KUWAIT CITY, Oct 29: Loan sharking is widespread in Kuwait and a lot of low income people are increasingly falling prey to the illegal practice, says a Kuwaiti lawyer. Labeed Abdal told the Arab Times that low income people who are unable to secure loans from banks or other financial institutions turn to loan sharks who reportedly exploit the lot, thereby leaving them high and dry. “Taking money from a loan shark is like signing one’s own death warrant as life will never be the same again. It’s a vicious circle. The lender usually charges between thirty and forty per cent interest on the loan. Some unscrupulous elements keep inflating the interest rate and often refuse to surrender the promissory note, thus sealing the fate of the borrower,” he added. “The loan sharks subject their clients to harassment, blackmail etc. Loan sharking is a serious crime in Kuwait and those convicted can be jailed up to three years with fine.”
Citing an example, he said that a Pakistani man recently was duped by a lender after the former took a loan of KD 2,000 from his compatriot. Abdal observed that the Pakistani man was given the loan with an interest rate of 50 per cent even as he was made to sign several promissory notes. “Each time the victim paid a portion of the principal amount, the promissory note to the tune of that particular amount was left uncancelled. Moreover, the loan shark told the victim in no uncertain terms that he would cancel all the promissory notes once he is through with the entire amount. The victim sensed trouble, and sought our legal assistance,” he added.
Abdal added that he advised the Pakistani man to take a friend along to make a payment and that the latter was to serve as a witness in a case that was to follow. Based on the statement of the witness, he said a complaint was filed at a police station even as a report was obtained from the CID against the accused who had a police record.
Abdal noted that the Pakistani man was arrested and was later convicted by the Court which jailed him for two years. He added that many loan sharks keep passports and bank cards as guarantees even as he warned that people should stay clear from loan sharks and only seek loans from banks or financial institutions. In another case, he said his client had taken KD 20,000 from a loan shark who used to harass him and his family if he delayed the payment. He added that his client was made to sign checks by the accused and due to some reason the victim could not repay the loan. He added that the accused threatened to sue the victim if he did not return the money within a month’s time. Abdal went on to say that he quickly filed a case against the accused at a police station and that the accused had a criminal record. “This bolstered our case and we got a CID report as the accused was immediately arrested and the case proceedings are ongoing,” he concluded.
By Francis A. Clifford Cardozo
Arab Times Staff
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/kuwaitnews/pagesdetails.asp?nid=24154&ccid=9
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Keeping up appearances: Superficiality and materialism in Kuwaiti society
Ghenwah Jabouri
Al Watan staff
KUWAIT: The state of Kuwait has been blessed with natural resources that have allowed for society to live in a relative state of affluence. Driving down the highway on any random day, one glimpses numerous sports cars and luxury vehicles that most people living in other countries around the world could only dream of owning. Most would argue that such affluence simply improves one''s standard of living and life style. Who wouldn''t want to look their best, be dressed in Armani suits and Christian Dior sunglasses, drive an expensive sports car and be a member at an elite health club? However one sometimes suspects that these luxuries have also become a distraction and that we are beginning to lose sight of what is truly important.
Investigating this issue Al Watan Daily took to the streets and spoke to Kuwaitis about materialism and whether the luxury products they purchase are items that they feel they need and they can afford, or whether they spend money on such items simply to impress others.
Entesar, a single Kuwaiti woman in her early forties, explained that once one gets used to a certain lifestyle it is hard to reprioritize, even if one cannot afford to maintain the same standard of living. "I retired from my job with the government about five years ago and therefore my salary is not as large as it used to be. Even though I struggle to make ends meet, I cannot let go of certain things. My friends are still working and so they make more money than I do and we go out every Wednesday for lunch and every Monday for dinner. They choose the most expensive restaurants to dine in and I tag along even though the bulky receipt is something I cannot afford. I still choose to join them. In the end I manage, but I borrow money from my family or I live for the remainder of the month without money in my pocket," she said.
"It''s all about image and maintaining a certain lifestyle. Over the years this is how society has developed and it''s hard to change it. I have taken a hefty loan from the bank which is going to take me fifteen years to pay off. I intend to take another loan from the bank so that I can travel soon. Unfortunately, we (Kuwaitis) are constantly competing with each other over materialistic things; who is able to travel to Europe, who can drive the coolest car and so on," she added.
However, according to Entesar, this constant race for the bigger, the better and the most expensive has had a toll on society and the constant pressure to maintain a certain lifestyle has increased as the cost of living continues to soar. "The economical situation in Kuwait has changed. Life is becoming too demanding with all the prices soaring and the rich getting richer while the average Kuwaiti is isolated from finding better financial opportunities. And so we end up taking loans from the bank so that we can do the things that we are socially habituated to," she explained.
OmـDhari, a Kuwaiti business woman who enjoys a certain lifestyle, explained to Al Watan Daily that Kuwaitis do not perceive themselves as being materialistic but rather as being able to afford to live a luxurious life. "Kuwait is an oilـrich country, we are a wealthy society and there is no harm in indulging in expensive commodities. I earn good money, why shouldn''t I buy Chanel sunglasses, and a Louis Vuitton bag? If you can afford it than why not. We only get one chance in this life, no one has the right to stop us from buying what we can afford," she stated.
