KUWAIT:
After the police aborted an attempt made by some Bedoun (Stateless
Arabs) to protest in Taima two days ago and arrested 14 protesters, 18
Bedouns organized another protest in Sulaibiya on Wednesday midnight,
using hot air balloons that carried slogans calling for citizenship. The
Bedoun set off the balloons and escaped before the police arrived.
It
is worth noting that the police received tips that a small group of
Bedoun flew balloons that carry slogans calling for citizenship.
Interior Ministry on Wednesday accused stateless protesters of carrying
out criminal acts against police officers during the demonstration. We
regret the attacks by demonstrators in Taima (Square) and the shameful
acts punishable by law that they committed," the ministry said in a
statement on state-run news agency KUNA.
Demonstrators "tried to run over police officers, destroy equipment and devices, ignite tires and block roads," it said.
Authorities said 14 people were arrested.
Meanwhile,
Nawaf Al-Bader, the official spokesman of Kuwaiti Stateless committee
described Tuesday's protest by Bedouns as regrettable, as the Ministry
of Interior treated the situation with unjustified violence, adding that
all evidences ensures its arbitrariness.
He added, "It also
affected journalists and photographers, where some of them were
threatened, expulsed and even Al-Rai (newspaper) photographer was
arrested."
He explained that these demonstrations are a result
of the government's lack of credibility in dealing with the Bedouns
issue and lack of intention to resolve the matter. Al-Bader pointed out
that since the establishment of the Central Agency for Illegal Residents
stateless body, no one has received their rights.
Regarding
the statement of Chief of Central Apparatus for Illegal Residents Saleh
Al-Fadhalah, he described them both "funny and sad." "He claims that he
has thousands of proofs against Bedouns, who faked their documents. So,
we ask him to send them for trials, but these statements are not new for
us as activists. He also admits that a lot deserves citizenships and
yet they didn't get it till now".
He concluded, that there is
no true intention to solve this issue, and the statements of Al-Fadhalah
were "shameful and the National Assembly lawmakers should stop him."
MP
Shaye Al-Shaye affirmed that Al-Fadhalah is one of the sincere men of
Kuwait, indicating that the chief has exerted great efforts to solve the
thorny case of Bedoun and all of us appreciate his hard efforts.
Al-Shaye
told Al-Watan that Al-Fadhalah is a man of integrity and he is up to
responsibility, moreover he could achieve many positive steps towards
solving the case. The MP asked for giving Al-Fadhalah the time that he
needs for solving this critical case.
On the other hand,
Al-Shaye asked for disclosing the person that was behind granting the
Kuwaiti citizenship to the Iraqi police officer, after the MP Abdullah
Al-Turaiji discussed the case. He affirmed that such person should be
exposed before the Kuwaiti people even if he is a member of the current
Parliament.
On Tuesday, Al-Fadhalah has called on populace
pressure against some lawmakers decision to end the issue of Bedouns,
warning at the same time that such draft law, as proposed by some MPs,
would put an end to the work of the Central Apparatus and its endeavors
to make communications and contacts with officials in Iraq and Syria to
grant those stateless Arabs living in Kuwait illegally citizenship.
Al-Fadhalah's
statement came during a meeting held in a diwaniya in Al-Yarmouk area,
in which he explained that at least 42,000 Stateless Arabs have been
confirmed of Iraqi origin. He added that Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri
Al-Maliki asked him if he substantiate the claims to which Al-Fadhalah
sought to prove, but was hindered by the Arab spring.
"The
Central Apparatus has obtained an irrefutable evidence regarding the
true origin of 67, 000 Stateless Arabs with 1,058 people have already
declared publicly their true origin to taking advantage of the
privileges granted by the Central Apparatus for each and everyone who
discloses their true origin," he remarked.
As for the
breakdown of the people who had already disclosed their true origin,
Al-Fadhalah said that 565 are of Saudi origin; 359 of Syrian origin; 104
of Iraqi origin; 11 of Iranian origin; 9 of Jordanian origin; 3 of
Yemeni origin; 2 from New Zealand; 2 Egyptians; 2 Eritreans and 1
Canadian.
He went on to explain that the function of the
Central Apparatus is to find a solution to the problem of the Stateless
Arabs residing in the country illegally. He said that it was the wishes
of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to
resolve the issue and for that purpose the Supreme Council for Planning
was assigned to do exactly the job in 2008.
He added that when
the Central Apparatus began its work, they officially registered 93,000
people who claimed stateless status. He said that the figure was
enormous and therefore it was decided that there would be a red card
granted for three categories; those with security risk; those with
repeated offenses such as drugs charges; and those who were served with
an official note to leave the country. All these three categories are by
law barred from naturalization, but were given red card to assist them
with matters related to schooling and medical treatment provided for
them on humane grounds.
He also pointed out that if any of the
charges are not accurate, and if any Bedoun feels that the charges
against him are inaccurate, he can dispute by either referring to the
State Security or Military Intelligence whichever and bring an official
document showing that the charges indeed were inaccurate.
As
for the other two types of Bedouns, Al-Fadhalah said that some have the
1965 Registration which means they are entitled as long as no security
risk is noted in their files. Those people are issued with Green card.
The
last type is related to those who were present after 1966 and remained
thereafter. Those are given a Yellow card as long as there are no
security restrictions in their files.
#kuwait#bedoun#بدون#الكويت
