KUWAIT CITY, Jan 31: His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, assured opposition MPs that all due legal procedures are being taken against those who seek to harm national unity, said an opposition former MP on Tuesday.

HH the Amir met with 12 former MPs from the Opposition Bloc to discuss the events of Monday evening in which parliamentary candidate Mohammed Al-Juwaihel’s election quarters was burned down by members of Al-Mutair tribe, said Mubarak Al-Walaan. Al-Juwaihel had made defamatory statements against the tribe at his election campaign’s opening seminar.

Fifth Constituency opposition candidate Al-Walaan said the opposition expressed their condemnation on the insults directed at Al-Mutair tribe by liberal candidate Al-Juwaihel and urged his disqualification from the elections race.

He revealed that HH the Amir assured them that the Public Prosecution is taking the necessary steps against the Third Constituency candidate and Scope TV and other media outlets, which aired his seminar. Al-Walaan added that Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah expressed his refusal of any abuse directed at any segment of Kuwait’s society, and that includes its tribes.

Thousands of Al-Mutair tribe protestors attacked Al-Juwaihel’s election tent in Adailiya and burned-it to the ground Monday night in response to defamatory statements made by him during a seminar against the tribe and tribe member and candidate Obaid Al-Wassmi Al-Mutairi. The election head quarters was torched amidst extensive security presence that was unable to calm the protesters. Firefighters arrived at the scene to end the flames before reaching neighboring residences and nearby grass areas.

Furthermore, complaints were filed against Al-Juwaihel at Adailya Police Station as well as suits at the Administrative Court. It remains unclear if Al-Juwaihel was arrested by the Interior Ministry, however sources say that he was summoned by the ministry and is currently being held by state security, although the reports could not be independently confirmed.

Sources also add that the cabinet is studying the disqualification of Al-Juwaihel from elections and prosecuting him. Meanwhile, lawyer Mohammed Manwar Al-Mutairi filed an urgent case at the Administrative Court requesting the disqualification of Mohammed Al-Juwaihel on the charges of harming national unity. The court said it will review the case on Wednesday.

Al-Juwaihel is infamous for being outspoken against the country’s tribes. He was previously disqualified from the elections race by the MoI but the decision was reversed by the Administrative Court. It is worth mentioning that the controversial candidate was also attacked in Nov 2010 at veteran former MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun’s diwaniya for allegedly also insulting tribe members.

Present at the scene was Al-Mutair candidate Majid Mousa Al-Mutairi called on Minister of Interior, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, to arrest Al-Juwaihel for defaming an entire tribe and to punish high-ranking MoI officials who had allegedly attended Al-Juwaihel’s seminar.

Many opposition MPs further condemned Al-Juwaihel. There are around 20 Al-Mutair candidates contesting in all constituencies, including Faisal Al-Muslim Al-Mutairi, Mohammed Hayef Al-Mutairi.
The Opposition Bloc met at dawn on Wednesday to discuss the events and called for the disqualification of the controversial candidate from the elections race. They also called on all tribes to cancel seminars scheduled for Wednesday and to gather at a seminar organized by Musallam Al-Barrak.

Meanwhile, according to media reports, Al-Juwaihel filed a case against Fourth Constituency candidate Obaid Al-Wassmi Al-Mutairi accusing him of inciting his arrest. Allegedly, Al-Wassmi met with the Interior Minister following the events and requested him to arrest Al-Juwaihel for defaming the Al-Mutair tribe.

Condemnation

Deputy Minister for Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah issued a statement saying that Monday night’s disturbing incident contradicts the acceptable norms of the Kuwaiti society. In a statement, he expressed the Diwan’s sorrow that the occurrence comes during a period when the nation will elect members of the next parliament.

Sheikh Ali Al-Sabah added that the Amiri Diwan calls on the public to steer clear of what might disrupt the course of the elections by holding on to the bond of unity between all Kuwait’s groups, tribes and sects.
He further assured that the necessary instructions were issued to legally bring to account all those who took part in or incited these unfortunate events.

Meanwhile, the cabinet, headed by Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, held an urgent special meeting to discuss the events and the requests by candidates and former MPs to disqualify Al-Juwaihel from the elections race.

Government spokesman and Justice Minister and Minister of Education, Ahmad Al-Mulaifi, said the cabinet vowed to take all necessary measures against practices that threaten national unity, stressing that freedom does not mean offending others.

The Cabinet assigned state authorities, particularly ministries of interior and information, to take legal actions against those breaching law, creating chaos and disrupting public order. The cabinet concluded with a call for candidates, voters and media to be responsible and respectful and to tolerant different opinions.

Furthermore, a large number of candidates and political alliances condemned Al-Juwaihel’s statements saying that Kuwait’s tribes are “a red line”. But only a few also criticized the actions taken by Al-Mutair tribe members in response. Shiite liberal candidate Rola Al-Dashti strongly criticized the burning down of Al-Juwaihel’s election quarter and The National Democratic Alliance condemned Al-Juwaihel but said that wrong actions cannot be corrected by other wrongs.

Youth political alliance ‘Kafi’ said the Monday night’s events were the result of the government’s failure to halt entities who are trying to rip apart the segments of Kuwaiti society. Opposition MPs such as second constituency candidate Abdulrahman Al-Anjari, warned that national unity is in danger because of false practices by entities and corrupt media that seek to cause conflict between segments of Kuwait’s society. They said that tribes are a large part of Kuwait and any insult directed against one tribe affects the society as whole.

Agencies add:
Hundreds of inhabitants of various social strata in Adailiya area fiercely condemned recent statement by Third Constituency candidate Mohammad Al-Juwaihel that allegedly offended the tribe of fourth constituency candidate Abeed Al-Wasmi.

