tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170386572012-01-19T13:47:23.742+03:00Kuwait - fighting corruption, terrorism and human rights violationsKuwait, a culture of face, is more concerned about its reputation than anything else. As a result, issues such as corruption, terrorism and human rights violations are often denied or simply ignored. In most cases, the victims are punished. Despite the fact most people are too afraid to denounce them, some Kuwaiti and expat writers are exposing the violations committed against helpless victims... some times at the risk of being accused of destroying Kuwait’s reputation or even being arrested.Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.comBlogger571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1149341404522224822006-06-03T15:09:00.000+03:002006-06-03T16:30:04.676+03:00IF YOU ARE FED UP WITH CORRUPTION;RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION; ANDWANT TRUE DEMOCRACYAND JUSTICE FOR ALLSHOW YOUR TRUE COLOR !Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com291tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1149175155175158392006-06-01T18:12:00.000+03:002006-06-01T18:19:15.180+03:00Al-Tabtebaei fatwa'totally irresponsible'Kuwait Times, Thursday, June 1, 2006KUWAIT: Responding to questions about whether or not women had earned their political independence, dean of Kuwait University's faculty of Sharia, Prof Mohammed Al-Tabtebaei, recently issued a fatwa about how women should vote in the forthcoming parliamentary elections, reported Al-Watan.In it, Al-Tabtebaei said husbandsBen Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1149174731929737542006-06-01T18:01:00.000+03:002006-06-01T18:12:11.946+03:00Anti-corruption youth campaignKuwait Times, Thursday, June 1, 2006 KUWAIT: A new youth anti-corruption campaign kicked off recently under the name "Youth against Corruption", reported Al-Watan.The campaign aims to help honest, transparent and straight talking candidates to make their way into parliament and represent the people of Kuwait.Campaigners aim to achieve their goals by supporting and Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1149064566785860192006-05-31T11:34:00.000+03:002006-05-31T11:36:06.786+03:00Women's rights in KuwaitKuwait Times, Wednesday, May 31, 2006Nouriya Al-OthmanHuman rights are a significant feature for a country to embrace. Many countries have been struggling to achieve women's rights, but not all of them have succeeded. Only recently have women in Muslim countries gained the right to vote. For example, Egyptian women were only enfranchised in 1956, Jordanian women in 1974, Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1149064422080194532006-05-31T11:30:00.000+03:002006-05-31T11:33:42.083+03:00Politics in schoolsKuwait Times, Wednesday, May 31, 2006Muna Al-FuzaiA new ministerial decision was issued to prohibit politics is schools. School kids are not allowed to discuss his thoughts and ideas publicly with students or teachers, or even the principle. Schools are also not allowed to invite thinkers or politicians to speak. Those who ignore the ministerial order will be punished. A new Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com66tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1149064211093516982006-05-31T11:24:00.000+03:002006-05-31T11:30:11.123+03:00'Orange Youth' demand reformKuwait Times, Tuesday, May 30, 2006 KUWAIT: They have been cursed by their opponents as spoiled children and hailed by their supporters as heroes. They call themselves the voice of Kuwaiti youth, and they have broken their silence. Wearing orange T-shirts and waving orange banners and Kuwaiti flags, hundreds of "frustrated" young people launched their campaign for Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1149027907075437242006-05-31T01:17:00.000+03:002006-05-31T01:25:07.090+03:00Al-Hashem decries 'deceitful Bangladeshis'Kuwait Times, Tuesday, May 30, 2006 Dr Sami AlrabaaFouad Al-Hashem appeals in Al-Watan (May 28) to the Minister of the Interior to very carefully screen and scrutinise Bangladeshi workers before they enter Kuwait. "They are notorious for being violent and deceitful; they steal, rape women, and fake documents," Al-Hashem claims. My comment: Poor Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1148937765445198402006-05-30T00:18:00.000+03:002006-05-30T00:22:45.456+03:00Candidate gets death threatsArab Times, Monday, May 29, 2006Mansour