Kuwait Times, Tuesday, Jan 5, 2021 | Jamadi Al Awwal 21, 1442
Assembly starts sessions with controversial probe
Kuwait:
The new National Assembly begins its regular sessions of the new term
today with an anticipated heated debate in which opposition MPs will demand a
judiciary and parliamentary probe into events that took place at the inaugural
session more than two weeks ago. Opposition MP Thamer Al-Suwait said MPs will
demand to refer those who carried out the events of the “Black Tuesday” to the
public prosecution for a criminal investigation.
They will also demand the formation of a parliamentary committee with a full
mandate to investigate what happened at the inaugural session. Suwait also
warned that he and other lawmakers will hold the prime minister to account, as
he was a witness to the events.
Lawmakers opposed to the election of speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem claim that dozens
of supporters of Ghanem, including his brother Khaled, were allowed into the
assembly session illegally. The group caused an uproar during the election,
insulting opposition MPs and stirring chaos in the gallery before the sitting
temporary speaker evicted them.
MPs also claim that the assembly secretariat had leaked illegal ballot papers
for the speaker election which raises the prospect of forgery. The assembly
office has already formed its own investigation panel and asked lawmakers to
provide it with evidence. However, opposition MPs called its formation a “farce”
saying it includes members who are a party to the problem. MP Osama Al-Munawer
said the formation of the panel is unprecedented and he and nine other MPs
submitted a motion to cancel the committee and form a parliamentary
investigation panel.
Human rights
In the meantime, the assembly’s human rights panel yesterday invited Interior
Minister Sheikh Thamer Al-Sabah for a meeting this week to assess the human
rights situation in the country, especially the case of a stateless man who
committed suicide and the case of another stateless man who was brutally
murdered by four citizens, including a serviceman.
MP Munawer also said he has submitted a proposal banning the government from
granting aid to foreign countries without the prior consent of the National
Assembly. MPs have charged the government of being generous to foreign
governments while ignoring Kuwaiti citizens’ needs.
The assembly manpower development committee has sent a letter to the national
assembly asking for permission to conduct a comprehensive study on the
employment of citizens and the policy of replacing expats employed in the public
sector with Kuwaitis. MP Hesham Al-Saleh asked authorities why Kuwait
municipality appointed expat legal consultants while refusing to appoint
citizens.