Call for body to survey, measure public opinion
Bid to push reform process
KUWAIT CITY, April 13: MP Kamel Al-Awadhi proposed on Saturday the formation of an independent public body to “survey and measure public opinion” on all issues pertaining to the State of Kuwait. He said the specified body will provide the legislative and executive authority with technical data support so that both authorities may take the most appropriate decisions on state matters. Al-Awadhi’s proposal added the body aims to provide electronic access to information and data in a transparent context in the areas of development, economy, politics and society. This is in order to provide the legislative and executive authorities with decisionmaking support and develop the relationship between all government ministries and institutions.
Al-Awadhi explained the authority will push the process of reform in all state institutions by identifying the key
problems to various issues affecting Kuwait’s development and their solutions.
Meanwhile, MP Abdulrahman AlJeeran described those criticizing the Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad AlHumoud Al-Sabah recently as “seeking media attention for political gain”. He called lawmakers not to rush into grilling requests against the minister and work on viable solutions with the authority instead, to avoid any controversy that may harm the country’s interests.
In other developments, opposition leader and former MP Musallam AlBarrak held a gathering at his diwaniya in the area of Al-Andalus Saturday evening in protest of what the oppositionist describe as “political persecutions”.
The gathering entitled “no to political trials” was held just two days ahead of Al-Barrak’s scheduled trial on April 15 in which a final verdict is expected. AlBarrak was charged of making statements deemed offensive to HH the Amir at a public rally on Oct. 15. If convicted he could face up to five years imprisonment.
Several opposition Twitter activists have been sentenced to jail terms since January and many more are facing trial on charges of making derogatory statements against the Amiri stature. Three opposition former lawmakers — Falah Al-Sawagh, Khaled Al-Tahous and Bader Al-Dahoum — were also convicted on Feb. 5 of the state security offense and sentenced to three years in prison. However, they were released on a KD 5000 bail each after they appealed a verdict.
The opposition coalition, comprised of the Majority Bloc that headed the scrapped 2012 assembly and umbrella affiliations, has been staging protests since December 2012 to demand the dissolution of Parliament elected using the one-vote electoral system. They demand the scrapping the new electoral system, which they believe has been decreed unconstitutionally, and a number of oppositionists have also been calling for an elected government.