More than thirty years have passed since the events of the “Jeddah Conference”, which was held from Oct 13 to 15, 1990, at the peak of the occupation of Kuwait by Saddam’s vile forces, which I attended by invitation, with approximately 1,500 prominent and influential personalities.
Much of what happened behind the scenes is still a secret, no one among us wants to talk about it, and whoever passed away left with secrets intact.
From my humble participation, my most humble observation, and what I have read and heard about its events, the following things have become clear to me:
1 - The idea of holding a conference that included “legitimacy” in Jeddah was a great and correct idea, and I do not know who was behind it.
It showed the reality of the relationship between the people and their leadership, and it was the most eloquent response to all Saddam’s claims that his invasion of Kuwait was a response to the revolution of its people against the Al-Sabah family.
The conference was held originally at a popular request to confirm the legitimate and historical relationship with the family and to rally around the family.
2 - There was not even one individual voice opposing the convening of the conference, in an unprecedented phenomenon in the history of peoples.
3 - The differences prior to the invasion between the components of Kuwaiti society, was never a justification for any country to invade with that ridiculous and flimsy argument.
4 - Despite my presence, and the majority of the participants, on the sidelines of the conference’s events, it was clear that there were differences between its active parties, or rather between the political leadership, and those who support it from the Brotherhood, and between the national political and economic forces, which were represented by the late Abdulaziz Al-Saqer and with him Dr. Ahmad Al-Khateeb and his companions.
The disagreement between the two parties over the presidency of the conference and the formula and content of the final popular statement, which supported the political and legitimate leadership was about to result in its failure.
The issue of adhering to democracy and the state constitution was the test and the legitimate basis for any agreement, which were clearly stated in the following speech of the late Abdulaziz Al-Saqer, which became an official document deposited with the decisions of the conference at the United Nations, and this was one of the demands of the national forces, especially with regard to the part of adherence to the state constitution, and an immediate return to democracy. Al-Saqer’s speech showed a historical road map for post-liberation Kuwait.
5 - The influence of the Brotherhood and their role behind the scenes were clear and their efforts were rewarded in giving the speech of the conference to those who represented them, and handing over much of the state’s capabilities, after liberation, to them, especially as they were pressing hard on the rest of the parties to reduce the dose of democracy, in return for adopting more Sharia laws.
As for what was recently reported of false heroism by a member of the Brotherhood in a miserable interview, there is absolutely no evidence that they are true.
e-mail: [email protected]
By Ahmad alsarraf
