KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION SPECIAL, JULY 8-9: NATIONAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 003043

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TAGS: KU KDMR
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION SPECIAL, JULY 8-9: NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS IN KUWAIT.

SUMMARY: Opinion in Kuwait's media on how to characterize
the results of the parliamentary elections remains divided.
Some liberal commentators believe that Islamists now have
the upper hand, a notion that the bulk of editorial opinion
(and most post media contacts) dismiss as a fundamental
misreading of the situation. All newspapers prominently
report Islamist appeals for unity in the new Assembly and
the reported formation by the Islamist bloc of a wider
"conservative block" with non-Islamist MPs.

Most papers report growing anticipation that de-facto head
of government Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad will be tapped by the
Amir on July 11 to be the new prime minister, replacing
ailing Crown Prince Sheikh Saad. Several commentators say
that effective government headed by a strong prime minister
is needed to overcome what one terms "the state of
confusion, stagnation and slump suffered by Kuwait over the
past few years."

Allegations of vote buying appear in several editorials,
along with criticism of Kuwait's democracy as
"unrepresentative." END SUMMARY.


1. News Stories: All newspapers continue to analyze and
interpret the election results. Defeated incumbent and
liberal Ahmed Al-Rubie refutes claims that the new assembly
is an "Islamic parliament," while defeated incumbent and
Islamist, Mubarak Al-Duwaila, denies that the new assembly
is pro-government. Al-Seeyasah reports on July 8 that
Kuwaitis have rejected the Islamist movements and "defeated
their plan of Islamization of Kuwait."

In the July 8 edition of Al-Seyassah, editor-in-chief Ahmed
Al-Jarallah stated that interpreting the election results as
a victory for "radical extremists," as he says was reported
in the foreign media, is "entirely incorrect." Al-Jarallah
describes the Islamists in the new parliament as "moderate,"
and posing no threat to U.S.-Kuwait relations.

Conservative Salafi MP, Dr. Waleed Al-Tabtabie stated that
the Islamic block had improved its position with the
elections because most of its new MPs are independent
Islamists rather than associated with one of the two main
Islamist movements (the Salafis and the Islamic
Constitutional Movement) which will make it easy for them
cooperate with MPs of other political groups.

On July 8, the spokesman of the Islamist Salafi movement,
Turki Al-Zafiri, warned against disunity among Islamists in
the National Assembly, and called on coordination between
Islamists to confront the pro-government block in the
assembly, Al-Rai Al-Aam reports.

Al-Watan reports that Islamic block members agreed on July 8
to open membership to non-Islamists, thereby creating a
"conservative block."

Most papers predict that the Amiri decree commissioning the
formation of the new government will be issued either on
July 9 or 11. Editor-in-chief of Al-Qabas, Waleed Al-Nesf,
called on the Kuwaiti leadership to make decisive decisions
without delay, saying, "those who call for more time before
making a decision are also calling for more disunion and
separation."

Most newspapers interpret the meeting of Acting Prime
Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed on July 8 with former
ministers and MPs as a sign that Sheikh Sabah will be
commissioned to form the new government. Speculation
continues over whether he will do so in his capacity as
Acting Prime Minister or as Prime Minister, the position
nominally held by Crown Prince Sheikh Saad. Al-Qabas and Al-
Seyassa learned from informed sources that four former
speakers of parliament advised the Amir to separate the
posts of Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Al-Rai Al-Aam reports the composition of the new Council of
Ministers will include four returning ministers from the
royal family and four other ministers that held portfolios
in the last government.

Editorials:


3. "Confusion Bred By An Assembly Lacking Vision"
Liberal Salwa Al-Saeed wrote in independent Al-Seyassah
(7/8): "An analysis of the results of the election
indicates that the many unresolved issues in parliament will
remain unresolved, and that the parliament will hinder
progress on many issues related to the changes occurring in
the region. A specific example is an [Islamic Constitutional
Movement] MP who incited people against reform polices by
arguing that the 2003 National Assembly would focus on
granting women political rights, exploiting oil fields,
normalizing relations with Israel and waging war against
Islamists under the pretext of fighting terrorism. A
National Assembly with such MPs would undoubtedly sacrifice
national interests for their own individual interests and
lead Kuwait to turn against the current of change in the
world and into direct confrontation with its allies."


