KUWAIT: Kuwait’s government has made clear it is willing and able to suppress unauthorised street protests, saying it must protect public safety, but risks provoking worse popular unrest by taking a hard line.
Police fired tear gas and smoke bombs to disperse thousands of Kuwaitis protesting over new voting rules late on Sunday. Last month a prominent opposition figure was arrested after speaking at a protest rally where he appealed to the Emir H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, to avoid “autocratic rule”.
Opec member Kuwait allows more dissent than some of its fellow Gulf states. Opposition-led protests usually take place peacefully in a square outside parliament but in recent weeks they have spread to the streets beyond and resulted in clashes, with small groups of people being taken to hospital.
Elsewhere in the Gulf, governments have cracked down on protests with force. Bahrain turned to foreign troops, mainly from neighbouring Saudi Arabia, to suppress protests last year. It banned all rallies and gatherings last week, saying this was to ensure public safety, but on Monday five bombs exploded in Manama, killing two people.
Analysts and diplomats say Kuwaiti authorities do not appear to want a full-scale crackdown. However, tensions are rising between the government and a group consisting of opposition lawmakers, youth groups and their supporters. “We are no strangers to open and frank debate amongst our people,” the Information Ministry said in an emailed statement.
“That said, the primary duty of any state is to maintain the safety and security of its citizens; as such, the police and other security forces will be used as necessary to maintain law and order exactly as they were last night.”
It said 28 people were arrested on Sunday, adding that people were entitled to demonstrate in the square opposite parliament or elsewhere with a permit from a district governor.
Authorities have more readily enforced a ban on unlicensed protests and marches since a demonstration last month by tens of thousands ended in clashes between protesters and police. Parliamentary elections are scheduled on December 1.
“They are showing that there are red lines - protests outside designated areas and remarks that are seen as critical of the emir,” a Kuwait-based diplomat said. “I don’t think they want to take it any further than that.”
While Kuwaitis have been protesting for months against voting rules, corruption and for democratic change, the harder line was taken after opposition figures made comments that might be seen as criticising the emir.
The constitution says the emir is “immune and inviolable”.
Reuters
