Al-Watan Daily's License Canceled, Case in Court
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SUBSCRIPTION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 RABI ALTHANI 1, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Humanitarian Bahrain Solar plane Japan, Iraq achievements sentences Shiite pioneers lay out storm into of Amir focus activist to jail round-the-world Asian Cup of new5 book over tweets7 flight27 plan quarters19 Al-Watan daily’s license Min 03º Max 20º canceled, case in court High Tide 13:16 Govt assures no political motives behind closure Low Tide 06:52 & 18:38 40 PAGES NO: 16409 150 FILS By B Izzak KUWAIT: The government has scrapped the commercial IS threatens to kill Japan hostages license of leading newspaper Al-Watan, citing its failure to comply with legally required financial terms. The paper BEIRUT: The Islamic State group threatened in a video yesterday challenged the closure decision by the ministry yesterday to kill two Japanese hostages within 72 of commerce and industry in the court, which decided to hours unless it receives a $200 million ransom, but look into the issue today. Tokyo vowed it would not bow to “terrorism”. The decision to close Al-Watan, one of the largest circu- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in Jerusalem on lated dailies in Kuwait that has recently become critical of the latest leg of a Middle East tour, demanded the the government, was taken late Monday and implement- jihadists immediately free the two hostages ed immediately, after it was accused of failing to meet unharmed. He flew home several hours earlier than minimum capital requirements under Kuwait’s commer- planned to take charge of the crisis after meeting with cial law. The ministry of commerce and industry yesterday Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who con- explained that it decided to withdraw the commercial demned the threat against the abductees as “despica- license of Al-Watan as per the Kuwaiti law after accumu- ble”. lated losses exceeded 75 percent of its capital. IS has murdered five Western hostages since The ministry said in a statement that the decision was August last year, but it is the first time that the also applied to several other companies for the same rea- extremist group - which has seized swathes of Syria son and will be applied to a number of other companies. and neighbouring Iraq - has threatened Japanese The statement added that the companies were first cau- captives. In footage posted on jihadist websites, a tioned that they violated the law and should take meas- black-clad militant brandishing a knife addresses the ures to rectify their financial situation, and those who camera in English, standing between hostages Kenji failed were shut down. Goto and Haruna Yukawa who are wearing orange State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad jumpsuits. “You now have 72 hours to pressure your Al-Abdullah told reporters in the National Assembly yes- government into making a wise decision by paying terday that the decision was not politically motivated and the $200 million to save the lives of your citizens,” he was based on the commercial law. He said the decision says. The militant says that the ransom demand is to was taken after a thorough study by the government, compensate for non-military aid that the Japanese which should not be blamed for applying the law. But the prime minister pledged to support countries affected This image taken from an online video released by the Islamic State group’s Al-Furqan media arm yester- newspaper said on its website, which remained running, by IS violence at the start of his Middle East tour. day shows the group threatening to kill two Japanese hostages - Kenji Goto (left) and Haruna Yukawa - that the swift implementation of the decision raised sus- Continued on Page 13 unless a $200 million ransom is paid within 72 hours. — AP picion about some hidden motives for the closure. Continued on Page 13 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 LOCAL Filipino school reassures parents, will stay in current location Court decision expected in March By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: A defiant New Kuwait Philippines International School in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh yesterday said it will continue to operate despite being ordered to close by the Ministry of Education by April. “Our school management, especially CEO Talal Khalifa Al-Jeri, told us to hold on because we are exerting all legal remedies for the school to continue and stay in its current location,” Dr Jesusa V Puno, the principal of the school, said during a meeting with parents yester- day. The school’s legal officer Osama Karam Sayed was also invited to explain to the parents the legal remedies being undertaken by the school. “We were supposed to get the final decision of the court on January 11, but because the ministry appealed for deferment, the court decision will decide in March. Inshallah we’ll get a favorable ruling on the matter since what we are concerned about is the wel- fare of our students,” said Sayed. “They cannot come to us (two months ago) and tell us to vacate the premises in April. We should be given enough time to prepare. We know why they are doing this and this is the reason we are contesting to stay here,” Sayed stated. Another private company The lawyer told Kuwait Times that another educational institution is lobbying for the current location of NKPIS. “If the ministry needs the place for the construction of a gov- KUWAIT: Dr Jesusa V Puno addressing parents at the ernment project, then we’ll gladly and willingly vacate the KUWAIT: Parents attending a special meeting yesterday to reassure parents that NKPIS will continue. — Photos by Ben Garcia NKPIS yesterday, with her is lawyer Osama Karam (center) place, but to give it to another private company of the and Alaa. same nature of business is unfair, because we have been running this institution for the past 15 years. They want us However, if not, the school lawyer said it is ready to Sigh of relief The Ministry of Education’s Private and Qualitative to leave in favor of them. This is simply not right,” he said. transfer their students to a nearby building which is Some parents who had expressed anxiety earlier went Education Sector said their earlier notice to the NKPIS was “We have more than 700 students, and we cannot be also owned by the Umm-Al-Qura Establishment. “We home at peace. “I was worried, but am satisfied now by the in accordance with ministerial decision no. 210/2008 thrown out just like that. The company (Umm Al-Qura are the biggest educational institution in Kuwait - we explanation of the principal and their lawyer. We really issued on 29/5/2008. The decision includes the eviction of Educational Establishment) will exert all legal remedies to own about 14 schools for various nationalities. But we pray that the court will rule in favor of the school. But as I NKPIS for ‘exploiting’ part of the government’s Hassan bin stay and we ask our dear parents to stand by with us - we want to assure our parents that we are not going to heard from them, there’s a school on standby if the court Thabit Kindergarten through administrative means. Kuwait will be calling you again by March. The ministry knows that leave just like that. We want you to continue with us ruling isn’t positive. I just don’t want my children’s study to Times earlier reported that the school is expected to our appeal is urgent, so we hope the decision will come and we’ll do our best to stay in the current location,” be interrupted if they close,” said Michael, a parent of two obtain a deferral and be allowed to continue operating in earlier and favorable to us,” he added. Sayed reiterated. children at NKPIS. its current location until 2016. Education Ministry, Microsoft sign cooperation agreement LONDON: Kuwait and Microsoft signed an agree- remarks on sidelines of an international conference should be capable of conveying the information in ment in London Monday aimed at using modern on educational and instructional technology. a way that is easy and understood while using e- technology in Kuwait schools. “The agreement we signed today does not education,” the minister said. E-education will also The agreement, signed by Kuwait’s Minister of entail any financial burdens on the ministry, but it enable the student to assume larger responsibili- Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr is an assistance by Microsoft to develop education ties in the educational process, he said, by explo- Bader Al-Essa and Microsoft Kuwait general by using technology in the State of Kuwait,” he ration, expression and experiment in order to Manager Charles Nahas, is designed to teach added. “The governments in our countries and encourage critical thinking. teachers and principals on how to use technology advanced countries cannot develop education by Nahas, for his part, said e-education in school in education, and then eventually transform it to themselves but need to use capabilities and was an revolution to develop skills of individuals in students. expertise of the private sector,” he said. particular and community in general. He added “The first phase will include the training of 2,000 that this era was characterized with rapidly-grow- teachers and this will increase to around 10,000 E-education ing information technology, which required the teachers according to a specific timetable,” Essa On the conference, Essa said he participated in preparation of kids and youth so they could use it. said in a statement after signing the agreement. a session about the role of teachers and how they British Secretary of State for Education Nicky LONDON: Kuwait’s Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr Bader Al- The Ministry of Education is keen on developing could use e-education while teaching.