"However, I disagree with those who cannot afford to live luxuriously but endeavor to do so. This is where superficiality comes in. If you can''t afford to drive a Jaguar, then don''t drive a Jaguar. I''ve seen people who would rather borrow money from the bank to drive a Jaguar than pay cash for a Toyota Camry for example. This is wrong and many people are doing it. This is why we have been branded by some as being a superficial society. It''s a difficult and complicated topic though, some Kuwaitis have it all while some don''t and Kuwaitis who are not financially capable feel that it is not just for them to not be able to live like those who are financially privileged. The competition has grown vastly in Kuwait, and when someone in a neighborhood purchases a Rolex watch, the rest of the neighborhood will go and buy one just to satisfy their pride and send a public message that no is better than any one else," she added.
Sara is a university student who argued that it will take a great deal of discipline for society to change its ways and avoid the pitfalls of superficiality and materialism. "This is a delicate topic and I''m sure people are not going to admit that they are superficial even if they are," she said. "Most Kuwaitis can be superficial and sometimes even narcissistic, because we have everything and we seldom struggle financially in the way that other societies must. We were born into this world in which domestic workers prepare our food, iron our clothes, make our bed and so on. An eighteenـyearـold teenager may drive a Ferrari and have seen half of Europe before he has even turned twenty," she added.
"Of course I have no right to accuse anyone of vanity but the truth is that even a Kuwaiti who is not financially privileged has grown up with at least one maid attending to his or her needs. I believe that compassion and tolerance can only be learnt through suffering; by struggling to pay the rent at the end of the month, working hard all year around with humility, standing in the kitchen for hours to prepare food for your family and so on. These are the things that help humans feel gratitude for what they have and that stop feelings of superiority and dominance from taking charge of our lives," Sara stressed.
"As a society we have become too consumed with expensive commodities such as driving the latest cars and dressing up in designer clothing. We are taking for granted what God has bestowed on us and we seem to think that we are invincible. Life does not only revolve around going to elite health clubs and dressing up in expensive clothes. We decorate our lives with beautiful cars, furniture, clothes, sophisticated devices and so on, but we have forgotten that these things are just temporary and that once they are outdated they are thrown into the trash. It is only real happiness that last a lifetime and this can only be felt when one gives and not when one takes," Sara concluded.
Dr. Heyam Mohammed, an educationalist, also discussed this topic with Al Watan Daily. "The new Kuwaiti generation has learned to be superficial, very shallow, and careless... They have learned to take not to give; they want to show off, they never think about the consequence of anything," he explained, adding: "We all should know that I do not mean all Kuwaitis in Kuwait!"
Labeed Abdal, an attorney and human rights activist argued that the government and the media are partly to blame for this problem. "The matter can be related to culture and it is essential for families to play a greater role in minimizing these habits. Happiness in life is not related to consuming unnecessary things and being a weak target for giant companies and strong advertisers... The educational system must also increase its efforts to promoting awareness and establish more self confidence through a well organized and balanced syllabus that gives students the right values. There should be a greater effort from the government to protect society from these social diseases by establishing very specialized bodies that work to strike a balance between companies'' rights to advertise and solving the problem of consumerism. The waves of shallowness are high and we must all stand tall to over come this by being more realistic and responsible," Abdal concluded.
http://www2.alwatan.com.kw/Default.aspx?MgDid=686357&pageId=473
Al Watan staff
KUWAIT: The state of Kuwait has been blessed with natural resources that have allowed for society to live in a relative state of affluence. Driving down the highway on any random day, one glimpses numerous sports cars and luxury vehicles that most people living in other countries around the world could only dream of owning. Most would argue that such affluence simply improves one''s standard of living and life style. Who wouldn''t want to look their best, be dressed in Armani suits and Christian Dior sunglasses, drive an expensive sports car and be a member at an elite health club? However one sometimes suspects that these luxuries have also become a distraction and that we are beginning to lose sight of what is truly important.
Investigating this issue Al Watan Daily took to the streets and spoke to Kuwaitis about materialism and whether the luxury products they purchase are items that they feel they need and they can afford, or whether they spend money on such items simply to impress others.
Entesar, a single Kuwaiti woman in her early forties, explained that once one gets used to a certain lifestyle it is hard to reprioritize, even if one cannot afford to maintain the same standard of living. "I retired from my job with the government about five years ago and therefore my salary is not as large as it used to be. Even though I struggle to make ends meet, I cannot let go of certain things. My friends are still working and so they make more money than I do and we go out every Wednesday for lunch and every Monday for dinner. They choose the most expensive restaurants to dine in and I tag along even though the bulky receipt is something I cannot afford. I still choose to join them. In the end I manage, but I borrow money from my family or I live for the remainder of the month without money in my pocket," she said.
"It''s all about image and maintaining a certain lifestyle. Over the years this is how society has developed and it''s hard to change it. I have taken a hefty loan from the bank which is going to take me fifteen years to pay off. I intend to take another loan from the bank so that I can travel soon. Unfortunately, we (Kuwaitis) are constantly competing with each other over materialistic things; who is able to travel to Europe, who can drive the coolest car and so on," she added.
