ELECTION COUNTDOWN: KUWAIT MEDIA ELECTION COVERAGE JUNE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 002442 SIPDIS SENSITIVE 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 KMPI KU FREEDOM AGENDA SUBJECT: ELECTION COUNTDOWN: KUWAIT MEDIA ELECTION COVERAGE JUNE 15-21: GOVERNMENT MINISTER ACCUSED OF CENSORHSIP REF: KUWAIT 2300 ¶1. (U) Summary and comment: Government censorship and the fight against corruption stole the headlines as media coverage of the June 29 elections hits its stride. The Information Minister was the object of sharp criticism in the press from candidates and among the public over his role in blocking the airing of private satellite channels covering elections. This was a rare instance of the Kuwait media investigating an issue, reporting on it and galvanizing public opinion. The Minister denied the charges, but the media continues to align against him. Some press leaders say they will not support the Minister's inclusion in the new post-election government. Candidates too are jumping on the bandwagon condemning Government interference with press freedom. Of the election issues that the media has focused on most -- women, redistricting and corruption -- the fight against corruption pulled away from the pack as the leading issue in the media this week. Public radio debuted a new election program, and MEPI completed a two-day seminar that helped 25 Kuwaiti reporters improve their ability to report on elections. End summary and comment. Information Minister Accused of Censorship -------------- ¶2. (U) Information Minister Mohammad Al-Sanousi was the object of sharp criticism this week in the media over his role in blocking the transmission of new satellite channels dedicated to election coverage in Kuwait. The progressive Arabic-language daily Al-Qabas on June 15 printed scanned copies of letters signed by the Minister and addressed to the owners of Nilesat and Arabsat, two independent satellite operators located in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, respectively. The letters, too small to read with the naked eye, allege to request on the part of the Minister that the companies stop transmitting the channels. The "We Want It Alliance" satellite program, dedicated to reformist views, was effectively blocked by Arabsat last week (reftel). However, it made its debut on June 12 when it purchased airtime on Hot Bird satellite channel, which is transmitted from Germany. It has since been airing footage of ;campaign speeches and diwaniyas of liberal candidates. Reformers Vilify the Minister -------------- ¶3. (U) A groundswell of opposition grew against the Minister's actions culminating in a sit-in protest on June 14 at the headquarters of the liberal National Democratic Alliance (NDA). NDA backs the "We Want It Alliance" satellite channel. Some 200 of its supporters took part in the sit-in and heard remarks from reformist candidates who condemned the jamming of satellite stations. Former MP Ahmed Al-Saadoun accused "corrupt people" of transforming Kuwait into a police state. He went on to accuse the Minister of Information of not supporting democracy by working against the NDA. "This will be the end of Al-Sanousi," he remarked. Also speaking at the sit-in was former MP and current candidate Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager who questioned what kind of "danger" the Minister feared from the broadcast of the election satellite channels. "Preventing citizens from voicing their opinions through our local channels will pose more security risks," he said. Minister Fights Back on Public TV -------------- ¶4. (U) The Minister struck back against the criticism in a June 18 interview broadcast on the public TV station KTV1. In the prerecorded talk, a defensive Al-Sanousi affirmed Kuwait's support for media freedom, but insisted that the decision to ban the "We Want It Alliance" channel was made by the satellite operator Arabsat and not the Ministry. However, he acknowledged "contacts" between the Ministry and Arabsat that showed that the channel failed to meet conditions for broadcast set by Arabsat itself. Al-Sanousi noted that the owners of the channel were not even Kuwaiti, but Palestinian and Jordanian. He then stressed that media outlets must operate within regulations and cannot go "out of the ordinary." To do otherwise, he said, threatens the national interest and the stability of Kuwait for the sake of "sensationalism." (Note: legal experts point out that there are no current regulations on the books for the operation of satellite channels.) Press Not Backing Down -------------- ¶5. (U) Embassy contacts in the print media readily dismissed the Minister's claims. A long-standing reporter who contributed to the Al-Qabas story believes that Al-Sanousi is trying to impress the Government by attempting to be seen as in control of the new KUWAIT 00002442 002 OF 003 channels, some of which broadcast reformist and liberal positions. A leader of the Kuwait Journalists Association said that there is growing consensus among some editors-in-chief on insisting that Al-Sanousi not be part of any new Government formed after the June 29 elections. Members of the media privately comment that the Government fears the unregulated nature of satellite transmissions, which can broadcast