SUBSCRIPTION THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017 RABI AL-THANI 21, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Mubarak Demolitions Bollywood’s Egyptian Al-Kabeer port spark deadly Salman Khan football star to revitalize violence in Arab cleared in placed on ties with3 Iraq Israeli village7 arms40 case ‘terror’19 list MPs slam rising expat Min 09º Max 20º numbers, remittances High Tide 03:52 & 16:59 Assembly panel talks Iran, Trump with govt Low Tide 10:33 & 23:18 40 PAGES NO: 17115 150 FILS By B Izzak KOC union holds sit-in against privatization KUWAIT: Lawmakers who had signed on a motion for a special debate on the rising numbers of expatriates in By Meshaal Al-Enezi the country yesterday demanded that the session be held on Feb 2. MPs Abdulkarim Al-Kandari, Riyadh Al- KUWAIT: The Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) labor union held a sit- Adasani, Mohammad Al-Dallal, Waleed Al-Tabtabaei and in yesterday evening at its headquarters in Ahmadi in protest Abdulwahab Al-Babtain signed the motion and said over statements made by Oil Minister Essam Al-Marzouq on pri- they want to debate the government’s failure in check- vatizing the oil sector. The protest was attended by some law- ing the number of expatriates in the country and halting makers and members of other labor syndicates, all of whom expressed total rejection of the government’s intentions to pri- visa trafficking. vatize the sector. The motion said that Kuwaiti citizens are concerned MPs Khaled Al-Otaibi, Nayef Al-Merdas and Faisal Al-Kandari that they have become a minority in their own country, stressed their support of the oil sector employees’ demands. especially as the government has failed to control the ris- They noted that being new to the post, the oil minister should ing number of expatriates. The lawmakers said they want comply with the demands or face a grilling. Rejecting any priva- the debate to focus on the implications of the large num- tization plans, the lawmakers argued the concept of privatiza- ber of expatriates on infrastructure, especially health, tion in Kuwait is different than that in other parts of the world, education, power and traffic services, which are already since oil is Kuwait’s only source of national income. They also in a bad shape. They want the debate to discuss the size warned that privatization will harm Kuwaiti oil sector employ- of remittances being sent out of the country by expatri- ees, including around 450 lab technicians and engineers. ates without any benefit to the state. The lawmakers In a program broadcast on Sunday, Marzouq told Sky News demanded to know the measures adopted by the gov- Arabia that Kuwait’s oil investment strategy had not been ernment in this effect. changed by falling oil prices. “We have a plan until 2020 to Meanwhile, MP Safaa Al-Hashem, who had called for a spend around $120 billion, and this has not changed because clampdown on expatriates and for making them pay we think the fall (of oil prices) was short-term, and these were charges for using roads, yesterday reiterated her call, say- long-term investments and will have big revenues for the econ- ing that Kuwait no longer needs expatriates as Kuwaiti omy.” Marzouq said he hoped oil prices would stay between $55 citizens can run the country. She did not elaborate. and $60 a barrel or move even higher if market fundamentals But a large number of writers, human rights defenders helped. and activists yesterday strongly criticized MPs for their On the privatization of the oil sector, Marzouq said there were some activities which could not be privatized such as discriminatory statements targeting expatriates and call- exploration and production, but areas related to oil services ing for deporting a large number of them. Director of could be privatized and Kuwait had a plan to do this in the com- KUWAIT: The Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) labor union holds a sit-in yesterday at its headquarters in Kuwait Human Rights Association Mohammad Al- ing two to three years. Ahmadi against the privatization of the oil sector. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Humaidi said that before MPs and the government start Continued on Page 13 LOCAL THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017 KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Gerhard Schroeder, in presence of the President of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ali Al-Ghanem. — Amiri Diwan and KUNA photos His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with members of Al-Marafi family. Amir receives former German Chancellor Company to provide free Wi-Fi around Kuwait KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Hamad Al-Sabah, and Deputy Prime at Bayan Palace yesterday former Chancellor Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh of the Federal Republic of Germany and Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah. Furthermore, His honorary President of the German