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OPINION

Kuwait Scene
This is with reference to a specific aspect of a sensitive issue focused in the editorial of The Daily Star entitled "Human Rights in the Gulf (March 28) The specific aspect concerns the situation In Kuwait. It appears that some fragmentary accounts emanating from certain quarters have taken them at their ipsisslma verba and Inevitable incidents in a particular scenario are given an arbitrary slant with exaggerated overtones. This Is exemplified by the conjectural allegation that there has been "a systematic campaign of repression against Palestinians, Jordanians, Yemenis living in Kuwait' and other "nOn-Kuwaitis whose governments were sympathetic to Iraq during the Gulf war". Sweeping generalisation like this is apt to lead to conclusions devoid of substance.
When a sovereign state, after being devoured by ex ter nal aggression. Is liberated through a grim war, there is bound to be a period of vengeful spurt against the zealous collaborators of the occupation forces in their acta of torture, killing, rape and pillage. A symbolic bit of what Saddam's army did In, and left behind after seven months of occupation was reflected in on-the-spot newsreports following the entry of multinational libera Uon forces into Kuwait. A special correspondent of the daily Saudi Gazette witnessed at the skating rink in the centre of the Kuwait city mountains of stinking corpses so that instant polaroid photos of the bodies had to be taken for record before burial as they were too decomposed to wall any more days outside the grave. Other first-hand reports describe the terror and rape chambers set up by the occupation forces where ghastly torture instruments, blood stain* and photograph* of the victim* were found side by •ide with pornographic videos, obscene printed material and pictures of Saddam Husaein.
Killing people after torture tn front of their near and dear one*. phystcally lifting Uw ettl zens to unknown destinations (thousands are still untraced), criminal destruction of mankind s huge resources through the torching of Kuwait * 600 oil wells, widespread pillage: grievous damage to Kuwait's economic infrastructure; stealing tens of thousands of computers, cars and sophisticated equipment; cultural vandalism in ransacking the National Museum, the Historical Documents Centre and parts of Kuwait University; obliteration of valuable scientific research on human ecology at the prestigious Kuwait institute of Scientific Research — the tale is endless and elaboration Is horrifying. Now. what treatment is deserved by the perpetrators of these heinous acts or their collaborators? Does it require an answer in so many words?
Yet the Kuwaiti people have displayed their traditional magnanimity for which they deserve admiration It may be noted that there are still about 200,000 Palestinians In Kuwait, and had there been 'a systematic campaign of re presston", the casualties would have run Into five digits But the figure of 40 or so quoted In your editorial, or maybe the lower side of three digits, does in fact testify to the wonderful sense of restraint in the given perspective. Moreover, it is known that large sections, of Palestinians were not happy with the ill-advised official policy of PLO in supporting Iraq. I personally knew some good Palestinians (and Yemenis) who strongly disapproved of the Iraqi aggression. Kuwait has always helped Palestinians and Yemenis with jobs, shcl ter, etc. So there is no question of any indiscriminate per accution. Of course, the PLO, notwithstanding Ils sympathy arousing performance over the last two decades, can no longer claim the same credibility now after its less than graceful role during the last seven months.
As for war crime trials, it is an internationally accepted norm. Can any just person have objection to the Nuremberg trials following the second World War? After emerging anew from an Inferno that al most quenched Its very esia-lence. Kuwait has a right Io take appropriate measures to ensure its so-urlly
Dr Azim Halder J