The Public Prosecu-tion on Wednesday released Municipality Council member and Second Constituency candidate Khalifa Al-Kharafi and Fourth Constituency candidate Dr Daifallah Bouramiya on a KD 5,000 bail each.
Both candidates were arrested for criticizing members of the ruling family. Al-Kharafi's lawyer thanked the Public Prosecutor, Counselor Hamed Al-Othman, and other prosecutors, for releasing his client, who made it clear that he respects HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and other members of the ruling family. "We support freedom and democracy in accordance with the existing regulations. We also trust the Kuwaiti judiciary's ability to ensure justice for all," the lawyer added. Al-Kharafi was arrested last Monday.
On the other hand, Bouramiya was arrested last Thursday for criticizing the Amir and acting Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and doubting the Amir's authority to appoint the next premier.
Reliable sources revealed the Public Prosecution has been very tough in ordering the arrest of candidates who launched scathing attacks against the regime and other personalities.
In another development, former Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has allegedly filed a case against 2009 National Assembly elections candidate Dr Faisal Al-Muslim for the latter's claim that he bribed several ex-parliamentarians.
Asked about the issue after filing his candidacy Wednesday, Al-Muslim hopes there is no hidden motive in the former prime minister's decision to file a case against him this time. He refused to discuss the issue extensively, but he promised to hold a press conference next Saturday to respond to all queries in this regard.
Besides Al-Muslim, nine other candidates registered Wednesday, including former MPs Dr Hassan Al-Jowhar and Mohammed Al-Abduljader. So far, 231 candidates have registered and three have withdrawn from the race since the start of the registration period on April 16.
Meanwhile, Jowhar appealed to all Kuwaitis to stand against those who are trying to undermine national unity and democracy. He also voiced concern over the lack of development programs and deterioration of services. He urged the electorate and incoming parliamentarians to set aside their differences and work in the best interest of Kuwait.
Criticizing the way the State Security officers arrested some candidates for the assertions they made in symposiums, Jowhar stressed "candidates should be given total freedom to express themselves during the campaign period without dreading arrest warrants and oppressive security measures. If anyone has a problem with anything said in a symposium, they can go to the court."
Stating that Kuwait is not familiar with such repressive security procedures, Jowhar warned such measures may, at the end, work in favor of the candidate, indicating "I'm amazed at how naïve the Ministry of Interior is responding to this issue." He attributed the current political chaos to the pile of errors committed over the last 50 years due to the lack of public awareness on the national duties of citizens.
Jowhar also pointed out that the quality of education in Kuwait has continued to deteriorate despite the countless warnings issued by former lawmakers, including him, to acting Minister of Education and Higher Education Nuriyah Al-Subaih. "I have repeatedly asked Al-Subaih and the former prime minister to look into the violations and inadequacies in the educational sector, but my efforts went in vain," he lamented, adding that educational issues are on top of his electoral agenda.
In the meantime, Al-Abduljader -- a candidate from the Second Constituency -- believes the rule of law is the only way towards national development. He urged the citizens to actively participate in laying down a clear strategy to pull Kuwait out of "this depressing situation."
On the chances of Kuwaiti women in the forthcoming elections, Al-Abduljader said "there seems be no hope for female candidates. Women obtained their political rights several years ago, but some parties have been trying to deprive them of such rights."
Al-Abduljader also stressed the need to address the problems of Kuwaiti women by amending the Housing Care Law to allocate houses for divorced and disabled women. He also called for protecting the rights of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis.
Talking about the youth, Al-Abduljader emphasized the importance of providing them with the best education, granting them freedom, and allowing them to participate in the decision-making process. He asserted the youth can greatly contribute to national development as they constitute 60 percent of the country's population.
Following are the candidates who registered Wednesday.
First Constituency:
1. Bader Saud Nasser Shiheitawi Al-Azmi.
2. Hassan Abdullah Ahmad Jawhar.
3. Khaled Humoud Musallam Humoud Al-Imeira.
4. Abdullah Moussa Khalifa Abdullah Al-Musallam.
Second Constituency:
1. Rajaan Awadh Faraj Mubarak Dureoa.
Third Constituency:
1. Ibrahim Hassan Ibrahim Hassan Al-Hai.
2. Saud Ali Saud Suneitan Al-Aradah.
3. Faisal Ali Abdullah Al-Meslem Al-Oteibi.
Fourth Constituency:
1. Judeih Hassan Salem Hamad Al-Ajmi.
Fifth Constituency:
1. Mohammad Nasser Mohammad Al-Ajmi.
© Arab Times 2009
