SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2015 LOCAL KUWAIT: Gulf University for Science and Technology students yesterday shattered a world record held by Qatar by collecting and packing over 56 tons of clothing for charity. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Drivers fume over new smoking bill By Faten Omar KUWAIT: The Municipality revealed last week about a study to fine and impound the cars of those smoking while driving, in addition to penalties for other traffic offences. Director General of the Kuwait Municipality Ahmed AlSabeeh said that the municipality will submit these recommendations to the Interior Ministry, which will be discussed during a joint workshop. Sabeeh explained that the aim of this move is to maintain the safety of drivers and the environment. But most people interviewed by Kuwait Times were skeptical. “When we talk about the house, we are taking about a private place - you can dance or drink inside your home and it’s nobody’s business, as is the car. They cannot stop me from smoking inside my car because it is a private space. This law is encroaching on people’s privacy. For example, I will ask you to listen to another singer instead of your favorite one, but you won’t heed my order because your car it is not mine and I do not have the right to tell you what to do in it. So this is an illogical decision, and the car is not a public place to take control of,” fumed Ahmed Abu Al-Ez, an administrative assistant. “Even in the United Arab Emirates, fines Kuwaiti constitution: Guarantor of women’s rights GENEVA: The Kuwaiti constitution embraces human rights, especially those for women, said consultant to Women’s Affairs Committee affiliated with the Kuwaiti Cabinet Huda Al-Shaiji yesterday. In remarks to KUNA regarding Kuwait’s human rights record before the UNHRC, she said Kuwait has a Constitutional Court that ensures preservation of the rights of women. In her presentation before the UNHCR, she emphasized that numerous Kuwaiti laws protect Kuwaiti women from domestic violence, and guarantee her rights for divorce, child custody, alimony, and adequate housing. Moreover, she said the Kuwaiti National Assembly passed recently the Family Law, stipulating, among other things, that special centers be equipped to handle domestic disputes and protect women from possible spousal abuse. She added that a government fund has been set up by the ministry of justice which enforces court rulings for alimony and child support, noting that the Kuwaiti labor law demands equal pay for men and women working in the public sector. Furthermore, she said she told the UNHCR panel reviewing human rights record for Kuwait that the latter pays strict attention to the welfare of divorced or widowed women by extending monetary assistance to them as well as health care, housing, work, and education. Accident kills 1 A female citizen was instantly killed and three other family members were injured when their vehicle turned over along Abdaly highway, said security sources, noting that the four were rushed to Jahra Hospital where the woman was declared dead. Gold, KD 200 missing A citizen living in Rumaithiya reported that her housemaid fled the house taking her passport, 3 golden bracelets and KD 200 in cash. A case was filed and a search is on for the maid. Trespass and rape A Kuwaiti was arrested for trespass and rape, said security sources. Case papers indicate that a citizen living in Sabah Al-Salem reported that a young man had been visiting his daughter late at night in her room where he spent time with her, until he caught them, but the lover managed to escape. The man added that his daughter admitted to facilitating her lover’s entry in the house and that she had lost her virginity to him. The should create a good environment first and care about making the country green first, then apply these rules. I support the decision, but I do not think it will be applied,” he said. “The smoker will not harm anyone in his car, but if there are children, the law must be applied. But I hope they raise the fine for people who throw out cigarette butts while driving,” said Umm Ali, a housewife. Nizah, also a housewife from the US, had a different opinion. She said the government is right to take such a decision. “They should curb smoking everywhere and not just in cars, as this is very bad for health and the environment,” she said. Kuwait showcases its human rights record Illegal residents ‘enjoy’ basic rights Huda Al-Shaiji, Consultant to Women’s Affairs Committee of the Cabinet Kuwaiti women, she said, have access to all lines of work including in the judiciary, military, and diplomatic fields, stressing the fact that Kuwait has joined all pertinent international agreements upholding human rights in general but especially women’s rights as well. The UNHRC human rights review panel endorsed yesterday Kuwait’s presentation of its human rights file, affirming that the Kuwaiti delegation’s briefing to the panel was thorough in documenting the country’s human rights record. —KUNA Kuwaiti arrested; unlicensed gun and Kalashnikov seized KUWAIT: A citizen was arrested with an unlicensed gun and Kalashnikov, said security sources. Case papers indicate that a police patrol suspected a vehicle driven unsteadily, and on stopping it, the driver was found under the influence of drugs and the weapons were found in his vehicle. are imposed for smoking in cars, but they are not impounded. Kuwait must concentrate on repairing roads and focus on the bigger picture,” he added. Khalid Al-Saleh, accountant, was also irked by the study. “I don’t think this decision will ever become law, as I do not see any aim behind this decision - I’m hurting myself, not others.” Rashid Alawneh, a chef, laughed heartily when he heard the news for the first time. “There are some people, who due to their addiction to smoking, will risk a ticket and impoundment of their cars just to smoke. They will then look for someone important for wasta to get their cars back. Kuwait lover was ambushed outside his house, where he was arrested and pled guilty as charged. A case was filed and further investigations are in progress. ‘Ungrateful son’ An ungrateful son, who had disputes with his father, set ablaze his father’s two vehicles in Sabahiya, said security sources. Case papers indicate the father, a citizen, filed a complaint at Sabahiya police station accusing his 25-year-old son of setting fire to two vehicles belonging to him. A case was filed and further investigations are in progress. Kuwaitis detained for alcohol Five citizens - two men and three women were arrested for drinking, said security sources. Case papers indicate that a police patrol suspected a vehicle parked with the suspects inside. On approaching, the five suspects reeked of liquor. Robbers break into co-op Wafra agricultural co-op supervisor reported that unidentified robbers broke into the co-op and stole cigarettes and sweets worth KD2,200. A case was filed and further investigations are in progress. Syrian doctor attacked A Syrian doctor reported that three people attacked him and that after brutally beating him up, they rammed his vehicle several times with their car along Fahaheel Expressway. GENEVA: The periodical review of the human rights situation in Kuwait had been well received by the UN Human Rights Council. In his speech to the session on the UNHCR Kuwaiti report, head of the council Joachim Rucker lauded Kuwait’s presentation of its human rights file, affirming that the Kuwaiti delegation’s briefing was thorough in showcasing the country’s human rights record. Kuwait’s Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Al-Sabeeh also delivered a speech to the session, reflecting her country’s commitment to human rights. On his part, Permanent Kuwaiti Delegate to the UN Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghunaim said that Kuwait’s representation of its human rights record was “enriching”, stressing that various countries have got to understand the status of human rights in Kuwait. Basic human rights Meanwhile Kuwait has reiterated that the illegal residents in the country enjoy all basic human rights and are treated in a much better way than many countries around the world do. During the UN Human Rights Council’s session on the periodical review of the situation of the human rights in Kuwait, Head of the Technical Office at the Central Agency for Remedying of the Illegal Residents’ Status Eman Al-Nasser made a detailed presentation on the services and facilities offered to the illegal residents in Kuwait. She pointed out that illegal residents receive services similar to that offered to citizens. Al-Nasser said that the government labels those people as “illegal residents” in accordance with the Central Agency’s foundation decree No 467 of 2010. “ They were labeled so because they violated foreigners’ residency law No 17 of 1959 which necessities the possession of a valid passport to get a residency permission. They have concealed their original passports on a false belief that this would qualify them to get the Kuwaiti citizenship,” she said. Roadmap She noted that the Supreme Council for Planning and Development has drawn a roadmap to remedy the illegal residents’ status and it was approved by the Cabinet as per decree No 1612 of 2010. The roadmap aims to strike a balance between helping illegal residents live a dignified life and protecting state’s higher interests, Al-Nasser said. She stressed that illegal residents move to rectify their legal statuses in the country do not pre- vent them from applying to be naturalized as per the law. The roadmap includes reviewing the files of each illegal resident and presenting lists of naturalization candidates to the cabinet to consider it, she said, noting that the central agency has presented, since its foundation, lists of 687 candidates to the Cabinet. The roadmap also envisaged encouraging illegal residents to rectify their legal statuses in return for offering them free five-year residency permission, she said, adding that 6,325 of them have rectified their statuses in the past four years. Al-Nasser underscored that the Kuwaiti government gives due attention to the human aspects in handling this dossier. The cabinet in its resolution No 409 of 2011 completed the services offered by the state to illegal residents to help them live a dignified life, she said. Providing education She pointed out that the government is keen on providing education services to the children of the illegal residents, noting that 15,105 of students of this category are benefiting from this service. Up to 5,758 people were also enrolled in the University of Kuwait and 3,347 others were enrolled at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, she said. The illegal residents enjoy healthcare the services offered by the State of Kuwait. About 56,547 such persons benefited from such services at a total value of $13 million till the end of 2012.Moreover, the government gives illegal resident priority after citizens in employment in public and cooperative sector. Till March 2014, 1,419 people were appointed at the public sector and 630 persons in at the cooperative sector, she said. The illegal residents are granted ration cards to get subsidized food supplies, she said, stating that 98,384 such persons have benefited from these cards and got supplies at a total value of $2.3 million. People with special needs among illegal residents are getting total care as per law No 8 of 2010, she said. The state offers to this segment housing welfare and social insurance services. Al-Nasser said that the Kuwaiti authorities are issuing civil and legal documents, such as birth and death certificates and marriage contracts and divorce. Furthermore, the illegal residents enjoy the right of litigation and public freedoms and others. They also benefit from some of the services provided by other state bodies such as that of Zakat (alms) House and the General Secretariat of Awqaf, the Public Authority for Social Insurance and the Public Authority for Housing Welfare, she said, noting that those who rectify their statuses enjoy these services throughout the fiveyear residency granted to them. Al-Nasser stressed that Kuwait is keen on continuing efforts to provide a better services to illegal residents in the country. She also handed the United Nations and its member states a booklet including statistics about the services and facilities provided to such segment in the society. — Agencies