4. "Where Does Reform Begin?"
Prominent liberal lawyer Hassan Al-Essa wrote in independent
Al-Qabas (7/8): "This National Assembly will be worse than
its predecessor. This Assembly perpetuates the priority
given to tribal affiliations over national loyalties. The
Kuwaiti people have not grasped the changes that have
occurred, and will still occur, in the region. The American
Ambassador's message on the Fourth of July fell on deaf
ears. It is not true that youths voted for change. Instead,
they voted for backwardness and tradition. The youths voted
as if they were the elderly when they voted for conservatism
and extremist forces representing Bin Laden's comrades and
his sympathizers. It was not only the liberals who lost
during the elections, but also the moderate Islamists."


5. "The Complexity of the Islamic Movements in Kuwait"
Pro-Islamist Dr. Haifa Al-Sanousi wrote in independent Al-
Rai Al-Aam (7/8): "The Islamic movements are too busy
fighting amongst themselves, and this is weakening their
collective efforts to unite and protect Sharia law. There is
no doubt that we are in need of a serious initiative that
seeks to unify all Islamic movements and to coordinate on
issues pertaining to the Quran. Regrettably, the Islamic
movements lack harmony due to contrasting ideologies. The
unintentional blend of the concepts of religion and politics
may inadvertently sanction some liberals to circulate their
own sick theories."


6. "The Knights"
Liberal Bader Sultan Al-Essa wrote in independent Al-
Seyassah (7/8): "Those who did not vote for [prominent
liberal incumbent] MP Al-Neibari will soon realize that they
have relinquished Kuwait's national interests in return for
a hearty meal or promises of a job. With the defeat of [five
leading liberal] candidates. democracy has lost strong men
who stood up against administrative and financial
corruption. [T]hey were disposed of in a way that appeared
to be democratic, but in reality was closer to bribery and
vote-buying."


7. "Virtues of Democracy"
Saleh Al-Shayji wrote in independent Al-Anba (7/8): "We have
heard and seen for ourselves how the `democrats' enslaved
their followers and electorates. Some of them bought off
their followers with their own money, and in some cases,
used money from other sources. In this light. [democracy] is
a game of frivolity, which enslaves the free. and brings to
power people who do not deserve the right to be the masters
of the nation."


8. "To the New Prime Minister, With Regards"
Liberal former MP Ahmed Al-Rubei wrote in independent Al-
Qabas (7/8): "An Amiri decree will be issued in the next few
days commissioning a new Prime Minister. Our hope is that he
would be a genuine leader for the Ministers. We also hope to
see an end to the role of 'acting' Prime Minister, something
which has exhausted the political process."


9. "The Prime Minister in Charge"
Liberal former Secretary General of the Kuwait Democratic
Forum, Ahmed Al-Dayeen, wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-Aam
(7/8): "If the new Prime Minister has serious intentions to
implement reforms, and a real ambition to avoid the state of
confusion, stagnation and slump suffered by Kuwait over the
past few years, then he must seek to establish a coherent
ministerial group and not a mix of discordant elements."


10. "Is This the Will of the Nation?"
Dr. Yaser Al-Saleh wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-Aam (7/8):
"The National Assembly represents only thirteen percent of
all Kuwaitis. The National Assembly is comprised of some
deputies who support the will of those in power, and were
imposed on the assembly just to receive illegal benefits
from the system. In addition, one third of the National
Assembly is comprised of ministers who are forced to vote in
support of government decisions. Can we still consider the
Kuwaiti National Assembly a representative of the people's
will and a true determiner of this country?"


JONES