Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT1196
2006-04-05 13:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
FREEDOM AGENDA: FEMALE CANDIDATE RUNNER-UP IN
how-toVZCZCXRO3013 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHKU #1196 0951304 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 051304Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3848 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS KUWAIT 001196
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KWMN KU FREEDOM AGENDA
WOMEN'S POLITICAL RIGHTS
SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: FEMALE CANDIDATE RUNNER-UP IN
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL BY-ELECTION; TURNOUT LOW
REF: A. KUWAIT 1176
B. KUWAIT 1077
UNCLAS KUWAIT 001196
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KWMN KU FREEDOM AGENDA
WOMEN'S POLITICAL RIGHTS
SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: FEMALE CANDIDATE RUNNER-UP IN
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL BY-ELECTION; TURNOUT LOW
REF: A. KUWAIT 1176
B. KUWAIT 1077
1. (U) Jenan Bushehri, one of two female candidates in the
April 4 Municipal Council by-election, came in second behind
Yousef Al-Suwaileh, a Sunni candidate representing the
Al-Awazem tribe. (Note: The Municipal Council has national
jurisdiction over land allocation, zoning, and public and
health safety. End note.) Bushehri received 1,808 votes
compared to 5,414 for Al-Suwaileh. Voter turnout was low:
only 10,646 (38%) of the district's 28,000 eligible voters
cast ballots in the election. Among women the figure was
even lower with only 4,724 (29%) of the 16,433 women
registered in the district actually voting. According to the
Arabic-daily Al-Qabas, 74% of women voted for male
candidates. Polling occurred without incident, and there
were no reports of harassment of female voters. Despite the
low turnout, the vote was hailed as an historic moment as
women exercised their political rights for the first time
since Parliament approved women's suffrage legislation in May
2005.
2. (SBU) The Al-Awazem, estimated to be 9,000 strong in the
district, were sharply criticized for holding a pre-election
primary to choose one candidate to represent the tribe and
increase the likelihood of an Al-Awazem winning. Although
"unofficial" elections are prohibited, the Government did not
prevent the primary or censure the tribe afterwards. Some
Shi'a in the district unsuccessfully called for a similar
Shi'a primary. In the end, six Shi'a candidates, including
both female candidates, ran in the election, splitting the
district's estimated 9,000-14,000 Shi'a voters between them.
As in parliamentary elections, many voters in this election
voted along tribal and sectarian lines.
3. (SBU) Comment: Women's participation in this election,
both as candidates and voters, was highly publicized and
broke many conservative taboos. As runner-up, Bushehri is
attracting as much attention as the winner, if not more, and
her second place finish is being lauded as a considerable
achievement. Many women are proud of her accomplishment,
which they hope other female candidates can match or exceed
in the 2007 parliamentary elections by drawing on lessons
learned from Bushehri's experience. As the low turnout
indicated, however, there are still obstacles to women
capitalizing on their newly acquired political rights,
including voter apathy, conservative social attitudes, and
voting based on familial, tribal, and/or sectarian
affiliations. End comment.
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
TUELLER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KWMN KU FREEDOM AGENDA
WOMEN'S POLITICAL RIGHTS
SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: FEMALE CANDIDATE RUNNER-UP IN
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL BY-ELECTION; TURNOUT LOW
REF: A. KUWAIT 1176
B. KUWAIT 1077
1. (U) Jenan Bushehri, one of two female candidates in the
April 4 Municipal Council by-election, came in second behind
Yousef Al-Suwaileh, a Sunni candidate representing the
Al-Awazem tribe. (Note: The Municipal Council has national
jurisdiction over land allocation, zoning, and public and
health safety. End note.) Bushehri received 1,808 votes
compared to 5,414 for Al-Suwaileh. Voter turnout was low:
only 10,646 (38%) of the district's 28,000 eligible voters
cast ballots in the election. Among women the figure was
even lower with only 4,724 (29%) of the 16,433 women
registered in the district actually voting. According to the
Arabic-daily Al-Qabas, 74% of women voted for male
candidates. Polling occurred without incident, and there
were no reports of harassment of female voters. Despite the
low turnout, the vote was hailed as an historic moment as
women exercised their political rights for the first time
since Parliament approved women's suffrage legislation in May
2005.
2. (SBU) The Al-Awazem, estimated to be 9,000 strong in the
district, were sharply criticized for holding a pre-election
primary to choose one candidate to represent the tribe and
increase the likelihood of an Al-Awazem winning. Although
"unofficial" elections are prohibited, the Government did not
prevent the primary or censure the tribe afterwards. Some
Shi'a in the district unsuccessfully called for a similar
Shi'a primary. In the end, six Shi'a candidates, including
both female candidates, ran in the election, splitting the
district's estimated 9,000-14,000 Shi'a voters between them.
As in parliamentary elections, many voters in this election
voted along tribal and sectarian lines.
3. (SBU) Comment: Women's participation in this election,
both as candidates and voters, was highly publicized and
broke many conservative taboos. As runner-up, Bushehri is
attracting as much attention as the winner, if not more, and
her second place finish is being lauded as a considerable
achievement. Many women are proud of her accomplishment,
which they hope other female candidates can match or exceed
in the 2007 parliamentary elections by drawing on lessons
learned from Bushehri's experience. As the low turnout
indicated, however, there are still obstacles to women
capitalizing on their newly acquired political rights,
including voter apathy, conservative social attitudes, and
voting based on familial, tribal, and/or sectarian
affiliations. End comment.
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
TUELLER