Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT2152
2006-06-08 07:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

KUWAIT MEDIA ELECTION COVERAGE JUNE 1-6: KEY ISSUES

Tags:  OPRC KMDR KPAO KDEM PGOV KU FREDOM AGENDA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1631
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #2152/01 1590758
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080758Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5003
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 002152 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/P, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR,
I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO KDEM PGOV KU FREDOM AGENDA
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA ELECTION COVERAGE JUNE 1-6: KEY ISSUES
CRYSTALIZE

REF: KUWAIT 002081

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 002152

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/P, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR,
I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO KDEM PGOV KU FREDOM AGENDA
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA ELECTION COVERAGE JUNE 1-6: KEY ISSUES
CRYSTALIZE

REF: KUWAIT 002081


1. Summary: With registration for candidates closed, the media in
Kuwait has switched focus from announcing entrants into the race for
Parliament to reporting on candidate platforms and those withdrawing
their candidacies. Among the news coverage, several key issues have
crystallized and are receiving consistent reporting in the print and
broadcast media. They are: the impact of women in the elections,
the fight against corruption and vote-buying, and the future of
political reform through constituency redistricting. Also receiving
attention are illegal "primaries" in which coalitions or tribes vote
for candidates. Kuwait's only privately owned TV station began
airing nightly two-hour newscasts dedicated entirely to elections.
Of two private satellite channels on election issues that were to
launch this week, one debuted and one was blocked. In addition to
the print and broadcast media, Kuwaiti blogging sites are packed
with free-wielding comments on all of the election news and gossip.
End summary.

Print Media Retains Its Leading Role
--------------


2. Despite the recent introduction of new TV sources and some
candidates launching Internet sites, Kuwait's five Arabic-language
and three English-language newspapers remain the leading source of
election news for the vast majority of Kuwaitis. What's more, the
private print media is cashing in on a news-hungry public and on
candidates eager to secure advertising space. The editor-in-chief of
the leading Arabic-language daily Al-Rai Al-Aam summed it up best
when asked about his philosophy on election coverage, "To make
money," he said. The newspapers continue to entice readers with
attention-getting headlines. Samples include, "New 'Primary' Seized
and Public Prosecution Continues Its Investigations," Al-Qabas,
front page, June 5; "Al-Khorafi: My Reservation about the Law Was
Not against Granting Women Their Rights," Al-Anbaa, front page, June
7; and "Poll: Women Optimistic of Winning Seat," Arab Times, front

page, June 7.


3. To be sure, some of the headlines are printed for shock value and
to attract buyers. This is especially so for front-page headlines.
On the inside pages, however, the Arabic-language newspapers in
particular are dedicating up to twelve page on candidates, their
platforms and other election news. The majority of these extended
election sections are generated from reports of nightly happenings
at candidate election tents, or campaign headquarters. In typical
Kuwaiti campaign style, candidates erect large diwaniya-style tents,
serve food or beverages, make speeches and talk with voters.
Reporters also receive written information from candidates
explaining key platform positions. Candidates are also purchasing
advertising in the papers' election sections. From this coverage
three issues have crystallized as receiving consistent attention:
the impact of women in the elections, the fight against corruption
and vote-buying, and the future of political reform through
constituency redistricting.

How Will Women Fare?
--------------


4. By far, women candidates and the challenges they face are the
focus of much reporting. Newspapers, TV, radio, and internet
blogging sites are awash with news about the platforms of women
candidates and opinions as to whether a woman will be elected.
"Candidates Open Their Doors for Women Voters via Women's
Committees," Al-Watan, pg. 81, June 6, and "Nation Invariables
Grouping: A Woman should Not Go to Polling Stations and Electoral
HQs Without the Permission of Her Guardian," Al-Rai Al-Aam, pg. 27,
June 7, are two headlines that illustrate the range of opinions
being expressed on the topic.


