Kuwait Marks Ninth Year of Amir's Reign
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SUBSCRIPTION THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015 RABI ALTHANI 9, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Sheikha Rima Snails slither The Real Fouz: Djokovic, named UNHCR into spa scene Plastic surgery Serena on goodwill in Thailand can’t fix low fire to make ambassador2 and28 beyond self-esteem36 Aussie20 semis Kuwait marks ninth Min 12º Max 26º High Tide year of Amir’s reign 07:35 & 18:29 Low Tide Sheikh Sabah attends flag-raising ceremony 01:01 & 12:37 40 PAGES NO: 16417 150 FILS KUWAIT: Kuwait marks today the ninth anniversary of conspiracy theories the accession of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as the ruler of Kuwait. On Jan 26, 2006, the National Assembly held a special session Better late where he was constitutionally sworn in to his new post. To mark the occasion, Sheikh Sabah sponsored and attended a flag-raising ceremony yesterday at Bayan than never Palace. The ceremony was attended by HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and other senior sheikhs and officials. Later, Sheikh Ali Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah held a lunch ban- quet at his farm in Abdaly in honor of HH the Amir. By Badrya Darwish Sheikh Sabah began his political career on July 19, 1954, when he was appointed a member of the execu- tive committee tasked with overhauling and streamlin- ing all government departments and agencies at the time. A few years later, in Feb 1959, he became head of [email protected] the government’s department for publications and social services, following which in 1962, he was appoint- ed a member in the council in charge of drafting a con- t’s nice that someone in the parliament, at last, stitution for the newly-independent state of Kuwait. thought about the issue of unlicensed firearms in By 1962, all government departments had been Ithe hands of the public. The reality is that there changed to ministries and Sheikh Sabah was given the are thousands of unlicensed firearms in Kuwait and post of minister of news and guidance, and in 1963 he some of them are incredibly dangerous and high became minister of foreign affairs. In Dec 1965, besides tech, not just a simple rifles or pistols. Because many his post at the foreign ministry, he was also made acting people after the invasion of Kuwait unfortunately minister of oil and finance and on Feb 2, 1971, he was collected serious weapons left by the fleeing Iraqi named acting minister of information, and on Feb 16, army and kept them for their personal use or what- 1978, he was named the acting minister of interior. On ever. It was the government’s chance at that time to July 13, 2003 he was entrusted with the post of prime be serious about collecting all those arms. I recall minister in a Cabinet he formed. that the Ministry of Interior issued warnings and HH Sheikh Sabah held the post of foreign minister asked the public to hand over these illicit weapons, longer than anyone in the history of Kuwait, gaining but I think it was mostly forgotten and many KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attends a flag-raising ceremony at Bayan through it extensive experiences, which became useful weapons remained. Palace yesterday. — KUNA (See Page 3) in dealing with other nations’ policies and relations. Now the parliament has legalized search and Continued on Page 13 seizure for the police to tackle this issue and also increased the jail terms and fines for those caught with unlicensed arms. I know it’s a little late, but as Diesel, kerosene prices cut to 110 fils they say, better late than never. Actually, the gov- ernment already had the right to search and seize KUWAIT: Kuwait has cut selling prices of Feb 1, KUNA reported. illegal weapons with a warrant signed by the public diesel and kerosene at filling stations after It quoted KNPC spokesman Khalid Al- prosecutor, who works under the umbrella of the political opposition to price hikes under- Asousi as saying that from now on, domestic Justice Ministry. So I’m not sure what’s new in the lined the difficulty of reforming the coun- prices of the fuels would be reviewed bill. try’s welfare system, even as the loss of oil monthly according to developments in the While I support the initiative, I don’t think anoth- revenues makes reform more urgent. On Jan global markets. KNPC will continue to sup- er bill is the solution. The problem in Kuwait is not a 1, the government raised the price of diesel ply certain parties, including those with very lack of laws and regulations. Our beautiful constitu- at wholesalers and filling stations to 170 fils large demand for the fuels, at the old, subsi- tion covers most issues and is fair and just. But the per litre from 