‘Rights of people trampled upon’
‘Big fish swallowing smaller fish’
“SINCE the events of September 11, 2001, the world has been moving towards successive crises, without a break, from a financial crisis to wars, epidemics, famine, human rights violations, climate change, etc,” columnist Iman Jawhar Hayat wrote for Al-Qabas daily.
“Most of the countries of the world suffer from an ethical crisis, and the language of interests and greed has become dominant in the reality of the situation, and justice and human rights are just pale slogans that are mentioned only in the lecture halls and some conferences and statements.
“If we look at the United States, which has always been defending human rights, albeit selectively, and how it has abandoned those values that it was claiming, especially during the era of President Donald Trump after his blessing and implementation of the deal of the century (the game of the century) that digested the right of the Palestinians to their land and allowed the annexation of the Golan Heights, and the Israeli expansion in the Arab lands, without regard to the international community and the voice of the people who reject this injustice.
“In the end, it is a game governed by interests to achieve different gains from what is apparent, as such we conclude that this has resulted in the United States adopting an attitude under this timing.
“On the other hand, we all see different reactions for the American attitude, especially by most Arab countries which are currently busy with internal sectarian and religious conflicts or discords over some rights in addition to political riots dictated by the disputing interests.
“Moreover, some of the conflicts are linked to commercial and military interests with the United States and its allies and as such the relevant states don’t like to lose the same, hence, they are currently striving to normalize ties with Israel to gain America’s satisfaction, protection and the necessary opportunities for big gains.
The question is what is the fate of these dependent countries if the interest is neglected?
“In politics there is no permanent friendship, given the fact that the weak consumer or internally depleted countries, even if they possess wealth and good things, have no decision, and this is the reason for most of the world’s crises, especially the Middle East and North Africa where the peoples of these states are angry because of the deterioration of the humanitarian situations in their countries.
“Not just that most of their disaffected people live in deteriorating humanitarian conditions, in a state of anxiety because they lose confidence in institutions because of their policies that lack responsibility.
“Such being the case, these peoples hope real changes will occur provided that these changes are based on moral principles and human dignity, and the establishment of political and economic systems that are fair , transparent and accountable.
“This is the basic message of most of the protests around the world that condemn old financial or economic priority that might be given at the expense of human rights. This message refuses to submit to and abide by the laws that are not based on ethical standards.”
Also:
“Wednesday which falls on the fifth of February is considered a crucial day for the third time in American history as part of an attempt to ‘depose the president’ as the curtain drops over attempts by the Democratic Party to isolate US President Donald Trump, and all indications are that the Senate session will lead to his acquittal,” columnist and professor at Kuwait University’s Political Science Department Dr Haila Hamad Al-Mekaimi wrote for Annahar daily.
“As a matter of fact, all indications show the session to be held by the Senate will acquit Trump of the two charges against him -- misuse of authority and obstruction of the work of the Congress.
“These indicators are based on the last session of the Senate, which was held last Friday, during which a slight majority refused to call witnesses or present new documents in the trial, as calling witnesses means prolonging the trial period and it may also end in different scenarios, and this is why the supporters of the President mobilized the votes to close the doors on those attempts and the acquittal will come as a result of his conviction requiring a two-thirds majority, while the President’s party has a majority.
“While the second accusation revolves around the president attempt to internationally impede the Congress’s investigations.
“However, the above outcome of the upcoming Senate voting shall acquit the president, and it will not come as a surprise, but the importance of what will happen is undoubtedly mainly linked to the results of the upcoming presidential elections, which Trump will run again to return to power, within 75 days, meaning that the US elections started this season early due to the state of congestion between the two parties (the Republicans and the Democrats) for the difference in policies on many issues.
“For his part, President Trump looked positive during his recent interview with Fox News Channel since he expects the Senate to acquit him and he definitely looks buoyant to win the forthcoming presidential elections.”
“You feel as if someone wants to see evil in the country and they facilitate it by spreading rumors that have nothing to do with the reality based on their keenness to terrorize society and spread panic,” Waleed Al-Mutairi wrote for Al-Seyassah daily.
“In the last two days, some people have been on social media to spread information about the arrival of coronavirus in Kuwait, because there are some Asian workers in the country infected with the virus and transmitting it. They neither saw nor heard nor attained the information. They composed the rumor just to incite chaos and fear among citizens, and because everything in the world has advantage and disadvantage, the harm of “social media” in these cases represents a grave impact and threatens national security.
“For this reason, reassurance is the first criterion for security in the street, government interests, markets, and even homes. Whoever tampers with this reassurance and turns it into a state of fear, dread and dismay is no less slanderous, and a person who commits the crime is deemed vicious. The act could make some people stay in their homes for fear of walking in the streets and injured despite the absence of the disease at all, according to government statements and the reality we see with our own eyes.
“Managing the crisis in civilized countries never means concealing essential information about an outbreak of such a disease given that the entire world is fighting against this virus to prevent it from spreading and turning into a pandemic eating green and land. The obligation of states is to officially report the discovery of any infection in accordance with international agreements that require reporting to the World Health Organization
any information related to the disease at the present time.
