Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT2366
2006-06-18 18:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ELECTIONS, CENSORSHIP, REFORM AND
how-toVZCZCXRO2659 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK DE RUEHKU #2366 1691824 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 181824Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5246 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS KUWAIT 002366
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 KDEM PGOV KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ELECTIONS, CENSORSHIP, REFORM AND
FIGHTING CORRUPTION
Block Quotes
--------------
Sunday, June 18, 2006
-- Under the headline "Inexcusable Reaction," Dr. Shamlan Yousuf
Al-Issa, a Political Science Professor at Kuwait University and a
columnist in the pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah, opined:
"The accusation by the Minister of Information Mohammed Al-Sanousi
against four satellite TV channels is a regrettable move. Mr.
Al-Sanousi claims that these TV channels are spreading biased
opinions in an unprofessional manner in a way that could harm the
citizens of Kuwait and pose a threat to national security. It is a
shame to have this type of allegation come from a minister in the
government at a time when Kuwait is preparing to become an open
country politically, and commercially.... This move by the Minister
of Information is an indication that Kuwait would never be a media
center similar to Dubai."
-- Kuwaiti writer and political activist Dr. Mohammed Hussein
Al-Yousefi wrote an op-ed in Arabic pro-government daily Al-Seyassah
under the headline, "Al-Sistani and Kuwait's Elections." Dr.
Al-Yousefi said, "An election banner in one of the districts in
Kuwait carried a slogan taken from a fatwa by the great Imam
Ayatollah Sistani. The fatwa forbid the act of buying votes, and we
all know that fatwas are put to answer questions that people have.
Other fatwas in the past by Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Baz forbade
mixed-gender meetings. These are just examples of things that occupy
peoples' minds these days.... These days, everyone nowadays is
working diligently to gain votes in an unexpected electoral race and
racing the clock, especially the women. They were planning for
their campaigns next year, but the unexpected dissolution of the
Parliament placed women in an unfavorable situation. As the proverb
says, the wind sometimes blows against the wish of the ship's
captain."
-- Under the headline "Change It and Resign", the daily progressive
Arabic Al-Qabas ran a column by Dr. Abdullatif Al-Duaij, a columnist
and a member of the "We Want it Coalition" political group, in which
he said, "The call for action now must be to encourage the future
MP's to work towards defeating the forces of corruption, not to join
these forces. It is unacceptable to run an election according to
the wishes and orders of the corruptive forces. The decision to run
this election based on the old 25 districts was a victory for those
who favor corruption. The reformists want these electoral districts
to become five. Let us run this election with one aim in mind and
that is changing the number of electoral districts. Candidates and
voters must work together to foil the plan of the corruptive group.
The National Assembly election in 2007 will be based on five
districts."
********************************************* *
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 KDEM PGOV KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ELECTIONS, CENSORSHIP, REFORM AND
FIGHTING CORRUPTION
Block Quotes
--------------
Sunday, June 18, 2006
-- Under the headline "Inexcusable Reaction," Dr. Shamlan Yousuf
Al-Issa, a Political Science Professor at Kuwait University and a
columnist in the pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah, opined:
"The accusation by the Minister of Information Mohammed Al-Sanousi
against four satellite TV channels is a regrettable move. Mr.
Al-Sanousi claims that these TV channels are spreading biased
opinions in an unprofessional manner in a way that could harm the
citizens of Kuwait and pose a threat to national security. It is a
shame to have this type of allegation come from a minister in the
government at a time when Kuwait is preparing to become an open
country politically, and commercially.... This move by the Minister
of Information is an indication that Kuwait would never be a media
center similar to Dubai."
-- Kuwaiti writer and political activist Dr. Mohammed Hussein
Al-Yousefi wrote an op-ed in Arabic pro-government daily Al-Seyassah
under the headline, "Al-Sistani and Kuwait's Elections." Dr.
Al-Yousefi said, "An election banner in one of the districts in
Kuwait carried a slogan taken from a fatwa by the great Imam
Ayatollah Sistani. The fatwa forbid the act of buying votes, and we
all know that fatwas are put to answer questions that people have.
Other fatwas in the past by Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Baz forbade
mixed-gender meetings. These are just examples of things that occupy
peoples' minds these days.... These days, everyone nowadays is
working diligently to gain votes in an unexpected electoral race and
racing the clock, especially the women. They were planning for
their campaigns next year, but the unexpected dissolution of the
Parliament placed women in an unfavorable situation. As the proverb
says, the wind sometimes blows against the wish of the ship's
captain."
-- Under the headline "Change It and Resign", the daily progressive
Arabic Al-Qabas ran a column by Dr. Abdullatif Al-Duaij, a columnist
and a member of the "We Want it Coalition" political group, in which
he said, "The call for action now must be to encourage the future
MP's to work towards defeating the forces of corruption, not to join
these forces. It is unacceptable to run an election according to
the wishes and orders of the corruptive forces. The decision to run
this election based on the old 25 districts was a victory for those
who favor corruption. The reformists want these electoral districts
to become five. Let us run this election with one aim in mind and
that is changing the number of electoral districts. Candidates and
voters must work together to foil the plan of the corruptive group.
The National Assembly election in 2007 will be based on five
districts."
********************************************* *
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