5. To a lesser extent, but still significant, has been coverage of
the new Kuwaiti female electorate itself. Regardless of whether a
woman candidate wins, some 195,000, of them, 60 percent of voters,
will cast their ballots for the very first time in three weeks. Who
they vote for and the influence they will collectively have on the
makeup of the new Parliament are the main focuses of the subject.
"Involvement of Women in Elections Will Effect the Results of These
Elections," Al-Qabas, pg. 18, June 6, and "Nabila Al-Anjari: Women
Candidates Will Tip the Scales," Al-Anbaa, pg. 14, June 4, are
typical examples of newspaper headlines on the topic. The public TV
channel Al-Rai reported on the number of women who will not be able
to vote. Citing the Minister of Defense, it reported that 54,000
women are ineligible due to unreported address changes and because
they have not been Kuwaiti citizens for the required 20 year period
in order to be eligible.

KUWAIT 00002152 002 OF 003



Constituency Reform
--------------


6. While the women held the attention of the public and press this
week, the issue that sparked the early election in the first place,
constituency reform, is beginning to re-emerge as a paramount voter
concern. Commentators from every sector of society have begun to
speculate in the media on what the election will mean for reform.
"Talal Al-Ayyar: Constituencies Will Figure High on the Agenda of
the Upcoming National Assembly," Al-Seyassah, pgs. 14, June 5, and
"Ahmad Al-Mulaifi: The Corrupt Camp Has Won the electoral
Constituencies Battle," Al-Rai Al-Aam, pg. 24, illustrates the
interest in the subject. Questions being raised on the issue
include: will the new Parliament be pro-reform or con; if reformers
control the new Parliament will there be ten, five or one revised
constituencies; if after elections new constituencies are approved
quickly, what would that mean for the new Parliament's legitimacy?


Corruption
--------------


7. Allegations of vote-buying continue to be readily reported in the
newspapers, discussed on TV talk shows and on the Internet. "90
Percent of Those Polled Do Not Trust Government Serious About
Combatting Primaries and Vote-Buying," Al-Qabas, front page, June 5,
is one sample. The daily Al-Rai Al-Aam on June 3 ran a cartoon on
pg. 55 depicting two men in Arab dress each holding a ballot-style
box and each reaching across to stuff something into the other's
box. One man is depositing cash, the other a checked voting ballot.
Corruption and vote-buying are popular issues on local blog sites.
One, Sahat Safat, a political blog site popular with the 20-35-year
age group, encouraged Kuwaitis to send in by email documents proving
that vote-buying is occurring. Bloggers openly criticized the
Government of Kuwait for its denial of corruption. Opinions on the
subject are freely wielded such as the following, "The Kuwait people
are not so stupid as to believe that the government doesn't know
what's going on." Another blogger commenting on Defense Minister
Shaykh Jaber Al-Mbarak's denial in the press that vote-buying occurs
wrote, "The proof is in the pudding. Not only are voters being
bought, but they're getting pretty creative about it . . .
[candidates] are buying plasma TV for diwaniyas and getting
satellite dishes and memberships to watch the World Cup!"

Illegal Primaries
--------------


8. Candidatures in Kuwait and intended to be open to individuals,
and so primaries are illegal. However, several political groups and
local tribes have reportedly been holding primary votes in order to
select district candidates. "Number of Violating 'Primaries' Surged
to 13," Al-Qabas, pg. 12, June 4, demonstrates press interest in the
topic. An Al-Qabas public survey also revealed that 90 percent of
those polled believed that the Kuwaiti Government is not serious
about combating primaries and vote buying.

Media on the Take
--------------

9. Corruption also reportedly occurring in the media during campaign
season. Reporters and editors have told EmbOff that many
journalists accept cash payments to assist certain candidates in
their campaigns. In exchange for money the reporter prints positive
stories about the candid and ensures that his or her message is
depicted in the best possible light. Though no reporter admitted to
EmbOff accepting such payments, they insist that it is widely
practiced, particularly in the print media. An editor-in-chief of a
large daily newspaper confirmed that this is an issue at his paper.
He gave one example of how a candidate gave all the reporters who
attended his campaign speech an envelope containing 240 dinars,
approximately $850. The reporters gave the envelopes containing the
cash to the editor, who, because of their honesty, allowed the
journalists to keep it.