Al-Sultan - Special to the Arab TimesAgencies add: A female candidate contesting the June 29 parliamentary elections withdrew from the fray after she allegedly received murder threats from unidentified sources, says Al-Seyassah. Speaking to the daily, the woman called these persons ‘egoists’. They accused her of betraying and putBen Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1148894283167726242006-05-29T12:08:00.000+03:002006-05-29T12:18:03.186+03:00Abuse of workersKuwait Times, Monday, May 29, 2006Muna Al FuzaiToday I would like to focus on another side of the abuse of workers in Kuwait. Unfortunately, the mistreatment they get is not coming from the government but from contractors, the big bosses with rich engineers who want the job done -- regardless of the consequences. It is not fair -- justice is all they want.This time our victims areBen Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com124tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1148334775084954692006-05-23T00:42:00.000+03:002006-05-23T00:52:55.103+03:00Arabian Nights on Kuwait's beachesKuwait Times, Monday, May 22, 2006Muna Al-FuzaiToday I want to shed light over the humiliation carried out by some sponsors towards their maids. Most of us may pass by this behaviour without giving it any attention.Most families enjoy the beach these days. They love to take their kids out for a few hours. But what I can't understand is why families do not take Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com347tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1148287250846146852006-05-22T11:34:00.000+03:002006-05-22T11:40:50.866+03:00Torture complaint being probed;Indian workers maltreated: EmbassyArab Times, Monday, May 22, 2006By Ahmad Al-Shimmari - Special to the Arab TimesKUWAIT CITY : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs acting upon a complaint filed by the Indian Embassy in Kuwait that 60 of its nationals had allegedly been tortured physically and mentally by an unidentified company has requested the Ministry of Social Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1147276268017755702006-05-10T18:39:00.000+03:002006-05-10T18:51:08.030+03:00US envoy counsels Kuwait;‘Treat expat labour fairly’Arab Times, Wednesday, May 10, 2006KUWAIT CITY (AFP): The US ambassador to Kuwait urged the host country on Tuesday to respect the basic rights of two million foreign labourers living here and to treat them with fairness. “All workers, Kuwaiti and expatriate, both in the formal sectors of the economy and in households, need to be treated with Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1146965945172066582006-05-07T04:16:00.000+03:002006-05-07T04:40:41.300+03:00MPs supporting criminalsThe Daily Star [Kuwait Edition], Saturday, May 6, 2006Fouad Al HashimI was sick to my stomach and absolutely disgusted when I heard the news about the three stooges - I mean MPs Musallam Al-Barrak, Mohammed Al-Khalifa, and Waleed Al-Jerri - intervening on the behalf of the criminals that were executed last week.These MPs tried to get in touch with higher authorities Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com77tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1146964421620738532006-05-07T03:54:00.000+03:002006-05-07T04:13:43.643+03:00Kuwait, take a hint!On May 2, Qatar's National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) issued a report in response to the latest one issued by the US State Department. Unlike Kuwait’s usual rebottle of excuses, laws that aren’t enforced, denial and of course the need to protect its reputation at all cost, Qatar’s report was actually defending people’s rights.Qatar's human rights abuses ‘must be tackled’TheBen Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1146749998894063992006-05-04T16:28:00.000+03:002006-05-04T16:39:59.083+03:00Chinese workers protestKuwait Times, Tuesday, May 2, 2006By Nancy OteifaKUWAIT: Around 300 Chinese construction workers held a protest yesterday in front of the Chinese Embassy against salary payment policies and wage rates. "These workers are paid KD 40 per month and their salary is send to their folks in China. They are only left with pocket money. The workers resent the fact that their salary Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1146099733080310922006-04-27T01:39:00.000+03:002006-04-27T04:02:13.276+03:00Hostage in prisonThis is not the first time I come across this scenario. In fact, it’s