News from Kuwait 1: Yesterday's Tribal Riots

Things are getting a little crazy in Kuwait. We have elections coming up and the tribes are getting restless. This article will tell you everything you need to know. Actually kids were asking me if we had tribes in America. I said we used to, but then we killed most of them. Here is the article:

Two Kuwaitis, officers hurt in Sabahiya clash; ‘Awazem’ battle securitymen

KUWAIT CITY : Two Kuwaitis and a number of securitymen were injured in a violent clash during which the Awazem tribesmen used sticks and stones against security forces, who were trying to stop them holding a primary in Sabahiya. The fighting took place Friday when about 5,000 securitymen from the Special Forces and Riot Police, supported by vehicles and helicopters, surrounded the Diwaniya of former MP and candidate in the upcoming elections from the fifth constituency, Ghanim Al Mei. The securitymen used tear-gas and rubber bullets to disperse the rioters. No arrests were reported. A similar incident some time back had prompted the then Minister of Interior to recall his forces from the Diwaniya of a former MP.

Sources said a large number of securitymen and CID officers were deployed as backup at a nearby cemetery. Security forces and election candidates are exchanging charges, each pinning the blame for the incident on the other. Former MP and candidate from the fifth constituency Abdullah Rai Al-Fahma in a press statement said, “Tribes are an integral part of the Kuwaiti society. They have the right to consult and choose their representatives to the National Assembly like the political blocs and other political organizations.” The government must stop this repressive measure before things take a serious turn, Al-Fahma added. Some observers and a number of candidates have opined the government is exacerbating the issue intentionally to prolong the election indefinitely by issuing ‘emergency decrees.’

This view is shared by former MP and candidate from the third constituency Jamal Al-Omar. He told the press Friday the government has ulterior motives and is trying to stop the primaries. Al-Omar added: “The same government that issued a decree against public gatherings in such haste is procrastinating the issuance of a decree calling for elections.” As the election date is approaching the situation in the fifth constituency seems to be getting more complicated. While the Awazem tribe is gearing to name its candidate Saturday, the Hawajer tribe is unable to choose a candidate despite the support of all the other tribes. The situation is made more complex by the embarrassing fact that no one is willing to accept the position of the chairman of the consultations committee. Sources close to Hawajer tribe told the Arab Times that one of the six candidates is trying to buy time after he tried to buy votes at a sum of KD 2,000 per vote, causing embarrassment to the other candidates.

Meanwhile, the Dawaser tribe is embroiled in other issues. The tribe is said to be planning to cancel the decisions of the consultation committee after the committee chairman failed to reconcile candidates in run for the election. The Atban tribe is facing a similar problem and there has been no change in their position in the last 24 hours, sources said. Meanwhile, sources close to candidate Abdullah Okash said he intends to represent Al-Umma Party in the election. He requested his tribe, Mutair, to resume consultations. However, his request was rejected. Criticizing the actions of the security forces at the Diwaniyas of former MP Saad Al-Shuraie, Abdullah Rai Al-Fahma and Marzook Al-Hubeni, former MP and candidate from the fifth constituency Abdullah Al-Ajmi said what happened was despotic and regrettable. He asked “Does the Ministry of Interior want the candidates to close their Diwaniyas? But it will never happen.”

For the second consecutive day, the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM) continued to attack the government and the Ministry of Interior. In a statement by ICM, it billed the actions of securitymen as “excessive use of power. “Such action is not in the interest of the law. It may hurt the very fabric of the Kuwaiti society, which is based on cooperation and understanding, and not force. “Implementation of the law must be based on sound regulations, which should not allow alien practices to creep into our system.” The ICM urged the government to implement the laws with fairness and equality. “Just as the primary elections are against the law, so is vote buying. The government must make efforts to curb this crime,” it added.

Meanwhile, following the government’s crackdown on primary elections, a number of candidates contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections launched a fierce verbal attack against it and described its ban on public gatherings as “an attempt to gag people and restrict their freedom.” They also accused the government of interfering in the elections and some candidates even questioned the hidden motive behind the ban.

Former deputy speaker of the parliament and Fourth Constituency candidate Dr Mohammed Al-Busairi said “the least that can be said about the law banning public gatherings is it is intended for gagging people and restricting their freedom of expression.” He called on all future MPs to fight against the law and revoke it. Calling on the government to be conscious of the political changes in neighboring countries, Al-Busairi said, “this law reflects the intentions of those who want to derail the democratic process as well as the intentions of those who are leading the country to oblivion.” Former MP and First Constituency candidate Jamal Al-Kandari said the timing of issuing the law raises some doubts about the interference of the executive authority in the forthcoming elections, asserting that “the law put Kuwait in a dark tunnel.” He called on the government to rescind the decision.

Former MP Faisal Al-Muslim criticized the government for being hostile towards its people and described the law as a blatant interference in the private affairs of citizens besides terrorizing them and suppressing their freedom. He said the government’s action is a prelude for turning the country into a repressive state in which freedom of people is violated. “Wisdom and sanity should take precedence in dealing with issues so that we don’t deviate from the desired goal,” he said, adding “the rule of law does not mean violating the tenets of the Constitution.”

By Ayed Al-Enezi, Hadi Al-Ajmi and Mehzam Al-Sahli
Special to the Arab Times