GOK ASSIGNS INSPECTORS TO ENFORCE CAMEL JOCKEY BAN

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003640 SIPDIS FOR G/TIP, NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KCRM KU SUBJECT: GOK ASSIGNS INSPECTORS TO ENFORCE CAMEL JOCKEY BAN REF: A. KUWAIT 3532 ¶B. KUWAIT 3412 Although there is no evidence of trafficked underage camel jockeys in Kuwait, an English-language daily reported August 14 that the Council of Ministers instructed the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) to draft a law for submission to the National Assembly banning the trafficking of children under 18 to ride as camel jockeys as a preventive measure. The Council's orders came in response to MOSAL Minister Faisal Al-Hajji's briefing to the group on the camel jockey issue. The Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS),which has direct jurisdiction over the Kuwait Camel Racing Club, repeated a 2004 ministerial decree forbidding underage camel jockeys and encouraged the Club to make use of mechanical jockeys (ref B). PAYS announced that its Director of Specialized Clubs Division, Khalid Al-Masoud, and Accounts Inspector Jalal Ebraheem have been assigned to supervise the Club and enforce the ban. The Club's Chairman told the newspaper that his organization is cooperating fully and respects PAYS' oversight, which is intending to uphold Kuwait's reputation. LEBARON