Many Kuwaitis are still wary of Iraq

Iraqis gave Kuwaitis a stark reminder of the 1990 invasion when protesters from Umm Qasr fired shots across the border just days before the 15th anniversary of Kuwait's occupation.

August 2, 1990, will remain a date deeply ingrained in the minds of Kuwaitis as it was on this day Iraqi tanks rolled into Kuwait and held the country hostage for seven months before being freed by US-led coalition forces.

Yesterday's anniversary of the Kuwaiti invasion by the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussain sees Iraq in a new democratic political guise. The ousted Iraqi dictator and his companions face trials for the crimes committed against fellow Iraqis and for invading Kuwait.

However, what happened on their borders has left many Kuwaitis wary of their neighbour, says renowned sociologist Fareed Al Shatti while talking to the Gulf News.

Border demarcation

"The issue of the Kuwaiti-Iraqi border is delicate and significant for both countries. Saddam's defeat in the war for liberation of Kuwait, led to the demarcation of borders between the two states pursuant to a UN resolution which was endorsed by Saddam himself," he said.

Al Shatti said after the downfall of Saddam's regime, there were demonstrations along the Kuwait-Iraq border by some Iraqis in collaboration with Iraqi police and border guards who took down a barrier put up by Kuwait to improve security and stability in both countries.

This year's anniversary witnesses another era. Kuwaiti companies are enjoying business from reconstruction contracts in Iraq but the new Iraqi government must offer more guarantees that past disputes will not re-emerge, said Abdullah Al Ganem, a bank official. "We should not forget the past when considering the future. Although the economic environment is now positive we have to be careful and vigilant to protect the atmosphere," he said.

Al Ganem said the basis of building mutual confidence was for the Iraqi government not to bring up border issues and to learn from past mistakes.

Mixed emotions

Dr Haya Al Mughni, a consultant and author, said Kuwaitis would always remember that day in 1990 as it brought back two memories, one embodying treachery and the other of unity among Kuwaitis and rallying support for its leadership.

"Kuwaitis hope bilateral relations will be based on mutual goodwill and the respect of international law and most importantly good neighbourly relations, otherwise unexpected and unpleasant surprises are likely to overtake all good deed within a few years," she said.

Ahmad Al Bhadadi, a scholar and professor, said: "We can say what happened on August 2, 1990, was a catastrophe in the strict sense of the word. However, we have learnt no lessons and this is another catastrophe in the making," he said.

Khalil Abu Haider, a social personality, criticised the border protest by Iraqis on the eve of the anniversary and said the current and future Iraqi governments must abide by the accords signed earlier between the two countries.

Mohammad Al Hajeri, a scholar, said: "The Iraqis are our brothers and as such we can forget what happened yesterday along the borders and consider it part of the defunct regime's leftover," he added.

Al Hajeri said some Iraqis protesting along the borders considered the demarcation of frontiers between the two countries as one of the crimes committed by Saddam Hussain against their country.

"This means the Iraqis are yet to recognise the demarcation of the borders and this situation calls for concern. Moreover, this development will spur us on to find a permanent solution to the problem.

"We must seek guarantees to ascertain the 1990 event will not repeat itself. We must realise the required guarantees should not be in the form of statements and comments issued from time to time by Iraqi officials while stretching their hand for assistance to rebuild their country," he said.

The writer is a journalist based in Kuwait