Sheikh Saad leaves legacy of good deeds
Father Amir devoted his life to his country
This is the 19th and last in a series of articles on His Highness Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Salem Mubarak Al Sabah (1930-2008), Father Amir, former Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
T— Editor
By Lidia Qattan
he end of the war imposed conditions the Iraqi regime had to honor. Besides the immediate release of all POWs, it had to recognize the border as drawn up by the United Nations; it also had to return all the artifacts stolen from Kuwait, to reimburse the millions of US dollars for the damages done to Kuwait and to other countries and fulfill other conditions, which the Iraqi regime accepted for an armistice, but it never honored its obligations. Indeed Saddam Hussein became more arrogant and a threat to world peace and stability, thereby severely testing the tolerance of the United Nations, which finally confronted Iraq with another war in 2003, to remove the regime of Saddam Hussein from power.
In the aftermath of the 2003 war the true image of the Iraqi regime was revealed to the world. Among the ghastly findings were numerous mass graves near Baghdad, in them were discovered the pitiful remains of many Kuwaiti POWs identified through forensic methods. Their discovery ended the terrible dilemma that caused so much suffering; by then the tension and suspense their family was made to bear and endure claimed many lives, some mothers died of broken hearts, some of cancer. their patient; hence he was taken to London for treatment on the 11th of March 1997.
Throughout the time Sheikh Saad was in the United Kingdom, he was showered with telegrams from concerned citizens, many went to London hoping to see him. Eight months later he was back, apparently cured, but his doctor warned him to take it easy. However, he soon got engaged in his usual strenuous routine unmindful of the warnings.
His work was his life, but his physique was no longer strong to withstand the pressure of overwork. Years of struggle, especially during the Iraqi invasion and in the aftermath, during which besides long exertion, he also suffered from anxiety, worries and disappointments, the whole weakened his physical constitution. But this did not stop him from working. Unmindful of the warning he continued until in 1999, he had a major relapse. Intensive care and treatment restored some of his health, but the illness had already taken a sinister turn.
Failing health and periodical treatments abroad affected his involvement in state affairs; hence, too weak to continue his office as Prime Minster, Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah resigned in 2005. Leaving his office was a painful decision that filled him with sadness; for, he was missing the involvement, the planning, the discussions and the striving that enhanced the feeling of doing something useful for his country.
All his life he had been active and on the move, suddenly forced to a new tenure of life, he felt as if the life force itself was slipping away from him and that aggravated his condition.
When on the 15th of January 2006, HH the Amir, Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad demised, HH Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah automatically became his successor, but he received the title with deep sadness, because by then he was reduced
Lidia Qattan
speed up the process and release the houses to the low income population. Another of his deep concern was the position of women in society and their right to take part in the politics of his country. In the aftermath of the liberation when a new Parliament was formed, Sheikh Saad was very disappointed when, in spite of women’s heroic contribution in the freedom of their country during the invasion, most MPs still voted against their political rights.
Sheikh Saad became a strong supporter of women’s rights from the time he took part in drafting the Constitution in 1962, but their political rights were denied by the first Parliament elected in 1963 and still denied by all subsequent Parliaments, hence he remained their strongest advocator whenever the issue was brought up during discussion in Parliament.
During the Amiri decree issued on the 16th of May 1999 in favor of women’s rights, when the Parliament again voted against it, Sheikh Saad was very disappointed even angry. For he believed that a true democracy is the expression of human dignity synonymous with the responsible expression of shared endeavor, in which every individual and groups work together in full accord contributing to the general wellbeing of the whole.
As “Father Amir”, HH Sheikh Saad’s last official journey was to India. Shortly after his return home he slipped peacefully away while watching the setting sun that never failed to fascinate him. As the world around him was softly dimming away in a conflagration of changing lights, Sheikh Saad was merging into a new dimension more real than the one he was leaving behind.
Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah, HH Father Amir demised on the 13th of May 2008 at the age of 78, leaving a legacy of good deeds for which he is well remembered and cherished by his people; for, indeed he was a compassionate, kind man, who devoted his life, even sacrificed his health in his steadfastness to duty. He was one of those noble, heroic souls whose passage has not been in vain.
Concluded