Modern Kuwait welcomes its sixth millennium
Modern Kuwait welcomes its sixth millennium
The land of Kuwait, over 3,000 years ago linked to the ancient civilization of Dilmun, is today bordered by three much larger countries and by the richly productive waters of the Arabian Gulf. From a history dominated by pearling and the vicissitudes of maritime trading, Kuwait has been transformed by the relatively recent discovery of oil, and has developed into a modern state that enjoys a relationship with Indonesia that strengthens every day.
February 25 is the National Day of Kuwait. Despite the fact that this Gulf State has long maintained a close friendship with Indonesia, it has only been in recent times that relations have become more "visible". However, very few Indonesians understand much about the most "understated" of the Middle East's oil nations. With the recent visit of Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid to Kuwait as one of the first nations on his international "whistle-stop" tours since being elected, it is important we get to know our distant friends better. Here are some facts:
His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait
Born in Kuwait in 1928, His Highness Sheikh Jaber is the third son of the late Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah, the former ruler of Kuwait.
He received his preliminary education at Al-Mubarakiya and Al- Ahmadiah Schools. For his higher education in various fields of knowledge, especially religion, Arabic literature and English as well as various other basic sciences, he was tutored privately.
In 1949, Sheikh Jaber began his career of public service, when he was appointed the Director of Public Security for the Ahmadi region.
In 1959, he was made Head of the Finance Department, which became the Ministry of Finance and Economy in 1962. His Highness Sheikh Jaber was the first Minister of Finance in the State of Kuwait.
In 1965, he was appointed Prime Minister.
On May 31, 1965, an Amiri Decree was issued designating him as Crown Prince after his nomination was unanimously approved by the National Assembly. His Highness Sheikh Jaber was proclaimed Amir of the State of Kuwait on 31 December, 1977, the 13th Amir from the Al-Sabah family.
Apart from being the Amir of the State of Kuwait with the powers vested in him by virtue of that position, many matters of public interest also fall directly under his supervision. He is, for instance, the president of several prestigious organizations, foremost among which is the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, which was established under his auspices.
The Land
Kuwait is one of the members of the Gulf States. Situated adjacent to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, Kuwait is quite small in terms of landmass at only some 17,818 square kilometers. Smaller than the island of Java in size, it is mostly land comprising flat desert, bordering the Arabian Gulf.
Temperatures range from the warm days and cold nights of winter to very hot, peaking midsummer at some 55 degrees Centigrade. In some areas, agricultural cultivation has been introduced, particularly in the south close to the shared border with Saudi Arabia. However, it is a far cry from the lush tropical jungles and island habitats we call home in Indonesia.
The People
The total population of the State of Kuwait is approximately two million people, although Kuwaitis account for just over one third of this number. The balance is made up of those working in Kuwait from other Middle Eastern areas, and a large number of temporary residents from places such as the Philippines and Indonesia who make up the supply of labor for the domestic and service sectors. The Kuwaitis themselves are Arabic by descent, with the current inhabitants able to trace their presence in Kuwait to around 850 B.C.
During the early part of the land's history, nomadic tribes from the Gulf region inhabited the area now known as Kuwait. At about this time, a strong Greek influence was introduced when they occupied one of Kuwait's islands. In recent times, Kuwait has augmented many of its professional workforce requirements with the addition of people from Jordan, Egypt and other geographically close nations.
History
A slab of limestone with a Greek inscription discovered on Kuwait's island of Falaika in the 1930s hinted at Kuwait's intriguing past. Translated it read: "Soteles, the Athenina and the soldiers (dedicated this) to Zeus the Savior, to Poseidon and to Artemis the Savioress". Falaika, lying in a strategic position in the center of Kuwait Bay and well supplied with water, seemed a likely choice for settlement in ancient times. However, its story remained shrouded in mystery until the 1950s, when Danish archaeologists arrived to explore the region. Early digs yielded shards of pottery that were clearly of Greek origin.
These initial discoveries led to decades of careful but intense excavation which have revealed a history dating back to the Bronze Age, the ancient land of Mesopotamia and a rich history which at one time saw the area used as a staging port by the armies of Alexander the Great. The earliest discoveries indicate that the area now known as Kuwait was in fact linked to the Dilmun civilization, which dominated the region during the late third and early second centuries B.C. The world at that time was barbarous and dominated by kingdoms founded on a tradition of war and poverty.
