Kuwaitis rally for premier's ouster

The anti-government protesters held a massive rally outside the National Assembly building The anti-government protesters held a massive rally outside the National Assembly building yesterday literally making it a 'Day of Rage' as promised. In an unprecedented show of strength, thousands of demonstrators lined up in front of the assembly and chanted slogans against HH the Prime Minister even as the police forces in full riot gear stood by.
Earlier, the demonstrators gathered at the parking lot of the municipal council, instead of the Safat Square as they announced, surprising the government forces who had set up a standby force in the late afternoon barricading the streets and making 'safe zones' for the protesters to carry out their demonstrations into the evening.
From the Magrib, the "Day of Rage" began on a peaceful note with the police and the protestors making jokes but after the Isha (evening prayer), the chants became louder and the demonstrations took a more violent turn. The protestors tore photographs of the HH Prime Minister during which a fight broke out between them and the police but was contained before it went out of control.
Earlier after the prayers, Salafist Member of the Parliament Waleed Al-Tabtabae appealed to the gathered crowds to remain peaceful and not to have any contacts with policemen or any other people.
Member of Parliament Musallam Al-Barrak made a scathing attack against MPs who voted for postponing the grilling of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah for one year. He said those MPs were trying to empty the constitution of its content.
Al-Barrak addressed the PM saying "you will not escape from what you have done to the Kuwaiti people, adding that the MPs who supported you also deserve punishment. He said that one of the columnists said those who gathered during the "constitution Friday" are just gangsters and criminals, but the fact is that they are Kuwaitis who love Kuwait and its legitimacy".
Al-Barrak said, "Though we seek the ouster of Sheikh Nasser, we will defend the regime and will not allow anyone to harm it. Our loyalty is to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah," he added.
Al-Barrak told the Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud: "Do not allow Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad to put you in trouble, we are not trying to come in touch with you (police), and the proof is that we choose another square when Safat was closed to make sure no clashes take place.
Al-Barrak said that Nasser Al-Mohammad asked his MPs to grill the ministers, and we want to hear the youths' opinion. He said as we are standing with HH the Amir, we say that Nasser Al-Mohammad must go.
He told the youths that they have a big role to play and Nasser Al-Mohammad will fall at the end. Each MP who supported him must be punished at the ballot box, he said.
Al-Barrak commended the young men by saying "You did the impossible, and we all are more keen on keeping security and there will not be any confrontation. He said some people on the other side felt like being slapped on the face when we did not confront them.
He said a field commander was appointed to face the free people of Kuwait, adding that on August 2nd 1990, there was not any such commander. He warned the gathering that the premier sent some of his men to create problems with the protesters. So he asked them to be clever and more mature and not to respond to any provocations because they want to spoil the gathering.
Meanwhile, MP Dhaifallah Buramiyah said the government is as bad the previous six governments and "We did not see anything other than corruption". He said the people are able to right the wrong things although corruption has become so rampant in the government. "We support the "youth of change," he said reminding them that their demands will not be fulfilled without sacrifice. from KUWAIT TIMES.