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26th February
26th February will go down in the history of Kuwait in particular and World
in general as one of the momentous days; for Kuwait it is because in 1991 on
this date Kuwait was liberated from the clutches of Saddam Hussein and to
the world because of the unity of World nations in liberating Kuwait. Never
in the history of this planet world has joined together in such a mighty
force of coalition to free one country as it did for Kuwait, of course with
a few exceptions of the closest colleagues and friends in religion and race
of Kuwait. Thanks USA, thanks UK and thanks France for their gallant
efforts and sacrifices in liberating Kuwait. They have sacrificed the
precious lives of some hundreds of their citizens not only to liberate
Kuwait but also to bring order into the chaotic world that Saddam Hussein
has created. Also thanks for all the coalition partners. USA deserves
highest respect for leading the coalition. I admire the wisdom of those
days' great leaders in Baba Bush, Margaret Thatcher, François Mitterrand and
King Fahad. Though as a nation USA deserves highest accolades but as a World
leader Margaret Thatcher carries unique compliments. She was in USA during
the invasion time but the moment she got the news of Kuwait's invasion she
left everything and concentrated totally on Kuwait issue condemning its
invasion forcefully and imploring on Baa Bush to lead a coalition force to
arrest the invasion of Kuwait saying "if this invasion is allowed to go
scotfree then it will be free for all in the future in which case bigger and
powerful nations will swallow smaller and weaker nations". I can still
remember her resounding statements aired by BBC then, calling Saddam Hussein
"a despot, a monster, a dictator worst than Hitler". It was thru her
statements and speeches that some of the world leaders got impetus to join
in the coalition force to liberate Kuwait. What a wonderful world leader she
was!! Will we get more of her type in future to protect the security of
smaller and weaker nations? Her relentless efforts finally resulted in the
formation of US led coalition force that ultimately liberated Kuwait on 26th
February 1991 from the invasion of Iraq.
During those days some of the tin pot leaders of their tin pot nations
questioned the wisdom of USA in leading the coalition force and thereby
asking a question "why USA alone should be the policeman of the world?" If
it was not for the leadership of USA Saddam Hussein would have been still
occupying Kuwait. Under the policemanship of USA the world is much safer
though USA may have its own interests in doing so but in the bargain the
world is made safer by the involvement of USA. It is not enough to
criticize USA for anything and everything. 3 years after the liberation of
Kuwait, I went on behalf Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center to New Delhi to
campaign for the release of Kuwait's POW's by meeting with some top Indian,
NAM, OIC and other World leaders and dignitaries stationed in Indian
capital. During my meetings with them, one of them asked sarcastically "why
you are campaigning, why not USA get them released? USA knows only to fight
a war with Iraq? (As if USA did a mistake). I was surprised how people are
bias towards USA even when it acts appropriately. In the present world
scenario where terrorism is raising its head high I feel every civilized
nation must support USA otherwise 9/11 incident will repeat everywhere in
the world including Bombay and Delhi where terrorists can do anything
without much hindrance. If terrorists can reach at the entrance of Indian
Parliament a few years back then what is left?
Because of the invasion of Kuwait we and many other Goans suffered a lot.
What would be the fate of many of us who are gainfully employed in Kuwait if
it was not for the liberation of Kuwait in 7 months only for which we must
thank American led coalition force? During the invasion period many of us
noticed the real human characteristics in many of the Goans. The ingratitude
of some of our nearest and dearest surfaced openly during the invasion
period of Kuwait. Some mothers deserted fathers, some sisters to brothers,
some wives to husbands, some girlfriends to boyfriends, some children
deserted parents, many friends deserted their friends and many amongst those
who received our donations & charities totally ignored us. Oh my God!! What
a great fall in otherwise normal Goan tradition !! But it all happened and
we witnessed it only because of the invasion of Kuwait. Thank God Kuwait is
restored back on 26th February in 1991 to its rulers and citizens who were
kind enough to keep its doors open once again for many of us to return and
earn our livelihood. However it is very hurting to know that many of our
Goans who failed to return back to Kuwait on their previous jobs only
because of the betrayal by their own Goan colleagues and friends who falsely
informed their managements in Kuwait that "so and so person from Goa is not
interested in coming back to Kuwait. Hence, cancel his/her name and instead
bring somebody of my choice for which I got passport copies ready". Kuwait
is in many respects a wonderful place to live and work where one need not be
highly intelligent, highly qualified, and highly competent to reach to the
top. What requirements you need to occupy a post in Goa and elsewhere in
India you need not require in Kuwait. Very many of the Goans with minimum of
qualifications and bare professionalism gained maximum of privileges in
Kuwait. Many of them made Kuwait as launching pad to migrate to the West
which was their life ambition. Greater number of them got a sense of
identity, self respect and dignity which they missed back home in Goa only
because of their jobs in Kuwait. Many of our brothers and sisters back home
in Goa got acceptance in society only because of their jobs in Kuwait. Many
of them got girls and for that matter sophisticated, elegant, educated and
decent girls to marry only because of their status in Kuwait. But with all
these benefits are they grateful to Kuwait? What our country could not give
us it is Kuwait that gave us though what we are getting is not charity and
tips. We are working very hard to get what we are getting. What would be
the fate of many of us if Kuwait was not liberated on 26th February 1991?
Who would care for many of us in Goa if Kuwait was not liberated when our
own people as indicated above already deserted us immediately after the
invasion of Kuwait? Are we many of us competent enough to compete in Goa
with Goa settled Goans? Hence, our support and gratitude for Kuwait from
where we earn our sustenance.
The biggest beneficiaries of Gulf in general and Kuwait in particular are
the low level and low income group of Goans. Bhattkar does not need to come
to Kuwait, it is Mundkar like me who need to come to Kuwait and develop
himself. It is the poor and low level Goans made tremendous strides due to
their employment in Kuwait otherwise they would be still under the clutches
of arrogant Bhattkars or destructive and exploitative non-Goans who are
becoming owners of Goa now. Because of the acquisition of petro dollars
many of the ealier poor became rich, purchased their land and converted
themselves from Mundkar to Bhattkar, attained a decent lifestyle, gave good
education to their children and gained lot of benefits. This all happened
because of Kuwait and liberation of Kuwait.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
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