07 March 2011
KUWAIT: With the hope that the government will eventually enforce eleven of the stipulated rights, stateless residents in Kuwait now focus at being given the opportunity to make profit through decent means, as well as be entitled to receive basic living requirements such as education, treatment and employment.
To be bedoon is to be without rights," an old woman told reporters from Al-Qabas. She toured stateless residents' communities. Most reside in Taima and Sulaibiya. They witnessed some miserable conditions. Children are being forced to work in car garages so that they can help families financially. Senior female residents sell clothes to pay rent.
The Cabinet will discuss during its weekly meeting, the procedures agreed upon in cooperation with the Parliament on solving bedoons' issue.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Cabinet official asserted the government's seriousness in resolving the situation, indicating that naturalization lists are being studied by the body that was set up to seek a solution to the issue. The official noted that names of bedoons who are eligible to receive citizenship. He clarified that not all stateless residents in Kuwait will receive Kuwaiti citizenship "but only those who [meet the necessary conditions]," reported Al-Qabas.
Meanwhile, Saleh Al-Fadhalah, Chairman of the government's bedoons Authority, announced that stateless residents to be naturalized will be called immediately after the lists of deserving bedoons are finalized. Al-Fadhalah made these statements in recent news reports which suggest that the Ministry of Defense prepares to naturalize 2,000 stateless servicemen and their families.
In other news, the Public Authority for Civil Information(PACI) is preparing to issue civil IDs to bedoons when a decree is released. He indicated that specifications of bedoons' IDs will be outlined during the bedoon Authority's next meeting, noting at the same time that the card will read 'non-Kuwaiti' as its holder's nationality.
Also, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Education at the Education Ministry Muna Al-Lughani indicated that the ministry has received several applications from bedoon teachers that await notice from the Civil Service Commission.
The Cabinet's meeting will also address the protest carried out by Fatwa and Legislation Department detectives who demand equality with members of the judicial sector, as well as public demonstrations announced for March 8 in parallel with parliamentary sessions' resumption, reported Al-Rai.
MP Saleh Al-Mulla announced via his Twitter account that he will attend a gathering announced by the Fifth Fence youth group on March 8, "in support of the freedom of opinion" and "in accordance with [his] demands for the Cabinet's resignation.
Al-Mulla also clarified that he has reservations on His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah's decisions to not be assigned the premier post again. In the meantime, the National Action Bloc will discuss the demands for HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad's ouster, reported Al-Qabas. This will be done before releasing an official statement sometime this week, said sources familiar with the bloc.
KUWAIT: With the hope that the government will eventually enforce eleven of the stipulated rights, stateless residents in Kuwait now focus at being given the opportunity to make profit through decent means, as well as be entitled to receive basic living requirements such as education, treatment and employment.
To be bedoon is to be without rights," an old woman told reporters from Al-Qabas. She toured stateless residents' communities. Most reside in Taima and Sulaibiya. They witnessed some miserable conditions. Children are being forced to work in car garages so that they can help families financially. Senior female residents sell clothes to pay rent.
The Cabinet will discuss during its weekly meeting, the procedures agreed upon in cooperation with the Parliament on solving bedoons' issue.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Cabinet official asserted the government's seriousness in resolving the situation, indicating that naturalization lists are being studied by the body that was set up to seek a solution to the issue. The official noted that names of bedoons who are eligible to receive citizenship. He clarified that not all stateless residents in Kuwait will receive Kuwaiti citizenship "but only those who [meet the necessary conditions]," reported Al-Qabas.
Meanwhile, Saleh Al-Fadhalah, Chairman of the government's bedoons Authority, announced that stateless residents to be naturalized will be called immediately after the lists of deserving bedoons are finalized. Al-Fadhalah made these statements in recent news reports which suggest that the Ministry of Defense prepares to naturalize 2,000 stateless servicemen and their families.
In other news, the Public Authority for Civil Information(PACI) is preparing to issue civil IDs to bedoons when a decree is released. He indicated that specifications of bedoons' IDs will be outlined during the bedoon Authority's next meeting, noting at the same time that the card will read 'non-Kuwaiti' as its holder's nationality.
Also, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Education at the Education Ministry Muna Al-Lughani indicated that the ministry has received several applications from bedoon teachers that await notice from the Civil Service Commission.
The Cabinet's meeting will also address the protest carried out by Fatwa and Legislation Department detectives who demand equality with members of the judicial sector, as well as public demonstrations announced for March 8 in parallel with parliamentary sessions' resumption, reported Al-Rai.
MP Saleh Al-Mulla announced via his Twitter account that he will attend a gathering announced by the Fifth Fence youth group on March 8, "in support of the freedom of opinion" and "in accordance with [his] demands for the Cabinet's resignation.
Al-Mulla also clarified that he has reservations on His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah's decisions to not be assigned the premier post again. In the meantime, the National Action Bloc will discuss the demands for HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad's ouster, reported Al-Qabas. This will be done before releasing an official statement sometime this week, said sources familiar with the bloc.
© Kuwait Times 2011