any content at any time. Press Coverage Galvanizes Candidates and the Public -------------- -------------- ¶6. (U) Criticism of the Minister's actions spilled over this week into the campaign tents, the opinion columns and the Internet. Candidate Saleh Ashour denounced the Minister's actions, referring to him as a "dictator" whose "eighteenth-century mentality" in stopping satellite transmissions is a disgrace. He went on to warn the Minister that he will be held accountable. The press ran several opinion pieces that were critical of the Minister. Even a sympathetic commentator writing in Al-Watan suggested that the Minister might have "rushed" into taking the decision to block the channels. Blogs were full of criticism as well. A cartoon posted on the site summed up the angry sentiment expressed by the general public. It depicted a family seated on a couch in front of their TV set. They react with puzzlement to the black TV screen that reads "no signal." Standing behind the set and cutting the cable with a scissor is a depiction a sinister-looking Al-Sanousi. ¶7. (SBU) Comment: In office less than two months, the new Minister of Information has surprised many of his colleagues in the media who initially held him in high esteem. Many now point to his inconsistency on press freedoms -- streamlining the public media and encouraging private broadcasting entities while at the same time blocking satellite channels. Ill will is building against him, particularly in the print media. It is likely that several leaders of that sector will work to thwart his inclusion in the new post-election Government. ¶8. (U) The print media's lead in investigating, reporting and commenting on the Minister's actions is a rare example of in-depth reporting on the part of the Kuwait media. Certainly the issue, press freedom, is close to its interests and spurred the story. Even rarer are similar pieces on issues closer to the interests of the average Kuwaiti. Nonetheless, the example demonstrates that under the right circumstances, the Kuwait media has the capacity to expose issues and galvanize public opinion. End comment. Media Focuses on Corruption -------------- ¶9. (U) Of the three election issues that the media has focused on the most -- women, redistricting and corruption -- the fight against corruption pulled away from the pack as the as the leading topic of election coverage. "Corruption Forces in 'Do or Die' War," on the front page of the June 17 Kuwait Times (English language) daily, and "Elections Transparency Committee: Al-Melaifi Will Present Evidence on Vote-Buying and Electoral Violations," page. 8 of Al-Rai-Al-Aam, June 19, demonstrate the focus. On inside election pages, all the Arab-language dailies reported heavily on candidate's pronouncements on corruption and the fight against it. The print media followed closely those candidates who signed financial accountability pledges for themselves and who announced support for a law that would require MPs to disclose the sources of their income. The effort is receiving support from a grassroots group "Youth Against Corruption," who posted information on the campaign on its blogspot at . Other local issues, including a water shortage, education reform and debt relief to Kuwaitis received increased coverage. Public Radio -------------- ¶10. (U) Kuwait public radio began on June 20 airing a one-hour election program entitled "The Nation 2006." The program features no candidates, presenting instead interviews with commentators and other leaders. The producer of the show stressed to Emboff that, in keeping with the Minister of Information's instructions that public media be neutral in its election reporting, "controversial subjects" will be avoided. Press Polls Voter Turnout -------------- ¶11. (U) Al-Qabas Arabic-language daily printed the results of its public opinion poll on voter turnout, which surveyed 1,000 people. KUWAIT 00002442 003 OF 003 Eighty percent said they will take part in elections, 13 percent are undecided, and 7 percent will not take part. Seventy-nine percent of women said they intend to vote as do 85 percent of youth. Reporters Express Challenges of Covering Elections -------------- -------------- ¶12. (U) The University of Missouri, under a Post-approved MEPI small grant, concluded on June 20 a two-day seminar to improve the skills of Kuwaiti journalists covering elections. Coordinated by the Kuwait Journalists Association (KJA) in conjunction with Embassy Public Affairs, it was attended by 25 reporters from all of the Arabic- and English-language dailies as well as the public news service KUNA. The seminar focused on identifying obstacles faced by journalists in elections. Reporters cited the bias of their employers, their own personal biases and gaining access to reliable information. Also addressed were how to deal with rumors, how to interview candidates and planning for election day. The participants told Emboff how useful the seminar was and how it renewed their inspiration. The participants were active in asking questions, volunteering to lead small-group discussion and crafting a code of ethics for election coverage that the group plans to present to the KJA. ********************************************* * 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