MEDIA REACTION KUWAIT AUGUST 24-25: HUMAN RIGHTS, IRAQ, TERRORISM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002800

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, PA, INR/NESA
STATE FOR IIP/G/NEA-SA, INR/B
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
USDOC FOR 4520/ANESA/ONE/FITZGERALD-WILKS
USDOC FOR ITA AND PTO/OLIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KU KDMR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION KUWAIT August 24-25: Human Rights,
Iraq, Terrorism


1. SUMMARY: The long-awaited recognition by the government
Kuwait of an NGO dedicated to human rights became a
lightning rod for comments both for and against. Many
commentators condemned the violent incursion of Coalition
forces into Najaf, and others continued to discuss extremist
ideologies and their influence on the youth, but both issues
were drowned out by the NGO discussion. Conservatives
declared it simply an American puppet group bent on meddling
in Kuwaiti affairs. Liberals, long champions of the new NGO,
praised the group and explored the perceived hypocrisy of
their opponents. Owner and editor-in-chief Ahmad al-Jarallah
wrote in independent al-Seyassah (8/24): "What is strange is
that the opposition denies us the decision to respect human
rights, while at the same they require it of the U.S., whom
they say has pressured us into recognizing the society in
the first place." END SUMMARY.


2. "Opposition that Violates Human Rights"
Owner and editor-in-chief Ahmad al-Jarallah wrote in
independent al-Seyassah (8/24): "We wonder why the Kuwaiti
opposition is against the recognition of a Human Rights
Society in Kuwait. Do they wish for these rights to remain
without protection, and hence be subject to abuse and
without any supervising or protecting body? Or are these
people against the Society's recognition because they see in
it the beginning of equilibrium and balance between the
institutions of the Kuwaiti civil society and its electoral
body? What is strange is that the opposition denies us the
decision to respect human rights, while at the same they
require it of the U.S., whom they say has pressured us into
recognizing the society in the first place. In doing this,
the opposition is limiting this noble cause to the U.S.,
whom they say does not believe in God and whose killing is
favorable."


3. "The Scene in Najaf and the American Mistakes"
Ammar Taqi wrote in independent al-Rai al-A'am (8/24): "The
American use of harsh force in the recent events in Najaf is
the damning proof that their promises of bringing a peace
and stability more humane than that during Saddam's rule are
nothing but lies. It doesn't seem that the U.S., which has
sunk deeper in the Iraqi swamp, has learned anything from
its strategic ally Israel regarding how military might does
nothing but encourage more resistance against the occupier.
It is a certainty that the disrespect of holy sites and
murder which the Americans are spreading in Najaf today will
remain in the minds of Iraqis for years to come, and that
the future beyond the events of Najaf will be a grim one."


4. "He Hit Me Then Cried and Complained Against Me"
Ali Ahmad al-Baghli wrote in independent al-Qabas (8/24):
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that one of the
Kuwaiti members of the Salafi [Islamic fundamentalist]
movement blamed terrorism on liberals. How could this be
when Kuwait's fundamentalists are known to have made a pact
with the government to fight constitutional freedoms,
openness, and modernization? Because of the fundamentalist-
government coalition books are supervised, films are
censored, innocent musical events are not allowed,
universities are segregated, women's Olympic sports are not
aired, etc. Those fundamentalists will not be satisfied
until they hold on to power, so they can terrorize and
murder the society, and hence leave it as barren as their
likes have in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and the Sudan."


5. "HI . . . And More to Come"
Dr. Sajed al-Abdali wrote in independent al-Rai al-A'am
(8/25): " Hi is an eloquent Arabic speaking magazine aimed
at youth, printed in the latest style, produced
professionally,.and has a copy editor. This is an important
matter since most of our Arabic magazines don't have such a
man.The magazine's pages have varied cultural topics that
cover arts, sports, technology, science, literature, and
others, all of which are written in meticulous form.Despite
this being a form of the cultural invasion we have so often
heard about, I cannot call for the boycott of such a
wonderful magazine."


6. "An Unfair Organized Campaign!"
Ali Ahmad al-Baghli wrote in independent al-Qabas (8/25):
"The campaign led by the fundamentalists against Dr. Najma
Idrees as punishment for criticizing the Fundamentalists by
requiring her students to study Dr. Khalifa al-Waqayaan's
book `The Journey of Dreams and Worries,' which diagnoses
the reasons and sources of terrorism in our society, is a
blatant attack on the freedom of education, and the
independence of that process, especially after a committee
deemed the book suitable for teaching. All we ask is that
government organizations, and in particular Kuwait
University and the Minister of Education, not be affected by
this unfair campaign so as to prevent this group from
interfering with what is taught at our universities."


7. "NO to Playing Around With Human Rights"
Abdullatif al-Du'aij wrote in independent al-Qabas (8/25):
"The Salafi dogma is the most critical of those who are not
of it, and is known for infringing upon the personal and
religious rights of others. It is funny how the Head of the
Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Mr. Waleed
Tabtaba'i claims that the current Human Rights Society has
not shown interest in his clan's complaint against state
security, whereas he and his clan, and his entire
parliament, stand against hundreds of deprived Christian
citizens who are not even allowed to sound the bells of
their churches."


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