However, according to Entesar, this constant race for the bigger, the better and the most expensive has had a toll on society and the constant pressure to maintain a certain lifestyle has increased as the cost of living continues to soar. "The economical situation in Kuwait has changed. Life is becoming too demanding with all the prices soaring and the rich getting richer while the average Kuwaiti is isolated from finding better financial opportunities. And so we end up taking loans from the bank so that we can do the things that we are socially habituated to," she explained.
OmـDhari, a Kuwaiti business woman who enjoys a certain lifestyle, explained to Al Watan Daily that Kuwaitis do not perceive themselves as being materialistic but rather as being able to afford to live a luxurious life. "Kuwait is an oilـrich country, we are a wealthy society and there is no harm in indulging in expensive commodities. I earn good money, why shouldn''t I buy Chanel sunglasses, and a Louis Vuitton bag? If you can afford it than why not. We only get one chance in this life, no one has the right to stop us from buying what we can afford," she stated.
"However, I disagree with those who cannot afford to live luxuriously but endeavor to do so. This is where superficiality comes in. If you can''t afford to drive a Jaguar, then don''t drive a Jaguar. I''ve seen people who would rather borrow money from the bank to drive a Jaguar than pay cash for a Toyota Camry for example. This is wrong and many people are doing it. This is why we have been branded by some as being a superficial society. It''s a difficult and complicated topic though, some Kuwaitis have it all while some don''t and Kuwaitis who are not financially capable feel that it is not just for them to not be able to live like those who are financially privileged. The competition has grown vastly in Kuwait, and when someone in a neighborhood purchases a Rolex watch, the rest of the neighborhood will go and buy one just to satisfy their pride and send a public message that no is better than any one else," she added.
Sara is a university student who argued that it will take a great deal of discipline for society to change its ways and avoid the pitfalls of superficiality and materialism. "This is a delicate topic and I''m sure people are not going to admit that they are superficial even if they are," she said. "Most Kuwaitis can be superficial and sometimes even narcissistic, because we have everything and we seldom struggle financially in the way that other societies must. We were born into this world in which domestic workers prepare our food, iron our clothes, make our bed and so on. An eighteenـyearـold teenager may drive a Ferrari and have seen half of Europe before he has even turned twenty," she added.
"Of course I have no right to accuse anyone of vanity but the truth is that even a Kuwaiti who is not financially privileged has grown up with at least one maid attending to his or her needs. I believe that compassion and tolerance can only be learnt through suffering; by struggling to pay the rent at the end of the month, working hard all year around with humility, standing in the kitchen for hours to prepare food for your family and so on. These are the things that help humans feel gratitude for what they have and that stop feelings of superiority and dominance from taking charge of our lives," Sara stressed.
"As a society we have become too consumed with expensive commodities such as driving the latest cars and dressing up in designer clothing. We are taking for granted what God has bestowed on us and we seem to think that we are invincible. Life does not only revolve around going to elite health clubs and dressing up in expensive clothes. We decorate our lives with beautiful cars, furniture, clothes, sophisticated devices and so on, but we have forgotten that these things are just temporary and that once they are outdated they are thrown into the trash. It is only real happiness that last a lifetime and this can only be felt when one gives and not when one takes," Sara concluded.
Dr. Heyam Mohammed, an educationalist, also discussed this topic with Al Watan Daily. "The new Kuwaiti generation has learned to be superficial, very shallow, and careless... They have learned to take not to give; they want to show off, they never think about the consequence of anything," he explained, adding: "We all should know that I do not mean all Kuwaitis in Kuwait!"
Labeed Abdal, an attorney and human rights activist argued that the government and the media are partly to blame for this problem. "The matter can be related to culture and it is essential for families to play a greater role in minimizing these habits. Happiness in life is not related to consuming unnecessary things and being a weak target for giant companies and strong advertisers... The educational system must also increase its efforts to promoting awareness and establish more self confidence through a well organized and balanced syllabus that gives students the right values. There should be a greater effort from the government to protect society from these social diseases by establishing very specialized bodies that work to strike a balance between companies'' rights to advertise and solving the problem of consumerism. The waves of shallowness are high and we must all stand tall to over come this by being more realistic and responsible," Abdal concluded.
http://www2.alwatan.com.kw/Default.aspx?MgDid=686357&pageId=473
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
قتل غير مبرر
نظرت محكمة جالفستون في ولاية تكساس الدعوى المرفوعة ضد المتهم جيمس ستيفنستون بتهمة القسوة على الحيوانات، حيث ان المذكور قد اتهم باطلاق النار على القط المدعو «بغ ماما» واسقطه مضرجا بدمائه، ذلك انه من محبي الطيور، وكان القط قد عرّض احد الطيور للخطر، وهو يواجه تهمة جنائية تصل عقوبتها الى الحبس لمدة سنتين وغرامة تبلغ 10 آلاف دولار اميركي.
وقد قدم المتهم في دفاعه امام المحكمة أن القط لم يكن قطا منزليا، وانما كان قطا برياً.
لكن الادعاء قدم شهودا يؤكدون انهم كانوا يقدمون للقط الطعام، والالعاب، وملجأ مؤقتا، مما يخرجه من عداد القطط السائبة، الى فئة القطط شبه المنزلية.
