Plight of the POWs

Imagine living through more than 12 years without being able to contact your family. Even as you read this, 605 Kuwaiti and third country PoWs are suffering in jails in Iraq.

Equally unimaginable is the plight of the relatives of the POWs who are endlessly waiting for their near and dear ones, not knowing whether their loved ones are dead or alive. The issue gains even greater importance in the Kuwaiti society where the family and extended family units are of paramount importance.

Kuwait’s Efforts

The POW issue deeply affects the very fibre of Kuwaiti society as 605 POWs represent about 0.1 per cent of the Kuwaiti population. The same percentage would roughly total to 10,00,000 for India, 14,00,000 for China and 2,70,000 for the USA.

The National Committee for the Missing and PoW Affairs (NCMPA) is the foremost agency in Kuwait working towards the release of the detainees. It has held seminars, conferences and exhibitions as well as published material and made films on the plight of the PoWs to create mass awareness and gain support for the issue.

The NCMPA has compiled a dossier of documentary evidence of these prisoners. These were filed with United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Arab League.

Documented Proof

NCMPA has compiled dossiers on the 605 POWs based on the following evidence:
Eyewitness accounts: Former detainees in Iraqi jails who have been freed confirm seeing / meeting Kuwaiti POWs in Iraqi prisons.
Family members’ accounts: Family members who saw people being arrested and forcibly being taken away.
Official Documents: Documents left by the Iraqi occupation forces give detailed information on the arrests, imprisonment and transfer of Kuwaiti citizens.

Global Support

The United Nations has imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Iraq -- freezing its financial assets and enforcing an economic embargo -- but in vain.

Organisations around the world have lent their support for the release of these PoWs. The Arab League, along with the rest of the world, has reiterated its commitment to expedite the release of the detainees held by Iraq. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has achieved some degree of success in its endeavours -- some PoWs have returned to their country due to its efforts.

Iraq’s Response

Today, even in the face of 12 years of global condemnation, Iraq refuses to acknowledge the presence of these PoWs who are still languishing in its jails. Impervious to UN and global pressure, it continues to ignore and prolong this humanitarian tragedy.

The Need of the Hour

The detention of POWs in Iraq is a crucial human rights issue that must be solved immediately.

The need of the hour is:
That Iraq immediately discloses the names and whereabouts of POWs who are still alive
That Iraq immediately provides the information on those who have died in captivity and provide their mortal remains, to put an end to the anguish and the pain of an endless wait of their relatives.
That the members of the Security Council and the international community exert pressure on Iraq to end this issue.
That the issue of POWs be highlighted at national and international fora till it is brought to an end.

How You can Help?
You can help the cause of the POWs in your own capacity in any of the following ways:

Spread awareness on the issue of the POWs.
Discuss the issue at various levels and platforms
Publish articles on the POWs
Provide information on the web
Above all, pray for their safe return

Other web links

www.pows.org.kw

www.kuwait-info.org/POWs/plight_of_kuwaits_pows.html