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Kuwait will firmly confront anyone trying to drag it into nasty strife -- Acting PM

Kuwait will firmly confront anyone trying to drag it into nasty strife -- Acting PM
Kuwait will firmly confront anyone trying to drag it into nasty strife -- Acting PM

 By Muna Shishter and Nouri Al-Osthath KUWAIT, Sept 19 (KUNA) -- Acting Prime Minister, Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah asserted here on Sunday that Kuwait will firmly confront anyone who tries to drag it into any nasty strife, demanding that all come together to shoulder their responsibilities in this national issue.
Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak said during his meeting with representatives of the media that what is currently happening in Kuwait is not a simple matter and that the interest of Kuwait is above all else, calling on everyone to share in the responsibility and work to calm things down rather than escalate, "and Kuwait can not afford any further escalation." He stressed at the same time the importance of taking lessons from the States which were exposed to sectarian incidents, stressing the need for unity and synergy to protect the people of Kuwait and the home front from this turmoil Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak noted that the difference in views regarding local issues and interpretations in the public sphere "does not get us to the stage of the danger," but what brings us to this stage is "employing such difference in sectarianism in order to ignite sectarian strife." He pointed to the call of His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince and HH the Prime Minister in the matter of "protecting the social unity.
" He told the representatives of the media, "you realize that there who wants to drag us into hateful strife, a matter which will make us confront firmly", realizing "but firmness in the laws is not enough and we need to come together for mutual assistance".
He added that the prevention of sedition is a national responsibility and is the responsibility of everyone "in his or her respective locations," noting that what had happened in the past few days "is not simple and confirms that there is fragility in the society which we must avert as much as possible."

Al-Mubarak called on the media as "one of the tools of the Kuwaiti people" to protect the people "who asks us to help and support," referring to discontent in diwaniyas (social gatherings) and to what we perceive as bitterness in the speeches of HH the Amir." He said the responsibility now lies on the tools "which are the authorities, " noting that the executive authority has already started work to prevent sedition and reduce its growth and that the media is a very effective tool and can reduce the size of the problem faced by the country or reduce it".
Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak said the government will coordinate with the legislative authority, which is on vacation now, "and if we see that there are shortcomings in our laws, the interest of Kuwait will be above all," adding that "the super powers that have preceded us in a democracy have taken vigorous legal action to the extent of personal freedoms... and it is time for us to join hands in this matter and protect the Kuwaiti people and our internal front from any harm" He said freedoms will always be respected, stressing that there is no reason why not to hold any seminar not addressing sectarianism.
He said that the current circumstances led us to prevent the seditious seminars because they could a spark to kindle sedition "and we will prevent the holding of seditious seminars by all means because Kuwait's interest is above all things.
He warned of the entry of other parties working to divert seminars to the detriment of one of the segments of the society.
He pointed out that these circumstances "also made us to prevent mutual accusations", stressing that the government's action in preventing the holding of seminars will apply to everyone without regard to any considerations

 -- Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak urged the media personnel to support the government in this responsibility, saying "You possess the media which leads the public opinion and you are able to calm down or escalate things and the country can not tolerate any escalation in this matter." "We saw just a statement that was used irresponsibly in one of the seminars and I ordered that seminar be suspended," he said, adding "I will not allow the holding of any seminar even if it was said to calm down things, because the conditions do not permit such matters with the existence of fears." In response to a question about whether the Government was taking the same measures on all segments of society and whether these measures were in accordance with the Constitution and the law, the acting Premier said "I want to be clear ..no one can doubt our respect of tribes issue".
He added, "Kuwait is greater than tribes. Identity cannot be affiliated to tribes, I am basically a Kuwaiti," noting that he had ordered cancellation of the tribal affiliation for the newly-enlisted citizens in the military academy, for everybody are natives of Kuwait." The government is responsible for ensuring justice for persons in trouble regardless of origin or loyalty .. "and measures will be taken against anyone who may target Kuwait for what's at stake here is the security of the country." Officials and personnel in charge of the security and implementation of the government measures are natives of Kuwait too, "and the damage will affect everyone if we create divisions among ourselves on such lines as tribes, urban citizens, bedouins, Shiites or Sunnites," Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak added.
As to the charges that the media should be solely held responsible for realization of the national unity and abstention from sowing seeds of discords, the minister said the government and the press are equally responsible, however the responsibility laid on the shoulders of the media is great, explaining that its role grew due to the diversification of the broadcast means, such as the the internet and the SMS services.
As to possible penalties to be taken against Yasser Al-Habib, the minister said the cabinet decided, at its session last week, to charge the minister of interior with taking the necessary measures in this respect, such as subjecting him to interrogations. He added the authorities could penalize Al-Habib even though he holds another nationality, such as depriving him of the Kuwaiti nationality.

-- The Acting Premier and Defense Minister said the government measures have been legal and constitutional, noting that the ban on holding rallies was inetended to safeguard the unity of the country. "Any person who defies the state challenges the people of Kuwait, and will be met with confrontation and if anything happens he will be held responsible," he warned.
He denied that the country was targeted with "external dangers, for the dangers are internal and must be stopped not only with the laws and force but also with the media means." Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak criticized some local quarters for over-reacting to some external affairs "that are not of our concern and may embroil us in unecessary fights." Asked why the government has not shown firmness in the implementation of the laws, the minister elaborated saying, the civilized nations are those that implement the laws, and the failure to implement the legislations is not a source of pride." He reiterated that the media has dramatically expanded and some news or reports that are not locally published are shifted abroad for publicizing. "The matter at issue not a matter of texts but the intentions, this is our country we should not stand idle towards bids to annihiliate it," he stressed.
In responsose to a question why the government had not taken action against the discords until the ordinary citizens took action, he indicted that some politicians who are seeking some petty gains are behind such allegations.
"Now that we have seen the knife has reached he bone and the dangers have become so close and explicit, we can no longer stay silent and we have taken the necessary measures, thus we want you to clarify the truth to the people and to explain to them that what's happening is for their interests all," Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak elaborated.
He re-affirmed the government confidence in the "fourth authority," and promised to revoke two provisions of the rallies ban law, adding that the diwaniahs are allowed for they group a small number of people, not exceeding 100 people, "but we will not allow gatherings for a large number of people scuch as 1,200." (end) ms.na.rk