Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT2190
2006-06-10 14:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - WOMEN, HOPES FOR REFORM
how-toVZCZCXRO4538 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK DE RUEHKU #2190 1611435 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 101435Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5044 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS KUWAIT 002190
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, 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 - WOMEN, HOPES FOR REFORM
Block Quotes
--------------
Saturday, June 10, 2006
-- Haytham Hamad Al-Shaie penned in the progressive Arabic-language
daily Al-Qabas under the title "Women and Youth.... 2006 Nation"
(6/10): "Women should not succumb to pressures from their families,
tribes, sects, or even the different political trends. Their votes
are a responsibility and they have the right to choose just as the
men do. We ask women to practice their right without interference
from anyone. As for the youth, they are the future and these
elections are the last chance for many of the candidates. Matters
will change in the future and we will see vast movement amongst the
youth."
-- Thabet Ibrahim Al-Haroon criticized in the moderate
Arabic-language daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under the title "Platforms and
Plans" (6/10): "How I wish the candidates would raise a slogan
pointing to a platform and plans for development that would move
Kuwait away from the status quo and into the realm of the
aspirations of the citizenry. But, what goes on now is a reaction to
the current issues. Some consider this to be a gateway to reform. It
consists of attacking from ONE side and making excuses form the
other. There are those who have printed and distributed material
with some value but most offer either a speech followed by a heavy
dinner and a deep sleep, or gratitude and salutation and sheep. How
can a voter ask a candidate his position on issues if the latter has
not put forth a platform? What of the housing issue? What of the
privatization issue? What of the HEALTH and education issues? What
of the development and legislative issues? What is the destiny of
thousands of unemployed graduates?"
-- Political Science professor at Kuwait University Dr. Shamlan
Yousef Al-Issa remarked in the pro-government Arabic-language daily
Al-Seyassah under the title "The Sad Elections" (6/10): "I hid from
no ONE the depression that has come upon me these days because of
the parliamentary elections. This feeling comes from being a
citizen unable to change matters for the better.... Many Kuwaitis,
and I am ONE of them, are overcome by a feeling of depression and
worry about the results of this year's elections. It is expected
that many candidates who are good at political manipulation and
lying, and they are many in these elections, will make their way to
parliament.... I hope that I am mistaken as the Kuwaiti people have
the last word on [June] 29."
-- Nabil Al-Fadl said in the moderate Arabic-language daily Al-Watan
under the title "Good News for Kuwait's Women" (6/10): "Good news
for Kuwaiti women: Islamist candidates are counting on your
gullibility such as the ONE who said 'if he stood against our rights
for eternity we will still elect him'. They see themselves
harvesting the votes of the women who will not ask who stood with
them and who stood against them. They think that the number of
Islamists in parliament will increase as a result of women's votes.
If that happens then we will be indebted to Kuwaiti women for
canceling our brains and losing faith in theirs. The news to
Kuwaiti women is that those political Islamists who claim their
numbers will increase in the next parliament because of women have
already stated that their priority is to Islamize the laws and amend
Article Two. If that happens, their first victim will be the
women.... For those amongst you who feel her brain is that of a
fish, vote for the Islamists. For those who fear for her femininity
and her self-respect, you should ruin their plans with your vote.
Your vote is not a vice."
********************************************* *
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/ARP, 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 - WOMEN, HOPES FOR REFORM
Block Quotes
--------------
Saturday, June 10, 2006
-- Haytham Hamad Al-Shaie penned in the progressive Arabic-language
daily Al-Qabas under the title "Women and Youth.... 2006 Nation"
(6/10): "Women should not succumb to pressures from their families,
tribes, sects, or even the different political trends. Their votes
are a responsibility and they have the right to choose just as the
men do. We ask women to practice their right without interference
from anyone. As for the youth, they are the future and these
elections are the last chance for many of the candidates. Matters
will change in the future and we will see vast movement amongst the
youth."
-- Thabet Ibrahim Al-Haroon criticized in the moderate
Arabic-language daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under the title "Platforms and
Plans" (6/10): "How I wish the candidates would raise a slogan
pointing to a platform and plans for development that would move
Kuwait away from the status quo and into the realm of the
aspirations of the citizenry. But, what goes on now is a reaction to
the current issues. Some consider this to be a gateway to reform. It
consists of attacking from ONE side and making excuses form the
other. There are those who have printed and distributed material
with some value but most offer either a speech followed by a heavy
dinner and a deep sleep, or gratitude and salutation and sheep. How
can a voter ask a candidate his position on issues if the latter has
not put forth a platform? What of the housing issue? What of the
privatization issue? What of the HEALTH and education issues? What
of the development and legislative issues? What is the destiny of
thousands of unemployed graduates?"
-- Political Science professor at Kuwait University Dr. Shamlan
Yousef Al-Issa remarked in the pro-government Arabic-language daily
Al-Seyassah under the title "The Sad Elections" (6/10): "I hid from
no ONE the depression that has come upon me these days because of
the parliamentary elections. This feeling comes from being a
citizen unable to change matters for the better.... Many Kuwaitis,
and I am ONE of them, are overcome by a feeling of depression and
worry about the results of this year's elections. It is expected
that many candidates who are good at political manipulation and
lying, and they are many in these elections, will make their way to
parliament.... I hope that I am mistaken as the Kuwaiti people have
the last word on [June] 29."
-- Nabil Al-Fadl said in the moderate Arabic-language daily Al-Watan
under the title "Good News for Kuwait's Women" (6/10): "Good news
for Kuwaiti women: Islamist candidates are counting on your
gullibility such as the ONE who said 'if he stood against our rights
for eternity we will still elect him'. They see themselves
harvesting the votes of the women who will not ask who stood with
them and who stood against them. They think that the number of
Islamists in parliament will increase as a result of women's votes.
If that happens then we will be indebted to Kuwaiti women for
canceling our brains and losing faith in theirs. The news to
Kuwaiti women is that those political Islamists who claim their
numbers will increase in the next parliament because of women have
already stated that their priority is to Islamize the laws and amend
Article Two. If that happens, their first victim will be the
women.... For those amongst you who feel her brain is that of a
fish, vote for the Islamists. For those who fear for her femininity
and her self-respect, you should ruin their plans with your vote.
Your vote is not a vice."
********************************************* *
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