the third time. Ibtisam Al Dakhil, a woman who was accused of supporting the Iraqi regime during the invasion, had to spend more time in jail than she was supposed to. She was pardoned by the Amir but because some civil servant didn’t agree with His Highness, the pardon letter was conveniently misplaced. AlmostBen Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1145528707566874702006-04-20T13:16:00.000+03:002006-04-20T13:25:07.570+03:00Ambassador censuresill-treatment of domesticsMaid sustains eye impairment, critical bruises due to beatingThe Daily Star, Thursday, April 20, 2006Ricky (Amir) LaxaKUWAIT: The Ambassador of the Philippines in Kuwait has deplored what he described as abuse against Filipino domestic workers in the country. He said that the embassy will not tolerate such ill-treatment, adding that Kuwait's judiciary Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1145528175399623672006-04-20T13:09:00.000+03:002006-04-20T13:16:15.416+03:00Expat rights delightArab Times, Wednesday, April 19, 2006 By Dr Samar Rashdan Al-RoomiWITHIN GCC countries, many expats (especially laborers and domestic help) end up being physically, emotionally, and/or financially abused, while their transgressors roam free and continue their abusive ways. Please note that many of these abusers also abuse their spouse and children).Many expats (understandably)Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1145147930401640972006-04-16T03:30:00.000+03:002006-04-16T03:38:50.420+03:00Maid locked in bathroom as employers vacationIn today's paper there was another awful story about an abused maid. If I had the power to go back and change the course of events; I would get the few good people out of Kuwait and let Saddam give the rest of them what they deserved 15 years ago. Those who don’t respect freedom don’t deserve it either.The Daily Star, Saturday, April 15, 2006Embassy Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com99tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1143504280992826362006-03-28T02:51:00.000+03:002006-03-28T03:04:41.010+03:00A plea for humanityDoes anyone care in Kuwait?This message was posted by one of the too many victims of modern slavery asking for your helpTrina Flowers and other Americans have witnessed and perhaps experienced nothing in comparison to what exists in Kuwait when it comes to human rights viloations. As a matter of fact the use of word "human rights violations" is so wrong when it comes to the Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1139093744501391232006-02-05T01:51:00.000+03:002006-02-05T01:55:44.600+03:00Distressed Filipinas in KuwaitManila Times, Wednesday, February 1, 2006 By Dan MarianoThe OFWs’ contribution to our economic survival is beyond doubt heroic when we remember that far too many of them must work under oppressive conditions. Among the most exploited are the thousands of Filipinas “in distress” in Kuwait.The Kuwait situation is contained in a 430-page submission by the Department of Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1139007520293028842006-02-04T01:46:00.000+03:002006-02-04T01:58:40.536+03:00Trina Flowers, an American teacher, victim of the corrupt Kuwaiti systemBy Ben RivardHuman rights defenderTrina Flowers, a female American teacher, used to teach English at the Kuwait University at the faculty of medicine. After completing her one year contract, she was offered a position at A’takamul Int’l School whose C.E.O. is Dr. Ibrahim Al Khulaifi who used to work for the martyr’s bureau atBen Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com234tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1138926894301998602006-02-03T03:30:00.000+03:002006-02-03T03:34:54.323+03:00Filipinos rally behind maid facing deathKuwait Times, Thursday, February 2, 2006 By Nancy OteifaKUWAIT: There are about 60,000 Filipinas working in Kuwait as maids. Some of them are lucky to work with kind Kuwaiti families while others face many problems with their sponsors. Sometimes these result in the maid fleeing the house; or at other times they can result in abuse, suicide or murder. The Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com78tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1138787958470783652006-02-01T12:35:00.000+03:002006-02-01T12:59:18.673+03:00Suffering Bangladeshi workers feel unwelcome in KuwaitKuwait Times, Wednesday, February 1, 2006 By Velina NachevaKUWAIT: Approximately 150 low-paid female