AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES TIP AND RIHS DESIGNATION WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000637

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINR GTIP KTFN KHUM KU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES TIP AND RIHS DESIGNATION WITH
NEW MINISTER OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND LABOR

REF: A. STATE 57481 B. STATE 59117 C. STATE 48113 D.
KUWAIT 556

Classified By: Ambassador Deborah K. Jones, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Ambassador's introductory meeting June
3 with newly appointed Minister of Social Affairs and Labor
(MOSAL),Bader Al-Duwaila, coincided with the planned June 4
release of the 2008 TIP report and Kuwait's downgrade to a
Tier 3 ranking. Ambassador urged immediate action to meet
Kuwait's stated commitments under the TIP action plan to
protect expat labor. Al-Duwaila affirmed his commitment to
bringing Kuwait in line with international standards, to
include TIP legislation with harsher penalties for offenders.
Ambassador advised Al-Duwaila of June 3 UNSCR 1267
designation of the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society
(RIHS). Al-Duwaila challenged the evidence for RIHS
connections to terrorism and said political hurdles would
make it difficult for the GOK to support a designation absent
compelling evidence. END SUMMARY.

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RELEASE OF 2008 TIP REPORT
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2. (C) Ambassador met June 3 with newly appointed Minister
of Social Affairs and Labor, Bader Al-Duwaila, to brief him
on the June 4 release of the 2008 TIP report and Kuwait's
downgrade to a Tier 3 ranking (Ref A). Ambassador noted that
the exploitation of human labor capital was a global
challenge we all faced; nonetheless the treatment of
domestics and others in Kuwait was egregious and did not
comport with the compassionate face of Islam she had also
experienced throughout a long career in the region. Surely
Kuwait did not wish to be known for its abuse of laborers and
domestics. Ambassador explained that lack of progress on
stated commitments by the GOK led to the latest Tier 3
ranking including establishing a permanent shelter for
trafficking victims, enacting already-drafted
anti-trafficking legislation, providing trafficking-related
training to law enforcement, prosecutors and judges and
providing evidence of increased investigations, prosecutions
and convictions of TIP-related crimes.


3. (C) Al-Duwaila replied that he and the GOK understood and
shared USG concerns. Noting that he had lived in the US and
UK for more than a dozen years, the minister said "I know how
you value and protect the worker; these are human beings
trying to feed their families. We must do more to protect
them." Al-Duwaila, a lawyer by training, said existing
Kuwaiti law had a number of statutes and regulations that
addressed TIP-related crimes and that he had instructed his
ministry to draw on both Kuwait's UN obligations and existing
law to come up with a unified code that contained clearer
guidelines and harsher penalties. (NOTE: Kuwait has an
already-drafted anti-trafficking law that was sent to the
Council of Ministers for approval prior to the dissolution of
Parliament.) The minister concluded "Kuwait is a civilized
country and we don't want to be behind others on this issue."

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RIHS 1267 DESIGNATION
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4. (C) Ambassador also advised Al-Duwaila, whose ministry
oversees charitable institutions, of pending UNSCR 1267
designation of RIHS (Ref C and D). Al-Duwaila asked whether
the USG had shown evidence to the GOK that tied RIHS to
terrorism. Ambassador noted a substantial body of evidence
has been exchanged with the GOK over the past two years on
RIHS' activities. Al-Duwaila said RIHS is a well-known
charity institution and not affiliated with any terrorist
organization; its board members were well known for their
clear stances on this issue. While admitting he was new to
the portfolio, he said he doubted the GOK would fail to act
if compelling evidence were presented. Pointing out that six
of the new MPs were affiliated with RIHS, on its board or
otherwise, he said it would be difficult to take any action
without substantial proof of RIHS' illegal activities and/or
terrorist links.

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BIO NOTE
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5. (C) Bader Al-Duwaila was named Minister of Social
Affairs and Labor by the Amir on May 28 and took the oath of
office on June 1. He has no previous government experience.
Al-Duwaila was born in 1959 and graduated from Kuwait

KUWAIT 00000637 002 OF 002


University in 1980. He received a Masters degree in law from
the University of Miami and also attended San Diego State
University (dates unknown). Al-Duwaila returned to Kuwait
two years ago after spending 13 years in London practicing
law (representing Kuwait in legal cases). Duwaila's brother,
Nasser Al-Duwaila (non-affiliated),was elected to the new
Parliament on May 17. Al-Duwaila has four children ages 23,
21, 19 and 12.

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JONES