KUWAIT SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: RATIFICATION OF NEW PRESS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000786

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SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA,
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TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PREL KDEM PGOV KU

SUBJECT: KUWAIT SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: RATIFICATION OF NEW PRESS
LAW

REF: KUWAIT 768

Selected Headlines
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1. Tuesday, 7 March 2006

-- Al-Rai Al-Aam front page "Press and Publications Law, the first
sign of reform"; "Press and Publications Law was unanimously
ratified after superficial amendments"; "Most prominent amendments
tackled prohibition of encroachment on the Lord, prophets or
companions"; "Information Minister: Law turns Kuwait into a
model--we hope the effect of the law will characterize official
media with transparency, presentation of varied opinions, and more
use of technology"; "Two 'Reshaids' for a rational and responsible
media"

-- Al-Rai Al-Aam p. 14 "Reform has begun"

-- Al-Rai Al-Aam p. 16 "National Assembly unanimously ratified and
referred to government Press and Publications Law"; "Al-Reshaid: Law
will move Kuwait into a new phase of professionalism"

-- Al-Rai Al-Aam p. 17 "Press and Publications Law applauded"

-- Al-Rai Al-Aam p. 18 "Faisal Al-Malek: Law affirms keenness for
democracy"

-- Al-Watan front page "Independents changed their position
Adding 'Prophet's Lineage' opens door for 'sedition and
sectarianism'"; "National Assembly ratifies Press and Publications
Law in one hour"

-- Al-Watan, p. 19 "Adding infringement on Prophet's Lineage within
the issues punishable by law"

-- Al-Watan, p. 20 "Text of Press and Publications Law as ratified
by National Assembly"

-- Al-Watan, p. 21 "Amendments by Independent MPs that were rejected
by the National Assembly"

-- Al-Seyassah front page "Despite harsh penalties restricting
freedom of press work, law was unanimously ratified"

-- Al-Seyassah p. 8 "Al-Reshaid: Law is a historic breakthrough for
Kuwait"

-- Al-Qabas front page "Information Minister: Support for freedoms
and revival of Kuwaiti pioneering role"; "National Assembly bypassed
attempt to obstruct law's ratification"

-- Al-Qabas p. 6 "National Assembly unanimously ratifies law in both
readings"

-- Al-Qabas p. 10 "Reactions to ratification of Press and
Publications Law"

-- Al-Anbaa front page "Law was ratified in 40 minutes"; "Adding
Prophet Mohammed's Lineage and clarification of meaning in the
explanatory memorandum"

Block Quotes
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2. Tuesday, 7 March 2006

-- Al-Qabas staff wrote on the front page of the progressive
Arabic-language daily under the title "An Achievement for all":
"Kuwait finally has a new press law on which it should be
congratulated. With the new law Kuwait maintains its leadership in
the world of freedom of the press and freedom in general. On a
regional level, freedom of the press is the launch pad for the all
freedoms and its guarantees. It is a constant popular watchdog over
the governments. It is an achievement for the entire nation; a new
era. It is a clear sign that reform should be the real priority.
Here we are today reiterating that the freedom of the press is the
safety valve for any political system and the guarantor of all
constitutional and legal guarantees. Because it is an influential
tool for civil society and no nation is strong without a strong
press, our example to follow is the advanced countries."

-- Al-Anbaa staff wrote on the front page of the moderate

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Arabic-language daily under the title "When opinion is arrested":
"Freedom of the press will pay dearly with the ratification of press
law which was done without discussion and very quickly and with
unanimous agreement by the government and Members of Parliament.
'What is the use of printing new newspapers and continuing the
current ones with no real freedom?' This is what the lawyers'
syndicate, a neutral entity, said when it pointed out that certain
aspects of the press law conflict with the constitution. What
happened was an arrest of the freedom guaranteed by the
constitution. What we see today is a fatal blow to the freedom of
opinion and the freedom of the press which takes us back to the
period before the 20th century."

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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/

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LEBARON