By WAM
Dubai : A local English language daily lamented what it called “an alarming turn of events in Kuwait”.
The Gulf News was commenting on the “recent crackdown by Kuwait police on organisers of illegal tribal primaries” which the paper dubbed as “disappointing.” “The democratic process in Kuwait has always stood as a benchmark for other countries in the Gulf region to follow”, remarked the paper.
“It built its reputation on transparency, respect for diversity, neutrality, and facilitating dissent and enabling opposing voices to speak out. ” The two sides, it opined, clashed ahead of the upcoming national elections because the primaries lacked a legal basis.
“The primaries were carried out separately and in complete isolation from the general elections.” The turn of events as such, remarked the paper, is alarming – as well as dangerous – for a nation such as Kuwait, as the society’s diversity in terms of political stands spans a wide political spectrum.
“The best means to practicing democracy is by following its basic principle of being encompassing and inclusive of all,” concluded the Gulf News.