MP raps move to curb protest
KUWAIT CITY, May 24: MP Musallam Al-Barrak has criticized measures adopted by the concerned authority to deter the youth from gathering at Al-Safat Square, adding "It's their constitutional right which should not be trampled by threats from any authority", Al-Seyassah daily.
Al-Barrak stressed the youth shall not be deterred by threats, seeing that fear has no place in people's hearts. He reiterated the youth's loyalty is in HH the Amir, but that does not deprive them of the right to express their opinion of the Prime Minister and demand a new one.
He praised the youth movement for taking the initiative to defend the Constitution in the face of threats by security authorities. He warned against the authorities' attempt to create an unjustified and an unlawful confrontation, saying the youths are keen on preserving the country's security.
Meanwhile, the Health, Social and Labor Affairs Committee of the Parliament in a recent meeting discussed amendments presented on Cooperative Societies Law, reports Al-Shahid daily.
Rapporteur of the Committee, MP Saleh Al-Ashour, said the meeting agreed on amending many articles of the law, including the proposed establishment of the umbrella institution -- Public Authority for Cooperative Societies.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that the committee has accepted the proposal by Minister of Social Affairs and Labor allowing the participation of voters who are 21 years and above to vote in the elections, whereas candidates for the board membership would be 30 years or more. Also, each board will run for three year, and with nine members, the daily quoted Al-Ashour as saying.
In another development, the spate of crisis in Arab nations has affected Kuwait because it is an integral part of the region, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting MP Hussein Al-Qallaf.
Al-Qallaf made the statement in a symposium organized recently at the diwaniya of Attorney Abdulhamid Dashti under the slogan, "Loyalty to Syria".
Commenting on the fistfight between him and some of his colleagues at the National Assembly recently, Al-Qallaf compared the incident to that in Egypt. He said if Egypt has witnessed the battle of the camel, then Kuwait will also witness the same. He accused his colleagues, who have been calling for the ouster of the Syrian ambassador to Kuwait, of taking the step for certain purposes, not for humane reasons. He claimed some people have been supporting the rebellious acts against the Syrian government in Deraa, because a majority of the al-Qaeda leaders live there. He believes that standing by the ambassador in this difficult time is a national and legitimate responsibility.
Al-Qallaf argued the incident in Syria is different from those in other parts of the region, since it was planned to prevent the nation from playing a vital role in confronting the Zionists. He added the Syrian government has fully supported all the triumphant resistance movement in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Dashti asserted the government and people of Kuwait have already expressed support for their Syrian counterparts. He said Kuwait cares about the security and stability of Syria. "Why did some people call for severing diplomatic ties with Syria and expulsion of its ambassador to Kuwait? Why didn't they take the initiative to condemn the wicked acts of the Zionists against the Palestinian and Arab protestors during the Nakba Day celebrations? They may have forgotten that Kuwait is unique because it serves as a platform for Arab unity," he concluded.
© Arab Times 2011