“On the other hand, concerned agencies here raised the alert status, whether in airports, hospitals or medical centers, and prevented entry of foreigners from countries infected by the virus, especially China, and those who visited endemic areas, etc. for the past two weeks. This means reducing the chances of this deadly virus from reaching Kuwait and the constant alert for all travelers inside the country to ensure their safety and that of other inhabitants” .
“I read two reports that were published in the newspapers last week. One was about the economic and financial crisis that the country is suffering from, based on the growing budget deficit since 2013 without practical solutions to it, and the other was the response of Minister of Finance to the National Assembly Speaker which affirmed the durability of the economy despite the deficits”, Dr Ali Abdulrahman Al-Huwaila wrote for Al-Anba daily.
“The first report recommended, or rather proposed, a comprehensive privatization of all state agencies as a remedy to this crisis. The other report, even though the deficit in the Budget of 2020/2021 will reach a record of KD 9.2 billion, affirmed the durability of the economy, despite the continuation of the state in borrowing to cover the deficit, which means neither any unconstitutional and desperate privatization of the public institutions nor any reduction in salaries.
“The fact is that the country’s economy suffers from a clear crisis, as confirmed by the budget deficit and the estimates of international credit rating institutions as well as the decline in the country’s economic index from 50 to 58 in the world.
“In general, the economy that occupies the 58th position depends mostly on a single source of income which is the sale of crude oil. It is susceptible to fluctuations in the global oil prices and the threat of lack of demand for it. Such an economy cannot be a strong one, despite having a secondary source of income - the sovereign wealth fund. It has the highest capital but it is still the fourth in world, and unable to progress to become the first.
“The financial crisis from which the state’s public budget suffers, which the government attributes to high salary clause, is not a natural disaster that hit the government and incapacitated it. It is instead a natural sequence that other developing countries pass through, especially in the aspect of population growth which subsequently increases the financial burden of the state, and in this case, increases the salary burden.
“The solutions and remedies for this decline are easy and multiple, either immediately or in the future, foremost of which is stopping wastage and financial corruption, using the returns of the sovereign wealth fund and development funds, and borrowing. Also, the money deposited abroad as aid can be recovered and used to enhance the budget. Taxes must be imposed on companies and owners of huge incomes. Rise in accordance with the spirit and letter of Article 24 of the Constitution regulating the imposition of taxes.
“However, these remain temporary solutions, and must be supported by practical long-term solutions. For instance, the most important solution in this regard is diversification of sources of income, beginning with oil manufacturing, and also transparency of activities engaged with the sovereign wealth fund similar to how the Norway’s leading sovereign wealth fund is handled.”
“The wheel of time is moving forward with countries which build their nations and go hand in hand with global development and civilization, establish constitutions, laws, regulations and systems. Civilized peoples realize the importance of the foregoing, and boast about it before other nations, where rights and duties are and justice prevails without discrimination, under the umbrella of a legal, modern, civil state,” columnist Dr Nouriya Al-Roumi wrote for Al-Shahed daily.
“Despite its small size, the State of Kuwait has risen since its inception on the principle of Shura stipulated by Islam religion which is committed to its noble teachings. There is no traitor who betrays, or a thief who steals, or a liar, but the doors of their homes remain open during day and night without the fear of thieves, and the financial transactions between them do not require proof or witnesses. At that time, they were once affiliated, interconnected, and friendly family.
“However, as time went by the conditions, like other countries, changed and new phenomena emerged in the Kuwaiti society, and morals differed with the arrival of foreigners and the original Kuwaiti dialect became mixed with the onset of those who gained nationality by naturalization.
“Not only that, the situation turned upside down, so the phenomena of theft did not even spare the public funds to the extent we read daily in the newspapers about the theft of millions and in other times billions. We also began to hear and witness forms of corruption that are difficult to count.
“We read in a newspaper a short time ago about 1,687 suspicious cases of money laundering in Kuwait, and we read before about forged certificates, whose number is unlimited, and those who hold fake certificates today occupy high positions and some have even become MPs in the parliament, doctors in hospitals.”
“Education is the most significant key and weapon for growth. After facing destruction during the World War II, Japan and Germany developed only due to their commitment to education, development of young generation and model classes, as well as model schools and colleges that take care of outstanding students”, Za’azou Al-Thazidi Al-Anzi wrote for Aljarida daily.
“They thereafter became two giant nations in economy, civilization and development, just because of education and training. It is only in Kuwait that successive governments are negligent, while some elites whose children study abroad interfere in the system.
“After painstaking view of the educational situation in Kuwait, we found out that the following issues need consistent follow-up from Ministry of Education:1) Lack of diagnostic view of the educational policy such that curricula and teaching methodologies keep changing but none of them are suitable for Kuwaiti environment. For instance, the competencies (Kefayat) educational system was implemented and proven to be a failure.
2) Lack of improving and updating skills of the teaching staff, as the teachers graduate from colleges without appropriate evaluation system.
3) Evaluating competency is done through what seems to be an individualistic method, which does not reflect the actual standard of the teacher due to which the teachers are left without exposure to training courses.
4) Limited number of preparatory institutions for teachers in Kuwait that can produce thousands of male and female teachers every year. The country lacks education colleges large enough to take care of our needs and desires.”