Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUDHABI289
2008-03-05 06:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

DAS KENT PATTON DISCUSSES DEMOCRATIC REFORM IN UAE

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM KMPI KPAO ELAB AE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5448
OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #0289/01 0650609
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 050609Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0511
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0297
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 7614
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ABU DHABI 000289 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ARP, NEA/PI, NEA/PPD
ALSO FOR R, S/P, DRL, AND ECA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM KMPI KPAO ELAB AE
SUBJECT: DAS KENT PATTON DISCUSSES DEMOCRATIC REFORM IN UAE

REF: ABU DHABI 273 (FNC Development)

ABU DHABI 00000289 001.2 OF 004


Classified by Charge d'Affaires Martin Quinn, reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ABU DHABI 000289

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ARP, NEA/PI, NEA/PPD
ALSO FOR R, S/P, DRL, AND ECA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM KMPI KPAO ELAB AE
SUBJECT: DAS KENT PATTON DISCUSSES DEMOCRATIC REFORM IN UAE

REF: ABU DHABI 273 (FNC Development)

ABU DHABI 00000289 001.2 OF 004


Classified by Charge d'Affaires Martin Quinn, reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) Summary: On a February 24-25 visit to Abu Dhabi and
Dubai, DAS Kent Patton spoke with government leaders and
civil society figures about expanding political space in the
UAE. With MFA he focused on fall 2008 plans for Forum for
the Future meetings in Abu Dhabi, stressing the importance
the USG places on robust engagement with civil society at
that event and encouraging the UAEG to take a next step on
its democratic reform path ahead of hosting the Forum.
Patton heard a defense of UAE press freedoms from the
Director General of the National Media Council, and an
explanation of the need for more power for the Federal
National Council (FNC) )- but in slow, measured steps )-
from the Speaker of the Federal National Council. In their
meetings with DAS Patton, FNC members, academics, and
activists discussed a broad range of ideas for advancing
democracy in the UAE, but were uniform in their desire to see
more progress. They reminded DAS Patton that while wealth
and social liberty diminishes demand for change, that does
not mean all Emiratis are content with the current level of
political participation. End Summary.

Tariq Al Haidan: MFA lead on FfF
--------------


2. (C) Patton thanked the UAEG for agreeing to co-chair with
Japan the next Forum for the Future (FfF) ministerial to be
held in Abu Dhabi this fall (dates uncertain, but some time
after Ramadan ends in early October). He noted the planned
March 5 visit to Abu Dhabi of the Japanese coordinator, Mr.
Shin Sugiyama, and reminded al-Haidan that FfF is a top USG
priority; President Bush was disappointed that last year's
meeting in Sana'a did not materialize and that civil society

was not able to present its ideas. Patton stated that the
USG would carefully follow developments of the Abu Dhabi
forum, and that Secretary Rice hoped Japan and UAE would pick
a date soon.


3. (C) In keeping with past practice, Patton recommended one
organizing meeting in Japan followed by two formal
sub-ministerial meetings in the UAE. MFA Asst U/S Tariq
al-Haidan suggested meetings in May and September and said
the UAEG would contact Yemen to "learn from their
experiences" with FfF. For the actual event, Patton
suggested a dinner the first evening to break the ice and a
breakfast the next morning to kick off a full and substantive
day (involving possibly 25 ministers and 200 delegates).
Al-Haidan said he was still selecting an organizing committee
and would identify a UAE point person.


4. (C) Patton promised to share a list of 56 civil society
representatives invited to the Sana'a Forum (the list was
subsequently passed to al-Haidan),noting that Japan had
asked the USG to interface between civil society and the G-8.
Al-Haidan was concerned about the way civil society
"interfered" with FfF in Bahrain by "speaking harshly" and
singling out individual governments for criticism. "We want
them to speak in general(ities) since they are guests in our
country." He added that "we will not stop them" but guests
need to "cooperate with governments and not go too far."
Patton said civil society had matured since the Bahrain
meeting and that the US preferred productive dialogue over
finger-pointing. Patton did stress that as host of the forum
the UAE would draw attention to its own democratic progress,
and suggested that having a next democratic reform step to
herald would be in the UAE's interest. He cited expanding
press freedoms or increasing the number of elected
representatives to the Federal National Council (FNC),or
introducing Municipal Council elections, as apparent
opportunities. Al-Haidan thanked him for the advice, and
said the UAEG would examine what next step it might be in a
position to consider.

