KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ELECTIONS: CORRUPTION; SUPPORT FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002561

SIPDIS

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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
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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
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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



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