VZCZCXRO0862
RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0637/01 1561121
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 041121Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1598
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC

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. 
 
-------------------------- 
RELEASE OF 2008 TIP REPORT 
-------------------------- 
 
¶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." 
 
--------------------- 
RIHS 1267 DESIGNATION 
--------------------- 
 
¶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. 
 
-------- 
BIO NOTE 
-------- 
 
¶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. 
 
********************************************* * 
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/ 
********************************************* * 
JONES