workers from Bangladesh employed by a private company have not been paid their wages for the past seven months. On top of this, they have not been issued proper documentation or medical insurance. The women arrived in Kuwait with three-year Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1138786542676474652006-02-01T12:23:00.000+03:002006-02-01T12:35:42.716+03:00Bangladeshi cleaners file case against employerKuwait Times, Tuesday, January 31, 2006KUWAIT: About 100 female Bangladeshi workers filed a case against their employer with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour for failure to pay salaries. The women, who work for a cleaning company in Kuwait, claim that they have not received their salaries for the last four months.The women earlier went on Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1138785812646384402006-02-01T11:54:00.000+03:002006-02-01T12:23:32.703+03:00Labour treaty neededKuwait Times, Thursday, January 26, 2006 Arabic Press ReviewBy Dr Sami AlrabaaAl-Qabas reports (Jan 24) that the President of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered her Embassy officials in Kuwait to do everything possible to save the life of Ranario, a Filipina maid who is convicted of murder. Ranario used to work as a teacher in the Philippines before she was Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1137553010000458612006-01-18T05:44:00.001+03:002006-01-18T14:41:24.476+03:00Remembering HH Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah’scommitment to human rightsThe following is an excerpt from His Highness' statement presented before the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations on September 5th 2000.“now at the level of the human person, we must reaffirm our commitment to the rejection of any form of human slavery or denial of human rights irrespective of the excuses or Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1137457626774868872006-01-17T02:39:00.000+03:002006-01-17T03:27:06.830+03:00Enslaved Chinese workersWhat kind of support can you expect when your own country has a worse human rights record than Kuwait’s?According to the following article, Chinese workers were protesting in front of their embassy because their employer hasn’t paid their salary for the past eight months and wanted to submit a complaint against the company. A representative from the said company arrived Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1137285382967379012006-01-15T02:36:00.000+03:002006-01-15T03:49:26.266+03:00The dark ages of Kuwaiti women's rights; not over yet“A Muslim woman should open her eyes and see through all the obscurity.” Perhaps, Mr. Al Qous should follow his own advice. Sometimes, when confronted with such ignorance, all you can do is laugh.Liberals and their liesThe Daily Star, Tuesday, January 3, 2006By Ahmed Al-QousGullible and simpleminded people think that granting women their Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1137281126446315222006-01-15T02:22:00.000+03:002006-01-15T02:25:26.460+03:00THEORY AND REALITYKuwait Times, Thursday, January 12, 2006 Arabic Press ReviewBy Dr. Sami AlrabaaIn an earlier article for Al-Qabas (Jan 5) Al-Baddah expresses indignation when British, American, or French officials come to Kuwait and "lecture us on human rights, political and social rights for women, democracy, freedom of speech, fairness and religious tolerance." Al-Baddah says, "We have all Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1137030233123321102006-01-12T04:03:00.000+03:002006-01-12T04:43:53.170+03:00Abuse of authority by a police officerIn Kuwait, the following scenario is far too common. After a dispute between two individuals, one of them has a relative or a friend police officer and asked for is assistance as a scare tactic or simply to seek personal revenge. Normally, when this happens, no case has been filed, there are no records of arrest and the police officer works for a police Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1137027448720977552006-01-12T03:40:00.000+03:002006-01-12T03:57:28.763+03:00The Terrorism EpidemicThe Daily Star, Thursday, January 5, 2006"members of the National Assembly should not be allowed to interfere by using wasta on behalf of those terrorists. Some MPs seek leniency and sometimes even the release of these terrorists."By Abdullah Al-HadlagAt last, my theory on religious radicalism and terrorism being two sides of the same coin, which I talked