Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT2532
2006-06-26 14:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ELECTIONS: WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT;
how-toVZCZCXRO0672 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK DE RUEHKU #2532 1771458 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 261458Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5438 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS KUWAIT 002532
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 MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ELECTIONS: WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT;
ISLAMIST POSITION; TRUE DEMOCRACY
Block Quotes
--------------
Monday, June 26, 2006
-- Conservative Arabic daily Al-Watan published an article by Aysha
Al-Noury with the headline, "A Parliament with a Feminine Flavor"
where she stated, "Political participation of women today carries
with it great ambiguity about the percentage of women's contribution
and for whom will women vote. However, Kuwaiti women are capable of
making the right choice, and voting for the qualified candidate who
would make their voices heard in Parliament. Even if women do not
win seats as MPs, their vote and their political participation will
definitely make a difference, and instigate a momentum of change in
its composition."
-- Under the headline, "Yes...We Were and Still Are Opposed to Women
Running for Office," Ahmed M. Al-Fahad asserted in conservative
Arabic daily Al-Watan, "Whether or not dinosaurs [former liberal
MPs] at the democratic podium were convinced of the role of Kuwaiti
women, whether they withdrew from the race to give their wives a
better chance in the race, supporters and candidates of the Islamist
group must answer the question 'Are women allowed to run for
office?' Islamists are, with God's grace, in harmony with each other
and with their decision. They were and continue to be opposed to
women assuming political leadership positions for these reasons:
first, because the experience of Kuwaiti women has not reached the
required maturity level, and second, assuming a seat at the National
Assembly means giving women general sovereignty rights. In this case
women would participate in the decision-making process on declaring
wars, or even calling for the removal of the Amir from power.
Islamists are against this, but still are running in the election.
In a similar fashion, the liberals disagree with running the
election based on the current distribution of electoral districts,
yet they still run in the election, too."
--In his daily column in the pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah
titled, "Democracy Is Not Just Elections," professor of Political
Science at Kuwait University Dr. Ahmed Baghdadi clarified, "He errs
who thinks that democratic systems are found by just setting up
ballot boxes every four years. He also would be wrong to think that
majority voting in the Parliament means achieving true democracy.
These are a few requirements for a democracy, which have been
outdated. In other words, we should not pride ourselves by having
these requirements, and assume that we have a democratic system. Let
us not forget that Kuwait is not a democratic country. Rather it is
a state that was based on a democratic governing system, and there
is a big difference between the two concepts. In a democratic state,
the people chose and elect their ruler to govern for a set period of
time. A democratic state guarantees the rights of its citizens
according to clear and fixed standards."
********************************************* *
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 MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ELECTIONS: WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT;
ISLAMIST POSITION; TRUE DEMOCRACY
Block Quotes
--------------
Monday, June 26, 2006
-- Conservative Arabic daily Al-Watan published an article by Aysha
Al-Noury with the headline, "A Parliament with a Feminine Flavor"
where she stated, "Political participation of women today carries
with it great ambiguity about the percentage of women's contribution
and for whom will women vote. However, Kuwaiti women are capable of
making the right choice, and voting for the qualified candidate who
would make their voices heard in Parliament. Even if women do not
win seats as MPs, their vote and their political participation will
definitely make a difference, and instigate a momentum of change in
its composition."
-- Under the headline, "Yes...We Were and Still Are Opposed to Women
Running for Office," Ahmed M. Al-Fahad asserted in conservative
Arabic daily Al-Watan, "Whether or not dinosaurs [former liberal
MPs] at the democratic podium were convinced of the role of Kuwaiti
women, whether they withdrew from the race to give their wives a
better chance in the race, supporters and candidates of the Islamist
group must answer the question 'Are women allowed to run for
office?' Islamists are, with God's grace, in harmony with each other
and with their decision. They were and continue to be opposed to
women assuming political leadership positions for these reasons:
first, because the experience of Kuwaiti women has not reached the
required maturity level, and second, assuming a seat at the National
Assembly means giving women general sovereignty rights. In this case
women would participate in the decision-making process on declaring
wars, or even calling for the removal of the Amir from power.
Islamists are against this, but still are running in the election.
In a similar fashion, the liberals disagree with running the
election based on the current distribution of electoral districts,
yet they still run in the election, too."
--In his daily column in the pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah
titled, "Democracy Is Not Just Elections," professor of Political
Science at Kuwait University Dr. Ahmed Baghdadi clarified, "He errs
who thinks that democratic systems are found by just setting up
ballot boxes every four years. He also would be wrong to think that
majority voting in the Parliament means achieving true democracy.
These are a few requirements for a democracy, which have been
outdated. In other words, we should not pride ourselves by having
these requirements, and assume that we have a democratic system. Let
us not forget that Kuwait is not a democratic country. Rather it is
a state that was based on a democratic governing system, and there
is a big difference between the two concepts. In a democratic state,
the people chose and elect their ruler to govern for a set period of
time. A democratic state guarantees the rights of its citizens
according to clear and fixed standards."
********************************************* *
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