Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT2855
2006-07-16 13:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
TFLE01: 200 PROTEST OUTSIDE OF EMBASSY IN SUPPORT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKU #2855 1971303 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161303Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5790 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002855
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP, TFLE01, AND DS FOR DS/ITA, DS/CC, DS/IP/NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2016
TAGS: PREL ASEC PHUM KU
SUBJECT: TFLE01: 200 PROTEST OUTSIDE OF EMBASSY IN SUPPORT
OF NASRALLAH
Classified By: CDA Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002855
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP, TFLE01, AND DS FOR DS/ITA, DS/CC, DS/IP/NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2016
TAGS: PREL ASEC PHUM KU
SUBJECT: TFLE01: 200 PROTEST OUTSIDE OF EMBASSY IN SUPPORT
OF NASRALLAH
Classified By: CDA Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (U) The General Union of Students and Trainees of the
Public Authority for Applied Education and Training organized
a July 15 demonstration in front of the embassy to protest
the U.S. veto of the Qatar-proposed UNSC resolution
condemning Israeli military actions in Gaza. Billed as a
peaceful sit-in and advertised in local Arabic papers, the
6:00 PM (local) protest attracted a co-ed crowd of 200 who
carried pictures of Hassan Nasrallah, chanted pro-Hizballah
slogans and "Death to Israel," and burned the American flag.
In addition to the student protesters were some elected
officials including Municipal Council member Dr. Fadhel Safar
who used the protest to denounce the continued detention of
Kuwaiti citizens at Guantanamo and to criticize renditions.
While the demonstration received front page coverage in the
English press, most of the Arabic papers carried a teaser
photo on the front page with more detailed reporting in other
sections.
2. (U) The Ministry of Interior (MOI) responded swiftly to
the call for the protest and worked closely with post on
arrangements to secure the embassy and allow the protest to
proceed.
3. (C/NF) Comment: Public protests in Kuwait are still
somewhat of a novelty and this demonstration, while well
organized and largely peaceful, was unique due to the
pro-Hizballah rhetoric and burning of American flags. The
protest, combined with recent pro-Hizballah statements by
Iran-leaning MPs Ahmad Lari (who was Safar's campaign
manager) and Adnan Abdul Samad, are indicative of Iranian
efforts to exert greater influence on Kuwait's minority Shi'a
population. Indeed, the timely and substantial MOI response
was as much an effort to monitor Shi'a groups and Iran
sympathizers as to protect USG facilities which in this case,
were not in danger.
********************************************* *
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
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP, TFLE01, AND DS FOR DS/ITA, DS/CC, DS/IP/NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2016
TAGS: PREL ASEC PHUM KU
SUBJECT: TFLE01: 200 PROTEST OUTSIDE OF EMBASSY IN SUPPORT
OF NASRALLAH
Classified By: CDA Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (U) The General Union of Students and Trainees of the
Public Authority for Applied Education and Training organized
a July 15 demonstration in front of the embassy to protest
the U.S. veto of the Qatar-proposed UNSC resolution
condemning Israeli military actions in Gaza. Billed as a
peaceful sit-in and advertised in local Arabic papers, the
6:00 PM (local) protest attracted a co-ed crowd of 200 who
carried pictures of Hassan Nasrallah, chanted pro-Hizballah
slogans and "Death to Israel," and burned the American flag.
In addition to the student protesters were some elected
officials including Municipal Council member Dr. Fadhel Safar
who used the protest to denounce the continued detention of
Kuwaiti citizens at Guantanamo and to criticize renditions.
While the demonstration received front page coverage in the
English press, most of the Arabic papers carried a teaser
photo on the front page with more detailed reporting in other
sections.
2. (U) The Ministry of Interior (MOI) responded swiftly to
the call for the protest and worked closely with post on
arrangements to secure the embassy and allow the protest to
proceed.
3. (C/NF) Comment: Public protests in Kuwait are still
somewhat of a novelty and this demonstration, while well
organized and largely peaceful, was unique due to the
pro-Hizballah rhetoric and burning of American flags. The
protest, combined with recent pro-Hizballah statements by
Iran-leaning MPs Ahmad Lari (who was Safar's campaign
manager) and Adnan Abdul Samad, are indicative of Iranian
efforts to exert greater influence on Kuwait's minority Shi'a
population. Indeed, the timely and substantial MOI response
was as much an effort to monitor Shi'a groups and Iran
sympathizers as to protect USG facilities which in this case,
were not in danger.
********************************************* *
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