At the time Dilmun stood out as an oasis of man's early successes at developing civilization. Old stone tablets dating back some 5,000 years describe Dilmun as: "The land of Dilmun is holy, the land of Dilmun is pure, the land of Dilmun is clean, the land of Dilmun is holy". The center of Dilmun civilization was in the area of Bahrain, and Kuwait's Falaika island is believed to have been a port on the way to and from Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and Magan (UAE). Artifacts from the Bronze Age, on display now in the Kuwait National Museum, show these links and the evolution of Kuwait from this island base to a critical port facility in the trading apparent between early Arabic nations.
The ancient Greeks are thought to have arrived in the area toward the end of the fourth century B.C., just before the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. In these times, the island and mainland began to prosper as trading ports, supplying fresh water and "spiritual relief" to an assortment of ships from the trading nations of the time -- Greece and Media, Phoenicia, Mesopotamia and Susa.
Islam swept the entire Arabian peninsula in the seventh century, overturning pagan deities previously dominant in the area. Historical records show that the Gulf became a thriving maritime highway during medieval Islamic times; the extent of this activity surpassed only recently by petroleum-backed economic developments. Trading extended as far as China, and the discovery of the sea route to India in 1498 further expanded the pivotal role the area played. The Portuguese dominated trade in the area through the 15th and 16th centuries, only to be replaced by England in the 17th century with the rise in fortunes of the English East India Company. England was to influence the development of the region heavily right up to the late 20th century.
The town of Kuwait was originally a summer resort to the sheiks of the early Bani Khalid, who dominated the land areas in Eastern Arabia following the defeat of the Turkish Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. There is little recorded information from that period until the 18th century when the Utub tribes began to dominate the local area.
The authority of the Al-Sabah family became apparent at the beginning of the 18th century when their chief, Sabah bin Jabir, became sheikh of Kuwait in the 1750s. This group prospered alongside other families in the area from trading and pearling; during his reign and that of his son, the area was stable and developed quickly as a powerful political and economic force in the region. Kuwait City itself can be traced back to the establishment of the city in 1672.
Democracy
Modern Kuwait is said to have been founded though the defeat of the Persians around 623 A.D. The accession to the throne of Sabah bin Jaber in 1762 marked the founding of the current line of monarchs, and the rulers of Kuwait now are the direct descendants of this ruler. The Amir of Kuwait -- Sheikh Jaber al- Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah -- presides over a constitutional monarchy system of government that, since the first parliamentary elections were held on January 23, 1963, has operated under Kuwait's Constitution.
Under the terms of this constitution, Kuwaiti citizens elect by popular vote 50 members of the National Assembly who are charged with responsibility for legislative tasks. The executive powers in Kuwait are the responsibility of the Amir and his Cabinet. This democratic style of government has directed the growth of Kuwait since its declaration of statehood. The constitution is deeply seated in Arabic tradition and the laws of Kuwait are derived from the constitution which defines Islamic Law as the basis of all legislation. Like many Western systems, the executive is separate from the legislature, and an independent judicial system provides the checks and balances necessary to the long-term stability of the nation.
The constitution guarantees to all Kuwaiti citizens personal liberty; the freedom of the press, of association and assembly are guaranteed; and discrimination on the basis of race, social origin, language or religion invites severe penalties. Economic and social rights governing the care and rights of the young and aged are also covered.
When Sheikh Abdullah died in 1965, Kuwait had made the transition from a tribal state of limited regional significance to a modern industrial democracy with a major part to play on the world stage. In July 1961 Kuwait became a member of the Arab League, thereby affirming its independence and sovereignty throughout the Arab world. Full international status was accorded by membership of the United Nations in 1963. On May 25, 1981, Kuwait signed the Articles of Association of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). With the establishment of the GCC, Kuwait and its fellow Gulf countries have created a united platform for voicing their aspirations, fostering and furthering cooperation in the face of international threats and collectively dealing with Gulf problems while retaining their integral Arab character and independence.
