Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT2155
2006-06-08 20:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION ON VOTING, ETHICS AND CENSORSHIP IN
how-toVZCZCXRO2554 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK DE RUEHKU #2155 1592006 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 082006Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5008 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS KUWAIT 002155
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, 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 PREL KDEM PGOV KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION ON VOTING, ETHICS AND CENSORSHIP IN
THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
Block Quotes
--------------
Thursday, June 8, 2006
-- Secretary General of the Journalists' Association, Faisal
Al-Qanai, criticized in the pro-government Arabic-language daily
Al-Seyassah under the title "Vote buying: Myth and Truth" (6/8):
"Are there really vote buying operations taking place here in
Kuwait? Or, are these accusations made simply to tarnish the
reputation of competitors and to prepare excuses in case of
losing?... Spreading these myths tarnishes the reputation of all
Kuwaitis and makes them appear to be bribers without conscience,
selling themselves for a handful of Dinars."
-- Dina Al-Tarah remarked in the moderate Arabic-language daily
Al-Watan under the title "Women and Political Words" (6/8): "I
contemplated the lack of attention paid by religious clerics to the
Islamic principles of love, mercy, and cooperation that assure
dialogue between couples when a disagreement arises. They had the
audacity to issue a fatwa allowing fear to be factored into a
marriage, encouraging husbands to use scare techniques to repress
women, and for family life to be taken lightly instead of caring for
its stability. I call on and remind the women of Kuwait, especially
those that are married, that God offered the trusteeship to the
mountains and they refused. Kuwait is our trusteeship and our votes
are our trusteeship."
-- Doctor and political activist Sajid Al-Abdali editorialized in
the moderate Arabic-language daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under the title
"Integrity with Complete Transparency" (6/8): "I imagine that the
recent phenomenon of committees and popular groups to combat
political corruption is a healthy one. Their birth stipulates that
a large number of Kuwaitis are stepping out of the circle of status
quo and standing still into the circle of change.... For all who are
active in the field of combating corruption, they should know that
there is room for everyone and that there is no room for statements
defaming others in the same field. There should no attempts to make
another look bad simply to receive media coverage. As such conduct
in itself is dishonesty and a lack of transparency."
-- Abdul Latif Al-Daij penned in the progressive Arabic-language
daily Al-Qabas under the title "We Want Alliance" (6/8): "It is very
upsetting to hear that the government prohibited the broadcast of
'Al-Tahalof' satellite television station through the Arabsat
satellite service. That is evidence of the weakness and frailty of
the government. It also points to its lack of popularity and
credibility. It is saddening that matters have come this far. It
hurts us to see the Kuwaiti regime, one of the most stable Arab
regimes, hurt by an image and a voice."
********************************************* *
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
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, 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 PREL KDEM PGOV KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION ON VOTING, ETHICS AND CENSORSHIP IN
THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
Block Quotes
--------------
Thursday, June 8, 2006
-- Secretary General of the Journalists' Association, Faisal
Al-Qanai, criticized in the pro-government Arabic-language daily
Al-Seyassah under the title "Vote buying: Myth and Truth" (6/8):
"Are there really vote buying operations taking place here in
Kuwait? Or, are these accusations made simply to tarnish the
reputation of competitors and to prepare excuses in case of
losing?... Spreading these myths tarnishes the reputation of all
Kuwaitis and makes them appear to be bribers without conscience,
selling themselves for a handful of Dinars."
-- Dina Al-Tarah remarked in the moderate Arabic-language daily
Al-Watan under the title "Women and Political Words" (6/8): "I
contemplated the lack of attention paid by religious clerics to the
Islamic principles of love, mercy, and cooperation that assure
dialogue between couples when a disagreement arises. They had the
audacity to issue a fatwa allowing fear to be factored into a
marriage, encouraging husbands to use scare techniques to repress
women, and for family life to be taken lightly instead of caring for
its stability. I call on and remind the women of Kuwait, especially
those that are married, that God offered the trusteeship to the
mountains and they refused. Kuwait is our trusteeship and our votes
are our trusteeship."
-- Doctor and political activist Sajid Al-Abdali editorialized in
the moderate Arabic-language daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under the title
"Integrity with Complete Transparency" (6/8): "I imagine that the
recent phenomenon of committees and popular groups to combat
political corruption is a healthy one. Their birth stipulates that
a large number of Kuwaitis are stepping out of the circle of status
quo and standing still into the circle of change.... For all who are
active in the field of combating corruption, they should know that
there is room for everyone and that there is no room for statements
defaming others in the same field. There should no attempts to make
another look bad simply to receive media coverage. As such conduct
in itself is dishonesty and a lack of transparency."
-- Abdul Latif Al-Daij penned in the progressive Arabic-language
daily Al-Qabas under the title "We Want Alliance" (6/8): "It is very
upsetting to hear that the government prohibited the broadcast of
'Al-Tahalof' satellite television station through the Arabsat
satellite service. That is evidence of the weakness and frailty of
the government. It also points to its lack of popularity and
credibility. It is saddening that matters have come this far. It
hurts us to see the Kuwaiti regime, one of the most stable Arab
regimes, hurt by an image and a voice."
********************************************* *
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