(MENAFN - Arab Times) The Kuwaiti government should put the case of two Kuwaiti detainees in Guantanamo Prison, Fawzi Al-Awda and Fayiz Al-Kandari, on top of its priority list, says parliamentary Human Rights Committee member MP Faisal Al-Yahya.
Al-Yahya made the statement Wednesday after the panel met Attorney Adel Al-Abdulhadi, lawyer for the two detainees, and the US defense team handling the case. He said the team briefed the panel on the latest developments on the case, affirming that they still enjoy full support from the Kuwaiti government, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "However, the ministry has yet to meet the defense team. We believe the ministry must meet the team, considering they came to Kuwait at their own," he asserted.
The lawmaker added the panel invited the defense team to another meeting on Thursday, after the special legislative session for deliberations on the proposed amendment of the Public Tenders Law.
In another development, the committee tasked to investigate into the multimillion deposit scam and questionable money transfers discussed both cases with Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) Governor Mohammed Al-Hashil on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Committee Rapporteur MP Mohammed Al-Dallal disclosed they discussed the role of the bank in monitoring the deposits of MPs and ministers from April 1, 2009 to Nov 6, 2012, as well as the money transfers from various official bodies.
Believes
Al-Dallal said Head of the Remittances Division at the Foreign Operations Department in CBK Abeer Al-Asawasi also attended the meeting. He added the officer in charge of the Real Estate Registration Department at the Ministry of Justice, Adel Al-Huwaidi, was also invited to the meeting but he did not come and Ministry Undersecretary Abdulaziz Al-Majid attended on his behalf. However, the panel believes it is still necessary to invite Al-Huwaidi to its next meeting to provide certain information.
Moreover, MP Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabaei has forwarded questions to Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Ahmad Al-Rujeib on the soaring prices of some commodities in the cooperative societies. He wants to know why the prices of these goods are higher than those in regular markets, considering the State supports the cooperatives. He inquired about the reasons behind the differences in the prices of the same goods in cooperative societies and the role of the Consumer Cooperative Societies Union in the import of commodities, particularly the procedures taken for the bulk purchase of goods to reduce prices in the local market.
Al-Tabtabaei also asked the minister to provide him with a detailed report on the steps it has taken regarding the alleged financial and administrative irregularities in cooperative societies, such as the rental of shelves, delayed payment to suppliers, asking the suppliers to contribute for the social activities of the cooperatives and other malpractices.
Al-Tabtabaei wants to know if the government has policies and programs to illustrate the indicators of consumption development, consumer price index, family budget analysis and impact of price hikes on the standard of living of citizens, especially those with low income.
He demanded information on the measures taken by the authority to reduce customs duties and costs for shipping, transportation, storage and handling of foodstuffs and construction materials for the citizens.
