KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION, JULY 12-16: FORMATION OF NEW

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 003186

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, PA, INR/NESA,
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KU KDMR
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION, JULY 12-16: FORMATION OF NEW
GOVERNMENT; ISLAMIZATION; STUDENT VISAS


1. SUMMARY: The composition of the new Kuwaiti Council of
Ministers (Cabinet) has generated considerable criticism.
Despite a reported seven new ministers, the government is
seen by a substantial cross section of opinion (ranging from
liberals to the Islamist Salafi Movement) as mediocre, with
one writer commenting, "If this is the government we have,
we're heading for crisis." Some prominent Islamists and
liberals, however, still evince optimism that the separation
of the post of prime minister from that of crown prince will
bring about political reforms.

All newspapers report calls by leading Islamists for the
"Islamization of laws and the implementation of Sharia." A
liberal writer attacks statements made this week by an
Islamist MP that the Ministry of Education should not be
given to someone "Westernized."

One daily published letters from readers complaining that
"stringent" American visa procedures "deprive students of
the chance to study in Uncle Sam's land." END SUMMARY.


2. News Stories: On July 15, all newspapers lead with news
of the announcement the new Council of Ministers (Cabinet),
selected by Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad and
appointed by the Amir. Reports indicate that of the fourteen
ministers selected (with one portfolio, Social Affairs,
still unassigned),five are members of the ruling family,
down from seven in the last government, and only one elected
MP was selected, down from four previously. Seven of the
fourteen ministers served in the last government.

All newspapers report the merging of the Ministries of Oil
and of Electricity and Water into a new Ministry of Energy
headed by former acting Minister of Oil, Sheikh Ahmad Al-
Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

Al-Seyassah reports that businessmen in Kuwait are
"optimistic" about the selection of Abdullah Al-Taweel as
Minister of Commerce and Industry, seeing him as "rational"
and "unpredujiced."

The Islamist Salafi Movement issued a statement on the new
government calling it "weak and below the citizen's
expectations," reports Al-Rai Al-Aam. Al-Qabas reports that
Abdullah Al-Nibari, the Secretary General of the Kuwait
Democratic Forum, hopes the new government is less
"destructive" than its predecessor, but feels it is "below
our expectations."

All newspapers report calls by Islamist leaders for the
"Islamization of laws and the implementation of Sharia." Al-
Watan reports that the Secretary General of the Popular
Islamic Salafi Group, Khalid Sultan Al-Issa, said the
group's agenda also includes "protecting Islamic charities
from foreign intervention" and "protecting of society from
Westernization."

Jassem Bin Sultan Al-Yaseen, Chairman of Charitable
Committees at the Social Reform Society, wrote in Al-Watan
on July 12 that due to importance of young people in the
parliamentary elections, the Islamic movement must "pay
attention to youth and involve them in political
activities."

Al-Qabas reports on July 16 that "informed legal sources"
reject of questioning of the integrity of the recently
completed electoral process.

On the "Public Comment" page of Al-Qabas on July 12, several
readers expressed frustration at "stringent" American visa
procedures that "deprive large numbers of Kuwaiti government
scholarship students of the ability to study in Uncle Sam's
land."

Editorials:


3. "A New Government Without Anything New"
Salah Al-Mudahf wrote in independent Al-Qabas (7/16): "It is
obvious that the new government is comprised of the same
faces and mentalities. With all due respect to the Cabinet
members, I believe that some of them do not meet the
requirements of the twenty-first century. Kuwait needs young
and active figures that are capable of foresight."


4. "A Government on the Road to Crisis"
Salwa Al-Saeed wrote in independent Al-Seyassah (7/15): "We
expected a government that is capable of addressing major
reforms. We expected an extraordinary government that could
market its projects and communicate with the people.
Unfortunately, some of the members of the new government
have no grasp of reality and have no interest in domestic
challenges. The new government lacks decision makers and
influential figures. If this is the government we have, then
we are heading towards a crisis."


5. "The Appointed Prime Minister"
Abdelatif Al-Duaij wrote in independent Al-Qabas (7/15):
"In light of the formation of the new Prime Minister and the
manner adopted to select the Cabinet members, one can expect
no significant changes in running the country. Shiekh Sabah
himself has confirmed this by stating that he will follow
the footsteps of Sheikh Saad. Due to the problems we
experienced in the past, we believe that we will continue
through the same dark tunnel. We hope that we are wrong."


6. "The Enemies of Democracy"
Liberal Director of Kuwait University's Center for Future
and Strategic Studies, Dr. Shamlan Al-Essa wrote in
independent Al-Seyassah (7/15): "Islamist MP Waleed Al-
Tabtabaei called on Sheikh Sabah to alienate the liberals
and the `Westernized' from the Ministries of Education and
Information. What the Islamic powers are attempting to
achieve is maintenance of the status quo, implementation of
Islamic Sharia law and the Islamization of laws. The
hegemony of the Islamic powers over the Ministry of
Education has led to thousands of students graduating
without the belief in creativity, which has led some instead
to believe in Jihad."


7. "Towards a Popular Government and Full Supervision"
Islamist MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei wrote in independent Al-
Watan (7/15): "The separation of the two positions [of Crown
Prince and Prime Minister] represents a great step for
Kuwait as it represents the breaking of a tradition that is
not mentioned in the constitution. This action will help
lead to the removal of other rigid traditions, such as
limiting certain positions in the government to the Al-Sabah
family, a provision also not also mentioned in the
constitution. The separation of the two positions will also
help in achieving full supervision of the MPs."


8. "The Separation of the Two Posts: A New Era"
Dr. Shafiq Al-Ghabra wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-Aam
(7/16): "It was tradition to appoint the Crown Prince as the
Prime Minister to form a government, but this tradition has
been broken because of Sheikh Saad's illness. This may open
doors in the future to others from the Royal family [other
than the Crown Prince] and qualified citizens to hold the
position of Prime Minister. The separation may also pave the
road for the public to occupy important posts in the
government [as ministers]. This could be the beginning of
the political reform in Kuwait. The appointment of Sheikh
Sabah as Prime Minister may mean much for reform and the
reformers."


JONES