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

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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.

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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
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Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
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