Ibrahim al-Abed: Press gate-keeper
--------------


5. (C) Commenting on the UAE press, Director General of the
National Media Council Ibrahim al-Abed said: "We do not need
reform because we have nothing wrong with our system." Press
freedoms are in place and the UAE has no journalists in jail,
he insisted, citing also an elected press association with a
code of ethics as a good indicator. (Note: Al-Abed did not
acknowledge the MEPI role in facilitating the code of ethics,

ABU DHABI 00000289 002.2 OF 004


although he took the result as one sign of a healthy press.
End note.) He commended journalists who do not violate
personal liberties or agitate on sensitive issues of
religion, race, or domestic violence. He also preferred to
isolate children, terrorism, religious factionalism, and
national leaders from critical treatment. That said, he
claimed the Arabic press is filled with criticism of the
government, citing poor ambulance service, improper use of
the Arabic language, and women's rights as recent targets of
editorial criticism. (He said local culture permitted
criticism if it did not impugn an official personally.) He
said Sheikha Lubna's recent shift in portfolios (from
Ministry of Economy to Ministry of Foreign Trade) was
partially due to media criticism of her.


6. (C) His initial assertion that there is "no censorship"
in the UAE notwithstanding, al-Abed noted that the Media
Council recently came to the aid of a jailed blogger in Ras
Al-Khaimah, and raised PM Mohammed Bin Rashid's decree that
journalists would no longer be jailed following the arrest of
another journalist in Dubai. Al-Abed also asserted the need
to differentiate between theory and political reality when it
comes to press freedom, citing as an example the UAEG's
acting on complaints from Pakistani President Pervez Musharef
to close down two Pakistani TV stations operating from
Dubai's Media "free zone." (Note: Service was resumed
shortly thereafter. End note.) As for blogs and web sites,
al-Abed said that, with the exception of pornography, he was
against censorship. Patton stressed the dangers of closing
off "public space" for expression and urged a more open
environment. Al-Abed said he encouraged UAE nationals to
enter the press corps in hopes that they would speak more
openly than foreign reporters (who fear for their visa status
if caught pushing the envelope). Citing the USG Human Rights
Report -- which offers a forthright portrayal of challenges
facing an open press in the UAE -- al-Abed stated that "no
one has a right to classify us."

Abdelazeez Al Ghurair: Speaker without a legislature
-------------- --------------


7. (C) Patton took the opportunity of a meeting with the FNC
Speaker to challenge him to consider ways to expand political
space in the UAE in advance of the FfF later this year; he
offered broadening the electoral base, extending the FNC
term, or creating more constituent offices as possible
scenarios. Both Speaker al-Ghurair and FNC member Saqr
al-Suwaidi said the UAE has a plan for political development
but chooses "to go slowly because we can't afford to fumble."
Al-Ghurair said UAE leaders seek excellence in government
institutions, which in the case of the FNC is best ensured by
"small, sure steps." As for near-term changes he deemed
necessary for the FNC, al-Ghurair )- like three FNC members
who met DAS Patton the previous evening )- suggested that
the FNC should independently determine its agenda (rather
than the current practice of getting UAEG approval.)


8. (C) Patton recommended a more representative government
in which citizens have a voice through elected officials.
Al-Ghurair said the FNC should eventually double or triple
its electoral college, but for the time being citizens had
the traditional outlet of the "majlis" through which to speak
directly with their leaders. He acknowledged that it was
difficult for leaders to keep up with constituent demands in
the age of laptops and blackberries.


9. (C) Reminded that political parties allow ideological
conflicts to be channeled purposefully rather than boil
beneath the surface, al-Ghurair was keenly interested on DAS
Patton's perspectives on political parties, but himself
focused nonetheless on the importance of each FNC member
maintaining an individual voice -- without the influence of a
collective party. Patton said the creation of parties can
also encourage youth participation. Al-Ghurair said he
planned to draft a parliamentary code of ethics and stated
that he does not want "professional FNC members" (serving for
10 or 20 years) who grow "out of touch" with the people.


10. (SBU) Note: DAS Patton also met rank-and-file members
of the FNC, including three whom he invited to dinner, and
heard of their simultaneous arguments for change within the
FNC (particularly their interest in greater authority for the
institution) and their sense that meaningful change would
take time. See also ref A for comments on evolution of the
FNC. End note.