وقد طرحت وقائع الدعوى في صحف دولية ومدونات عديدة على الانترنت للمدافعين عن حقوق الحيوان، الذين وصفوا المتهم ستيفنسون بأنه قاتل غير انساني، وانه وحش كاسر باعتدائه بالقتل على القط.
وقد قدم الشرطي شهادته، بانه شاهد القط مرميا بالرصاص، وآثار الدماء تسيل من جوانبه، وما زالت القضية منظورة امام المحكمة.
هذه القضية تذكرنا بما نفاجأ به من فوارق تظهر في بعض الصحف المحلية عند نشر صورة لسيارة دورية او اطفاء يقف بجانبها رجال المرور او المطافئ، وكان ضمن الصورة احد الحيوانات السائبة، ملقى على الارض وهو مضرج بالدماء بعد اصابته بطلق ناري او اصابته بجانب السيارة.
لا شك في أن وجود حيوان سائب في المناطق الصناعية وما تعج به من السيارات ووسائل النقل العام الاخرى، وما قد تسببه من فوضى وذعر، تستدعي التدخل لحفظ الامن والنظام.
لكننا نعتقد بضرورة ان تكون تلك المشاهد سببا لوزارة الداخلية وادارة الاطفاء لاستخدام الطلق المخدر بدلا من اطلاق النار للقتل، مع تحميل الشركات والمسالخ المسؤولية الجزائية والمدنية عن كل الاثار المترتبة على ذلك الحدث، بما في ذلك اي حوادث مرورية او اصابات، او اضرار مادية تصيب سيارات المرور والاطفاء او تسبب تلف الاموال العامة.
ففي الحالتين يبقى القتل غير مبرر ويشكل صورة من صور استعمال القسوة، خصوصا ان الامر يتطلب الاشارة الى ان قانون الجزاء الكويتي ينص على ان «كل من استعمل القسوة بغير مقتض تجاه حيوان اليف او مأسور، سواء بقتله او بضربه او بجرحه او بجعله يعمل عملا لا يطيقه او حبسه على نحو يسبب له آلاما، يعاقب بالحبس مدة لا تتجاوز سنة وبغرامة لا تتجاوز الف روبية او باحدى هاتين العقوبتين.
ويجوز للمحكمة ان تأمر بوضع الحيوان في محل علاج او صيانة، او ان تأمر باعدامه اذا كان يعاني مرضا لا شفاء منه او اذى عضالا».
لبيد عبدال
Labeed@Lalaw.com.kw
www.Labeedabdal.com
http://www.alqabas.com.kw/Article.aspx?id=440332&date=10102008
وقد قدم المتهم في دفاعه امام المحكمة أن القط لم يكن قطا منزليا، وانما كان قطا برياً.
لكن الادعاء قدم شهودا يؤكدون انهم كانوا يقدمون للقط الطعام، والالعاب، وملجأ مؤقتا، مما يخرجه من عداد القطط السائبة، الى فئة القطط شبه المنزلية.
وقد طرحت وقائع الدعوى في صحف دولية ومدونات عديدة على الانترنت للمدافعين عن حقوق الحيوان، الذين وصفوا المتهم ستيفنسون بأنه قاتل غير انساني، وانه وحش كاسر باعتدائه بالقتل على القط.
وقد قدم الشرطي شهادته، بانه شاهد القط مرميا بالرصاص، وآثار الدماء تسيل من جوانبه، وما زالت القضية منظورة امام المحكمة.
هذه القضية تذكرنا بما نفاجأ به من فوارق تظهر في بعض الصحف المحلية عند نشر صورة لسيارة دورية او اطفاء يقف بجانبها رجال المرور او المطافئ، وكان ضمن الصورة احد الحيوانات السائبة، ملقى على الارض وهو مضرج بالدماء بعد اصابته بطلق ناري او اصابته بجانب السيارة.
لا شك في أن وجود حيوان سائب في المناطق الصناعية وما تعج به من السيارات ووسائل النقل العام الاخرى، وما قد تسببه من فوضى وذعر، تستدعي التدخل لحفظ الامن والنظام.
لكننا نعتقد بضرورة ان تكون تلك المشاهد سببا لوزارة الداخلية وادارة الاطفاء لاستخدام الطلق المخدر بدلا من اطلاق النار للقتل، مع تحميل الشركات والمسالخ المسؤولية الجزائية والمدنية عن كل الاثار المترتبة على ذلك الحدث، بما في ذلك اي حوادث مرورية او اصابات، او اضرار مادية تصيب سيارات المرور والاطفاء او تسبب تلف الاموال العامة.
ففي الحالتين يبقى القتل غير مبرر ويشكل صورة من صور استعمال القسوة، خصوصا ان الامر يتطلب الاشارة الى ان قانون الجزاء الكويتي ينص على ان «كل من استعمل القسوة بغير مقتض تجاه حيوان اليف او مأسور، سواء بقتله او بضربه او بجرحه او بجعله يعمل عملا لا يطيقه او حبسه على نحو يسبب له آلاما، يعاقب بالحبس مدة لا تتجاوز سنة وبغرامة لا تتجاوز الف روبية او باحدى هاتين العقوبتين.
