COVID-19: Kuwait paper accuses government of ‘assaulting liberties’

Abu Dhabi: The front page headline of Kuwait’s Al Qabas newspaper published online reads: “Assault on Liberties”.

The newspaper’s editor sprayed this message in bright red paint.

“During its extraordinary meeting on Friday, the government was not satisfied with the decision to ban the printing and distribution of newspapers as a medical precaution, despite the fact that many newspapers had adhered to the highest levels of health requirements, out of their responsibility towards their readers,” the commentary read.

In fact, it also suddenly decided to prohibit direct TV interviews on local channels.

The media was alerted about the decision on Tuesday through an official tweet from the Cabinet’s account, in a clear reaction to an interview broadcast by one of the associate channels.

This raised dozens of urgent questions in the country of freedoms, that has never been accustomed to such decisions, at a time when most local media assumed their national roles to the fullest, said Al Qabas.

Outrageous timing

As the government tries to encapsulate its decision to prevent direct TV interviews with medical and health cover, Al Qabas said, the outrageous timing of its reminder that came after criticisms of “masks” and others, revealed that the intentions of this decision are political and a blatant attempt to undermine freedoms.

Observers indicated that it was worthwhile for the government to stress the application of health controls during the conduct of the interviews, rather than to hasten to take a decision to cancel them, in a manner that shows that there are political pressures on the work of the media and attempts to direct them and prejudice the freedom of expression.

Correct your mistakes

Indeed, AL Qabas said, free media plays a major role by highlighting public issues, evaluating them and suggesting proposals that help government agencies correct their mistakes, while the government can bring the perpetrators of misinformation in the traditional or electronic media to account through clear laws.

Al Qabas asked the government: What is the wisdom of cancelling the distribution of newspapers instead of imposing health controls on them? What is the aim of preventing direct TV interviews, especially since there is a large section of the public waiting for some educational programmes that host doctors and specialists to talk and explain ways to confront the coronavirus outbreak?

It is no secret to observers, Al Qabas said, that these decisions coincide with the heightened tone of popular discontent with regard to the decisions recently taken by the government to counter the coronavirus crisis, starting with the expenses that some ministries sanctioned to stem the pandemic, until the state returned - belatedly - to imposing a total curfew, when some countries have already started to ease restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the virus, and began living with it.