Activists urge reform ahead of Gulf summit
AFP
KUWAIT CITY- Human rights and political activists called on Sunday for broad democratic and social reform in the energy-rich Gulf states ahead of an annual summit of the regional bloc.
The activists urged Gulf Cooperation Council leaders to "support the civil transformation in the GCC states by establishing and backing the state of law, separation of powers ... and adopting direct ballot to elect legislative, local and municipal councils."
"We urge states that have not adopted the principle of popular participation and have not legalised civil societies in economic, social, cultural and political fields to take the necessary decisions in this regard," the activists said.
Leaders of the GCC, which groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are due to open their 31st annual summit in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Only Kuwait and Bahrain have vibrant parliaments, while the UAE and Oman have partially-elected legislatures, and Qatar and OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia have no legislative elections.
But even in Kuwait, all the 16 cabinet ministers who are not elected become members of parliament and can vote, and in Bahrain the appointed upper house can block decisions by parliament.
The region, with a population of just 36 million including 15 million foreign workers, sits on 45 percent of proven crude reserves and around one-fifth of natural gas reserves. It pumps about 18 percent of global oil supplies.
The activists also called on GCC leaders to amend laws that contradict international covenants, especially those regarding women and social and political rights.
Around 50 activists signed the joint statement, which also called for the amendment of laws that suppress freedom of expression.
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Leaders of the GCC, which groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are due to open their 31st annual summit in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Only Kuwait and Bahrain have vibrant parliaments, while the UAE and Oman have partially-elected legislatures, and Qatar and OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia have no legislative elections.
But even in Kuwait, all the 16 cabinet ministers who are not elected become members of parliament and can vote, and in Bahrain the appointed upper house can block decisions by parliament.
The region, with a population of just 36 million including 15 million foreign workers, sits on 45 percent of proven crude reserves and around one-fifth of natural gas reserves. It pumps about 18 percent of global oil supplies.
The activists also called on GCC leaders to amend laws that contradict international covenants, especially those regarding women and social and political rights.
Around 50 activists signed the joint statement, which also called for the amendment of laws that suppress freedom of expression.
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