Youth members of Al-Mutairi tribe stormed and burnt the electoral headquarters of Al-Juwaihel, in the presence of heavy security forces that followed the chaotic incident from a distance, but managed to take out the organizing committee of the gathering from the scene safely.

The First Deputy Premier, Minister of Interior and Defense Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hamoud monitored the incident from afar, as he issued strict orders to security forces to exercise self restraint and not engage anyone in chaos.

Youths from Al-Mutairi tribe chanted slogans and insults against Al-Juwaihel and his supporters, as they blocked Sami Al-Manis Street to traffic and called for Al-Juwaihel’s head, as well as those of his backers’.

Also present at the scene to observe the incident that took place late Monday night were former MPs and aspirants in the forthcoming election who disapproved of Al-Juwaihel’s statement, which they described as offensive to Al-Mutairi tribe. They demanded the Interior Ministry to implement law and refer Al-Juwaihel with those supporting him to State Security.

Among those speaking at the gathering was Musallam Al-Barrak who condemned the act and affirmed “we will not accept anyone offending any group/tribe among the tribes in Kuwait”. He added that Kuwait belongs to all Kuwaitis, and called upon those who love Kuwait to attend a gathering scheduled at his campaign headquarters to express their stances on the actions of Al-Juwaihel.

Former MP Saifi Al-Saifi cautioned those trying to put asunder the national unity, saying they will be harshly dealt with. He reiterated that nobody has the right to offend any sect or tribe in Kuwait.

The demonstration continued until the early hours, in the course of which three men were assaulted and cameras of media crew were destroyed by angry youth. The injured men were taken to hospital by paramedics, while security forces were commended for their self-restraint in the midst of chaos.
Opposition
Kuwait’s Islamist-led opposition appears headed for a key victory in this week’s general election, described as crucial for the future of the oil-rich Gulf state.
The outcome of Thursday’s ballot, the fourth in just under six years, is not expected to end political turmoil that has paralysed development in OPEC’s third largest oil producer, however.
“All indications show the opposition dominating the next parliament and immediately pressing for constitutional reforms,” said Saad bin Taflah, a prominent political analyst.
“But I am not optimistic the elections will lead to political stability unless fundamental democratic reforms are undertaken,” bin Taflah, a former information minister, told AFP.
The opposition is a loose formation of Islamists, liberals, nationalists and independents who can be united on reforms and development plans but differ on other issues.
“Thursday’s polls will not lead to stability because enemies of democracy will not remain silent after their defeat,” another analyst, Anwar al-Rasheed, said.
“Their plan is to convince people that democracy is harmful and it is the parliament that is blocking development projects,” said the secretary general of the Gulf Civil Society Forum.
The opposition groups held around 20 seats in the 50-member parliament which the Amir dissolved in December following a bitter political crisis and youth-led street protests inspired by the Arab Spring.
“Based on our studies and polls, I believe the opposition will win between at least 26 and 33 seats,” said Talal Al-Kashti, general manager of Ittejahat Studies and Research Centre, an independent think-tank.
“(Sunni) Islamists are expected to double their strength to between 15 and 19 seats,” up from nine in the dissolved chamber, Kashti told AFP.
About 50 opposition candidates are among 286 hopefuls, including 23 women, competing for seats. Kuwait has more than 400,000 eligible voters, 54 percent of them women.
Thirty-eight of the 50 members of the dissolved house are contesting for seats, in addition to 20 former MPs from previous assemblies.
Women hope to repeat their landmark achievement of the last election when they won four seats for the first time since securing full political rights in 2006.
Campaigning has been described as the fiercest in many years with candidates calling for deep reforms, using the huge income from oil to fund development and anti-corruption legislation.
The public prosecutor has questioned 13 ex-MPs on charges that millions of dinars (dollars) were illegally deposited in their local bank accounts, with the opposition alleging the payments were bribes.
The poll comes against a backdrop of intense sectarian tensions between the majority Sunnis and Shiite minority, reflecting regional conflicts.
It also follows the unprecedented youth-led protests that eventually forced former prime minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to step down.
Groups
From Islamists who want the rule of Islamic law to Western-style liberals, several political groups are contesting Thursday’s election.
Political parties remain banned in the oil-rich Gulf emirate, although the groups act as de facto parties. The outgoing parliament, dissolved by the emir in December, was dominated by conservatives.
Kuwait’s parliamentary system is unique as candidates contest elections individually, while the government is normally formed from outside parliament and its unelected ministers automatically become members of parliament and can vote like elected members.
The main political groups fielding candidates in the polls are:
n The Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM), the political arm of Kuwait’s Sunni Muslim Brotherhood. The ICM has called for political and economic reforms despite advocating a stricter social order. It has officially endorsed four candidates and is backing several others.
n The Islamic Salafi Alliance (ISA), an affiliate of the Heritage Revival Society, a purist Sunni religious group with hardline views on morality. It has fielded four candidates but is also supporting several others.
n The National Islamic Alliance, a Shiite group. It is fielding two candidates and is backing others.
n The Justice and Peace Alliance, a Shiite group that is fielding one candidate and is backing a few others.
n The Popular Action Bloc, which brings together former legislators headed by veteran former speaker Ahmad al-Saadun. The group focuses on populist issues such as housing and salary increases. It is fielding five candidates.
n The Democratic Forum, a liberal group and strong advocate of political and economic reforms, with a priority on development. It has fielded four candidates and is backing several others.
Almost all Bedoun tribes have carried out primary elections and each tribe’s candidates are running together on a joint platform.
All the groups, except the two Shiite blocs, are gathered under the umbrella of the so-called Kuwaiti opposition, which is a very loose political alliance.