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PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080758Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5003
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 002152 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/P, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, 
I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO KDEM PGOV KU FREDOM AGENDA
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA ELECTION COVERAGE JUNE 1-6: KEY ISSUES 
CRYSTALIZE 
 
REF: KUWAIT 002081 
 
¶1. Summary: With registration for candidates closed, the media in 
Kuwait has switched focus from announcing entrants into the race for 
Parliament to reporting on candidate platforms and those withdrawing 
their candidacies. Among the news coverage, several key issues have 
crystallized and are receiving consistent reporting in the print and 
broadcast media.  They are: the impact of women in the elections, 
the fight against corruption and vote-buying, and the future of 
political reform through constituency redistricting. Also receiving 
attention are illegal "primaries" in which coalitions or tribes vote 
for candidates. Kuwait's only privately owned TV station began 
airing nightly two-hour newscasts dedicated entirely to elections. 
Of two private satellite channels on election issues that were to 
launch this week, one debuted and one was blocked. In addition to 
the print and broadcast media, Kuwaiti blogging sites are packed 
with free-wielding comments on all of the election news and gossip. 
End summary. 
 
Print Media Retains Its Leading Role 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. Despite the recent introduction of new TV sources and some 
candidates launching Internet sites, Kuwait's five Arabic-language 
and three English-language newspapers remain the leading source of 
election news for the vast majority of Kuwaitis.  What's more, the 
private print media is cashing in on a news-hungry public and on 
candidates eager to secure advertising space. The editor-in-chief of 
the leading Arabic-language daily Al-Rai Al-Aam summed it up best 
when asked about his philosophy on election coverage, "To make 
money," he said. The newspapers continue to entice readers with 
attention-getting headlines.  Samples include, "New 'Primary' Seized 
and Public Prosecution Continues Its Investigations," Al-Qabas, 
front page, June 5; "Al-Khorafi: My Reservation about the Law Was 
Not against Granting Women Their Rights," Al-Anbaa, front page, June 
7; and "Poll: Women Optimistic of Winning Seat," Arab Times, front 
page, June 7. 
 
¶3. To be sure, some of the headlines are printed for shock value and 
to attract buyers. This is especially so for front-page headlines. 
On the inside pages, however, the Arabic-language newspapers in 
particular are dedicating up to twelve page on candidates, their 
platforms and other election news. The majority of these extended 
election sections are generated from reports of nightly happenings 
at candidate election tents, or campaign headquarters. In typical 
Kuwaiti campaign style, candidates erect large diwaniya-style tents, 
serve food or beverages, make speeches and talk with voters. 
Reporters also receive written information from candidates 
explaining key platform positions. Candidates are also purchasing 
advertising in the papers' election sections.  From this coverage 
three issues have crystallized as receiving consistent attention: 
the impact of women in the elections, the fight against corruption 
and vote-buying, and the future of political reform through 
constituency redistricting. 
 
How Will Women Fare? 
-------------------- 
 
¶4. By far, women candidates and the challenges they face are the 
focus of much reporting.  Newspapers, TV, radio, and internet 
blogging sites are awash with news about the platforms of women 
candidates and opinions as to whether a woman will be elected. 
"Candidates Open Their Doors for Women Voters via Women's 
Committees," Al-Watan, pg. 81, June 6, and "Nation Invariables 
Grouping: A Woman should Not Go to Polling Stations and Electoral 
HQs Without the Permission of Her Guardian," Al-Rai Al-Aam, pg. 27, 
June 7, are two headlines that illustrate the range of opinions 
being expressed on the topic. 
 
¶5. To a lesser extent, but still significant, has been coverage of 
the new Kuwaiti female electorate itself.  Regardless of whether a 
woman candidate wins, some 195,000, of them, 60 percent of voters, 
will cast their ballots for the very first time in three weeks. Who 
they vote for and the influence they will collectively have on the 
makeup of the new Parliament are the main focuses of the subject. 
"Involvement of Women in Elections Will Effect the Results of These 
Elections," Al-Qabas, pg. 18, June 6, and "Nabila Al-Anjari: Women 
Candidates Will Tip the Scales," Al-Anbaa, pg. 14, June 4, are 
typical examples of newspaper headlines on the topic. The public TV 
channel Al-Rai reported on the number of women who will not be able 
to vote.  Citing the Minister of Defense, it reported that 54,000 
women are ineligible due to unreported address changes and because 
they have not been Kuwaiti citizens for the required 20 year period 
in order to be eligible. 
 
