THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014
LOCAL
Trading
accusations
kuwait digest
In my view
E-security and
education quality
Where will you go?
By Abdullatif Al-Duaij
S
ecretary General of Hashd, former MP Musallam AlBarrak, has strange ideas and despite this attracts
interest and support from many. The latest of Abu
Humoud’s ideas is social isolation that he and his followers are trying to impose against the regime and its supporters. Kuwait’s people are lazy, and that is why they
invented diwaniyas and late-night events. The diwaniyas
with their current formation and purposes are not a
Kuwaiti tradition as many believe - rather it is a modern
tradition that came along by the wealth and unemployment made available by oil.
The diwaniyas were originally for the nokhathas
(skippers). They meet in them with sailors and hosted
strangers or those from faraway places, while senior
merchants used it on certain occasions and Eids only,
not like now - open 24 hours because of unemployment.
Kuwaitis used to work from six to six, from sunrise to
sunset, and that is why no one other than skippers had
the opportunity to go to diwaniyas, because night was
time for sleeping for those who worked hard during the
day. Unemployment and availability of oil did not invent
the diwaniya gathering only, but also created greetings
and well-wishing during happy events, visiting the sick,
dinner buffets and finally visiting the cemetery and condolences.
Barrak, along with some youth, are calling for boycotting these contemporary phenomena that was
founded by unemployment and encouraged by the
availability of wealth that comes without effort or work
that requires rest and saving energy. This is the first time
Barrak has acted progressively in a way that agrees with
today’s societies. Boycotting diwaniyas and condolence
gatherings that occupy the time of most state officials is
a progressive call that serves the hard-working society.
Yet, can the secretary general of Hashd, or even others,
confront these phenomena and convince Kuwaitis to
get rid of them?!
I doubt this very much. These phenomena are the
production of the wealth and unemployment society,
and it is not easy to get rid of or boycott them, besides
not having an alternative. Frankly, if Musallam Al-Barrak
and his group boycott diwaniyas and other events, where
will they go and how will they spend their time, while
being lazier than people, because the Kuwait society is
intertwined. — Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Qabas
[email protected]
T
Al-Anba
Unemployment and
availability of oil did not
invent the diwaniya gathering only, but also created
greetings and well-wishing
during happy events
By Labeed Abdal
kuwait digest
Up, up and away KAC!
By Dr Hassan Abdullah Jouhar
I
recently had the honor of accompanying the social sciences college dean, colleague Dr Hanan Al-Hajri, and a group of political
science students to visit KAC’s board director Rasha Al-Roumi to
thank her and KAC crew for contributing in supporting the scientific section students’ trip to the UN headquarters in New York.
With her humbleness and spontaneity, Roumi did not hide her
concern of attempts to delay the process of developing GCC’s oldest airline and the endless problems, bad reputation and considerable losses the carrier has been suffering. She said that things had
gone as bad like losing passengers’ trust and falling back behind to
the tail of GCC aviation service providers’ list as well as the number
and condition of planes its fleet includes to cover flights worldwide.
Roumi’s feeling that such hindrances were deliberately put in
her way merely because she is a woman who should not be the
‘savior’ of this floundering project where many men had failed
might be true. However, I do not find this the only success obstacle
in working for the government in Kuwait. The real problem at KAC
and many governmental sectors stems from conflict of interests
amongst corruption icons in the absence of hope to impose a
political-wise ‘red-eye policy’. Reform and fighting corruption has
become a personal effort and individual risk facing endless hindrances, troubles and slander that end up victimizing ‘reformists’
themselves and forcing them to quit public service.
I do hope that Roumi, with her genuine Kuwaiti personality and
patriotism, would fight these ‘high waves’ the way her martyred
husband fought the occupation troops, recording one of Kuwait’s
rare heroism stories. We do agree that KAC needs a modern fleet
that befits the history of this establishment and echo the state’s
potentials. The sums spent on its losses and temporary solutions of
its problems are not less than those needed for the revolutionary
reforms led by Roumi, who should know for sure that the entire
Kuwaiti people would surely and strongly support and back her to
regain KAC’s status, especially if she adopts transparency and direct
transactions without using brokers or middlemen, focusing on getting more benefits for the Kuwaiti side in future plane leasing or
purchase deals and getting rid of merchants readily awaiting to
devour it.
Developing the Kuwait Airways fleet will not be the magic
wand taking it to its previous golden age which closely depends
on success in reforming the civil aviation sector, building a new airport that befits Kuwait and launching more destinations opening
up to the whole world. These are state requirements that are far
beyond the capabilities of Mrs Roumi and her administrative and
technical staffs. Taking into consideration that Roumi or any other
official should be held accountable in case of failing to do their
jobs, let us leave her be fly up high in the skies of development and
reform! — Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Jarida
he Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries plan to discuss the latest technologies and
issues pertaining with e-security, such as cloud
computing and large data storage protection, as well as
the need to establish international cooperation against
cyber attacks. This is an important step in an electronic
world. The discussions will tackle the urgent need to precisely deal with the latest technologies on e-security,
especially that this field affects economic development
and national security.
Both the public and private sectors need to understand the importance of e-security and the challenges
brought by the shortage of protection measures.
