Results tagged “Constitution”

I have been tweeting more than I have been blogging. I apologize, but tweeting on Twitter is so much easier especially from a mobile device, both in reading other peoples tweets and writing your own. I write random things that I see, thoughts that I have, respond to my tweet friends and update them on where I am in this world - all in 140 letters or less.

Recently celebrities have had the media focus on twitter, first Ashton Kutcher was on a head to head race with CNN by being the first to amass the millionth follower. Ashton won if you did not know. A few days later, Oprah joined twitter and tweeted her first tweet from her show, she quickly got told off by Shaquille O'Neal telling her that her caps where on, which is considered similar to shouting and bad Internet etiquette.

A lot of people joined and tweeted on twitter after that.

Today, I got informed by twitter that Aseel09 is following me on twitter.

Knowing that it is the Candidate Aseel Al Awadhi, I followed her back. Unfortunately, Aseel's tweets were more like announcements of her media and campaigning activities. They don't even look like she is the one posting her tweets. I have some advice for Aseel or any celeb whether, local or international, big or small, on how to behave on twitter:

1) If you join Twitter, first be sure that your mobile device supports it and tweet constantly from there. It is more convenient in real time for all your followers.

2) Tweet yourself, don't let anyone tweet for you. The whole beauty of twitter is that it's personalized, and not a tedious announcement of some event.

3) Be human, tell us your activities, spur of the momen thoughts and comments - don't misuse it as a Public Relations form of spin.

4) Be funny, show us your humor.

5) Be interesting, tell us the story about what is happening to you, with one tweet after other.

6) Comment and reply to your followers or anyone else you may have an opinion about.

7) Using Twitter as a platform for announcements is the wrong way to tweet.

If you want to see an interesting and captivating twitterer you can check out my own tweets. (Apologies for the self promotion).

I hope Aseel listens to my advice, and if she does, she will win my vote and others.

Scope TV's Ibdah Al-Hajeri (Left)

UPDATE 22.4.09 Wed. 3:30pm: Al-Khorafi and Bu Ramiah were released from custody this afternoon.

UPDATE 21.4.09 Tues. 11:10 pm: Al-Hajeri was released from custody.

'Al-Arabiya' channel and AFP have verified that Municipality member and Parliamentary candidate Khalifa Al-Khorafi has been arrested by State Security for criticizing the ruling family.

Additionally, Ibdah Al-Hajeri, 'Scope TV' s anchor has also been summoned for questioning.

Islamist MP Daifallah Bu Ramiah is still under house arrest at the State Security apparatus for insulting the Defense Minister and Acting Prime Minister stating he 'wasn't fit to be Prime Minister'.

Trade Union Leader and Parliamentary candidate Khalid Tahoos was released this morning following two weeks of house arrest for incendiary remarks concerning the mobilization of the Kuwaiti street if Interior forces cracked down on tribal elections.

The New Welcoming Sign At Kuwait Airport

Last May I posted the following:

"The government is in a much more vulnerable position than it was prior to the National Assembly being dissolved (there are loose ends hanging about...they won't just disappear into thin air). If the government doesn't deliver the Five Year Development program (i.e. hospitals, infrastructure, water and electricity) demanded by all faces of the political spectrum: Islamists, Liberals, Tribal, Shiite - and, frankly I doubt they will - a political powder keg will ignite. In other words, I expect the life expectancy of this new Parliament to be one year (I'll see you at the polls again next Spring)."

Well it has happened hasn't it? Not that it gives me any pleasure - voting again for the third time in four years is not my idea of progress. The next two months be prepared to listen to more pure, unadulterated electoral bullshit, rivaling a decade's worth of KUNA wires.

Are you ready?

21st August Update - Bashar Al-Sayegh was released this afternoon by the authorities. An English-language report can be found at Kuwait Times; Arab-language commentary and pictures can be found at Belkuwaiti Alfasih.

Yesterday was an ominous, dark day for Kuwait, its people and its Constitution.

Word has reached citizens that Kuwait State Security police have allegedly detained and assaulted Al Ommah blogger and Aljarida journalist Mr. Bashar Al-Sayegh, continuing to hold him accountable for an anonymous post lambasting HH The Amir (which Al-Sayegh quickly deleted from the Al Ommah domain before his arrest). Additionally, a journalist for Aljarida Newspaper, Mr. Jassim Al-Qamis was additionally arrested, attacked and detained for taking a picture of Al-Sayegh during his arrest at the premises of Aljarida Newspaper (owned by MP Mohamed Al-Saqer).

Writers and Bloggers are responsible for the content of their work. They should not and cannot be held responsible 24/7 for anonymous comments, however inflammatory or distasteful. Nevertheless, the issue is bigger than that, it is an arrest of a Blogger and his continued imprisonment, as well as any physical attacks that may have occurred on the Blogger and on the Al Jarida Journalist, clear violations of their individual and human rights, rights that should be guaranteed and protected by the Constitution.

