Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — After nearly two years of silence, Kuwait’s opposition has resumed mass protests.

The Islamist opposition has renewed activities against the government and ruling family of the Gulf Cooperation Council sheikdom.

After a crackdown in late 2012, the opposition has begun organizing street protests
to highlight official corruption.

“We want to hold everyone accountable, even if they’re from the ruling
family,” opposition leader Musalam Al Barak said.

On June 10, the opposition mobilized close to 15,000 people in the first
major protest in nearly 18 months. Led by the Popular Action Movement,
speakers said the royal family and its supporters stole $50 billion, stashed
away in Europe, since 2007.

“The people demand a purge of the judiciary!” the crowd chanted.

In his address, Al Barak said Kuwaiti sheiks deposited $15 billion in Israel. He showed the crowd what he termed were copies of bank accounts and transactions, later dismissed by the government.

“We are experiencing a phase in which Kuwait is being deliberately
destroyed,” Barak said.

Another opposition leader said billions of dollars in bribes were
delivered to members of the ruling family and senior officials to win major
defense and energy contracts. Jamaan Al Harbash said the bribes were endangering Kuwaiti
security and called for an independent audit.

“This is not only corruption, it is high treaon,” Al Harbash said.

The return of the opposition comes amid a government blackout of reports
of a plot within the ruling Al Sabah family. On June 9, the Information
Ministry ordered two Kuwaiti dailies to suspend publication for allegedly
violating a ban on reports of a videotape in which the plot was discussed.
One of the newspaper, Al Watan, is owned by Ali Al Khalifa Al Sabah, a
senior member of the ruling family.

The government has sought to tighten control over the Internet and
social media. In April, the government drafted legislation that would block
websites and monitor phone calls without a court order. On June 8, the
Supreme Court sentenced three former opposition parliamentarians to
suspended terms on charges of insulting Emir Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah at a rally in 2012.

“This is part of a general policy to control and silence voices,”
opposition attorney Hmaidi Al Subaiye said.

  Emir Sabah Al Ahmad, Kuwaiti opposition breaks silence, Musalam Al Barak, Popular Action Movement, resumes anti-government protests