Meeting the Activists: Varying degrees of angst

ABU DHABI 00000289 003.2 OF 004


-------------- --


11. (C) In a lunch with Secretary General of the Emirates
Human Rights Association Mohammad Ghubash, Patton was told
that "we are all new recruits to human rights; it is not
natural to our tribal culture." Political expression is not
easily permitted in UAE culture, he said, and human rights
are clearly political. He cited a certain degree of paranoia
among Emiratis and foreigners alike, few raising their voices
because "the walls will hear us." Conflicts between
disputing members of the Human Rights Association were
nonetheless aired quite publicly, he said, and involved
personal attacks on him. Ghubash urged the USG to press the
FNC for "real" elections next time.


12. (C) Mohammad al-Naqbi, Director of the Gulf Negotiation
Center in Abu Dhabi, told Patton of the challenges of opening
an NGO. He said he finally had to register his organization
as a "business," in spite of his focus on conflict
resolution. "The UAE has two faces and is showing you the
best. There is also a nasty side," he said, and asked for
protection and support from the USG. He suggested that the
FNC is a joke. When asked if he and other activists could
make a united appeal to the government, he said "no one will
listen to us, they will paint us as troublemakers." Al-Naqbi
agreed to work with MEPI to create an updated list of civil
society organizations to be invited to the upcoming FfF,
noting that most Emiratis are suspicious and unaware of
programs like MEPI. He recommended that the USG continue to
push for the creation of more NGOs, press freedoms, and an
elected parliament.


13. (C) One of the first to agitate for a human rights
association who was later sidelined by the UAEG from
political activism, Dr. Mohammad al-Roken criticized the UAE
leadership for "saying they want to be number one while
failing to be pioneers." He advocated a more transparent
system of government yet saw civil society "sleeping" in an
environment in which those caught speaking out get punished.
Penalties included being forced into "early retirement,"
refused a business license, or sudden dismissal from a list
of high-achieving students being considered for government
scholarships to study abroad (the final point apparently
referring to what happened to his own son).


14. (C) UAE University Professor Abdul-khaleq Abdallah
discussed political freedoms briefly with DAS Patton, citing
potential negative affects that full democracy might have on
a tribal society. Elections could create a divided
parliament as was seen elsewhere in the Gulf, while a
non-partisan, homogenous FNC avoided tribal fault lines.
That said, he acknowledged that a more open political system
(and a more meaningful legislature) would be attractive to
Emiratis, including some from the ruling elite. The UAE is
extremely tolerant with social liberties, he emphasized,
which gives citizens the feeling of freedom and masks their
latent desire for political expression. Social liberty is
not a direct catalyst for political liberty; on the contrary,
many Emiratis fear that political change could limit social
freedoms (particularly if Islamist forces gained influence).


15. (C) Dr. Fatima al-Sayegh, professor of history at UAE
University, was sad to find in a recent class that her
students (who represent the better educated class of
Emiratis) did not understand the concept of civil society.
If the outside world wants greater political participation
within the UAE, she said, the local population has a long
learning curve ahead. She said that prior to the discovery
of oil society depended on civil-society-like mechanisms
instead of a central government. Issues of even greater
urgency than political reform include illiteracy, said
al-Sayegh, with societal reforms following naturally behind.
She expressed her frustration that the UAE was pouring great
sums of money into UAE universities but giving key posts to
foreigners ("white men") instead of competent Emiratis who
were clearly capable of the job. She said Emiratis were
forced into retirement at a certain age when even older
foreigners were hired to run the schools. She also lamented
the irony of a UAE professor teaching UAE history to UAE
nationals in English. Gender segregation in colleges
degrades the quality and efficiency of teaching, she
complained. She said the UAE University student council is a
male-only organization.

Comment: Glass always half
--------------


ABU DHABI 00000289 004.2 OF 004



16. (C) Even in a society whose citizens are prosperous and
comfortable, people seek greater participation in decision
making. While the demand for change is neither widespread
nor publicly vocal in the UAE, the seeds of evolutionary
change are finding root. Nonetheless, comfort and prosperity
in the UAE will continue to be cited by the leadership as
cause for taking things slowly, and many Emiratis would
probably agree. MEPI programming offers an ongoing
opportunity to help those with a sense of the future prepare
the UAE for a time when broader participation is the norm.
End comment.
QUINN