Kuwait pursues a foreign policy which is based on clarity, straight-forwardness and quiet diplomacy. Such foreign policy aims at strengthening constructive cooperation with all other countries on the basis of mutual respect, nonintervention in the internal affairs of other states and advocating the use of peaceful means in resolving international problems in accordance with the principles of rightness and justice, away from conflicts, spheres of influence and international blocs.
On the Islamic level, Kuwait firmly believes in the positive existence of Islamic nations through their offspring in the four corners of the world, and that the progress of Muslims is linked with the Muslims' cooperation and coexistence under the protection of tolerance and fraternity.
Economy
Like Indonesia, Kuwait was, before anything else, a nation of traders. Plying the rich waters of the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Indian oceans, the Kuwaitis have long had an enviable reputation as adept sailors. Much like the Bugis' Phinisi in Indonesia, the Kuwaiti ships traded between nations and their captains built reputations as being tough and honest businessmen. Like the famed shipwrights of Bira in Sulawesi, Kuwait developed a reputation for superb skills across a range of ships (dhows), varying in size from 450 metric tons each for the heavy trading vessels to the more modest 15-ton local coastal vessels. Pearling dominated the local export trade from the time of the Greeks until the discovery of oil in more recent times.
Oil was first discovered in 1938 and this industry has dominated economic development since. Unlike many countries, Kuwait's crude oil does not require pumping to the surface, but flows spontaneously to gathering centers where gas is separated before it is sent to tanks on Al Ahmadi ridge. Oil flows from these storage areas by gravity to tanker loading berths, some of the world's most efficient in loading and dispatching crude to foreign markets.
Apart from exporting crude oil, Kuwait has three oil refineries which between them have a refining capacity of 640,000 barrels per day. All the refineries are operated by the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, a state-owned enterprise in the same style as Indonesia's Pertamina. Kuwait has not only proven adept at finding and processing its crude oil, but also at marketing the product. Kuwait Petroleum Company is active in most international markets and has even moved into retail with the establishment of its "Q8" brand in Europe. It also manufactures urea, ammonia, salt, chlorine and caustic soda.
Kuwait has experienced tremendous growth in the past quarter century which some have likened to a "miracle in the sands". Kuwait has undergone radical change, in the full sense of the word and in all aspects of life. Progress has been achieved in all sectors affecting the day-to-day life of the population and is manifested in industry, the economy, commerce, urban development and expansion, arts, literature and culture.
Modern progress has been harmoniously blended with the past while looking to a prosperous future. Multistory complexes and modern luxury residential buildings rub shoulders with mudbrick houses and buildings of historical and architectural significance. Highways and modern roads, as well as beautifully landscaped gardens, attract the eye. Modern hospitals are equipped with the most sophisticated technology and old markets have been gradually replaced with modern shopping centers.
Kuwait and Indonesia
There are many commonalities in both the culture and the history of Kuwait and Indonesia. Both nations are predominantly Islamic, both share a common heritage of trading and both have proudly embraced independence and democracy in their recent history. In the last few years these common bonds have strengthened both through aid programs and commercial ventures. Kuwait's Ambassador to Indonesia, His Excellency Jamal al-Nesafi, recently announced aid of some US$50 million from the Kuwait Fund to assist Indonesia through financing a developing project and divided to provide humanitarian and development aid to the country.
This aid is one of many sourced from the Kuwait Fund which in 1999 provided aid and technical assistance worth over US$180 million throughout the world.
In the private sector, Kuwaiti businessmen Sheikh Ali-Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah and Dr. Hamood al-Rqobah are the major shareholders in a Kuwait-Indonesia joint venture project that will lead to development of a refinery and petrochemical complex on Selayar island in South Sulawesi. With a total project value in excess of US$4 billion, the project represents a major investment in Indonesia by the private sector. HEMOCO Selayar International Oil Refinery was formed as a partnership between the Kuwaiti and Indonesian businessmen in 1993.
Extensive material sourced from Kuwait -- A Nation's Story, Peter Vine and Paula Casey, Immel Publishing, 1992, and Kuwait, facts and figures (fifth edition) published by the Kuwait Ministry of Information.