ويجوز للمحكمة ان تأمر بوضع الحيوان في محل علاج او صيانة، او ان تأمر باعدامه اذا كان يعاني مرضا لا شفاء منه او اذى عضالا».
لبيد عبدال
Labeed@Lalaw.com.kw
www.Labeedabdal.com
http://www.alqabas.com.kw/Article.aspx?id=440332&date=10102008
MoE’s decision affecting many students: lawyer
MoE’s decision affecting many students: lawyer
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 21: The Ministry of Education’s decision not to recognize university degrees from certain countries has affected many students, including Kuwaitis and expats, says a Kuwaiti lawyer. Talking to the Arab Times on Tuesday, Labeed Abdal noted that the Educational Attaches at the Kuwaiti embassies abroad should coordinate with the Education Ministry in order to tide over the problems facing Kuwaiti students. Elaborating the point further, he added: “Several of my clients are suing the ministry for failing to recognize their degrees even though these students had checked with the ministry about the credibility of their colleges and the ministry had given them the go-ahead. In other words, I think these students are being victimized and their future is at stake. The ministry should look into the matter and take corrective measures as soon as possible.” “I have been following up the issue with members of Parliament and they have promised me that they will look into the matter on a priority basis.”
FailHe added that students who fail to secure admission in Kuwait go overseas for studies and that the ministry should render them the required assistance. Abdal urged students, who wish to study abroad, to contact the Educational Section at the Kuwait embassy to ensure that the college is recognized by Kuwaiti authorities. “Just imagine the trauma these young graduates have to endure when they are told that their degrees are not being recognized. And this has happened to students who hold degrees from universities in various countries such as Egypt, Bahrain, Lebanon, the US, among others.” Citing an example, he said one of his clients upon obtaining a degree from a university in the US got a job at the Ministry of Information, even as the latter told him to get his credentials attested from the concerned ministry. “My client has a specialized degree in a rare subject and as such the ministry asked him to join work forthwith while his degree was being verified. What followed was utter disappointment for him as he was told that two of his subjects were not recognized by the ministry and as a result he lost his job even as the student has filed a case against the ministry.”
AttestedIn another case, he said a Kuwaiti secured a degree in law from a university in Lebanon and the same was attested by the Education Department of the Kuwaiti embassy in Lebanon but the ministry refused to validate the same degree. Referring to the validation process, he said the ministry should hire competent officials with regards to the attestation of the degrees and unless that happens problems will continue to plague professionals. Abdal went on to explain that this has been one of the main reasons why professionals were staying away from Kuwait, even as the ministry was taking far too long to validate their certificates without citing any reasons. “In some cases it has taken as long as three years when it should have not taken more than three months. And here the role of the Education wing at the Kuwaiti embassies abroad comes into play. They need to coordinate with the respective universities to speed up the degree validation process,” he concluded.
By Francis A. Clifford CardozoArab Times Staff
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/kuwaitnews/pagesdetails.asp?nid=23781&ccid=9
Thursday, October 16, 2008
وبعد.. ماذا للكويت؟
وبعد.. ماذا للكويت؟
كتب لبيد عبدال :
لا يمكن تجاهل الأزمة المالية الكبرى التي تمر بها الولايات المتحدة الاميركية، وتداعياتها العديدة على مستوى الساحة الدولية، خاصة مع الاطاحة بمستقبل آلاف من الشركات ذات الثقل في صنع قرارات اقتصادية وسياسية، والاطاحة بمستقبل ملايين الوظائف، داخل الولايات المتحدة، وامتداد الامر الى العديد من الدول الاوروبية، وقيام امم اخرى كالاتحاد الروسي للعمل على الاستفادة من تلك الازمة، واعادة امجادها، مع استمرار النمو الصيني الذي لا يزال يحافظ على زخمه، خاصة بعد اعادة وجوده الدولي بعد ألعاب الاولمبياد والصعود الى الفضاء، عبر جهوده المحلية ونتاج ابحاث مراكز الفضاء الخاصة به، ووجود شرخ اوروبي ــ اوروبي، حول الدعوة الفرنسية، لعمل رد أوروبي مشترك على الازمة المالية العالمية، التي تشمل دولا مثل فرنسا، وألمانيا، وبريطانيا، وايطاليا.هذه الاحداث المهمة والخطرة في الوقت نفسه، يجب ألا نمر عليها مرور الكرام، ونحن بحاجة في حقيقة الامر وواقعه إلى التوقف بشأنها وبدقة.فدول الخليج والكويت من ضمنها، تحقق اعلى العوائد المالية الآن امام الارتفاع غير المسبوق لأسعار النفط، ووجود فوائض مالية استثنائية مليارية بصورة يومية، تستدعي العودة بالاموال للداخل، واختيار اسواق اكثر امانا، خاصة مع سقوط العديد من المؤسسات المالية العالمية، وانهيار العديد من الاسواق الدولية، وذلك للحفاظ وبقدر كبير من الحكمة ومن دون هلع، على قوة السوق المحلي، وحماية البنوك المركزية والمحلية، ورفع ضمانات العملة من الذهب، لتجنب الاصابة بعدوى الكساد والانهيار الاقتصادي العالمي، وتحاشي ذروة الصراع والاحتراب الاقتصادي، الذي قد يأتي بنتائج قد لا ترحم، خاصة عند ضياع الحوار الاقتصادي العاقل والعادل بين الأمم.
