Why Government Power Must Be Limited
Posted For Your Information, 6/27/2007
This is the exact reason why
government power must be limited and the extent of government limited. Without
the constitutional protections provide by the Bill of Rights, individuals can
use the government to promote their own wealth and spite.
The founders of the United States understood this clearly, far more clearly
than the modern public-school education illiterates.
Kuwait
Detains Teacher
This is old news, but the history is relevant.
________________________________
FROM: Al-Bayan Bilingual School Middle School
Deputy Principal, Kuwait
TO: Whom It May Concern
DATE: June 21, 2007
RE: Detained in Kuwait/In Fear for My Safety
I am a Middle School Vice-Principal at Al-Bayan
Bilingual School in Kuwait. I have been employed in Kuwait for 6 years at the
same
school.
One of my primary responsibilities is student discipline. On March 8,
2006, three boys in grade 5 were suspended for fighting. I
interviewed the boys, met with my principal and followed normal procedure.
There is no stigma here regarding suspension. Students spend the day in the office
where they study, are visited by teachers, and are taken to the canteen, etc. It’s
a normal consequence for fighting; all students are aware of this and the
procedure is clearly defined in our Parent Handbook.
In the afternoon of March 8th, I received a phone call from one of
the boys' fathers, (name deleted) who is a powerful man in Kuwait. He called to
inform me that this situation was "personal," that he is
"friends with the emir" and that he planned to "destroy"
me. This
conversation, which last about 9 minutes, was littered with
profanities and threats.
On March 11, 2006, the parents met with me, my principal and our
director, (name deleted), to discuss the suspension. The father
requested that if there was an issue involving his child that I would
call him immediately.
On April 27, 2006, I was requested to write a synopsis of events and
to visit the Ministry of Education to answer questions regarding the
suspension, describe the room in which the boys spent the school day
and provide a copy of our handbook.
In June 2006, the father transferred his children to a different
private school in Kuwait. Also, we received notification from the
Ministry of Education that in-school suspensions were no longer to be applied;
instead, parents must be contacted to take their children
home.
In February 2007, I learned that a case had been filed against me at
the Jabriya Police Department in Kuwait; the charge
was "illegal
detainment" of his son on March 8, 2006. I answered questions in my director’s
presence and the Consul from the US Embassy, (name deleted). My lawyer was also present. The police did not
suggest that there was any reason for me to be concerned as all of the
questions were answered to the apparent satisfaction.
On June 13, 2007, I was at the Kuwait International Airport intending to fly to
Bahrain. I was stopped at immigration where I was informed that there was a
case against me, pending further investigation and that a travel ban had been
placed on me. I had not been informed. My lawyer had not been informed. This
travel ban was placed upon me 15 months after the boy was suspended. The parent
said that he would make this personal and this seems to be what he is intent
upon doing.
On Saturday, June 16, 2007, I visited the American Embassy
where I
met with the Vice Consul, (name deleted), who informed me that he
sympathized but could do nothing to lift the travel ban. He suggested
that I get an older Kuwaiti man to appeal to Mr. M. I was told
on Wednesday that my file would be transferred to another agency for review so
the ban could be lifted. Five working days later, the
whereabouts of my file are uncertain. I have been told that my file
is in 2 different places; this seems to be a delay tactic. Why? Because I
angered an influential Kuwaiti national who is at the top of the social
register both locally and at the US Embassy?
On I visited the office of a police inspector named (name deleted,)
whose office is in Salmiya. He is a police official
who was to
evaluate my file and determine if I could leave or not. He stated
that he didn’t have my file. I visited him on June 17th and 18th. On June 18th,
not five minutes after I left his office with my director, the
Business Officer of my school and another school representative, I
called Mr. C, Vice-Consul at the US Embassy to gain his
insight into the situation and to see if any progress had been made
to help me leave. He was completely aware of my visit to Mr. (name deleted) office
and instructed that I not return as it "interfered."
Several Kuwaiti families are aware of my situation but they are not
in a position to help or they don’t want to get involved. They have ALL said
that I should go to my embassy because my embassy can help me. The fact that
the embassy can’t seems shocking to everyone. Many people also question why
this accusation from Mr. M is placed solely on me - not the school, not the
principal, not the director of school. I feel that I am being used as an
example because I am a single, American woman and he wants to show others that
he can do what he said which is to "destroy" me.
Yesterday, June 20, 2007, I received a paper from Mr. (name deleted) office in Salmiya which lifted the travel ban. This waiver had been granted
by the Kuwait Minister of the Interior. Not long after the Minister released
me, he reversed his decision at the request of the (name deleted) family or his
representatives. I went to the airport last night, only to learn that I
couldn’t leave.
I am in fear for my safety. If the Embassy can’t help me, then who
can? I contacted the FBI in Riyad, Saudi Arabia
yesterday and talked
to (name deleted) who couldn’t give me his last name. He was non-committal but
did suggest that he thought the embassy should be able to get me out.
(name deleted) has informed me that they are
"working on it." That
seems a little vague and I am not sure if the US Embassy completely
realizes the level of danger that I feel that I am in. Why does Mr.
M want me in Kuwait during the summer when no one from my
school will be in country to offer their support? To make me
feel
vulnerable?
He is well-connect and his friends are supporting his mission to
damage me in any way that he can. What’s next?
I do not feel safe. I am not safe. I need someone from the US to
acknowledge the urgency of my situation and coordinate my release. I committed
no crime. I am simply the victim of "wasta"
which roughly translates into "influence/pressure" at a high level.
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