MEDIA REACTION: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS, HUMAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 004795

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA,
B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
USAID/ANE/MEA
LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KIRF KPAO PGOV PHUM PREL PTER KPAO
XF, IZ, KU, TIP, TERRORISM

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS, HUMAN
RIGHTS, AND GUANTANAMO

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Summary
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1. Kuwaiti Arabic-language press responded unfavorably to
the November 9 roundtable discussion the Ambassador held on
the topic of trafficking in persons, with the exception of
one Kuwait University political science professor, who
thanked the Ambassador in Al-Seyassah. Al-Rai Al-Aam
dedicated an entire page to reactions by members of the
National Assembly. End summary.

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Selected Headlines
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2. Sunday, November 13, 2005

-- Al-Rai Al-Aam front page:
"Independent Salem Al-Hammad called on him not to mix
matters and Bader Al-FARSI sees Kuwait as spoiling
expatriate labor. Islamist MP Waled Al-Tabtabaei: The
American Ambassador interferes in our affairs. Islamist
Faisal Al-Musallam: I resent his repeated inappropriate
interference but I agree with him"

-- Al-Rai Al-Aam p. 8:
"We do not deny the lack of legislature and those trading in
residency visas must be combated; LeBaron's interference is
unacceptable. MPs and political activists answer the
criticisms of the American Ambassador and the predictions of
James Zogby: Kuwait cares for expatriate labor rights and
the Gulf region will not witness disturbances like France,"
"Labor laws are very old and must be reviewed. We must
change the sponsorship system;" "The government is weak
against residency visa traders. We want to expedite the
establishment of labor cities," "If Ambassador LeBaron
places Kuwait in the third category then the U.S. is in the
last;" "Kuwait is a state of law and spoils expatriate labor
at the expense of its citizens. We are currently studying
new legislation;" "Kuwait is badmouthed. We lend a helping
hand to countries and we only receive offense;" "We admit to
problems with expatriate workers in the Gulf region but they
will not resort to violence;" "Every worker whose rights are
violated should resort to legal channels and workers in the
Gulf region do not feel that they are treated unjustly;"
"There are companies that embarrass Kuwait in human rights
organizations' reports;" "We do not dismiss the possibility
of violence in the Gulf because of certain prejudices that
citizens experience for sectarian reasons."

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Block Quotes
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3. Monday, November 14, 2005

-- Musaid Adel Al-Zafiri wrote for moderate Al-Watan under
the title "America and its violations of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights:" "'Whereas disregard and
contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts
which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the
advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom
of speech and belief and freedom from fear.'
The preamble of the United Nations General Assembly
Universal Declaration of Human Rights begins with this
wonderful statement. The United States is a signatory to
the declaration yet it has not only disregarded human
rights, it has trampled them by establishing and maintaining
the Guantanamo Bay prison facility. The world is now
criticizing the United States for its barbarism and
inhumanity, except of course our liberal brothers here in
Kuwait who do not see, or hear, or feel."

-- Aziza Al-Mufrij also wrote for moderate Al-Watan under
the title "Excuse me, Mr. LeBaron, but:" "We are a small
country that has been invaded and you, a big country,

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liberated us because according to your rhetoric you will not
allow the strong to swallow the weak. Your rhetoric may not
be correct and may only be the result of a mutual interest
at the time. That is unimportant to us. What is important
to us is that you greatly contributed to the return of our
country and our sovereignty to us. We appreciate it greatly
and hold it dear to our hearts. However, we must say that
you are wrong when you infringe upon our rights and serve
our small country an injustice. You constantly accuse our
people of abusing expatriate and domestic labor. If you
were to conduct an honest study, Mr. LeBaron, you would find
that not a single household has not suffered a crime or
crimes on the part of the laborers. Despite this, they are
sent to their home countries onboard Kuwaiti Airlines at the
sponsor's expense after having stolen his property and
violated his honor. When a person goes to a country to be
an Ambassador, he should be aware of the traditions of the
host country. The Kuwaiti people fear God, Mr. LeBaron, and
conduct themselves accordingly.. I do not speak of a few
business owners who trade in expatriate labor as you have
similar criminal organizations in the United States. I also
do not speak of those sick individuals who torture their
domestic workers because in American you have sadistic
employers that enjoy torturing others. Mr. LeBaron, I speak
of the majority of the simple Kuwaiti people who are unable
to give up their domestic workers despite all the trouble
that comes to them as a result. We, Mr. LeBaron, are the
ones in need of human rights and studies showing how much we
have lost as a result of being so dependent upon them. As
for humans and their rights, what is your opinion as an
American of giving those detained without charges brought
against them or trying them their rights, and freeing them
from injustice rather than picking on poor people."

-- Liberal Professor of Political Science at Kuwait
University Dr. Shamlan Al-Issa wrote in pro-government Al-
Seyassah under the title "America's hostility, in whose
interest?;" "We thank the Ambassador of the United States of
America to Kuwait Richard LeBaron for his comments on
expatriate labor in which he expressed his appreciation for
the steps finally taken by the Kuwait government to combat
trafficking in persons and the abuse of expatriate labor.
He praised the laws passed to improve their conditions and
he reiterated the importance of enforcing the laws and
punishing those who do not comply. What enraged the Islamist
in the National Council was the fact that Kuwait will remain
a tier-three country until the new laws are enforced. It
was strange for the Islamists in the National Council to
attack the Ambassador's comments rather than thank him for
his advice. They attacked American domestic affairs by
highlighting the mistreatment of minorities in the U.S. The
real purpose of their attack was political only, to protest
against the Guantanamo Bay prison and other secret prisons
in Eastern Europe. What the Ambassador said was nothing
new. These ideas have been around for years, but have not
seen the light as a result of mismanagement, delays, and the
presence of corruption in the National Council, which
refuses to accept reform under the guise of values and
traditions and in the name of interference in our domestic
affairs."

-- Dina Al-Issa wrote for moderate Al-Watan under the title
"Their rights and our rights?:" "Here in Kuwait, some
foreigners do have more rights than the citizens themselves.
Do you remember how many times the domestic labor has caused
harm to Kuwaiti families in cases that reached the level of
murder, robbery, poisoning and beating of children and
sexual harassment? Do you remember how many times maids
have escaped from the residences of their employers during
their summer vacation in Europe without the Kuwaiti sponsor
being able to complain.? Do you remember how many cases of
adultery in which maids were involved were reported? After
all this, the Kuwaiti sponsor has to book a ticket to deport
the maid. We should not forget that there are five
nationalities that have the right to seek the help of their
embassies in the event of being implicated in a case, even
if they are defendants. You only have to remember -- if you

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want to get back a Filipino maid who has sought shelter in
her embassy that you have to be sure that you master all
kinds of martial arts in order to be able to defend yourself
against any expected beating at the embassy. This is only
part of the problems we face with domestic labor in Kuwait."

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