لبيد عبدال
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
جمعية المحامين: مطلوب آلية لإعلان الخصوم المتواجدين خارج البلاد
• لبيد عبدال
أعلن رئيس لجنة مراجعة القوانين المدنية في جمعية المحامين الكويتية المحامي لبيد عبدال عن تقديم اقتراح من قبل الجمعية الى اللجنة التشريعية في مجلس الامة بخصوص تعديل نص مادة في القانون رقم 38 لسنة 1980 بشأن المرافعات المدنية والتجارية لتكون كالتالي: «اذا كان للمعلن اليه موطن معلوم في الخارج تسلم الاوراق اليه بواسطة احدى شركات البريد المستعجل العالمية، وينتج الاعلان اثاره بوصول الصورة الى المعلن اليه ويضع وزير العدل ضوابط عمل تلك الشركات واذا لم يكن للمعلن اليه موطنا او محل عمل معلوم تسلم صورة من ورقة الاعلان الى النيابة العامة».واكد ان الاقتراح المقدم نابع من الصعوبات العملية العديدة التي يواجهها جموع العاملين في مهنة المحاماة برفع الدعاوى على الافراد والشركات الذين يقع موطنهم المعلوم خارج الكويت؟ بسبب الاعلان بالطرق الدبلوماسية الذي يستغرق وصول الاوراق المراد اعلانها وعودتها عبر الطرق الدبلوماسية سنوات في بعض الاحوال وما يسبق اجراءات التقاضي امام المحاكم ويهدر الحقوق المطالب بها.واضاف ان تعديل قانون المرافعات المدنية والتجارية يسهل اجراءات التقاضي امام المحاكم الكويتية من خلال اعلان الاوراق الخاصة بصحيفة الدعوى بواسطة احدى شركات الاعلان المستعجلة خلال ايام، والتي يمكن اعتمادها بقرار من وزير العدل وذلك لمتطلبات الحاجة العملية واسوة بالعديد من الدول التي سارت في الاتجاه نفسه كلبنان والاردن، مشددا على ضرورة ايجاد آلية لاعلان الخصوم المتواجدين خارج البلاد.
Monday, October 13, 2008
‘Human trafficking must be tackled’
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 12: The Kuwaiti Parliament should accord priority to getting the proposed anti-human trafficking law passed to put an end to the problems bedeviling the labour sector, says a Kuwaiti lawyer. Speaking to the Arab Times on Sunday, Labeed Abdal called upon the authorities to monitor companies which have been indulging in visa trafficking which has become a lucrative business for some unscrupulous firms.” “There are some anti-human trafficking laws in place but they are not being enforced. The recent labour unrest was an eye-opener and has given us a taste of things to come and that is why it is essential we no longer brush aside the problem of visa trafficking,” he affirmed.
“When exploitative companies bring in laborers and leave them at their own mercy, it spawns a number of social, criminal and security headaches. This is one of the main reasons the crime graph has been soaring for the past few years, and unless we tighten the screws on visa merchants, things will not continue to deteriorate,” he added. To a question whether visa merchants should be jailed as has been done in some Gulf countries, Abdal said that imprisonment should be the last resort and that the first and foremost measure should be imposition of huge fines on companies trading in visas followed by the cancellation of their commercial licenses and the ultimate step would be jail. Lauding the amnesty for illegals, he said that the amnesty was a move in the right direction and that the government should extend the deadline only in deserving cases, particularly those who face harassment at the hands of their greedy sponsors.
Noting that the government should establish a committee tasked with combating visa trafficking, Abdal went on to explain that the committee should be empowered to take action against those companies which are unable to give an account of their employees. Abdal went on to explain that the committee in question should ascertain the authenticity of certain projects even as some companies were allegedly hiring workers on false pretexts and that such practices should be stopped forthwith. Replying to a question on whether abrogation of the sponsorship system would help eliminating the practice of human trafficking, he said that abolition of sponsorship system should be studied at length as it has pros and cons. “I am of the view that the sponsorship system is required in certain cases.” Elaborating further, Abdal said that there are some expat businessmen, qualified professionals who are capable of sponsoring themselves. On the other hand, there are certain categories of workers for whom the sponsorship system is essential, he added without elaborating.
By Francis A. Clifford CardozoArab Times Staff
“When exploitative companies bring in laborers and leave them at their own mercy, it spawns a number of social, criminal and security headaches. This is one of the main reasons the crime graph has been soaring for the past few years, and unless we tighten the screws on visa merchants, things will not continue to deteriorate,” he added. To a question whether visa merchants should be jailed as has been done in some Gulf countries, Abdal said that imprisonment should be the last resort and that the first and foremost measure should be imposition of huge fines on companies trading in visas followed by the cancellation of their commercial licenses and the ultimate step would be jail. Lauding the amnesty for illegals, he said that the amnesty was a move in the right direction and that the government should extend the deadline only in deserving cases, particularly those who face harassment at the hands of their greedy sponsors.