55 fils. Kerosene prices also dized price of 55 fils, he said. question is of implementation. This is where the increased. The changes aimed to reduce the Cutting subsidies has become more problem in Kuwait is, in every department, in every burden of lavish subsidies on state finances. important for the government with the ministry, in every sector and in every aspect. There State news agency KUNA estimated that plunge in global oil prices, which has is not equitable and fair implantation of the rules. diesel price reform would save the govern- slashed state export revenues. Earlier this So what the parliament should discuss - instead of ment around $1 billion a year. week, the finance ministry projected a issuing new laws - is finding ways to implement the Although the new prices of diesel and budget deficit of KD 8.23 billion for the next existing ones. kerosene were still among the lowest in the fiscal year starting in April. After the contro- First of all abolish what’s called wasta in Kuwait. world, the politically sensitive decision versy over the diesel subsidy reform, Oil All should be treated the same under the law. prompted heavy criticism of government Minister Ali Al-Omair said early this month Secondly, discipline is needed in every corner of policy by some members of parliament, that the government had decided to post- Kuwait. Then, if we reach that point, the parliament who argued it was unfair to consumers. pone any removal of subsidies from petrol, SHEBAA FARMS: Israeli military vehicles are seen burning in this occupied Yesterday, state refiner Kuwait National electricity and water. He did not say when can start thinking of issues to enhance quality of life area along the Israeli-Lebanese border near Ghajar village yesterday follow- Petroleum Co (KNPC) cut diesel and authorities might resume considering the rather than digging for old ones. ing a Hezbollah missile attack. — AFP kerosene prices to 110 fils, effective from reforms. — Reuters Wefaq leader Hezb attack kills rejects charges 2 Israeli soldiers as trial opens Spanish peacekeeper killed DUBAI: Bahraini Shiite opposition chief Sheikh Ali Salman rejected charges that he tried to overthrow the country’s MAJIDIYA, Lebanon: Two Israeli soldiers killed as Israel responded with air strikes Sunni regime, as his trial opened yesterday, a judicial source and a Spanish UN peacekeeper were and artillery fire, a UN spokesman and said. Hours later, hundreds of supporters gathered outside killed yesterday as Lebanon’s Hezbollah Spanish officials said. The 10,000-strong Salman’s home in a Manama suburb and clashed with riot and Israel exchanged fire in their most UNIFIL mission said it had observed six police, who used tear gas to disperse them, witnesses said. serious clashes in years. The violence rockets fired towards Israel from southern The judge decided to keep Salman behind bars and set the raised fears of another full-blown conflict Lebanon and that Israeli forces “returned next hearing for Feb 25, his influential Al-Wefaq bloc said. erupting between the bitter enemies, artillery fire in the same general area”. It who fought a month-long war in 2006. said the precise cause of the peacekeep- Salman, 49, was arrested Dec 28, sparking near-daily The two soldiers were killed when er’s death was “as yet undetermined” and protests across the Shiite-majority but Sunni-ruled king- Hezbollah fired an anti-tank missile at a urged all sides to show “maximum dom. The Al-Wefaq head has been accused of “promoting military convoy in an Israel-occupied bor- restraint to prevent an escalation”. the overthrow and change of the political regime by force” der area, the army said. Seven other sol- Hezbollah said it had targeted an and of inciting disobedience and hatred in public state- diers were wounded but local media said Israeli military convoy “transporting sever- ments. He was present at yesterday’s hearing before the AMMAN: Safi Al-Kassasbeh, the father of captured Jordanian pilot Maaz Al- none had suffered life-threatening al Zionist soldiers and officers”. “There Higher Criminal Court, which was held under tight security Kassasbeh (portrait), protests outside the royal court yesterday. — AFP injuries. were several casualties in the enemy’s and attended by representatives of several Western Israel responded with “combined aerial ranks,” Hezbollah said in a statement embassies. Jordan offers to release and ground strikes” on southern Lebanon broadcast on the Shiite militant group’s Salman’s defence team called for his release on bail as after the attack - an apparent retaliation Al-Manar television channel. It described the opposition chief pleaded not guilty, judicial sources jihadist woman for pilot for a recent Israeli strike on the Golan yesterday’s operation as “statement num- said.