Kuwaiti repression of opposition

Posted on by

This video is called Solidarity with all the workers of Kuwait.

It says about itself:

Solidarity message from ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow to all the workers of Kuwait.

From PTI news agency:

Kuwait warns of harsher measures against protests

Last Updated: Thursday, November 01, 2012, 23:12

Kuwait City: Authorities in Kuwait warned on Thursday that they will use harsher measures to crack down on anti-government demonstrators defying bans on protest gatherings in the increasingly tense Gulf nation.

The statement came just hours after clashes between security forces and thousands of protesters who had gathered outside a prison in Kuwait City last evening to demand the release of an opposition leader, Musallam al-Barrack, who is under investigation for allegedly insulting Kuwait’s emir.

Al-Barrack, a former parliament member, was released from custody Thursday on bail of 10,000 dinars (more than USD 35,500), Kuwait media reported.

Al-Barrack is a former trade union official.

Kuwait last week banned any public gathering of more than 20 people in attempts to quash growing protests led by opposition factions that include Islamists, which is seeking to reclaim control of parliament in elections planned for December 1.

The outcome is seen as a pivotal moment in Kuwait’s political showdowns.

…

Kuwait’s deepening political crisis could bring further rifts in one of Washington’s most important Gulf allies, which now hosts the bulk of US ground forces in the region following America’s withdrawal from Iraq. Kuwait has the most politically empowered parliament among the Gulf Arab states, with opposition lawmakers often directly challenging government officials over alleged corruption and power abuses.

But Kuwaiti officials have taken a hardline position as protests have moved to the streets. Kuwait’s Interior Ministry said forces will “firmly” confront any new demonstrations. …

Oil-rich Kuwait has not faced widespread unrest since the Arab Spring uprisings erupted last year across the Middle East, but political battles and labor upheavals have stalled many development plans and rewritten the rules on political dissent.

See also here.

Kuwait’s rulers crack down on freedom protests: here.

From The Hindu daily in India:

Tensions are rising in oil-rich Kuwait and Bahrain with the two monarchies finding it hard to contain the growing popular protests. In Kuwait, police used tear gas and smoke canisters on Wednesday to disperse thousands of protesters.

Related articles