Kuwait Uses Force- Sick of the Endless Primaries

I know some people are sick of the endless Democratic primary, but this is ridiculous! And a note to al-Jazeera: I think it would be more accurate to describe these things as "caucuses" instead of primaries, although that would be unfamiliar to non-US readers.

Kuwait diwaniya ban sparks protest

Interior ministry officials said Kuwaiti special forces intervened to disperse protesters on Friday [AFP] Kuwaiti authorities have used force to disperse a crowd protesting over a clampdown on diwaniyas, traditional meeting places, banned by law. Colonel Mohammed al-Saber, the interior ministry spokesman, said in comments carried on Kuwaiti state television that no one was seriously injured in the clash on Friday in Sabahiya, south of the capital. Special forces intervened and disperse more than 1,000 people who threw stones at them during an alleged secret vote for tribal primaries at a diwaniya, al-Saber said. The TV showed forces beating back people with batons and using tear gas. Al-Saber said authorities used minimum force. Friday's incident was the second time in a month that tribal members clashed with police over primaries that became illegal in 1998 in the Gulf country. Vote criminalised Kuwaiti tribes are holding the secret primaries to pick their candidates for parliamentary elections on May 17. Kuwait has criminalised the vote because authorities believed it encourages allegiance to the tribe rather than the state. It also deprives many Kuwaitis from a fair chance to compete in the same district if they are not supported by a tribe. Police have arrested scores of Kuwaitis for holding the banned vote so far. But the tribes have been finding a way of to getting around the crackdown by calling for "consultations" of tribesmen or organising the vote under the guise of dinner banquets. There have also been reports that the internet was used for the polling. Diwaniyas Diwaniyas, which have always existed in Gulf culture, are part of the social and political fabric of Kuwait. They are used by men and, more rarely, by women, often simply to meet socially in the evenings. The Kuwaiti government has said it will demolish 30,000 diwaniyas built illegally on state-owned land - including those belonging to members of parliament, former ministers and wealthy citizens. Kuwait's parliamentary elections were scheduled after the emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, disbanded the parliament last month because of tensions between the legislature and the cabinet that prompted the resignation of several ministers.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies