KISR was established in 1967, and at that time its activity was confined to introductory studies and field surveys in the field of agriculture. Later, by a Decree in 1981, it became a government institute of scientific research operating autonomously through a clearly defined scientific strategy aiming at achieving the following objectives:

Encouraging Kuwait’s citizens to pursue scientific research and inculcating interest in scientific research in the younger generation.

Studying, developing, making use of and protecting natural resources, especially water, marine, energy and farming resources.

Conducting technological and scientific research and providing scientific consultancy to government bodies.

Following up recent developments in the fields of science and technology and applying them to the local environment.

Establishing and developing scientific cooperation through joint research and information exchange programmes with academic and technological institutions locally and abroad.

To achieve these goals, the Institute drew up a five year plan (1984-1989) under the title Strategic Research Programmer which is based on major scientific programmes closely related to the local needs of Kuwait.

Positive results have been achieved by the Institute, and its programmes are now being implemented in many fields. The Institute, for instance, in an attempt to develop food resources, has succeeded in developing techniques for producing new types of fish, and in discovering a protein which can be used for feeding animals. Studies have also been conducted to improve agricultural production and certain types of plants have been developed to be planted in the water front project. It has also conducted scientific studies in the field of sea water desalination through the method of reverse osmosis, and has developed new designs for computers used in forecasting the low spread of oil slicks in regional coastal waters. It has also undertaken studies using solar energy in some chemical processes.

Since its inception, KISR has helped in the preparation of national qualified cadres and in setting training systems aiming at improving the skill and proficiency of the Institute’s researchers, especially the young cadres, who now constitute 50 per cent of its scientific staff.

The new premises inaugurated in 1986 have helped the Institute to double its efforts in the field of scientific research. It is now ranked fifth out of 50 scientific institutions in the third world countries.

For more information, visit: www.kisr.edu.kw

Loss of Life

The Iraqi invasion caused widespread damage across Kuwait.

Kuwaitis paid the highest human price relative to their population.
An estimated number of 439 foreign nationals, 118 Kuwaiti soldiers and 113 Kuwaiti civilians were killed. Kuwait’s human loss was proportionately equivalent to about 400,000 Americans or 100,000 British.
The widespread landmines, estimated to be 2 million (92.4 mines per square kilometre or 1.1 mine per Kuwaiti), left many more dead and physically disabled.

Social and Psychological Damage

The use of coercion by Iraqis left a permanent scar on the Kuwaiti people. All kinds of crime and torture were perpetrated by the aggressors against civilians — women, men, children and the elderly.

A list of methods used by the Iraqis, drawn by the Amnesty International, reveals the extent of torture inflicted on innocent Kuwaitis. These methods and their intentions were devilish. The methods included fracturing limbs and ribs, administration of electric shocks, burning naked body parts, pouring acid into the eyes eventually leading to blindness, subjecting victims to mock trials, etc. The Iraqis denied medical care to the Kuwaitis unless they changed their nationality to Iraq, a clear case of human rights violation.

Public places such as hospitals, schools, parks, museums etc. were used by the Iraqis as detention and torture centres. On their retreat, Iraqis took away hundreds of innocent civilians as hostages and subjected them to torture in Iraqi jails. Many of such prisoners of war are yet untraceable.

Memories of such incidents continue to haunt Kuwaitis till date. Kuwaitis continue to suffer from emotional disorders such as depression, sleeplessness, anxiety, nightmares, absentmindedness, etc. Recalling the days of horror is a traumatic experience for them and Kuwaitis are doing their best to put the trauma behind them.

Destruction of Health Care Facilities

Once the centre of excellence, the health care sector was worst hit. The Iraqis destroyed primary health centres, super-speciality hospitals, in fact the total health care infrastructure. Looting, rioting and lack of health staff caused a total collapse of the system. The impact on the public health was most severe, as many diseases could not be controlled. Statistics reveal the high prevalence of infant mortality, cases of miscarriages, underweight babies, abnormal foetus, heart diseases etc.

Economic Damage

Oil is the lifeline of Kuwait’s economy, constituting about 90 per cent of its exports. The widespread destruction, especially the burning oil wells, was the primary reason for the paralysis of the Kuwaiti economy. The gross national product dropped more than 70 per cent from August 1990 to February 1991.

Twenty-five of the 26 oil-gathering centres suffered massive damage. The pipeline network was nearly crippled. The refinery at Mina Abdullah terminal suffered heavily. The main control room was completely wrecked. Six of the 81 gas stations were completely destroyed. The fertiliser plant was severely affected. Oil wells and other Kuwaiti industrial installations, which formed the backbone of the Kuwaiti economy, were particularly targeted to inflict maximum possible damage.

The Iraqi occupation also crippled Kuwait’s banking sector. During the occupation, the banks and their funds were at the mercy of the Iraqi forces. Studies reveal that banking activities, financial services and insurance dropped by 23 per cent after the liberation compared with pre-occupation.

The invasion also wreaked havoc on the real estate, civic amenities, communications, and transportation sectors. Kuwait Airways Corporation too suffered huge losses as the Iraqi invaders looted 15 of their 23 aircraft – an estimated loss of $ 1.2 billion. The already limited farming business also suffered heavily and irrigation works too were badly hit. Most fishermen lost their boats resulting in huge losses, fishing being one of the major business activities.

Most of the colleges of Kuwaiti University were burnt. Serious damage was also inflicted on the Kuwaiti Institute for Scientific Research (KISR). During the invasion, the Iraqis caused widespread damage to the state-of-the-art facilities of the Ministry of Information — damaging studios, equipment, printing press, TV towers, etc.

Environmental Damage

In the face of imminent defeat at the hands of the allied forces, the Iraqi troops set ablaze hundreds of oil wells across Kuwait, thereby resorting to a new type of terrorism – environmental terrorism.

The daily burning of three million barrels of crude oil created half a ton of air
pollutants that filled the entire atmosphere with heavy smoke and hid the sun. Evaporation of the spilled oil also added toxic chemicals in the atmosphere. The water cycle of the Gulf was affected and the average temperature too changed sharply. The quantity of bacteria at the seashore level increased significantly leading to inadequate availability of purified drinking water.

The Kuwaiti desert still remains littered with hidden mines, which are being discovered now and then. The oil lakes, created by flowing oil wells, have had severe effects on soil, plants and underground reservoirs. The gallons of oil spilled in the Gulf have already threatened the oceanic marine ecosystem.

As a result of the horrifying effects of war on the Kuwaiti environment the United Nations has declared November 6, the day the oil fires were finally extinguished in Kuwait, as the International Day for Preventing the Use of the Environment in Military Conflicts. The Day is a reminder of the suffering that Kuwait underwent and the need to create awareness about the issue at a global level.

The main tenets of Kuwait’s science and technology strategy have been the use of modern scientific methods as the base for building an advanced society that selects the best practices from around the globe.

The implementation of plans and programmes have placed Kuwait in a more advanced position than many of the region’s countries.

Kuwait has established specialised scientific bodies which can undertake work in the field of academic research with the ultimate aim of building up modern Kuwait. These bodies are: Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS), The Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR) and the Scientific Club.

Based on this principle, the Ministry of Defence has provided the armed forces with modern technology and equipment of war fighting.

Military service in Kuwait is compulsory for all Kuwaiti male citizens who have attained 18 years of age; they spend two years in the army. The period is reduced to one year for university graduates. The Ministry of Defence and the Army leadership use the most modern systems such as computers and microfilms for preparing and training Kuwaiti youth as ranked army officers.

Established in 1969, the Ministry of Defence has about 1,500 employees, excluding the forces. The Ministry works towards enhancing the skills and abilities of land, air and naval forces by sending them to military courses, both in Kuwait and abroad. Further, the Ministry allows for acceptance of qualified women in various specialities such as the engineering and military facilities, moral guidance and public relations departments.

Kuwait’s Army is an active member of the ‘Peninsula Shield’ force, which is a joint force constituted by the GCC. It includes representative units from all the Council members. Military officials exchange visits and conduct joint maneuvers aiming at coordination and integration among themselves.

The International community was quick to condemn this act of aggression.

The United Nations Security Council issued several resolutions (namely UN Resolution 600, 661, 662, 665, 678, 686) against Iraq, asking Baghdad to pull out of Kuwait.

All peaceful means of getting the aggressor out having failed, a UN-backed military operation began on January 17, 1991. Eighteen countries joined the operation which took 42 days to oust the Iraqi occupation force.

Kuwait was finally liberated on February 26, 1991.

Nearly seven months of Iraqi occupation wreaked havoc on the people and caused complete devastation to a once rich and prosperous state. The Iraqis committed unimaginable and inhuman atrocities on men, women and children. The economy was ruined and the infrastructure was completely destroyed. The Iraqis set on fire almost 90 per cent of Kuwaiti oil wells, causing irreparable damage to the environment and marine life.

The joy of Liberation soon gave way to a sense of responsibility among the Kuwaiti citizens about how to rebuild the country and to restore its past glory. The Kuwaitis soon began an agonising search for their loved ones, taken as Prisoners of War by the Iraqi regime.

The task of reconstruction of the nation was by all means an uphill one given the harsh Kuwaiti conditions and the scale of damage and destruction.

However, thanks to the never dying Kuwaiti spirit, most services and operations were restored in record time. The present day Kuwait shows no sign of the arson and vandalism the Iraqis left behind.

Kuwait is a free nation again but many Kuwaitis are yet to overcome the trauma and agony. As many as 605 Kuwaiti and third countries nationals are held captive in Iraqi jails and detention centres to date. The plight of these POWs is a matter of great concern for every Kuwaiti. It is a humanitarian issue with international ramifications and it should be resolved immediately.

International telephone lines were snapped. Local television and radio stations were taken over. Attempts to make contacts abroad involved the risk of capture and execution. Most information about conditions inside Kuwait came from those who had managed to flee the country and find refuge elsewhere. Their reports were chilling.

reedom’, ‘Civil Rights’, ‘Human Rights’ — were words that had lost their meaning. While waking up alive was reason enough to give thanks, it also meant not knowing what new horrors the day might bring. Those who left home did so with the knowledge that they might never return — the entire city was crawling with snipers and landmines. Not that home provided a haven of safety and security. The Iraqi forces had the free run of the country. They barged into private homes to loot, plunder, torture, rape and execute at will. Any resistance was met with a merciless display of strength of superior numbers and weapons.

Water desalination and purification plants were destroyed. Food and water supplies to the Kuwaiti people were cut off as Saddam Hussein diverted them to his own armies. The ever-present possibility of chemical weapons attacks meant having to sew home-made gas masks.

As in any war, the children were the worst victims. Their world had changed overnight. The invasion and subsequent occupation of their tiny nation came as a bolt from the blue. Before the invasion, Kuwait’s crime rate ranked among the lowest in the world. Now they were surrounded by images of death and destruction. Even the sun didn’t seem to shine as before. The oil wells set afire by the Iraqis belched thick black smoke that clouded their lives like a bad dream they couldn’t seem to wake up from. Sleep provided no respite, not with the constant raging of machine guns and tanks so perilously close.

The invaders gutted all that they could not kill or take with them. Parliamentary institutions, government buildings, the airport, major hotels, clubs, playgrounds and recreation centres were ransacked and destroyed. The beaches were used as arsenals for Iraqi arms. Some of the most fashionable residential suburbs were taken over by the Iraqi troops. Those that did not suit their purposes were torched. Even mosques and places of worship were not spared.

The atrocities did not begin and end with the local populace. Foreigners living in Kuwait were forced into hiding when the Iraqis began using them as human shields. The penalty for aiding a foreigner was death by hanging. The Kuwaiti people immediately issued a statement through the Kuwaiti Resistance: under no circumstances would they turn in a single foreigner. On the contrary, they would do everything in their power to help them.

The Kuwaitis devised an intricate system of supplying foreigners with food and basic necessities. Many expatriates were moved to safe houses in different Kuwaiti suburbs. The Resistance did this despite the tremendous risks involved, and some of its members paid with their lives.

As the weeks dragged into months of carnage and plunder, it seemed as though the war would never end. But the aggressors had reckoned without the reaction of the international community. The initial shock gave way to outrage and disgust. Kuwait would not fight alone. It would not lie ravaged and forgotten. The world was on Kuwait’s side, and the end of the torture much nearer than anyone would expect.

Modern parliamentary life in Kuwait began on June 19, 1961 with the elections to the Constituent Assembly. This was followed by the first session of the National Assembly held on January 29, 1963.

The total strength of the Kuwaiti National Assembly is 50. The members are elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage and secret ballot. The legislative term is divided into annual sessions which are of no less than eight months’ duration; the legislative term may be extended by law in times of war or may be shortened if the Assembly is dissolved by a decree. In such an eventuality general elections will have to be held within two months from the date of dissolution.

Each of Kuwait’s 25 constituencies elects two members to the Assembly. Only Kuwaiti males who are 21 years of age have the right to vote. Candidates for the National Assembly must be Kuwaiti nationals and not under 30 years of age.The Assembly’s sessions are only valid when more than half of the total number of members are present. Every member has the right to initiate bills. The bill passed by the National Assembly becomes law after it is sanctioned by the Amir, and promulgated and published in the official gazette.

The National Assembly’s financial responsibilities include approval of the state budget and final accounts. The Assembly also supervises executive power through deferment means, like submitting questions, initiating discussions, and setting up commissions of inquiry. Such supervision can lead to a vote of no-confidence against a minister and result in his resignation. A vote of no-confidence against the Prime Minister is not allowed, but the Assembly has the right of deciding not to cooperate with the Prime Minister. In such a case, the issue is taken to the Amir, who may either relieve the Prime Minister of office and appoint a new Cabinet or dissolve the Assembly and hold fresh elections.

