VZCZCXRO2972
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHKU #1852/01 1421736
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221736Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4618
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001852 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA:  REACTIONS TO PARLIAMENT DISSOLUTION 
 
REF: A. Kuwait 01833 
 ¶B. Kuwait 01789 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  The Amir's May 21 decision to dissolve Parliament 
has Kuwaitis focused on the prospects for meaningful political 
reform and the impact of women voting in national elections for the 
first time.  A number of public figures have already declared their 
intent to run for office, among them several women.  Some MPs 
commented that the dissolution was a necessary response to 
Parliament's failure to resolve the electoral redistricting impasse 
and to the unprecedented threats to "grill" the Prime Minister. 
Others accused the Government of failing to take reform seriously 
and expressed embarrassment at the political in-fighting.  End 
summary. 
 
Mixed Reaction to Dissolution 
----------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) The news that the Amir was to dissolve  Parliament spread 
through Kuwait hours before the official announcement was made.  The 
dissolution forces new elections which many hope will bring fresh 
faces and new views to Parliament.  (Note: In every Parliamentary 
election in Kuwait, 40 to 50 percent of the members have changed and 
people expect the pattern to continue this time out.) The 
announcement was met with little surprise as the intensity of the 
recent debate had for many reached a point of no return.  Kuwaiti 
society is almost evenly split on the decision to dissolve 
Parliament.  According to a spot poll conducted by Arabic daily 
Al-Qabas, 48 percent of those questioned favored the decision and 47 
percent opposed it.  In addition, 48 percent do not believe there is 
ample time to prepare for the June 29 elections. 
 
Dissolution the Only Solution 
----------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U)  A typical pro-Government view was expressed by MP Issam 
Al-Dabbous, who said the dissolution was taken due to the Amir's 
desire to "protect the country against practices which disunite" 
Kuwaitis.  A ruling family member noted that dialogue had broken 
down, with both sides dug in to their positions.  However, some 
opposition voices also welcomed the Amir's decision.  Parliamentary 
candidate Dr. Rola Dashti, Chairman of the Kuwait Economic Society, 
said that there was "a lack of wisdom in the [constituency] debate" 
and welcomed the "Amir's wisdom...in taking the right decision." 
 
Disappointed by Dissolution 
--------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  While avoiding direct criticism of the Amir's action, 
other Kuwaitis are expressing unhappiness with the decision, saying 
that  Kuwait is embarrassed by the fact that the Government could 
not resolve the electoral dispute.  One of the sons of late Amir 
Shaykh Jaber said he was "shocked" a deal had not been brokered to 
ensure the Parliament was not dissolved.  Even some of those who may 
benefit from the upcoming elections expressed concern with the 
handling of the impasse.  Parliamentary candidate Aisha Al-Reshaid 
said, "I blame both Government and Parliament:  they did not solve 
the problem wisely."  Dashti's campaign manager, Nadia Al-Sharrah, 
chided the Government for not calling for resignations rather than 
opting for dissolution."  Parliamentary candidate Khawla Al-Ateeqi, 
a member of the conservative Kuwait Teacher's Society asked, "Where 
is democracy if a big government can't solve a small problem like 
this?  It is both parties fault that the Parliament was dissolved." 
A Kuwait Stock Exchange representative who previously predicted the 
dissolution expressed disappointment with the GOK's decision, 
asserting that "this is not the way to solve a political impasse, 
particularly one that involved the demands of the people." 
 
A Real Lesson in Democracy 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) A number of MPs have tried to put a positive spin on the 
dissolution, arguing that the elections would advance national 
political interests.  Pro-government Shi'a MP Saleh Ashour argued 
that the June 29 elections would help Parliament learn to be more 
"realistic" about how to affect change and it would "ripen the 
Kuwaiti arena politically."  Islamist MP Dr. Nasser Al-Sane noted 
that the current political turmoil is unifying disparate groups in 
the campaign against corruption. 
 
¶6.  (U)  Popular involvement in the political debate is another 
trend that several observers hope will be sustained.  Pro-reform MP 
Abdul Wahab Al-Haroun called on his colleagues to "capitalize on the 
popular tide that was supporting us during our rallies... to make 
sure that this support continues."  Reinforcing this view, MP Nasser 
Al-Sane stated: 
"What we have won is the confidence of the people.  We are now 
strongly supported by the people in our campaign to combat 
corruption.  We will witness a great wake-up." 
 
Off and Running 
 
KUWAIT 00001852  002 OF 002 
 
 
--------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) The dissolution is providing women an early opportunity to 
run for a seat in the 50-member Parliament.  According to a May 22 
poll, 55 percent of Kuwaitis believe "women's participation will 
revamp elections."  While there is not great optimism that a woman 
will be elected, several have launched campaigns.  Dashti began 
assembling her advisors and campaign staff hours before the official 
dissolution announcement.  She is joined by several other women 
including journalist Al-Reshaid, who has been campaigning for months 
in more conservative neighborhoods; educator Adela Al-Sayer; media 
activist Iqbal Al-Ahmad; political activist and Kuwait Oil Company 
executive Dr. Fatima Al-Abdali; Shi'a and Islamic National Consensus 
Movement candidate Khadija Al-Mahmeed; and newcomer Fatima 
Al-Mutairi. 
 
¶8.  (U)  Among the men, Commerce Minister and former MP Yousef 
Al-Zalzalah announced he will resign his Cabinet post and again run 
for a Parliament seat.  Dr. Saad Bin Tefla, a Kuwait University 
linguistics professor and former Minister of Information, told the 
press he too would run for office, siding with those who advocated 
five electoral districts. 
 
Beat the Heat 
------------- 
 
¶9. (U)  While parliamentary dissolution came as no surprise, the 
five week period to prepare for the June 29 election has caught some 
candidates off guard.  The constitution requires that elections be 
held within two months of the dissolution.  The June 29 date is 
probably dictated by practical considerations.  A significant 
percentage of Kuwaiti society vacations during the summer months 
when temperatures often exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit.  Holding 
elections before the peak travel season maximizes the opportunity 
for the Kuwaiti people to actively participate in the electoral 
process. 
 
********************************************* 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
 
You can also access the site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website 
********************************************* 
 
LEBARON