Governments and parliaments are required to activate
partnership between the public and private sectors to
put data safety as a priority in order to tackle these challenges. In Kuwait, we need a strong electronic infrastruc-
Both the public and private
sectors need to understand the
importance of e-security and the
challenges brought by the shortage of protection measures.
ture based on a strong protection system against hackers’ attacks. Another topic I would like to address is the
European Union’s announcement of reinforcing the use
of new technologies in higher education at member
states, and focusing more on digital learning. This confirms people’s need of high scientific levels in order to
guarantee quality production.
The step that Europe takes to face the challenges of
increased numbers of students, especially with increasing migration, drives countries to enhance the quality of
education, and subsequently efficiency as well. Focusing
on realistic and scientific steps by using the best that
new technologies have to offer in education is a step
that reflects a long-term vision. Europe remains a protector of the initiative in defending human rights, education, inventions and human achievements. Other countries are required to keep up, as laziness can never be
taken as a road towards victory.
in my view
Cameras to monitor Gaza reconstruction
By Abdullah Erakat
T
he Palestinian government says that closed circuit cameras will monitor the thousands of tons
of cement that will be needed to rebuild homes
in the Gaza Strip that were destroyed or damaged during the summer’s fighting between Israel and Hamas
in Gaza. A Palestinian security source said that the
cameras have been installed and the purpose is to
ensure that Hamas will not be able to rebuild the network of tunnels that were built under Gaza including
some that were meant to be used to attack Israel. Israel
destroyed about 30 tunnels during the fighting with
Hamas, which left more than 2100 Palestinians and 70
Israelis dead.
Israel allowed 600 tons of cement to enter Gaza last
week during the visit of UN Secretary General Ban KiMoon. The international community recently donate
$5.4 billion for Gaza reconstruction. Speaking to the
Security Council this week Ban said donors should pay
their pledges quickly so that reconstruction can begin
before the winter’s rains begin in earnest.
“Nothing could have prepared me for what I witnessed in Gaza. I saw mile after mile of wholesale
destruction,” Ban said.
The UN says that more than 100,000 residents of
Gaza remain homeless with over 50,000 still living in
UN-run school buildings. Many Gazans still do not
have clean drinking water, and electricity is often on
for just six hours each day.
“The clock is ticking. $414
million is immediately needed for humanitarian relief,
$1.2 billion for early recovery
needs and $2.4 billion for
reconstruction efforts,” Ban
said.
UN official James Rawley
has confirmed the set up of
cameras “to help ensure the
security of vendor facilities
and the safeguarding of their
own supplies,” but says “party affiliation is not part of
the mechanism, which is based on humanitarian and
reconstruction needs.” He said that someone whose
home was destroyed will be required to present his
Palestinian ID to an approved vendor in Gaza when
collecting his/her materials, but did not specify what
‘approved’ meant.
the donor conference in Cairo. Israel, the Palestinian
Authority and the United Nations agreed to facilitate
the movement of necessary building materials into
Gaza.
The materials are only allowed through the checkpoint that the Palestinians call Karem Abu Salem crossing and the Israelis call Karem Shalom Crossing. It was
sent to designated warehouses where it is being held
until the reconstruction begins.
“The merchants of those stores will screen family
members, taking their name and why they want the
supplies and if they pass they can get it,” the
Palestinian security source said. “This is to make sure it
does not go to Hamas or Islamic Jihad to make tunnels.”
Donors money
A timetable has not been set but Palestinian
observers have said that rebuilding Gaza depends on
the donors transferring the money immediately to the
PA. It also depends on Israel and its willingness to facilitate the movement of the cement and keep the crossings open.
“Will donor pledges be forthcoming? Will the ceasefire in Gaza hold up? Will further steps be taken to
strengthen the (Palestinian) government of national
consensus in Gaza? Will other aspects of the blockade
progressively be loosened
thereby improving the economy (and purchasing power)
in Gaza?” asked Rawley.
Officials from the
Palestinian Authority say
Israel must not stop materials
going into Gaza.
“Israel must commit to
calm. Gaza is a part of
Palestine and the crossings
must be opened,” Palestinian
Prime Minister Rami
Hamdallah recently told Ramallah reporters in a joint
news conference alongside UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon.
Gaza based political and security analyst Hani Al
Basoos says the rebuilding process is going slowly and
more supplies are needed. “Each day, Gaza needs 3000
tons of cement to keep the process of rebuilding Gaza
stable,” he said.
The UN says that beyond the immediate effects of
the war, Gaza has a long-standing deficit in energy,
housing and water.
“The devastation in Gaza is truly immense and
under the best of circumstances will take a number of
years to rebuild,” Rawley said.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian security source in Gaza
says the trilateral mechanism will not be able to stop
Hamas or other similar groups from buying material on
the black market, something the UN is aware of.
“This mechanism only monitors the materials entering as part of the formal market. This concern does,
however, underpin the need for governance to be fully
restored in Gaza, including the rule of law.”
—The Media Line
“Nothing could have
prepared me for what I
witnessed in Gaza. I saw
mile after mile of wholesale
destruction,” Ban said.
‘Terrible’ situation
Gaza based journalist Mohammed Faiad says the
winter rain has already begun, and people do not want
to spend winter without a roof over their heads. “Many
people are without homes. There are no homes to rent.
And it takes more than one month to build a home. I
don’t know what these people are going to do,” he
said.
Rawley describes the current situation as “terrible”.
“There are tens of thousands of people in Gaza who
need to get to access to construction materials ASAP,”
Rawley said. The first shipments of materials have
crossed into Gaza but we still need a number of weeks
to fully set up the mechanism.”
Last week, a trilateral mechanism was announced at