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February 2nd, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda
The protests led to the resignation of the previous government and former
prime minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad Al-Sabah who was replaced by
another senior royal, in a move unprecedented in the oil-rich emirate.
The elections are being held against a backdrop of heightened sectarian and
tribal tensions which this week erupted into violence.
Some voters expressed concern that the election, which comes after one of the
fiercest campaigns since OPEC member Kuwait introduced democracy in 1962,
would not help return stability.
“Psychologically we are not comfortable because of the bad situation in
the country. We are very frustrated and worried about what is happening in
Kuwait,” said one woman, Umm Saud, after casting her vote at Jabriya,
15 kilometres (nine miles) south of Kuwait City.
“I am not optimistic this election will resolve our problems, but I pray
that I am wrong,” she told AFP.
Fatima Akbar, a former schoolteacher clad in an abaya and a headscarf, echoed
a similar sentiment, saying she is “hopeful with caution” that the
election will help stabilise the country.
“We are worried about the conflicts in Kuwait, especially sectarian
tension,” between the Sunni majority and Shiite minority, said the
voter.
Sectarian tensions between Sunnis and Shiites – who make up 30 per cent of
Kuwaitis – have intensified in past months, mainly over regional issues such
as Bahrain, Iran and Syria.
On Monday, tribesmen burned the election tent of a pro-government candidate
for remarks deemed derogatory to a Bedouin tribe. They also stormed offices
of a local TV station for hosting another pro-government candidate.
Some six Sunni and Shiite Islamist, liberal and nationalist opposition groups
are fielding around 20 candidates, while around 30 other opposition members
are running as independents, according to an AFP survey.
Thirty-eight members of the outgoing parliament and 20 from previous
parliaments are seeking a fresh four-year term.
Four women who made history by winning parliamentary seats for the first time
in 2009 are standing for re-election.
About 30 international and 300 local observers have been allowed by the
government to monitor the election for the first time.
Kuwait has a population of 3.6 million as of mid-2011, but 68 per cent of
those are foreigners with Kuwaitis numbering 1.17 million.
Polling opened at 8:00am (0500 GMT) and were to close 12 hours later, with the
first results expected early on Friday as ballot papers are still counted
manually.
Kuwait says it sits on 10 per cent of global crude reserves and pumps around
3.0 million barrels of oil a day.
Source: AFP
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