] aren't the people who will save the country," he said, AP reports. "They are regressive, not progressive.”

The emir has until December to hold new elections in the hopes that he can counter the upswing in reform sentiments.

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Kuwait's ruler orders dissolution of parliament

 

Kuwaiti MPs attend a parliament session at the national assembly in Kuwiat city, May 23, 2012

Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/10/07/265380/kuwaiti-ruler-dissolves-parliament/

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah has ordered the dissolution of the country’s parliament to pave the way for snap elections for the second time this year.

The emir made the decision on Sunday for a second time in the recent past.

Earlier, after the emir ordered the dissolution of the parliament, the country’s Constitutional Court reinstated the legislative assembly.

The parliament, however, had been unable to meet because of a boycott by the opposition lawmakers who had gained the majority in parliamentary polls held in 2012.

The dissolution of the parliament has been one of the main requests of the opposition as the Persian Gulf state is struggling with a chronic political crisis.

The new legislative polls should be held within two months.

Kuwait’s 108-billion-dollar economic development plan is in a state of limbo due to the growing political tensions.

 
 

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