about six years agoBen Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1136132156213742522006-01-01T19:00:00.000+03:002006-01-01T19:15:56.226+03:00Slavery in KuwaitGOODWILL NOT ENOUGH FOR TRAFFICKING UPGRADE; Yet to ‘dent’ 19-hour day; ‘Seen as slaves’Arab Times, Sunday, January 1, 2006KUWAIT CITY (AP): Annu, an Asian housemaid, says she worked 19-hour days for a year and was paid nothing. Her eyes well up with tears as she slapped her hand, demonstrating what her employers did when she reached out for food when it wasn’t lunchtime – the Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1135786014112508952005-12-28T18:58:00.000+03:002005-12-28T19:06:54.143+03:00Sponsor linked to slavery Kuwait Times, Wednesday December 28, 2005By Ahmad Al-SarrafA sponsor is someone who cares for a person and provides all of their necessary requirements, but in Kuwait or the Gulf the word is linked to slavery! Every expatriate who wishes to enter the country needs either a Kuwaiti individual or a company to sponsor him. They must also sign various 'obedience' documents Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1134069866368175932005-12-08T22:13:00.000+03:002005-12-08T22:27:10.430+03:00Kuwait Human Rights Committee at the Ministry of JusticeLast week, there was an article in the newspaper praising the human rights committee of the Ministry of Justice for holding its 12th meeting. While reading the article, I remembered that every year the same ministry dismisses the US State Department annual report on human rights violations in Kuwait as unsubstantiated claims put together to Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1133259391202147942005-11-29T13:13:00.000+03:002005-11-29T13:16:31.203+03:00Workers complain of non-payment againThe Daily Star, Tuesday, November 29, 2005Hamed AI-SayyedKUWAIT: A number of Asian laborers gathered in front of the AI-Watan newspaper located in Shuwaikh to protest against their employers, who have not posted their salaries for almost nine months.The laborers demanded the intervention of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor to compel the employers to Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1133259188251549302005-11-29T13:02:00.000+03:002005-11-29T13:13:08.270+03:00Slavery triangle in KuwaitKuwait Times, November 26 and 28, 2005 By Muna AI-Fuzai(Part One)Dear readers,I am extremely sorry and ashamed to say that such misery is actually happening in Kuwait now. But, as a Kuwait writer I have a message to my society, which I will not hesitate or fear to deliver. It is the hapless scream of many Filipino housemaids or as the people call them Kadama or Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1132821127875695462005-11-24T11:29:00.000+03:002005-11-24T11:32:07.890+03:00Parliament sketches anti-corruption proceduresDaily Star, Thursday, November 24, 2005Compiled by Daily Star staffKUWAIT: The National Assembly's Anti-Corruption Committee announced on Wednesday the outline of its conduct procedures after a sub-committee presented a report about the procedures.In a press statement, committee convener MP Musallam Al-Barrak said the committee will ask the Cabinet toBen Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1132706284604606932005-11-23T03:33:00.000+03:002005-11-23T03:38:04.606+03:00Kuwait ranks sixth in libertiesThe Daily Star, Saturday, November 19, 2005LONDON: Kuwait came in sixth position for political and civil liberties in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the Friday issue of British magazine 'The Economist'.The magazine puts Israel in the leading position and Lebanon in the second. Morocco and Iraq come in the third and fourth places consecutively, while Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1132706022989647542005-11-23T03:30:00.000+03:002005-11-23T03:33:43.006+03:00The Lions of the Peninsula caseThe Public Prosecution is seeking capital punishment for most of the 37 accused of joining the ‘Lions of the Peninsula’ a terrorist group. As they feel the noose tightening around the neck of their clients some lawyers are even pleading that their clients were only getting ready to fight the American forces in Iraq and ask the court for leniency in a desperate Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1132696910459737472005-11-23T00:53:00.000+03:002005-11-23T03:44:11.116+03:00Perhaps, if Dr. Waleed Al Tabtabaei (Tabtebae) MP and Chairman of the Human Rights Committee