Noting that the government should establish a committee tasked with combating visa trafficking, Abdal went on to explain that the committee should be empowered to take action against those companies which are unable to give an account of their employees. Abdal went on to explain that the committee in question should ascertain the authenticity of certain projects even as some companies were allegedly hiring workers on false pretexts and that such practices should be stopped forthwith. Replying to a question on whether abrogation of the sponsorship system would help eliminating the practice of human trafficking, he said that abolition of sponsorship system should be studied at length as it has pros and cons. “I am of the view that the sponsorship system is required in certain cases.” Elaborating further, Abdal said that there are some expat businessmen, qualified professionals who are capable of sponsoring themselves. On the other hand, there are certain categories of workers for whom the sponsorship system is essential, he added without elaborating.
By Francis A. Clifford CardozoArab Times Staff
email :labeed@lalaw.com.kw
Friday, October 10, 2008
الحلم الكويتي
الحلم الكويتي
كتب لبيد عبدال :
يبقى الحلم الاميركي ابرز احلام القرن العشرين، الذي يقوم على جعل الولايات المتحدة الاميركية، ارضا لتحقيق الاحلام والطموحات ايما كان الاصل، او التاريخ، او الفرص الاقتصادية في الوطن الام، بحيث يوفر النظام الاداري، والاقتصادي، والاجتماعي، في الوطن الجديد، المناخ المناسب لتحقيق ذلك، طالما تحققت القدرة، والكفاءة، والعزيمة.وفي فرنسا يبقى الحلم الفرنسي مرتبطاً بمبادئ الثورة الفرنسية، حيث مبادئ الحرية، والمساواة، والتآخي، ويقوم الحلم الكندي على بناء دولة من الموزاييك الكندي القائم على تعدد الجنسيات، والثقافات، والاديان، اما الحلم البريطاني، فيقوم على بناء وحماية التعددية الثقافية والدينية، تحت الهوية البريطانية.ويبدو اننا في الكويت، نحتاج إلى المزيد من التفكير، والتأصيل، واعادة النظر في شأن تحديد وصياغة هذا الحلم، اذ يبقى من الاهمية بمكان التركيز على المزيد من العيش للقصة الوطنية المشتركة، التي من دون شك، تبقى لا تنفصل عن التاريخ المشترك، وبدء تأسيس المجتمع، الذي ارتبطت تحدياته بركوب عباب البحر، التجارة والغوص من اجل اللؤلؤ، وكذلك العيش في الظروف الصعبة للصحراء، ومجابهتها بالتلاحم الاجتماعي، والتفكير الدائم بتأمين المستقبل.كما انه لا يمكن عزل تلك القصة الوطنية عن دور الشيخ مبارك، والتحديات الكبرى التي كانت محيطة به، كالتهديد العثماني، وتحديات ابن رشيد، ومن ثم ابرام اتفاقية الحماية للكويت مع الامبراطورية البريطانية عام 1899، ثم اتجاه اهل الكويت إلى عرض مسودة الوثيقة الدستورية الاولى على الشيخ احمد الجابر عام 1921، واكتشاف النفط في الاربعينات، وبروز الاتجاه الايجابي الذي قام على الدفع نحو مجتمع اكثر بحبوحة عبر التثمين، ومن خلال التطور التدريجي في مجال التعليم، والصحة، والبلدية، ثم اعلان الاستقلال وصدور دستور 1962، وانشاء مجتمع اكثر تنظيما ومدنية، ونشوء العديد من مؤسسات الدولة ووزاراتها، ثم تعرض الكويت إلى محاولة الاعتداء على الحدود من عبدالكريم قاسم، ثم حربي 67 و73 كتحديات عربية لم تكن الكويت بعيدة عنها.ثم جاءت الثمانينات كمرحلة الحرب العراقية ــ الايرانية، وآثارها المباشرة على الكويت، وامنها، واقتصادها، ولحق بذلك الغزو الغاشم للكويت عام 1990، ومتابعة اعادة بناء الكويت بعد تحريرها، ثم سقوط رئيس النظام الصدامي في 2003، وتحقيق تغيير كبير بالنسبة للكويت بشأن الهاجس الامني، ثم تحقق ارتفاع كبير في سعر برميل النفط، والوصول الى عوائد عالية لايرادات النفط، ثم انطلاق مشروع الكويت كمركز مالي وتجاري.وعلى ما يبدو، وعبر ذلك الموجز التاريخي، كان التحدي دائما، وجود الدولة، وامنها، وبقاؤها على الخريطة العالمية، امام المخاطر والاطماع الخارجية والدولية المحيطة بها، وبالتالي كان مشروع وهاجس الدولة اكبر من أي أمر آخر.ونعتقد وبصورة جازمة، أنه قد آن الاوان ودقت ساعة التحول الى المزيد من التركيز على الداخل، واستمرار مواجهة جميع شهوات التدمير للكويت، خصوصا مع النجاح الباهر للقيادة، في بلورة اهمية التحالفات الناجحة مع الامبراطورية البريطانية في القرن 19، ثم الولايات المتحدة، بشكل اكثر دقة، في السبعينات، والثمانينات، ثم مع تحرير الكويت عام 1991، واعادة الشرعية، واعلان الكويت حليفا استراتيجيا في 2004، ودعم الكويت اعمال تحرير العراق واعادة امنه، وازالة نظام دكتاتوري ودموي، كلف العراق والمنطقة الكثير من الدماء والدموع، وأرواح الابرياء.هذا النجاح يسجل للقيادة، خصوصا في اطار المستقبل الاستراتيجي للكويت كموقع، وكإحدى اهم الدول المصدرة للنفط على مدى المائة عام المقبلة، والتي تستوجب بحق، تحقيق خطة وطنية شاملة، تتوافق مع الرؤية الاميرية بجعل الكويت مركزا ماليا، مع وجود التحالفات الدولية، وانشاء مدينة الكويت الحديثة، والقائمة على مبادئ المساواة، وتكافؤ الفرص للجميع، مع رفع زخم المشاريع التنموية التي تجعلها واحة وارفة الظلال، ودولة رفاه، حسب ما ورد في الدستور، ترمز، للنماء، والامان، والاستقرار، وترعى وتحفظ مبادئ احترام القانون والمساواة امامه، لكل من فيها، حكاما ومحكومين، من جبلة، وشرق، والمرقاب، والجهراء، داخل حدود السور وخارجه، قرى الفنطاس وابو حليفة، السنة والشيعة، مواطنين واجانب، وجموع الناس، محققا بذلك، الحلم الكويتي المنتظر والاصيل.
