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 MANAMA 000117 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/ARPI, NEA/PI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2016 
TAGS: PREL KDEM KMPI PGOV KPAO BA POL REFORM
SUBJECT: NDI MOVE TO REGULARIZE ITS STATUS PROVOKES PRESS 
COMMENTARY 
 
REF: MANAMA 0092 
 
Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  (C) The MEPI-funded National Democratic Institute (NDI) 
project's efforts to negotiate with the Bahrain Institute for 
Political Development (BIPD) to regularize its status in 
Bahrain have prompted considerable coverage in the local 
press.  While all papers have featured mostly factual 
reporting on developments, the columnists and editorialists 
of semi-independent Al Ayam and independent Al Wasat have 
been very supportive of NDI while those of the 
newly-established Al Watan have been critical of the project. 
 Following a period of uncertainty and a demand by the GOB to 
halt it activities, NDI is now engaged in serious discussions 
with BIPD to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 
regularizing its status in Bahrain.  Those criticizing NDI 
may be fearful that Shia opposition society Al Wifaq, which 
has avidly participated in and benefited from NDI training 
and programming, could be on the verge of abandoning its 
boycott of the political system and may decide to participate 
in the 2006 parliamentary elections.  End Summary. 
 
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Serious Contact Between NDI and BIPD 
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¶2.  (C) NDI project manager Fawzi Guleid told EmbOff January 
25 that he met unofficially with BIPD board chair Lulwa Al 
Awadhi January 22 to discuss finalizing an MOU between the 
two organizations.  NDI's bottom line is that it must have 
the freedom to interact directly with political and civil 
society leaders from across the spectrum, whereas BIPD had 
insisted that NDI work only with it.  NDI's lawyer has 
discussed these issues with Al Awadhi and will meet with her 
shortly to negotiate the MOU language.  The lawyer will also 
ask that the GOB lift its order that NDI halt its activities 
while the MOU is under discussion.  Guleid commented that his 
engagement with Al Awadhi has been much more serious and 
cordial since the Ambassador's meeting with Foreign Minister 
Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa January 21 (reftel). 
 
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Al Ayam, Al Wasat Defend NDI 
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¶3.  (U) Al Ayam's Jassim Ashoor wonders why, amid the 
statements and counter statements about NDI, the political 
societies that benefit most from NDI activities are so 
silent.  He adds:  "it is obvious that there are some parties 
that do not desire NDI's presence in Bahrain.  But what is 
really difficult to understand is the silence of the 
political societies, whether opposition or pro-government, 
Sunni or Shia.  It seems that some societies are concerned 
that they would be tagged as agents to foreign powers if they 
defended NDI...  However, it is the societies' duty to defend 
NDI, which has provided so many services to them and defended 
their rights." 
 
¶4.  (U) Esmat Al Mousawi of Al Ayam says that she has 
attended numerous workshops organized and conducted by NDI in 
Bahrain.  She asserts that the knowledge and experience she 
has gained in these workshops is equivalent to the long years 
she spent studying political science and economy.  She adds: 
"NDI provides us with the principles of political 
participation, which we have been deprived of in this part of 
the world.  Those who are suspicious about the role of NDI 
and its agenda have realized its danger because NDI 
programming benefited and served the opposition, and 
eventually assisted in improving its performance." 
 
¶5.  (U) Al Wasat Editor-in-Chief Mansour Al Jamri highlights 
the achievements of NDI and the integral role it has played 
in invigorating political life and bringing together 
opposition and pro-government figures.  He recounts the 
obstacles NDI has faced since the establishment of BIPD, 
adding:  "the escalating language used against NDI reminds us 
of what the Ibn Khaldoun Center was subject to in Egypt.  It 
is inappropriate for Bahrain to treat an institute like NDI, 
which has provided so many services to the various factions, 
in the way it has recently.  If BIPD wants to see NDI out of 
Bahrain, why not issue a statement explaining the reasons 
frankly and transparently.  It is the fear that NDI would 
activate principles and concepts that some want to keep only 
for show and propaganda that makes them want NDI to leave." 
 
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Ad Hominem Attacks by Al Watan 
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¶6.  (U) In an unsigned article in Al Watan, the author writes 
that political figures in Bahrain expressed their resentment 
regarding the activities of NDI in Bahrain, which have been 
conducted for more than four years amid ambiguity concerning 
the organization's objectives and political agenda.  A 
political society leader pointed out that NDI's affiliation 
with the Democratic party is one of the reasons why his 
society refused to deal with the institute.  Mohammed Al 
Maran, board director of the Bahrain First society (a 
nationalist Sunni group), criticized NGOs and the government 
for allowing NDI to work in Bahrain because it is "a 
Zionist/American organization that is serving the Zionist 
goals." 
 
¶7.  (U) Jamal Al Aseeri comments in Al Watan on NDI 
activities in Bahrain, saying that the American organization 
has been "challenging our laws and defying our regime."  He 
addresses the NDI office saying, "We respect you because you 
are a guest in Bahrain, but when you disrespect the law and 
the regime and insist on carrying out your activities even if 
they have no legal status, then that is something we cannot 
accept.  The Government asked you to wait until your legal 
status is corrected.  Nonetheless, you insisted on working 
outside the law.  You disrespect the Bahraini people when you 
expect them to allow you to wander in the country and give 
out money to whomever you wish and deprive whomever you wish. 
 If you are willing to respect the regime and the law, then 
you are welcome, but if you are here to defy us, then shut 
down your office and leave." 
 
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Comment 
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¶8.  (C) One of the unstated themes of Al Watan's coverage is 
that NDI's programming has disproportionately built the 
capacity of Shia opposition society Al Wifaq to the detriment 
of other rival political societies or even the government. 
In fact, NDI has welcomed the participation of all political 
and civil society leaders and organizations that are willing 
to attend its seminars.  NDI has had an impact across the 
political spectrum in improving the professionalism and 
expertise of political actors.  Al Watan may be expressing a 
fear felt by those opposed to reform in Bahrain:  that after 
four years of sitting on the sidelines, Al Wifaq may be on 
the verge of participating in and pursuing its community's 
interests within the political system rather than through 
protests, petitions, and appeals for outside intervention. 
 
MONROE