KUWAIT 00002152  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
Constituency Reform 
------------------- 
 
¶6. While the women held the attention of the public and press this 
week, the issue that sparked the early election in the first place, 
constituency reform, is beginning to re-emerge as a paramount voter 
concern. Commentators from every sector of society have begun to 
speculate in the media on what the election will mean for reform. 
"Talal Al-Ayyar: Constituencies Will Figure High on the Agenda of 
the Upcoming National Assembly," Al-Seyassah, pgs. 14, June 5, and 
"Ahmad Al-Mulaifi: The Corrupt Camp Has Won the electoral 
Constituencies Battle," Al-Rai Al-Aam, pg. 24, illustrates the 
interest in the subject. Questions being raised on the issue 
include: will the new Parliament be pro-reform or con; if reformers 
control the new Parliament will there be ten, five or one revised 
constituencies; if after elections new constituencies are approved 
quickly, what would that mean for the new Parliament's legitimacy? 
 
 
Corruption 
---------- 
 
¶7. Allegations of vote-buying continue to be readily reported in the 
newspapers, discussed on TV talk shows and on the Internet.  "90 
Percent of Those Polled Do Not Trust Government Serious About 
Combatting Primaries and Vote-Buying," Al-Qabas, front page, June 5, 
is one sample. The daily Al-Rai Al-Aam on June 3 ran a cartoon on 
pg. 55 depicting two men in Arab dress each holding a ballot-style 
box and each reaching across to stuff something into the other's 
box.  One man is depositing cash, the other a checked voting ballot. 
Corruption and vote-buying are popular issues on local blog sites. 
One, Sahat Safat, a political blog site popular with the 20-35-year 
age group, encouraged Kuwaitis to send in by email documents proving 
that vote-buying is occurring.  Bloggers openly criticized the 
Government of Kuwait for its denial of corruption.  Opinions on the 
subject are freely wielded such as the following, "The Kuwait people 
are not so stupid as to believe that the government doesn't know 
what's going on." Another blogger commenting on Defense Minister 
Shaykh Jaber Al-Mbarak's denial in the press that vote-buying occurs 
wrote, "The proof is in the pudding.  Not only are voters being 
bought, but they're getting pretty creative about it . . . 
[candidates] are buying plasma TV for diwaniyas and getting 
satellite dishes and memberships to watch the World Cup!" 
 
Illegal Primaries 
----------------- 
 
¶8. Candidatures in Kuwait and intended to be open to individuals, 
and so primaries are illegal. However, several political groups and 
local tribes have reportedly been holding primary votes in order to 
select district candidates. "Number of Violating 'Primaries' Surged 
to 13," Al-Qabas, pg. 12, June 4, demonstrates press interest in the 
topic.  An Al-Qabas public survey also revealed that 90 percent of 
those polled believed that the Kuwaiti Government is not serious 
about combating primaries and vote buying. 
 
Media on the Take 
----------------- 
¶9. Corruption also reportedly occurring in the media during campaign 
season.  Reporters and editors have told EmbOff that many 
journalists accept cash payments to assist certain candidates in 
their campaigns.  In exchange for money the reporter prints positive 
stories about the candid and ensures that his or her message is 
depicted in the best possible light. Though no reporter admitted to 
EmbOff accepting such payments, they insist that it is widely 
practiced, particularly in the print media.  An editor-in-chief of a 
large daily newspaper confirmed that this is an issue at his paper. 
He gave one example of how a candidate gave all the reporters who 
attended his campaign speech an envelope containing 240 dinars, 
approximately $850.  The reporters gave the envelopes containing the 
cash to the editor, who, because of their honesty, allowed the 
journalists to keep it. 
 