Near and Highness the Crown Prince received Chief Middle East Association Gerhard Schroeder. of Kuwait National Security Bureau Sheikh President of the Kuwait Chamber of Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Ali In other news, His Highness the Prime Mohammed Thunayan Al-Ghanem and Minister received stockholders of a newly Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Ali established water company. The company’s Jarrah Al-Sabah were present at the meet- stockholders shared their visions and future ing. The German official later met with His plans for diversifying water resources in the Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- country. His Highness the Premier praised Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Speaker of the company for its strategic goals in ampli- the National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanem. fying water production in the country, advis- Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir ing them to follow high standards of water received Abdulfatah Mohammad Marafi, production. Sheikh Thamer Al-Sabah attend- Abdulelah Mohammad Marafi, Mohammad ed the meeting. Taqi Marafi, Yagoub Sadiq Marafi, Yosef His Highness the Prime Minister also Sadiq Marafi. The Marafi family dedicated a received Chairman of the Public Authority book entitled ‘Mohammad Rafie Hussein for Communications and Information Marafi: a man of business, politics, and Technology Salem Al-Uthaina, as the humanity.’ Wireless Mobile Data Company (WiMD) is In the meantime, His Highness the preparing to launch its free Wi-Fi service in Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- the country. The meeting discussed a Jaber Al-Sabah received Ghanem, His complete review of the WiMD’s plan to Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, First provide free Wi-Fi service in all parts of the His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah meets with members of the Public Authority for Communications Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of country. — KUNA and Information Technology. Kuwaiti Deputy FM Army chief meets British heads to Malaysia for OIC meeting envoy, GCC military official KUWAIT: Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled KUWAIT: Kuwaiti Army’s Chief of Staff Lieutenant Al-Jarallah departed yes- General Mohammad Al-Khoder discussed yesterday with terday to Malaysia, Britain Ambassador to Kuwait Mathew Lodge and heading a Kuwaiti dele- Military Attache in the embassy Colonel Finlay Mclean gation for the issues of common interest. The two sides also tackled Organization of Islamic military topics and ways to boost bilateral ties between Cooperation’s (OIC) the two countries, Ministry of Defense Moral and emergency meeting Guidance Public Relation Office said in a statement. today. The meeting is Earlier, Khoder met with the GCC Military Affairs scheduled to discuss General Secretariat’s outgoing Assistant Director violations committed Brigadier Khalifa Hamid Al-Ka’abi. The ministry’s state- against Rohingya minor- ment added the meetings were attended by a number of ity of Myanmar. senior military officials. OIC’s Special Envoy Deputy Foreign Minister Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior for Myanmar Tan Sri Khaled Al-Jarallah Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah discussed Syed Hamid Albar said with Secretary General of the Arab Interior Ministers’ on Tuesday that “Malaysia proposed the meeting Council Dr Mohammed bin Ali Komen the main issues because of the urgency of the matter, and not because put on the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the we want to interfere in Myanmar’s internal affairs. The Arab ministers’ council. The Interior Ministry said in a main objective was to create protection for the ethnic statement that Sheikh Khaled received from Komen minority, whose rights as citizens have been denied, an invitation to attend the council’s meeting in Tunis he added. next March. The ongoing troubles in the Rakhine state had caused The statement noted that Sheikh Khaled was briefed thousands of Rohingya to flee Myanmar with reports of on the council’s secretary general’s efforts and Arab joint atrocities, including rape and murder. Whole villages are work throughout years. Komen, meanwhile, expressed said to have been burned to the ground, in some cases appreciation to Sheikh Khaled for the warm welcome he with the residents still in their houses. —KUNA received. Komen also praised Kuwait’s efforts and com- KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah meets with Secretary mitment to Arab cooperation in various fields.— KUNA General of the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council Dr Mohammed bin Ali Komen. — KUNA Bin Duaij fountain: Oldest, most iconic in Kuwait KUWAIT: Bin Duaij fountain, which was established by charitable figure Abdulaziz Mohammad Al-Duaij in 1876, is considered the oldest and most iconic drinking fountain in the State of Kuwait.