KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ELECTIONS: CORRUPTION; SUPPORT FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002561 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: CORRUPTION; SUPPORT FOR WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE; REFORM; ISLAMIST POSITION Block Quotes -------------- Tuesday, June 27, 2006 -- Walid Abdullah Ghanim commented in the progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas under the title "Priority Kuwait" (6/27): "The fight against corruption will not simply end as it may change shape and axes. The participants may change but it will definitely not stop. The struggle between good and evil will continue as long as there are people. What we are witnessing today in Kuwait is a genuine nationalist fever lead by the youths who love Kuwait. They deserve to be supported and to have the sources of corruption revealed in order to reform the current situation and deny the corrupt access to decision making. This is not a job for a particular class, it is the duty of all those living on this land who love it and its people." -- Dr. Balqis Al-Najjar editorialized in the progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas under the title "Let Us Make Tomorrow's Kuwait" (6/27): "We should not refrain from practicing our right and vote on the 29th of this month. We need to decide with our minds and our consciences on who should represent us in the National Assembly.... We must remember that one vote can be the reason for the success or failure of a candidate. Let us demonstrate that Kuwaiti women's votes are free and independent owing its allegiance only to the nation. In the end, I want to remind my voting sisters that we must not forget the MPs's previous positions. Those who were against women's suffrage should not receive any of our votes. Those who voted for women's suffrage, the time has come to give them our votes." -- Dr. Sajid Al-Abdali penned in the moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under the title "Flammable Substance" (6/27): "The discussion of amending the second chapter of the constitution and making shari'a the 'main source of legislation' aims to mix matters, complicate the political agenda, and break up the unity of the former MPs who 'want it five.' The idea of amending the second chapter and what it represents of a great aspiration for the Islamists is an idea on which no Islamist candidate dares hesitate. This is the result of the extended programming of the political street for this move represents the shift from apostasy to believing and that it the only way to reform." -- Amna Al-Musawi inquired in the moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under the title "For Whom Do We Vote?" (6/27): "Some have asked me who to vote for and I find this to be strange. It reminds me of the student who wanted to cheat on his exam in order to receive a degree that will benefit his professional future. The only excuse for such a question is that the electoral buzz has become so loud and fast-paced that it may confuse those who lack a clear background on many facts." -- Dr. Jassim Al-Fahid stated in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under the title "The Biggest Loser" (6/27): "If you ask about the biggest loser in this electoral battle, which reminds us of Arabs in their dark ages, you would be told to wait until the votes are counted and the results announced. Only then will your question be answered. If you ask me, I would say there is no need to wait for the results as it is already known. The biggest loser in this battle is honesty. Honesty in words and honesty in actions because the promises the candidates are spreading around knowing that these promises will never be realized are the clearest evidence of our words." -- Khalil Ali Haydar noted in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan under the title "Women and Thursday's Battle" (6/27): "Women's voice should be strong and historical in these elections. Women's votes should go to qualified and able women and to qualified men who have supported women's issues in the past. We must all, men and women, go to the polling stations on June 29 and vote for the women who are fighting this battle for the very first time in the history of the nation. Women's success or collecting a large percentage of votes is a political must." -- Khalid Abdul Aziz Al-Saad observed in pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah under the title "So the Drums will not be louder than the Truth" (6/27): "Why lie and deceive ourselves? Our democracy has many faults. It is plagued by terminal diseases and is deformed by practices that are far from democratic.... Our hopes rest with the youth, men and women who recognize their role and know what kind of catastrophe may befall the country should the symbols of corruption continue.... Our hopes grow when we hear the voices of those who are aware of their surroundings. Theirs is the overwhelming voice." KUWAIT 00002561 002 OF 002 ********************************************* * 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