Private TV Steps in to Fill a Gap 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶10. Kuwait's only private TV channel Al-Rai has begun taking up the 
slack left by public TV, which is not addressing election issues in 
any meaningful way (reftel). On June 5 the Al-Rai debuted a new 
two-hour nightly newscast dedicated exclusively to elections. 
"Al-Omma" ("The Nation") airs from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., prime 
time viewing hours in Kuwait. Hosted by two anchormen, the show 
features interviews and open debates between candidates, political 
 
KUWAIT 00002152  003 OF 003 
 
 
commentators and other opinion makers. The inaugural show on June 5 
featured female candidate Aisha Al-Reshaid and a conservative 
professor of Shari'a (Islamic) law at Kuwait University.  This was 
the first time that an Islamist faced a woman candidate on Kuwait 
TV. The body language spoke volumes as it was evident that the 
conservative professor avoided looking at his female counterpart.  A 
lively debate ensued about whether Islam permits women to vote or to 
hold office.  The professor stated that "women may vote, but that 
they must not hold elected office because the Quran forbids women to 
rule over men."  Al-Reshaid countered by asserting that the 
Islamists had previously been against women voting, but now that 
they need their votes they have changed direction and so women can 
vote, but not hold office. 
 
¶11. Two new private satellite channels devoted to elections were 
also slated to debut this week.  One, the "Parliament Dome" aired 
for the first time on June 5, and is rumored to be backed by 
conservatives.  The other channel, the "We Want It Alliance," a 
reference to the reformist slogan "We Want It Five [the number of 
constituencies]", was due to air on June 6, but the signal was 
blocked.  Al-Qabas daily quoted sources from the channel as saying 
that "a minister" from the GOK had blocked the transmission because 
it was "not in compliance with laws" and would be broadcasting 
"controversial subjects."  The ministry responsible for satellite 
transmissions is the Ministry of Information.  The channel is backed 
by "National Alliance," a reformist group.  Both channels are 
designed to broadcast taped material via satellite. 
 
Bloggers Fill Cyberspace with Opinions 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶12. Kuwaiti blog sites too are addressing election issues. Bloggers 
give insight into the thinking of the up-and-coming Kuwaiti 
generation, the 20-35 age bracket.  Not unexpectedly, sites dealing 
with political issues are chock full of comments on every election 
topic. Moreover, sites that normally focus on nonpolitical topics 
are posting more and more comments on voter concerns.  Like in the 
mainstream media, attention is centered on women, vote-buying and 
reducing corruption through redistricting. A typical comment on the 
impact of female voters went, "The influence of women voting may not 
lead to any changes simply because the majority of tribal women will 
end up following their husbands due to their weakness.... The bottom 
line is that it won't make a difference."  One blogger captured the 
essence of what the election means for reform among the younger 
reformist Kuwaitis.  He wrote, "We all know that it was the liberals 
that began the campaign for five districts.  It was amazing to see 
how so many who were initially against it now support it during 
their campaign (even those from religious groups).  Bottom line, we 
shouldn't suddenly change our mind if the other party wants to join. 
 It's for the benefit of the country regardless of whether they are 
liberal or conservative.  We should all stick together rather than 
change our minds just because the other party is now against us." 
 
¶13. Comment: While women, vote-buying, and reform are the three main 
themes emerging as voter concerns, they are interwoven. Due to sheer 
numbers, the new female electorate holds the key.  In much of the 
reporting and commentary on major issues that appear in the media, 
predicted outcomes are often dependent on how other issues turn out. 
 For example, reform through redistricting depends on the makeup of 
the new Parliament.  The makeup of the new Parliament will depend on 
how women vote.  And whether women are any more or less susceptible 
to alleged vote-buying or other outside influences is dependent on 
something that at present is nonexistent, a history of Kuwaiti 
female voters in a national election. Only the sanctity of the 
secret ballot of 195,000 women will give us the answer in three 
 
SIPDIS 
weeks' time. End comment. 
 
********************************************* * 
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/ 
 
********************************************* * 
 
TUELLER