This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 009303 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI SHUKAN AND AMBASSADOR OBERWETTER, INL, 
DRL, PRM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2015 
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL SA
SUBJECT: MUNICIPAL COUNCILS UPDATE:  REMAINING HALF 
APPOINTED BY SAG 
 
REF: A. JEDDAH 04398 
     ¶B. JEDDAH 04300 
     ¶C. RIYADH 04593 
     ¶D. RIYADH 02912 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michael Gfoeller for 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  On December 15, the Saudi press announced 
that King Abdullah had completed the long delayed process of 
forming the country's 178 municipal councils.  Half of the 
councils' members, totaling 592 officials in all, were chosen 
last spring in the Kingdom's first democratic, albeit 
limited, elections, from which women in particular were 
excluded.  On December 14, the Saudi government (SAG) 
appointed the remaining half of the council members, who also 
number 592, in a decree formally issued by the King and Crown 
Prince Sultan.  Coming eight months after the initial voting, 
the announcement pleasantly surprised local observers.  It 
renews hope that the political reform process is moving 
forward, even if at a cautious pace.  It marks another 
milestone in a process that began with the 1977 decision to 
re-establish municipal councils, a 2003 cabinet decision to 
hold elections for half of the council seats, an October 2004 
timetable for holding elections, and the successful 
completion of the elections in April 2005 (reftels).  END 
SUMMARY. 
¶2.  (C)  Saudi citizens with whom the Embassy and Consulates 
Jeddah and Dhahran spoke about this development welcomed the 
important news, but stressed that only a small step has been 
taken along the road to political reform.  They emphasized 
that the municipal councils are expected to serve only in an 
advisory capacity in the technical administration of 
municipalities, though the exact responsibilities and 
functions of the councils remain to be formally defined. 
They questioned when the municipal councils will first meet. 
They also emphasized that decision-making and policy-making 
remain at the top of the SAG and have not been delegated to 
lower levels, much less to the municipal councils.  They 
emphasized that the traditional majles and right to petition 
to the King is no longer suitable or sufficient to the KSA's 
larger population and more complex society.  The consensus 
view is that while it is significant that the concept of 
electing government officials has been introduced in the KSA, 
political change is still insufficient and moving slowly. 
 
¶3.  (C)  Human Rights First President Ibrahim Al-Mugaiteeb 
(protect) stressed that the SAG should enact further reforms, 
especially freedom of speech and association.  Political 
Scientist, author, and commentator Turki Al-Hamad (protect) 
stressed the need for the SAG to construct an infrastructure 
of democracy, which should include:  preparing the public to 
participate in government and support democracy; checks and 
balances; freedom of speech; freedom of the press; freedom of 
assembly; and an expanded electorate.  He stressed the need 
for broad, important educational reforms, noting that since 
1979 Saudi curricula have not taught students how to think 
independently and creatively. 
 
¶4.  (C)  Unlike before 1979, students have not been taught 
non-Islamic history, world history, or about other cultures 
and religions, al-Hamad noted.  He stressed that the KSA and 
SAG have been very slow to reform because leaders want 
painless, non-disruptive, non-controversial change, a near 
impossibility and contradiction in terms, in his view.  He 
warned that the longer the SAG delays change, the higher the 
price and potentially greater the consequences.  He stressed 
that elections without rights and freedoms mean "little to 
nothing."  He called for focusing more on ensuring rights and 
freedoms.  With the requisite infrastructure and support, 
Al-Hamad believes, it will not matter as much if 
conservatives and religious extremists dominate future 
elections. 
 
¶5.  (C)  Eastern Province businessmen either were indifferent 
or welcomed this small move toward democracy while expressing 
concern about the composition of the municipal councils. 
They expressed concern in particular that conservatives and 
religious extremists might dominate the councils.  In Riyadh, 
Saudi citizens told emboffs that they were pleasantly 
surprised by the news that the SAG had completed formation of 
the municipal councils, since many people had come to the 
conclusion that "the process was dead," as one Riyadhi put 
it.  Riyadhis and Jeddawis also noted that they wanted to 
study the lists of those appointed to the councils by the 
SAG, particularly in order to see if the government had 
appointed religious conservatives to the new bodies. 
 
------------------ 
COMMENT 
----------------- 
 
¶6.  (C)  Despite the fact that half of the municipal council 
members were appointed by the SAG and only a limited 
electorate, which excluded women voters, participated in the 
Spring 2005 elections, King Abdullah's decision to complete 
formation of the councils represents a significant step 
toward political reform.  In the last analysis, today there 
are 592 elected officials on 178 officially formed municipal 
councils in the Kingdom, while yesterday there were none.  It 
is also hard to believe that the timing of this announcement, 
on the very day of the Iraqi parliamentary elections, could 
be an accident.  The SAG carefully follows the political 
calendar in the region and has been monitoring the Iraqi 
situation very closely. 
 
¶7.  (C)  The long awaited formation of the municipal councils 
may well signal that the SAG, in its own cautious way, 
understands the trend in the region toward greater popular 
participation in political life and governance, and wishes, 
albeit in its own cautious manner, to take part.  We will 
monitor the situation to see when and how the new councils 
begin operation and, in septels, report on the council 
members the SAG has appointed.  END COMMENT. 
GFOELLER