KUWAIT MEDIA COVERAGE OF STUDENT DEMONSTRATION AT U.S.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002884 SIPDIS 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 LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO KDEM XF KU MEDIA REACTION SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA COVERAGE OF STUDENT DEMONSTRATION AT U.S. EMBASSY REF: KUWAIT 2855 ¶1. Summary and comment: The Kuwaiti press devoted significant space to coverage of a student-organized demonstration in front of the U.S. Embassy on July 15. The rally, called to protest the American veto of the U.N. Security Council resolution on Gaza, was a "photo opportunity" of which the press took advantage. Multiple front-page images of American flag burnings, crowds of protesters, and anti-U.S./Israeli pro-Hezbollah signs carried by demonstrators appeared in the July 16 editions. Coverage devoted to the story ranged from a full-page to a quarter-page with headlines such as "Kuwaitis protest outside U.S. Embassy" and "Hezbollah Supporters in Kuwait Torch Old Glory." While the papers exploited the provocative images generated by the protest, text coverage of the story was generally balanced. Two papers printed text of information provided by Embassy Public Affairs stating the U.S. position on the Qatari-sponsored U.N. resolution. End summary and comment. ¶2. The July 15 student protest held in front of the U.S. Embassy (reftel) was reported in all the Arabic and English dailies on July ¶16. Coverage ranged from a full page in "Al-Watan" to a quarter-page in "Al-Anbaa." Except for the "Kuwait Times," main stories appeared on the inside pages, though most papers ran a front-page photographs and teaser. A definite "photo opportunity," pictures -- many in color -- of the crowd of protesters, burning or torn American flags and signs with slogans were the dominant images displayed. An overview of coverage from the most to the least extensive follows. a. "Al-Watan" (circ. 65,000) dedicated the most space of all the Kuwaiti newspapers to coverage of the protest. The front page carried a teaser with four color photos (protesters tearing an American flag) and samples of the slogans carried on signs ("Down USA", "Stop Attacking Civilians"). All of page 12 was dedicated to the story and included 5 pictures, text and more samples of slogans. Headline "In demonstration sponsored by the Applied Education Students Union before the American Embassy to protest the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon. Stop the aggression and using double standards." b. "Al-Rai Al-Aam" ran a front-page teaser with photo (burning flag),and slightly more than half-page on page 15. Seven photos (crowds, signs, flag-burning) were printed under the headline, "Show of solidarity with Lebanon and Palestine. Demanding that American Ambassador leave while burning his flag and the Israeli flag." The story reported that the hundreds of citizens and expatriate protestors demanded (among other things) that the GOK close the American Embassy. As a side bar, the paper also published verbatim the text of the information provided by the Embassy explaining the U.S. position on the Qatari-sponsored UNSC resolution. c. "Al-Sayasseh" had a front-page teaser (protesters with signs) with slightly more than half page of text and four photos on page 9. Headline: "Kuwaiti demonstrators burn the American flag in protest against use of veto to protect Israel." d. "Al-Qabas" printed on page seven a story with two photos (burning American and Israeli flags). Headline: "Student Forces Grouping: A stand against Israeli barbarism is required." e. "Al-Anbaa" devoted a quarter of page 6 to text and three photos of crowds and signs. Headline: "Union of Applied Students organizes a protest in front of the American Embassy: 'Strikes in Lebanon are a violation of every Arab and Muslim." f. The English-language "Kuwait Times" ran the story on its front page with a photo of a torn American flag. The headline read, "Hezbollah supporters in Kuwait torch Old Glory." The story continued on page 31 on a quarter page that included one photo of protesters with signs and text. The piece included Embassy-provided information on the U.S position regarding the Qatari-sponsored UNSC resolution. The other English-language daily "Arab Times" printed a front-page photo (torn American flag) with a quarter-page of text and two photos (protestors) on page 2. Coverage was short and reported on both the Embassy protest as well as a gathering earlier in the day in front of the Parliament building. Headline: "Kuwaitis protest outside U.S. Embassy." ¶3. Comment: While the papers exploited the provocative images of burning American flags, stories on the protest were generally balanced. Two papers printed text of information provided by Embassy Public Affairs stating the U.S. position on the Qatari-sponsored U.N. resolution. No opinion pieces on the event appeared in either KUWAIT 00002884 002 OF 002 the July 16 or July 17 editions. The press coverage reflected the conflicting sentiment expressed by several Kuwaitis to EmbOff -- that of support for the U.S. coupled with frustration over the U.S. position on events in Lebanon and Gaza. A senior editor told EmbOff of a sense of "sadness" on the part of Kuwaitis -- journalists and the public alike -- over the perceived lack of effort by the U.S. to influence Israel to stop the military campaign in Lebanon. ********************************************* * 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