Kuwait Lawmaker: End Disputes … They’ve Gone Too Far…‘I am p

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Kuwait Lawmaker: End Disputes … They’ve Gone Too Far…‘I am pained by the suffering of our nation”

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 25: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah inaugurated the fourth term of the 13th legislative round on Tuesday by warning lawmakers that anti-government practices have exceeded the limits, harmed national unity and will not be tolerated.

“These tribal, sectarian and factional feuds are leading political orientations and are being used for narrow gains at the expense of the country and its citizens. It is unfortunate that there are entities that seek our educational, social and sports institutions to be a breeding ground for these feuds, influencing youth with destructive concepts,” he criticized, urging citizens to monitor the performance of their legislative representatives and hold them accountable for their actions during elections.

HH the Amir, Speaker of Parliament Jassem Al-Khorafi and His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, addressed the opening session and the nation at the National Assembly with solemn words that were full of warnings towards anti-government MPs. After committee elections, Al-Khorafi adjourned the session to Nov 15.

All three officials expressed their respect and condolences to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the recent passing away of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz. Al-Khorafi thanked HH the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and HH the Crown Prince, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, for attending the opening session of the new term, which he hoped would start “a new and blessed process” for the parliament.

The new legislative term kicked off as opposition MPs of the three major political groups — the Development and Reform Bloc, the Popular Action Bloc and the National Action Bloc — were seen in Abdullah Al-Salem Hall without their formal attire (Bisht), indicating their objection and lack of respect for the proceedings. Furthermore, they refrained from applauding the opening speeches of the parliament speaker and the prime minister, merely clapping forcefully after His Highness the Amir’s speech.

Clearly showcasing their objection to the government, MPs Ahmed Al-Saadoun, Musallam Al-Barrak, Faisal Al-Muslim and Waleed Al-Tabtabaei also refused to shake hands with Al-Khorafi and Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah during the greeting ceremony with His Highness the Amir. Moreover, tension between lawmakers escalated during committee elections almost reaching physical confrontation. Around 17 MPs — the DRB and PAB among other independent lawmakers — fulfilled their vow and walked out during committee elections.

Criticized
His Highness the Amir’s opening speech criticized the current political scene, describing it as a strange phenomenon that has exceeded all limits and harmed national principles. He said he is deeply distressed by the tense political atmosphere and continuous conflict between the government and National Assembly, “like they are rivals not brothers, two arms belonging to one body (country).”

Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah wondered on the absence of the voice of reason and wisdom, when state officials are busy with personal attacks instead of cooperating for the sake of Kuwait.
“The current political discourse of bickering and accusations of corruption, bribery and betrayal without evidence is also distressing. We have followed the recent developments in (Abdullah Al-Salem Hall) and noticed actions and statements that violate the Constitution and harm the National Assembly’s reputation. How can one who believes in the law and Constitution, and can use the legislative tools available, violate those entities and call for protests on the street?” he lamented.

Sheikh Sabah called for cooperation to develop civil services such as health and education, improve the standard of living and create job opportunities for the youth. He also called for tackling corruption amid severe political disruptions around the world and global economic problems.

“We say it with all faith and determination, yes to supervising responsibly, yes to substantive accountability, yes to serious accountability governed by the Constitution and the law and imposed by national interests. Away from personal agendas and prejudging,” stressed HH the Amir, warning that stubbornness that have exceeded the limits and surpassed the luxury of debate will not be tolerated.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed further addressed the media and said that a few outlets have been adding fuel to the fire of sedition to increase tension. These media are directed by factional alliances and personal interests. He emphasized that the youth are easily influenced by political agendas and global changes; therefore it is necessary to connect with them, assess their needs and safeguard their future.

Moreover, the Amir addressed the public and advised citizens to follow the performance of their representatives in the parliament as their role is not complete by merely voting during elections. He urged the public to monitor the performance of MPs, question their stances, praise them when they excel and hold them accountable for their failures, away from tribalism and other social alliances.

Concern
“It is most distressing to witness concern for the county’s condition on your good faces. I want you to rest assured that we will not allow harm to befall our precious country and, God Willing, tomorrow will be better than today,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, His Highness the Prime Minister promised that the Cabinet will fulfill the directions of HH the Amir and exert all efforts to cooperate with the National Assembly. Speaking on global issues, the PM stressed that Kuwait is committed to and fully supports Palestine’s bid to be a member of the United Nations, which is part of a just and long-lasting solution towards the Palestinian cause. He added that Kuwait is keen on developing stronger relations with neighboring countries and invited the Islamic Republic of Iran to seriously seek building trust with GCC countries.

Regarding local developments, Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah assured that the Cabinet is moving forward with the development plan that aims to transform Kuwait into an economic and commercial hub by 2035.
“We began the construction of Mubarak Al-Kabir Port, expanding Kuwait International Airport, developing various areas of residence, Sheikh Jaber Hospital, and work is continuing on the northern ports of Shuaiba and Sabiya. The main aspects necessary for true development is the development of human resources. Therefore, an education accreditation and quality assurance authority was established. Work is also progressing on Sabah Al-Salem University City and six cultural centers as well as an opera house,” he revealed.

Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah added that there are also ambitious proposals on the way to implementation, such as the Metro project and Silk City. “In regards to legislative demands pertaining to the development plan, the Cabinet referred a number of draft laws pertaining to — the protection of national unity, the development plan for 2011/12, anti-corruption and financial disclosure, insurance against unemployment, public authority for food and nutrition and public authority for the workforce,” he said.
The PM also reiterated that the Kuwaiti society is witnessing the strange practices of strikes, gatherings and protests, “which are, unfortunately, instigated by some members of the National Assembly.” He said that these practices violate the law, are an assault on the state’s status and sovereignty and harm national interests, therefore cannot be accepted or taken lightly.
“Although the Cabinet respects basic freedom of opinion and expression, it condemns arbitrariness in the use of strikes and protests as threatening means to put pressure (on the government). They damage the country’s interests,” he said.
For his part, Speaker of Parliament Jassem Al-Khorafi further insisted that constructive cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities is necessary to tackle national economic and political problems. “Corruption must be faced by resorting to the judicial authorities, not with sensational rhetoric that is harmful to national unity,” he stressed.
On Iraq, Al-Khorafi urged the neighboring country to refrain from making threats against Kuwait over Mubarak Al-Kabir Port project. He assured that Kuwait desires to maintain and increase brotherly ties with Iraq; however port project does not seek to harm relations between the two countries as “it is a Kuwaiti port on a Kuwaiti territory.”

Tendency
The speaker regretted the prevailing tendency to generalize Kuwait’s problems with the use of defamatory rhetoric. These practices, he added, brings harm the country’s image in front of the world and disrupts Kuwait’s capability to solve its problems. Al-Khorafi urged lawmakers and executive officials promote democratic practices by holding rational and constructive dialogues, setting national priorities and adopting a national policy where the national interests are the main concern.

Regarding the economy, Al-Khorafi predicted that a recession may result from the negative global economic conditions, which in turn will pose major difficulties for the developing countries, Kuwait in particular. “The high oil returns were as a result of the international oil market conditions, therefore we should not be complacent as these conditions might not exist in the future,” he said, further stressing that economic reforms must go hand in hand with political reforms, through cooperation and democratic dialogue.
Hateful corruption must be uprooted, the speaker insisted, but not by making random accusations and doubting the integrity of officials “with unauthentic media and electoral rhetoric” without evidence.
Al-Khorafi promised that the National Assembly would be impartial in running state affairs according to the laws and the parliament by-laws, as the parliament should continue to play a role on the external front for sake of supporting the national interests.

He affirmed Kuwait’s keenness on maintaining close relations with the GCC and called on the international community to help the Palestinians end the Israeli occupation of their territories and recognize the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
He also urged the Palestinians to make national conciliation “for this is the sole path for them to attain their legitimate rights, build their independent state and react to the Israeli practices that aborted the peace process.”

Meanwhile, Al-Khorafi resumed the session after the Amir left the Parliament with the swearing in of newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah and Minister of Development and Planning Affairs Abdul Wahab Al-Haroun.

After the oath-taking ceremony, the Parliament unanimously agreed to discuss the proposed increase in the salaries of teachers and allowances of students. This came after some MPs presented a request to deliberate on both bills to the speaker. However, the government, represented by Minister of Education and Higher Education Ahmad Al-Mulaifi, requested for the postponement of discussions for two weeks in line with Article 76 of the parliamentary bylaw, as it needs more time to comment on these proposals. The speaker approved the government’s request.

This has prompted the MPs, along with the teachers and students in the audience, to raise their voices in protest of the speaker’s decision, so the securitymen intervened and sent them out of the session hall. The session was adjourned for 15 minutes.

When the session resumed, MP Musallam Al-Barrak raised the issue again, arguing that the proposals have been on the agenda for a long time; hence, it is no longer reasonable to postpone deliberations. He also accused the government of deliberately delaying the approval of the bills.

Al-Mulaifi tried to explain the government’s side but the opposition MPs and the audience (mainly teachers and students) did not give him a chance, disrupting the session for the second time, so the speaker adjourned it again for another 15 minutes.

On the other hand, prior to the election of the parliamentary committees, the members of the Popular Labor, Development and Labor blocs, as well as other independent MPs, walked out of Abdullah Al-Salem Hall, asserting they don’t want to sit with MPs implicated in the multimillion deposit scam.
When the session resumed, the speaker appealed to the audience to remain calm and refrain from causing commotion; otherwise, he will be compelled to order their eviction from the hall. At this point, the speaker started with the election of the parliamentary committees but the opposition MPs, together with teachers and students, started shouting and protesting again. The speaker had no option but to order them out of the session hall; and a total of 14 MPs stormed out of the hall in protest of the decision.

Despite the walkout, the election pushed through with MP Dr Ali Al- Omair garnering 38 votes for the post of supervisor, while his rival — MP Dr Salwa Al-Jassar — got eight votes. MP Adnan AbdulSamad was elected secretary of the Parliament, unopposed.

Meanwhile, MP Adel Al-Saraawi appealed to his colleagues, who have been referred to the Public Prosecution on the multimillion deposit scandal, not to nominate themselves to any committee. He urged the lawmakers, who might not know who among their colleagues have been referred to the Public Prosecution, to ask him, claiming he knows all the names. The speaker then responded that an accused is innocent until proven guilty.

MPs Askar Al-Enezi and Saadoun Hammad had a heated argument with Al-Saraawi and it almost escalated into a fistfight if it were not for the intervention of some of their colleagues. Al-Saraawi was insisting that those who have been referred to the prosecution should not nominate themselves for membership to the parliamentary committees, so when the other two lawmakers nominated themselves, he protested and insinuated that they were thieves. After the altercation, the speaker adjourned the session until Nov 15.
Moreover, the opposition MPs announced their plan to meet on Wednesday to tackle the corruption issue and the so-called ‘bribed Parliament’.

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