AMBASSADOR HOSTS WOMEN'S RIGHTS DIALOGUE; WOMEN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001901 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2015 TAGS: PHUM PGOV KWMN KU WOMEN POLITICAL RIGHTS SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HOSTS WOMEN'S RIGHTS DIALOGUE; WOMEN PROMOTE ONE-DAY STRIKE REF: A. KUWAIT 1863 ¶B. KUWAIT 1836 ¶C. KUWAIT 1633 ¶D. KUWAIT 1091 ¶E. KUWAIT 944 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Summary: During a May 7 luncheon hosted by the Ambassador for Kuwaiti women's rights activists, many women expressed astonishment that an amendment to allow women political participation at the municipal level did not succeed during a second-round vote May 2. In general, they now reject the municipal vote. To protest their perception of the GOK's insincerity to grant them political rights, women are organizing a one-day strike May 9. They have also submitted a petition requesting the Government to redouble efforts to pass an Assembly bill granting full women's suffrage rather than focusing on municipal level rights. Despite this new twist in this overly-long saga, the GOK asserts that women will obtain their municipal rights after a May 16 vote. End summary. Ambassador Hosts Frank Discussion with Female Activists -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador hosted 15 female Kuwaiti women rights activists at the residence May 7 to discuss the political wrangling surrounding the May 2 vote that failed to grant women's political rights at the municipal level (ref B) and the movement's next steps in the campaign to attain women's suffrage. Guests included professors, activists, artists and scientists. Many women echoed Dr. Rola Dashti's sentiments that she was surprised that the May 2 vote ended in disappointment since the municipal voting rights measure succeeded in the first-round of balloting 26 to 20 (ref C). Lulwa Al-Mulla of the Kuwait Women's Cultural and Social Society called last week's parliamentary actions a "disgrace." Another woman was surprised by the lack of "yes" votes since, in her words, "the Government bought these MPs," an accusation that the GOK financed the campaigns of preferred candidates. ¶3. (C) When the Ambassador asked if obtaining the municipal vote was a good thing, a cacophony of "no's" filled the room. Some women said they wanted full political rights and not half measures. Others said they now did not want the amendment to pass since they would not be allowed to vote in Municipal Council elections until 2009 at the earliest. In fact, many agreed to urge their MP allies to reject the municipal vote with the goal of forcing a confrontation with the Government. Yet others added that MPs were holding the municipal voting issue hostage in an attempt to advance their own agenda items like a public sector salary increase, reduction in voting age for males from 21 to 18 and inclusion of security service personnel in the voting registers. (Note: Press reports May 7 indicate the GOK has agreed in principle to boost government salaries. MFA Under-Secretary Khaled Al-Jarallah told the Ambassador May 7 that the GOK was reaching out to political blocs in Parliament but had not made any concessions (septel). End note.) Many questioned the GOK's sincerity to muster the votes needed to grant women the right to vote. ¶4. (U) In terms of next steps, the women are divided. They mentioned that a campaign via text message was underway to urge women and men alike to skip work on May 9 to protest the lack of political rights for women. It is unclear how many will participate in the work stoppage and what impact, if any, their actions may have. Meanwhile, Dashti reported that nearly 150 women signed a petition May 6 to urge the GOK to re-commit to women's full political rights. Some women claimed challenging in the courts the constitutionality of not allowing women to vote remained an option. Ten MPs threatened this course of action in February but withdrew plans after the Parliament agreed March 7 to expedite consideration of a bill granting full women's suffrage (ref E); the legislation continues to languish in the Assembly's Interior and Defense Committee. What Will Happen May 16? -------------- ¶5. (C) The Government, as reported in local dailies, expects women to obtain their municipal level political rights May 16 when the Parliament is scheduled to take up the discussion. One estimate puts the margin of victory at a single vote. An English-language newspaper reported May 7 that the GOK, however, does not intend to name a new Health Minister, a position vacant since April. Appointing a new minister would have guaranteed another vote in favor. Justice Minister Ahmad Baqer, an Islamist who opposes women's suffrage, apparently has a medical examination scheduled for May 16, which will prevent him from voting. Baqer also missed the May 2-3 sessions for "medical" reasons. Columnist Questions GOK Sincerity -------------- ¶6. (C) Ahmed Al-Deyain, liberal columnist for Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam, told Poloff May 8 that the GOK is not serious about supporting women's rights. He had not heard of any deal-making leading up to the May 2 vote, which surprised him since the GOK often makes efforts to do so before important parliamentary votes. He said Prime Minister Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's announced delay until May 16 is like the act of an acrobat: just a performance. He described the GOK as wayward and not interested in being progressive, only in staying in power. ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* LEBARON