at the National Assembly did is job, US Ambassador Richard LeBaron wouldn’t have to do it!As the chairman of a human rights committee, Dr. Waleed Al Tabtabaei has been doing very little or nothing to curb human rights violations. Apart from helping Islamists when they get arrested in connection with Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1132658637007192032005-11-22T14:18:00.000+03:002005-11-23T00:53:00.070+03:00“We thank HE the Ambassador of the United States of America to Kuwait Richard LeBaron..."Arab Times, Tuesday, November 15, 2005Columnist and Professor of Kuwait University's Political Science Department and the Director of the University's Strategic and Future Studies Centre Dr Shamlan Al-lssa wrote for Al-Seyassah daily Monday.“We thank HE the Ambassador of the United States of America to KuwaitBen Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1131650646897461382005-11-10T22:10:00.000+03:002005-11-10T22:24:06.910+03:00Kuwait bid to fight trade in humans draws praise; Translate words into action: LeBaronArab Times, Thursday, November 10, 2005By Boie Conrad Dublin - Arab Times StaffKUWAIT CITY, Nov 9: US Ambassador to Kuwait Richard LeBaron applauded recent steps taken by the government of Kuwait to combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP), while calling for urgent action to improve the situation of domestic Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1131015753392475732005-11-03T13:57:00.000+03:002005-11-03T14:02:33.416+03:00Kuwait is a third-class countryArab Times, Thursday, November 3, 2005By Ali Ahmad AI-Baghli, Former Oil MinisterRECENTLY our Justice Minister announced that Kuwait has been upgraded from Tier 3 to Tier 2 on the US watchlist on "Trafficking in Persons Report." Our joy at this development proved short-lived because the US Ambassador to Kuwait Richard LeBaron soon shocked us with a message to Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1130550823406829952005-10-29T04:48:00.000+03:002005-10-29T04:53:43.420+03:00US warns KuwaitAMERICAN AMBASSADOR LASHES OUT AT MISTREATMENT OF CHILDREN, EXPAT WORKERSThe Daily Star (Kuwait Edition) Saturday, October 29, 2005By Abdulrahman AI-Najjar, AI-Watan staffKUWAIT: In a letter by US Ambassador to Kuwait Richard LeBaron directed to Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed AI-Sabah, LeBaron strongly criticized the State of Kuwait for abusing children under the age of 18, who Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1130419707082117582005-10-27T16:06:00.000+03:002005-11-10T22:40:31.870+03:00The corruption curseKuwait Times, Wednesday, October 26, 2005By Hamid Yousuf Al-GharaballiSociologists and politicians have vigorously debated it, the connoisseurs at diwaniyas have impaired their voices talking about it, the pens of writers, intellectuals and analysts have dried up, and the hot and sensitive topic has eventually synthesised in to the texture of the society.Corruption has grown Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1130418285287121652005-10-27T15:56:00.000+03:002005-10-27T16:39:57.806+03:00Anti-graft body labels corruption as 'invasion'Kuwait Times, Monday, October 24, 2005By B. IzaakKUWAIT: Kuwait Parliamentarians Against Corruption (KUPAC) yesterday issued a stern warning against widespread corruption in Kuwait, branding it a new invasion and urged honest forces to join hands in the fight against graft. Commenting on a new report by Transparency International that placed Kuwait Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1130417693182152032005-10-27T15:39:00.000+03:002005-10-27T15:54:53.206+03:00Quick steps needed to protect expat workers' rights in GulfKuwait Times, October 23, 2005By Meena S JanardhanDUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has announced it will publicly "name and shame" employers who fail to pay their workers or provide decent living conditions. The move followed a series of protests by hundreds of foreign workers who marched along roads and blocked traffic. "My ministry will Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1129813414382957532005-10-20T15:24:00.000+03:002005-10-20T16:58:45.050+03:00Transparency InternationalCorruption Perceptions Index 2005http://ww1.transparency.org/cpi/2005/cpi2005_infocus.html#cpiThe TI Corruption Perceptions Index is a composite survey, reflecting the perceptions of business people and country analysts, both resident and non-resident. It draws