لبيد عبدال
Saturday, October 4, 2008
أزمة المناخ الأميركية
أزمة المناخ الأميركية
كتب لبيد عبدال :
يبدو انه رغم بدء عنونة الحرب على الارهاب، بصورة الحرب بين الحضارات والاديان، فان المراقب للازمة المالية الاميركية، يلحظ الآثار العكسية المترتبة، في الاقتصاد الاميركي لجزء من تداعيات تلك الحرب، والتوسع في كيفية ادارتها وتقدير عواقبها، وشمولها اعمال محاربة الارهاب في العراق وافغانستان، وفتح اسواق مرتبطة بمكينة الحرب العسكرية، خاصة حيث يقوم الاقتصاد الاميركي، كأصل على سوق الرأسمالية الحرة، التي تعتمد على حرية رأس المال وعدم تدخل الدولة.والملاحظ ان الحرب على الارهاب، تزامنت معها العديد من التغيرات العكسية، لهذه الازمة المتطورة، حيث الاجراءات الاستثنائية، في الاجراءات الجزائية، والآن تدخل الدولة لدعم القطاع المصرفي، وهي تلك الحلول التي وضعت لترقيع وضع القطاع المصرفي، وازمته الائتمانية، والتي اشبه ما تكون بازمة المناخ الكويتية، حيث ظلت البنوك تقدم القروض دون الضمانات الكافية، مع عدم دقة الرقابة على قطاع البنوك في مجال الاقراض، وتزامن ذلك مع ارتفاع اسعار برميل النفط، وما صاحبه من تضخم في الاسعار، وانهيار سوق العقار الذي فقد قيمته كضمان للقروض التي تقابلها رهون عقارية، بحيث انها اصبحت لا تفي بسداد اصل الدين ولا فوائده، وذلك كله كان تحت امل من القطاع التجاري، والمالي، والمصرفي، لعوائد مشاريع اعادة بناء العراق، ومشاريعه التريليونية لسداد الديون المترتبة عليه، وقدر من دعم الاحتياطي العام للدولة عبر وزارة الخزانة العامة، والذي يقدر الآن بـ700 مليار دولار، تصرف من اموال دافعي الضرائب، مما ادخل الاقتصاد في مرحلة خطرة ومظلمة، التي يبقى ربما معها، المنقذ للنظام الاقتصادي، هو حماس وقوة النظام السياسي، في البقاء في الصدارة والتقدم العالمي، وتقديم الدعم اللازم بشكل عاجل.كما ان عدم القدرة على التحديد الدقيق لحجم الازمة المالية، وحجم المبالغ اللازمة للخروج من معضلة سبتمبر الاسود، تشكل تحديات كبرى للنظام الاقتصادي، خصوصا مع افلاس المؤسسة المالية الكبرى كليهمن براذرز وبيع بعض البنوك، وتأميم بعض مؤسسات الرهن والتأمين.ويبقى الحل الذي لا يوجد بديل ظاهر له، امام اخفاق الرقابة من السلطة التنفيذية هو تدخل الكونغرس، كحل مؤقت، لدعم القطاع المصرفي وانقاذه من السقوط بالهاوية، واعادة بناء الاقتصاد، مع العودة للتحالفات المالية التقليدية، المحلية والدولية، للخروج من الخمول والركود الاقتصادي، واعادة التطهير من تلك الاخطاء القاتلة والمدمرة في الوقت نفسه، بحلول الانقاذ غير المسبوقة، والتي فرضها الواقع، رغم مخالفتها اساسات الايديولوجية الاقتصادية الحرة، ولتجاوز الانتقادات القاسية بشأن القطبية الاقتصادية الواحدة، سواء من قبل آسيا، او العديد من الدول الاوروبية، التي تقف ضد الاقتصاد وفق النظرية الانغلوسكسونية.
لبيد عبدال
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