FREEDOM AGENDA: REFINING STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001889

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR NEA, NEA/PI, AND NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KMPI KU
SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: REFINING STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE
DEMOCRATIC REFORM

REF: A. KUWAIT 1844 -- FREEDOM AGENDA: PARLIAMENT
DISSOLUTION PRESENTS OPPORTUNITIES AND
CHALLENGES

B. KUWAIT 1833 -- KUWAITI AMIR DISSOLVES PARLIAMENT

C. KUWAIT 1244 -- KUWAIT MEPIC 4

D. KUWAIT 605 -- KUWAIT MEPIC 3

E. 05 KUWAIT 4144 -- KUWAIT MEPIC II

F. 05 KUWAIT 2732 -- FIRST QUARTERLY MEPIC

G. 05 KUWAIT 2091 -- DEMOCRATIC REFORM STRATEGIES
TO SUPPORT THE FREEDOM AGENDA

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) Key elements of Embassy Kuwait's Freedom Agenda are
promoting democratic reform through full political
participation by Kuwaiti women and encouraging the formation
of political parties to reduce tribal influence and religious
ideology on domestic politics. The May 21 Amiri decisions to
dissolve Parliament and schedule elections for June 29
necessitate the immediate adoption of new tactics to achieve
these goals.


2. (C) MEPI programming has formed the foundation for
Freedom Agenda successes in promoting women's political
participation and encouraging greater press freedom (ref C).
Many of the women now running for office are graduates of
MEPI programs and credit MEPI with helping them to prepare
for their political careers. Several scheduled MEPI-funded
programs to advance democratic reform were devised on the
premise that parliamentary elections would be held in 2007.
These activities, to be held in both Kuwait and neighboring
countries, were structured and deliberate, targeting
activists and potential female candidates and ranging from
general political awareness-building to how to organize a
campaign. With elections only five weeks away, several
campaigns already launched, and a solid core of women
political activists who have successfully completely MEPI
training, U.S. assistance in this brief pre-election period
must now focus on how to be responsive to requests for
information and technical assistance.


3. (C) Women candidates report they are overwhelmed by how
much they have to do in a short time frame and have stressed
that they cannot afford to leave Kuwait for any type of
additional training. Their days are also packed and they do
not have the time to participate in in-country political
seminars and training. Additionally, such training could be
construed as U.S. interference in a domestic process and
would taint the candidates and undermine U.S. interests.
Therefore the U.S. should assess what it can offer in
educational resources. Post recommends:

-- Making available electronic versions of materials, in
English and Arabic, of previously held and scheduled
MEPI-funded courses;
-- Contacting course instructors and experts and organizing
one-hour DVCs on specific themes, for example working with
the media, developing a message, and staffing a campaign
team. Time should also be allotted for brief one-on-one
sessions for specific questions;
-- Building a website or organizing webchats so that
candidates may ask and receive answers to questions on
running a campaign; and
-- Providing candidates, upon their request, a directory of
political strategists, consultants, and advisors whom they
can hire at their own expense to assist them during the
campaign season.

Additionally, Kuwaiti participation in the June 4 - 6
International Republic Institute-organized Campaign Academy
should be expanded to allow other campaign staff to attend if
Kuwaiti candidates and their campaign managers are not able
to travel.


4. (SBU) The National Democratic Institute (NDI)
representative in Kuwait met with PolChief May 23 to outline
NDI's revised program in light of recent changes. NDI has
devised a three-point plan, which it plans to launch
immediately, in response to requests from some of the women
running for office:

-- A DVC with a Seattle-based campaign expert who has worked
in the Middle East. The expert has indicated her willingness
to conduct daily conferences with candidates, either
individually or as a group, in order to respond to issues as
they arise;
-- Bringing Arab communications experts to Kuwait for
consultations on publicity strategies; and
-- Bringing a Moroccan woman MP to Kuwait for a seminar on
the do's and don'ts of running an electoral campaign in the

KUWAIT 00001889 002 OF 002


Middle East.

Post endorses the NDI plan and encourages MEPI to facilitate
its implementation.


5. (SBU) Post also welcomes MEPI Abu Dhabi's offer to
organize on short notice a DVC training workshop for
journalists by the University of Missouri on covering
elections. Not only is the topic timely and the training
needed, but the workshop also supports a Freedom Agenda
objective to promote greater press freedom. Moreover, Post
appreciates MEPI Abu Dhabi's proactive approach and looks
forward to other program suggestions. Post will identify a
local partner for the university and would like to include in
the training media advisors to first-time candidates.


6. (C) There is considerable attention on the June 29
elections, but it is equally important to think about what
happens on June 30. It is likely that many of the MPs will
be re-elected and there will not be substantive change in the
composition and outlook of Parliament. If this is the case,
U.S. engagement should address how to sustain the political
interest and activism that energized the 2005 suffrage
movement and fueled the movement in favor of electoral
constituency reform. MEPI programs should target youth
groups that were active in both political movements, address
the professionalism of MPs now that corruption and
disinterest have been revealed as serious problems, and
educate groups on how to raise awareness and build support
for issues of concern. Reform-minded Kuwaitis are gaining
experience with protests and sit-ins and are skilled at using
SMS to bring attention to an issue. The U.S. should use the
post-election to help them identify other means to advance
political reform.

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For more Embassy Kuwait reporting, see:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s

Or Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
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LEBARON