FREEDOM AGENDA: KUWAIT'S ORANGE REVOLUTION:

UNCLAS KUWAIT 001744 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KU FREEDOM AGENGA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: KUWAIT'S ORANGE REVOLUTION: PARLIAMENT REVOLTS AGAINST GOVERNMENT REDISTRICTING PLAN REF: KUWAIT 1673 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) In a much-anticipated May 15 Parliament session, the Government introduced a bill to reduce the number of electoral constituencies from 25 to ten. Members of the Independent (pro-Government) bloc then submitted a motion to refer the bill to the Constitutional Court to examine its constitutionality, a move the Government supported. In the ensuing six-hour debate, the 29 Members of Parliament (MPs) who recently signed a statement in support of five constituencies ridiculed the Government for introducing a bill whose constitutionality they were unsure of and accused it of attempting to undermine the reform. When the motion finally came to a vote and the first Minister voted for it, the 29 MPs rose to their feet and started walking out of the hall in protest. A roar erupted from the upper balcony as proponents of five constituencies, many of whom had attended an overnight rally in support of five constituencies staged in front of the Parliament building, began chanting slogans and singing patriotic songs. ¶2. (U) The crowd, many wearing orange shirts and ribbons (they have adopted orange as the color of support for five constituencies),sent orange balloons and pamphlets raining down into the hall and some even shouted for the grilling of the Prime Minister. Cabinet Ministers remained silent as the 29 MPs returned to the hall flashing "high-fives." Eventually, the noise was so great and so persistent that the Government left the hall accompanied by "boos" from the crowd. Members of the pro-five constituencies bloc took turns addressing the crowd in the absence of the Government and Speaker of Parliament Jassem Al-Khorafi. The Speaker finally returned to boos and adjourned the session. ¶3. (SBU) Supporters of the five constituencies were jubilant after the session. Dr. Saad Bin Tefla, a liberal Shi'a academic, told PolOff, "You are witnessing history." Dr. Hamad Al-Matar, an Islamist academic, said, "This is real democracy. They (the reformists) are shaping Kuwait's future." Both agreed, however, that the most likely next step was for the Amir to dissolve Parliament, a constitutional procedure as long as elections are held within two months. According to some reports, the dissolution letter has already been drafted. Parliament is scheduled to meet again May 16. The coalition of 29 MPs supporting five constituencies has allegedly vowed to walk out again if their supporters are not allowed to observe the session. ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * LEBARON