'Bloc won't allow any violation of the Constitution'

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: Veteran lawmaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun on Monday called on the bloggers and twitters to immediately inform the MPs in case somebody threatens or put pressure on them.

Speaking at a press conference, Al-Saadoun disclosed a top security official offered KD 3,000 to a blogger on Twitter if he agrees to cooperate with the authorities immediately after the latter received a call from an unidentified person, who offered him KD 5,000 monthly to blog on behalf of a certain party.

Al-Saadoun said the blogger later met the official to discuss the nature of cooperation required from him. The official allegedly told the blogger there are some hackers on the Internet. "What the hackers got to do with the official's offer to the blogger? Unless, he wants to scare the blogger by hinting that the State Security monitors telephones," he asserted.

Revealing the blogger has rejected the official's offer, Al-Saadoun said, "We want to convey a clear message to the State Security and Deputy Premier for Economic Affairs and State Minister of Housing and Development Affairs that we will never allow violation of the Constitution by tracking down the bloggers and twitters, who should inform the lawmakers once they feel they are being terrorized by anyone.

Al-Saadoun attacked the executive but rejected the idea of taking to the streets. "The Constitution does not allow street rallies, only seminars. We have the right to organize gatherings. The government should bear in mind the dire consequences of violating the rights of citizens to express their opinion within the purview of the law. The Popular Labor Bloc will not allow anyone to violate the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression," he added, referring to the alleged tracking down of Kuwaiti bloggers and twitters.

Talking about what happened in the last parliamentary session, Al-Saadoun pointed out the disruption of the session is unconstitutional. "This brings to mind the incident on Jan 25, 1967 when the country witnessed an unprecedented election rigging. What happened on Tuesday coincides with the 44th anniversary of the electoral fraud, which led to the suspension of parliamentary sessions for 42 days due to the outright violation of the Constitution," he lamented.

Alleging the disruption of the parliamentary process was a ploy to postpone the grilling of Interior Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid, Al-Saadoun stressed the MPs will never forget the torture murder of a citizen despite the delaying tactics of the government.

He believes the lawmakers can topple the government if the number of those who support the non-cooperation motion against HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah continues to increase.

Urging the government to resign to pave the way for the formation of a new Cabinet with the ability to manage national affairs efficiently, Al-Saadoun said, "We badly need ministers who can rescue the country, considering the deteriorating situation in the Arab world. We will fully exercise our right to organize seminars or gatherings as stated in the Constitution."

© Arab Times 2011