THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS MY FRIEND: SUPPORT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002271 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA SUBJECT: THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS MY FRIEND: SUPPORT FOR AND OPPOSITION TO REFORM UNITES POLITICAL OPPOSITES REF: A. KUWAIT 2150 ¶B. KUWAIT 2148 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: CDA Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) Summary: An emerging consensus between ideologically opposite political blocs on the need for political reform in Kuwait has led to the formation of a number of unprecedented alliances in advance of the June 29 parliamentary elections. Some Islamist groups, like the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM),the political arm of the Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood, are supporting pro-reform candidates from both liberal and pro-Iran Shi'a political associations. Other groups whose political power is likely to diminish if reforms are implemented are also cooperating to back candidates sympathetic to maintaining the status quo. One example is the Shi'a umbrella National Society Coalition's support for pro-Government Sunni candidates who oppose electoral reform, which is seen as potentially detrimental to Shi'a interests. While these emerging alliances are an important new political dynamic, traditional alliances still figure prominently in Kuwaiti politics. Nonetheless, these new alliances highlight the fact that Kuwait's political system is evolving, albeit slowly, from one based predominantly on personal, familial, and tribal connections to one based more on real political issues. End summary. Opposites Attract -------------- ¶2. (C/NF) One example of how support for reform has united political and ideological opposites is that of Mohammed Al-Boushehri, a Shi'a member of both the Kuwait Democratic Forum (KDF) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA),two of Kuwait's leading liberal political associations. (Note: The Kuwaiti Government does not officially recognize political parties. End note.) Al-Boushehri, who was active in the pro-reform, youth-based "orange movement" (ref A) and helped found the Dialogue Center, an unofficial NGO that seeks to foster more open dialogue between Kuwait's different political and religious groups, told Poloff that he and other members of the Dialogue Center were backing Adnan Abdul Samad, a candidate affiliated with the National Islamic Alliance (NIA),a conservative, pro-Iran Shi'a political association, in the upcoming elections. Asked why, Al-Boushehri explained that although he disagreed with Samad's ideological leanings, he would support him because he was both pro-reform and strong enough to stand up to the Government. According to Al-Boushehri, "the key issues in this election are reform and corruption." ¶3. (C/NF) Another liberal Shi'a member of the Dialogue Center, Mohammed Al-Shaykh, echoed these views in a separate meeting with Poloff. "Political affiliation is not important in these elections," Al-Shaykh said. "We support all candidates who support reform." He noted, however, that his group had made it very clear to Samad that they would strongly oppose him if he pushed for the amendment of Article 2 of the Constitution to make Islamic Shari'a the sole source of legislation in Kuwait. ¶4. (C/NF) Another example of a reform-based political alliance is the Islamic Constitutional Movement's (ICM),the political arm of the Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood, support for candidates on opposite ends of Kuwait's political spectrum. ICM MP Dr. Nasser Al-Sane, who is running for re-election, spoke at the opening campaign rallies of both Ahmed Lari, an NIA candidate, and incumbent MP Ali Al-Rashid, an independent liberal formerly associated with the KDF. According to a source at Lari's opening, Al-Sane said "his organization" (ie. the ICM) would support Lari's candidacy in that district. Again, the central issue uniting these candidates is their support for political reform. The ICM is also cooperating with its traditional ally, the Salafi Movement, on which candidates to support to maximize Sunni Islamist representation in Parliament. ¶5. (C/NF) While the liberal-Islamist alliance is key to the success of the "orange movement," many of Kuwait's liberal elite are wary of getting too close to Islamist groups. Former MP and Head of Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager, women's activist and candidate Dr. Rola Dashti, and Kuwait University Political Scientist Dr. Nada Al-Mutawa expressed to NEA Assistant Secretary Welch their skepticism that Islamist groups were SIPDIS serious about reform. They were convinced Islamist groups aligned themselves with liberals and were using political reform and corruption as a means of building support and KUWAIT 00002271 002 OF 002 securing more seats in Parliament where they would then reveal their true colors. Resistance to Change -------------- ¶6. (C/NF) Alliances are also emerging between groups that fear losing their political power if reforms are implemented. Sayed Mohammed Baqer Al-Mohri, the leading Shi'a cleric in Kuwait and the Secretary General of the Shi'a Clerics Congregation (SCC),a conservative Shi'a political association, told Poloff his organization would support Jamal Al-Omar, a liberal, pro-Government Sunni MP who is running for re-election in a district with a large Shi'a population, in the upcoming elections. Al-Mohri explained that Al-Omar treated both Shi'a and Sunni constituents equally and went out of his way to help Shi'a air their grievances. Al-Mohri added that the Shia's main concern was that Salafis would be elected. "They are a major problem for us," he said. Al-Mohri explained that although he supported women's candidacy in principle, the SCC would not support Dr. Rola Dashti, a Shi'a running in the same district as Al-Omar, because she did not wear a veil. ¶7. (C/NF) Abdul Hussein Al-Sultan, the Secretary General of the National Societies Coalition (NSC),an umbrella organization grouping four separate Shi'a political associations -- the Islamic National Consensus Movement, the Justice and Peace Grouping, the Shi'a Clerics Congregation, and the National Charter Grouping -- told Poloff the NSC's priorities were (in order of importance): 1) increasing the number of NSC MPs; 2) increasing the number of Shi'a MPs; and 3) increasing the number of moderate MPs. Echoing Al-Mohri, Al-Sultan said the Shi'a were strongly opposed to Islamist candidates, and were cooperating with other political blocs to prevent them from being elected. The majority of the candidates supported by the NSC also oppose electoral reform, which they feel could reduce the number of Shi'a MPs. A Slow Evolution -------------- ¶8. (C/NF) Although new coalitions have emerged around the issue of reform, traditional political alliances still dominate Kuwait's political system. The primary political divide in Kuwait is between the well-educated, more sophisticated urban areas of Kuwait City and the primarily conservative, tribal "outlying" areas, like Jahra, Fahaheel, and Ahmadi. In the outlying areas, which represent roughly 12 of the 25 electoral constituencies, tribal alliances largely determine which candidates are elected. Tribal candidates tend to be either pro-Government or Islamist, though a number of independents have also been elected from these areas. In urban areas, the divide between liberals, Islamists, Shi'a, and pro-Government elements is more pronounced. As noted above, though, Kuwaitis' political affiliations can shift depending on the issue, and ideologically opposite groups can unite on an ad hoc basis in support of a shared political objective. ¶9. (C/NF) The result of these complex alliances is a nuanced political system still largely dependent on personal connections, whether through one's family, tribe, or religious association. Many contacts point out, however, that this is changing. The participation of women and the emergence of a grassroots pro-reform movement is having a profound impact on these elections and forcing candidates to address issues like education, gender equality, corruption, and political reform. If the new Parliament passes electoral reform legislation, this trend will become increasingly pronounced. ¶10. (SBU/NF) A brief overview of Kuwait's political associations is available on our classified website. ********************************************* * 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