If the above information is factual then the actions of the State Security individuals were illegal, abhorrent to our principles and a clear violation of the following Kuwait Constitution clauses:

Article 31

No person shall be arrested, detained, searched or compelled to reside in a specified place, nor shall the residence of any person or his liberty to choose his place of residence or his liberty of movement be restricted, except in accordance with the provisions of law.

Article 32

No crime and no penalty may be established except by virtue of law, and no penalty may be imposed except for offences committed after the relevant law has come into force.

Article 34

An accused person is presumed innocent until proved guilty in a legal trial at which the necessary guarantees for the exercise of the right of defence are secured. The infliction of physical or moral injury on an accused person is prohibited.

Article 36

Freedom of opinion and of scientific research shall be guaranteed. Every person shall have the right to express and propagate his opinion verbally, in writing or otherwise, in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified by law.

Article 37

Freedom of the press, printing and publishing shall be guaranteed in accordance with the conditions and manner specified by law.

The Kuwaiti Constitution guarantees our rights. It is the fabric that protects the community and its people, it is the fabric that guarantees basic human rights, individual rights and freedom of the press and it was the document that last year facilitated a peaceful transition of power from one ruler to the next. All of the Constitution must be respected and abided by at all times.

We are not a police state. We are not a violent country. What occurred should have never happened: two young Kuwaitis arrested without a warrant or court order and detained by State Security, with their families unaware of their surroundings, a horrible instance of deja-vu reminiscent of barbaric incidents during the Iraqi invasion, not the way Kuwait should be.

This is not an Islamist issue, this is not a Liberal issue, this is not a pro or anti-government issue. This is an issue that affects our rights as citizens, our identity and dignity and way of life.

We hope Mr. Sayegh returns to his family safe and sound.

Links:

The Kuwait Constitution (English)
Safat Square (Arabic)
Q8SWS (English)
K The Kuwaiti (English)

After months of political turmoil concerning his tenure as Minister of Information, Mr. Mohamed Al-Sanousi (picture) has resigned (see Asharq Al-Awsat and Safat Square).

Even though Mr. Sanousi is a cultured, shrewd and charming gentleman - as well as a liberal who was always vocal in improving Kuwaiti infrastructure and development - he was an unfortunate catalyst in impeding the freedom of the press and democratic ideals here. Whether that was his choice or not is irrelevant; if it was the latter he should have resigned on principle if he truly believed in freedom of the press.

One would have hoped that he would continue the great work done by former Minister Mr. Anas Rushaid in disbanding the ministry but not only did he not continue the work, he reversed course and attempted to salvage the Ministry. Under his watch, most of the licenses given to new newspapers were allocated only to 'high profile' entities; he attempted to block the '5 for Kuwait' satellite stations; he ordered (then retracted the order) sending a journalist from 'Al-Siyassah' to court for publishing information that was common knowledge everywhere in Kuwait, among other issues.

His repeated defiance of National Assembly members vise a vise the "Quizzing" (i.e. "I am ready, I will make the MP's bite their nails") only added fuel to the fire.

Nevertheless, as much as I may have disagreed with some of Mr. Sanousi's actions in the Ministry, he deserves our sympathy. He has obviously been through much personal and professional turmoil (i.e. his 'Showbiz' B.O.T. being cancelled) and the man deserves some relief and peace of mind.

The beast of burden is the Ministry of Information; it is the entity threatening to eradicate any knight attempting to traverse through its wall of flames. No one will leave the ministry intact, a high price will be paid.

It really is time to break the ministry (the way Qatar did a *decade* ago): the television is sub par, the news is weak, the censorship bureau is unwilling to adopt a ratings system for the cinema, sticking to a 30 year old antiquated code and the foreign press bureau or press attaches would be better served under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among other observations.

Like its equally unappealling sister, the Ministry of Education, the Info Ministry will always be at the center of a tug of war between the Government and the Islamists - it is not worth fighting for. Shut it down once and for all. That way we can avoid future 6 month continuous "quizzing" threats paralyzing the system here.

And besides, no democratic state - at the very least, a state with a Parliament and a Constitution - should harbor a Ministry of Information.

From the Arab Times article today:

Excerpt:

A study is being done on the possibility of unconstitutionally dissolving the Parliament, suspending the National Assembly for three years and amending Article 4 of the Constitution, say sources.

Safat Square also has an informative article on this issue.

Are the above plans seriously being considered behind the scenes or are they merely public relations saber-rattling by the government aimed at scaring off some MP's intent on "quizzing" Ministers?

Discuss.

A news item published two days ago in the Arab Times newspaper featured Municipal Council Chairman Abdulla Al-Muhailibi rejecting a planned name change from an extended section of the 'Gulf Road' to 'Constitution Road.'

Another symbolic slap in the face to reformers and supporters of the Kuwaiti Constitution.

According to sources, the proposed 'Constitution Road' would have begun at the Seif Palace roundabout and extended up the Gulf Road to encompass the National Assembly building.