(MENAFN - Arab Times) Opposition activists cancelled a scheduled demonstration on Sunday evening that coincided with the opening session of the National Assembly's 14th legislative term. The rally was scheduled to take place in Al-Erada Square, opposite the parliament, in objection to the recently elected 'one-vote assembly'.
Security forces cordoned off the square as well as the areas surrounding the National Assembly, preventing oppositionists from rallying during the parliament's first session. An earlier attempt to hold a protest in Justice Square behind the parliament was also prevented and two Kuwait Progressive Movement activists " Khaled Al-Deyain and Anwar Al-Fikr " as well as activist Hamad Derbas were arrested according to the Progressive Movement and Majority Bloc members.
The evening rally was set for 7:30 pm, however security forces removed their barriers after the parliament session was adjourned in the evening but after organizers have called-off the demonstration.
"The Nation's Will gathering announces the cancellation of today's event due to the Interior's arbitrariness and its closing of Al-Erada Square and we announce that all of Kuwait is Al-Erada Square," organizers stated on Twitter. Oppositionists, led by the Majority Bloc of former lawmakers and activists who constituted the majority of the annulled February 2012 Assembly, have boycotted the recent parliament elections. They deemed the current Assembly illegitimate, as it was elected using an emergency decree that amended the electoral law, and vowed to continue protest movements until it is removed.
Agencies add:
Member of the Political Office of the Democratic Platform Lawyer Bassam Al-Asousi is surprised that leading personalities of the platform are condemning those who opposed their stance, as regards their participation in the most recent National Assembly elections, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
Al-Asousi said the leader of the political office of the platform, Abdullah Al-Nebari, who is against the one vote system, was the one who demanded an Amiri decree in favor of the single constituency system in 2008, which is far from the one vote system. He explained the recent incident in the platform is not a division but rather difference of opinions.
He denied the recent rumor saying the government has successfully divided the platform, as some of its members supported the elections and even participated in the process, stressing he does not believe that Al-Nebari accuses them of tasting government. He affirmed the platform is different from the Muslim Brotherhood Movement whose spiritual leader controls the fate of other members. He noted that leaders of the platform should have been democratic with the members who differ with their opinions.