on 16 different polls from 10 independent institutions. For a country to be included, it must feature in at Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1129774078082584472005-10-20T04:27:00.000+03:002005-10-20T05:16:04.636+03:00"Trafficking in human beings is nothing less than a modern form of slavery."Secretary of State Condoleezza RiceHuman trafficking, sexual servitude, beating, starvation, kidnapping, rape and unpaid wage are some of the sad stories found at:http://www.trafficking.org.ph/index.htmHuman trafficking in Gulf is a byproduct of economic boomThe Manila Times, June 7, 2005Dubai, United Arab Emirates: WhileBen Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1129646542911348172005-10-18T17:29:00.000+03:002005-10-18T17:54:57.283+03:00When will we act like a modern state?Kuwait Times, Monday October 17, 2005LOCAL SPOTLIGHTBy Muna Al-FuzaiA group of Egyptian labourers held a protest against their employer, a local Kuwaiti firm, in Fahad Al-Salem Street this Saturday. Their demands were reasonable and humane. They called for their salaries which had not been paid and for their passports to be handed over. About 80-100 workers Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1129378886631678012005-10-14T15:13:00.000+03:002005-10-15T15:21:26.636+03:00American woman, a human rights activist illegally imprisoned by KuwaitPressbox.co.uk Added: (Fri Oct 07 2005)PRESS RELEASEFrom: HUMAN RIGHTS COALITION OF USA in KUWAIT For immediate release October 06, 2005, Kuwait City, KuwaitAMERICAN FEMALE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST ARRESTED ILLEGALLY BY THE KUWIATI AUTHORITIES FOR THREATNEING TO EXPOSE THE PRIME MINISTER’S DIRTY LAUNDRY TO THE WORLD PRESS.Trina Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1128631935699898972005-10-06T23:37:00.000+03:002005-10-06T23:52:15.703+03:00This guy just made my point, no wonder why human rights violation issues aren’t being dealt with…Kuwait is 'forgiven'The Daily Star (Kuwait Edition) Tuesday, October 4, 2005by Adel Al-MizaalThe US administration lifted Kuwait's name from a blacklist of nations that are accused of human rights violations. George W. Bush has forgiven the State of Kuwait, and will no longer impose a threatened Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1128287554884520342005-10-02T23:58:00.000+03:002005-10-12T02:50:40.053+03:00An interresting post about the terrorism phenomenonTerrorism: The never-endingepidemic...http://q8iness.blogspot.com Wednesday, September 28, 2005By q8inessSo here we are again, battleing for justice over those that kill in the name of Allah...or are they? Is there an underlying reason these "religious groups" go around slicing people's heads or blowing them up? Are they trying to make some kind Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1128116509300507052005-10-01T00:12:00.000+03:002005-10-01T00:41:49.306+03:00Corruption within the governmentThe Daily Star (Kuwait Edition), Thursday, September 29, 2005Ahmad Zakaria, Daily Star staffA prominent Islamic legislator stated that the government's recent efforts in combating corruption proved to be useless, as the government itself is involved in its own corruption.MP Nasser Al-Sane said that corruption will damage the development process in the country. He Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1128033644640006322005-09-30T01:34:00.000+03:002005-09-30T01:40:44.643+03:00Disappointing situationKuwait Times, Monday, September 26th 2005Kuwait Digest By Rashid AI-RadaanNo one is sure if the confusion that currently prevails in Kuwait is deliberate or it is the social, economic or political aftermath of Saddam's invasion of the country!! There are widespread negative feelings, and chaos and recklessness are rampant, as if patriotic fervour has been forcefully taken Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17038657.post-1127607093034141062005-09-25T02:55:00.000+03:002005-10-12T02:34:23.173+03:00Kuwait's first terrorist victimsMy friend was murdered in Kuwait and the local authorities did absolutely nothing for him, as usual, it was all about saving face.On October 10th 2001, Canadian Luc Ethier and his Filipina wife Mary Jean Bitos were shot in the street of Fahaheel by an extremist. Luc died and Mary Jean sustained critical wounds that nearly took her life as well. At the time, we all Ben Rivardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010940452308214656noreply@blogger.com9