The National Assembly has the right to set up standing as well as ad-hoc committees from among its members. These committees include Committee on Petitions and Complaints, Committee on Interior Affairs and Defence, Committee on Financial and Economic Affairs, Committee on Legislative and Legal Affairs, Committee on Affairs of Education, Culture and Guidance, Committee on Health, Social Affairs and Labour, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Public Utilities, Committee on Protection of Public Funds and the Committee on Defence of Human Rights.

Website: www.moe.edu.kw

Established in 1962, the Ministry of Education is one of the largest ministries with about 50,000 employees. The Ministry aims at updating and developing educational and teaching methods to ensure education to all citizens of Kuwait.

Education in Kuwait is imparted at four different levels:

• Kindergarten, with a duration of two academic years,

• Primary, with a duration of four academic years,

• Intermediate, with a duration of four academic years and

• Secondary, with a duration of four academic years.

Primary education is a fundamental right and is free and compulsory for all Kuwaitis. The education system in Kuwait can also be divided into three categories: Public, Private and Qualitative.

Public education

As per the data of academic year 1998-1999, there were 148 kindergartens, 179 primary schools, 164 intermediate schools and 117 secondary schools in Kuwait.

Private education

Private education was originally established to accommodate foreigners working in the country accompanied by their families. The following categories of schools fall under the umbrella of private education: Arabic private schools, foreign private schools (British, American, Indian etc), and cultural institutes (specialising in training, vocational and career studies).

The Arabic private schools receive support from the government and are run according to the academic requirements of the State of Kuwait. Foreign schools are run according to the academic curriculum of the country they emulate, but under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. The Ministry has made it mandatory for these schools to provide courses in Arabic language, Islamic religion, and history, geography and culture.

Qualitative education

Qualitative education can be further subdivided into the following segments:

• Religious education It consists of the intermediate and secondary levels. There were 81 religious institutes in 1998-99.

• Special education The Ministry provides special education to handicapped and disabled children in the State.

• Adult education Adult education focuses primarily on the obliteration of illiteracy among adults. The rate of illiteracy continues to decrease.

The Amirs of Kuwait are descendants of the late HH Mubarak Al-Sabah. Legislative power is vested in the Amir and the National Assembly. Executive power is vested in the Amir, the Cabinet and the Ministers, while Judicial authority is vested in the courts.

The Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister includes ministers in charge of one or more portfolios. The Prime Minister, traditionally the Crown Prince, is appointed by the Amir. The ministers are appointed by the Amir on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

Kuwait has an effective and well-functioning Judiciary, which decides all kinds of conflicts between various parties. A constitutional court, set up in accordance with the constitution, arbitrates on disputes relating to the constitutionality of laws, law decrees and regulations.

Kuwait also has an Audit Bureau which is responsible for preserving public funds and ensuring their optimal use through effective financial supervision. It reports to the Speaker of the National Assembly.

The country is divided into six Governorates. Each Governorate is administered by its own local governing body called the Governorate Council.

Kuwait’s Foreign Policy

In essence, Kuwait’s foreign policy is based on the principles of clarity, straightforwardness and quiet diplomacy. It aims at strengthening constructive cooperation with other countries on the basis of mutual respect, and non-intervention in the internal affairs in accordance with the principles of fairness and justice. Kuwait’s foreign policy is also concerned with the maintenance of its own independence, sovereignty and freedom of political decision.

The formation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is an expression and extension of Kuwait’s primary foreign policy goals. Created on February 4, 1981, the GCC has based its work on these principles to intensify efforts towards broadening cooperation among its members. The Charter of the GCC was signed by Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia in May 1981. The GCC groups together countries that are similar in culture, political structure and legal framework. The preferred approach of the GCC States is political mediation, crisis management and balance of power politics. The Charter aims at establishing a free market aiming a currency union and free movement of labour among the member countries.

The Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) was set up under the GCC Charter to investigate and fund development projects within the GCC for the production of import substitutes. The GIC has made impressive strides in the various fields.

Kuwait is also a member of the Arab League, where it realises its belief in a common Arab destiny by enhancing its relations with the Arab States. Kuwait actively supports, and works for the advancement of the cardinal principles of the Arab League and all its associated organisations.

At the level of the Islamic States, Kuwait has achieved reasonable success in overcoming the obstacles that weaken Islamic cooperation. The fifth Islamic Conference hosted by Kuwait in January 1987 played a catalytic role towards attaining greater success.

Kuwait joined the United Nations on May 14, 1963 thereby becoming the 111th member of the world body. Kuwait has upheld the UN’s principle of constructive cooperation, based on peace, equality and justice, among the nations of the world. The UN, on its part, has reciprocated by lending international support to Kuwait during the invasion by Iraq. Kuwait has worked for strengthening the organisation and has pledged more funds to the UN corpus than its prescribed quota.