REMEMBERING 2ND AUGUST
The 2nd of August will go down in the history of Kuwait in particular and of
mankind in general as the day of betrayal because on this day not only
Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait but also betrayed Kuwait and converted it into
19th province of Iraq. In invading Kuwait Saddam Hussein trampled the
sanctified principles of UN, NAM, OIC & Arab League which forbid the use of
force to settle bilateral issues. On this day in 1990 Saddam Hussein sent
his troops into Kuwait and when his invading troops reached Kuwait City
early in the morning at 6.00 I was totally baffled to know that it was Iraqi
troops. At that time Kuwait City transport was totally at stand still on the
road as Iraqi troops forced the drivers out of the steering wheels while
the vehicle engines still on. In Kuwait city the soldiers were patrolling
the streets carrying II World War Wireless sets and wearing worn out
helmets. There was gloom all around as Iraqi soldiers were taking
possession of the entire city including that of the City Police Station. We
were more terrified at around 10.00 AM when we heard a terrible sound of
bombing somewhere near the Church area and hearing this we fell on our
knees, praying and crying for our lives.
With the fall of Kuwait fell our dreams and ambitions. To their chagrin
within few hours of invasion Kuwaitis lost everything and turned into
countryless, homeless, passportless, friendless, servantless, expatriateless
and many other less. The Iraqis inducted such a fear into the minds of
Kuwaitis that to identify them as Kuwaitis at moment was risking their
lives. We the expatriates residing in Kuwait city were terribly afraid
because major portion of Iraqi troops was concentrated in this area.
Knowing the habits of invading troops of targeting innocent women, I went
around to inform my friends to disappear with their womenfolk from Kuwait
city to prevent Iraqi troops from molesting and raping them. In fact within
few hours of invasion Iraqis raped some women irrespective of their religion
and nationality. Poor Filipinas went underground within 24 hours of
invasion. Within 48 hours of invasion Baba Bush threatened Saddam Hussein
to withdraw from Kuwait or otherwise face the music. As a reply, Saddam
Hussein put more fear into our hearts by issuing a ruthless statement saying
"if USA attacks Iraq, I will turn Kuwait into a graveyard".
After 4 days the first invading troops moved further near Saudi border and
they were replaced by a fresh batch that was nothing but a bunch of thieves
who with the help of some Arab traitor residents started robbing us and our
houses during the daylight. Among these troops there were some young boys
who did not even have proper boots and uniforms and did not know how to hold
the guns. A few of them were bitterly crying in Kuwait city for being in the
military against their wishes. The gold shops in the city were nicely
protected by the especial Iraqi armed soldiers who did not allow even the
owners to open them. While Iraqi troops robbed Kuwait of its identity, some
of the expatriates especially holders of top positions in their companies
directly or indirectly robbed the goods and products of their companies.
With the help of the invaders some of the Kuwaiti companies were royally
robbed by none other than the expatriate managers working in those
companies.
During my 3 months of stay in invaded Kuwait I was deeply hurt to see the
sorry plight of all the residents, Kuwaitis as well as expatriates. Within
a split of a moment rich became poor and somebody became nobody. Due to
stoppage of economic process in Kuwait our money power was totally weakened.
To show their gratitude to this country from where they earned their
sustenance, many of the expatriates identified with the sufferings of the
Kuwaitis.
While remembering this day we must not forget the benefits we derived by
working in Kuwait. It is by working in this country that many of us became
somebody in life. For this reason let us all pray for peace in this
peaceful country and pray for the well being of our employers because of
whom we are all earning our daily breads. May God Bless Kuwait. May God
Bless our Employers. May God Bless us.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
N.B. On 2nd August I could not release this article to this forum since on
1st itself I left for Goa to attend to the funeral of my sister, late Martha
who expired on 31st of last month. I have just returned to Kuwait
yesterday. Hence, the delay.
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