When the People Spoke

May 2006 was a month that Kuwait experienced a wave in its political life that seemed so out of character for such a peaceful and reserved country. Demonstrators on the streets that started with a few individuals that counted no more than 200 heads max, grew to almost 2000 in less than a month period, and eventually led to dissolving the parliament. An act that enforced the government to abide to people’s demand of issuing a bill to reduce the voting constituents to five instead of twenty five, in one of its unprecedented moves to fight corruption in the country and restore reform. A movement that took almost everyone by surprise for no one knew who was the dynamo behind such civilized and orderly actions that swept the whole country in such a short time. And as usual in a small country like Kuwait, whether intentionally or unintentionally, rumors took precedence, and to many, the whole incident still remains a mystery.

Not many people knew that the whole movement was initiated, and organized as a group movement by Kuwaiti bloggers. And the beauty of it all was that it came as an unplanned, natural process of a day-to-day movement. It was not led by MP’s although many thought that it was since 29 MP’s adopted the movement and became the key speakers of those demonstrations. It was the youth behind the Net who struck the first spark and kept the country sizzling for at least two month’s period.

Amer Alzuhair; a talented Kuwaiti blogger with the nickname Bunaz participated in the movement and witnessed the events with his brilliant camera. He brought the events alive with moment-to-moment capturing as a reliable witness to history. Now he finally got his clips edited and is awaiting its release through official channels.
Last Wednesday I had the privilege of attending the initial screening of the documentary and had the opportunity to relive every moment of those days; with its immense excitements and agonies, hopes and regrets. All contradicting emotions that accompanied those days, which I will never forget as long as I live.

I have to thank Bunaz deeply from my heart for bringing the orange days alive before my eyes, and for articulating such a great documentary that witnesses the truth behind the orange movement for generations to come.

For those who have not seen the documentary; there will be other screening soon and that should be announced by other bloggers such as White Wings. And for those who can’t make it; the documentary will soon be sold on the Net and I will announce that as soon as I get the news.