Private TV Steps in to Fill a Gap
--------------


10. Kuwait's only private TV channel Al-Rai has begun taking up the
slack left by public TV, which is not addressing election issues in
any meaningful way (reftel). On June 5 the Al-Rai debuted a new
two-hour nightly newscast dedicated exclusively to elections.
"Al-Omma" ("The Nation") airs from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., prime
time viewing hours in Kuwait. Hosted by two anchormen, the show
features interviews and open debates between candidates, political

KUWAIT 00002152 003 OF 003


commentators and other opinion makers. The inaugural show on June 5
featured female candidate Aisha Al-Reshaid and a conservative
professor of Shari'a (Islamic) law at Kuwait University. This was
the first time that an Islamist faced a woman candidate on Kuwait
TV. The body language spoke volumes as it was evident that the
conservative professor avoided looking at his female counterpart. A
lively debate ensued about whether Islam permits women to vote or to
hold office. The professor stated that "women may vote, but that
they must not hold elected office because the Quran forbids women to
rule over men." Al-Reshaid countered by asserting that the
Islamists had previously been against women voting, but now that
they need their votes they have changed direction and so women can
vote, but not hold office.


11. Two new private satellite channels devoted to elections were
also slated to debut this week. One, the "Parliament Dome" aired
for the first time on June 5, and is rumored to be backed by
conservatives. The other channel, the "We Want It Alliance," a
reference to the reformist slogan "We Want It Five [the number of
constituencies]", was due to air on June 6, but the signal was
blocked. Al-Qabas daily quoted sources from the channel as saying
that "a minister" from the GOK had blocked the transmission because
it was "not in compliance with laws" and would be broadcasting
"controversial subjects." The ministry responsible for satellite
transmissions is the Ministry of Information. The channel is backed
by "National Alliance," a reformist group. Both channels are
designed to broadcast taped material via satellite.

Bloggers Fill Cyberspace with Opinions
--------------


12. Kuwaiti blog sites too are addressing election issues. Bloggers
give insight into the thinking of the up-and-coming Kuwaiti
generation, the 20-35 age bracket. Not unexpectedly, sites dealing
with political issues are chock full of comments on every election
topic. Moreover, sites that normally focus on nonpolitical topics
are posting more and more comments on voter concerns. Like in the
mainstream media, attention is centered on women, vote-buying and
reducing corruption through redistricting. A typical comment on the
impact of female voters went, "The influence of women voting may not
lead to any changes simply because the majority of tribal women will
end up following their husbands due to their weakness.... The bottom
line is that it won't make a difference." One blogger captured the
essence of what the election means for reform among the younger
reformist Kuwaitis. He wrote, "We all know that it was the liberals
that began the campaign for five districts. It was amazing to see
how so many who were initially against it now support it during
their campaign (even those from religious groups). Bottom line, we
shouldn't suddenly change our mind if the other party wants to join.
It's for the benefit of the country regardless of whether they are
liberal or conservative. We should all stick together rather than
change our minds just because the other party is now against us."


13. Comment: While women, vote-buying, and reform are the three main
themes emerging as voter concerns, they are interwoven. Due to sheer
numbers, the new female electorate holds the key. In much of the
reporting and commentary on major issues that appear in the media,
predicted outcomes are often dependent on how other issues turn out.
For example, reform through redistricting depends on the makeup of
the new Parliament. The makeup of the new Parliament will depend on
how women vote. And whether women are any more or less susceptible
to alleged vote-buying or other outside influences is dependent on
something that at present is nonexistent, a history of Kuwaiti
female voters in a national election. Only the sanctity of the
secret ballot of 195,000 women will give us the answer in three

SIPDIS
weeks' time. 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