Palestinians in Kuwait-Letter from Palestine

Letter dated 19 June 1991 from the Permanent Observer

of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which has the power and responsibilities of the Provisional Government of the State of Palestine, we wish to draw your immediate attention to the following:

Palestinians residing in Kuwait, who number approximately 200,000, are living in extremely difficult conditions, as we have informed you in previous correspondence and communications.

Recently, there have been additional reports of the continuation of certain Kuwaiti measures that are contrary to law and custom and which violate Palestinian human rights in all areas of life.  The most recent are those sham tribunals, illegal in form and substance.  All these measures have elicited deep concern and broad condemnation in international circles; in some, it has been pointed out that what is happening constitutes a violation of the fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.

We condemn these Kuwaiti measures and actions against our people residing in Kuwait and against other Arabs, and we draw attention to the responsibility of the Kuwaiti Government and Arab and foreign forces in Kuwait for safeguarding peace and security and the rights of Palestinian civilians there.  We draw attention to the responsibility of the international community, and of the United Nations especially, in the same area.  We appeal to you to intervene promptly with the official Kuwaiti authorities to put an end to this tragic situation and to stop the execution of the illegitimate death sentences passed recently on a number of Palestinian civilians and other Arabs.

I should be grateful if you would have the text of this letter circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 23 and 153, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Nasser AL-KIDWA

Permanent Observer of Palestine

to the United Nations, New York

—–