VZCZCXRO1915
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #2568/01 1781424
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 271424Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5475
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002568 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2016 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA
SUBJECT: ELECTION COUNTDOWN: YOUTH ACTIVISTS HIGHLIGHT 
FRAGILITY OF LIBERAL-ISLAMIST ALLIANCE FOR REFORM 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 2271 
     ¶B. KUWAIT 2150 
 
Classified By: CDA Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C/NF) In a June 26 meeting with Poloff, "orange 
movement" (ref B) leaders Kahled Al-Fadhalah, Jassem 
Al-Maqamis, and Dana Al-Salem shared their views on the 
upcoming elections.  All three studied in the U.S. and were 
active in the U.S. branch of the National Union of Kuwait 
Students (NUKS).  Both Al-Fadhalah and Al-Maqamis cited their 
experience in the U.S., and specifically their involvement in 
student organizations, as the primary impetus for their 
activism in Kuwait.  Al-Maqamis, who volunteered for the 
Kerry campaign, said he learned first-hand the power of 
political activism and was inspired to do something about the 
problems he saw in Kuwait rather than just sit back 
apathetically.  Likewise, the three activists' example 
inspired other Kuwaitis to join them in calling on the 
Government to adopt political reforms.  All they needed was a 
spark, Al-Fadhalah said. 
 
A Fragile Alliance 
------------------ 
 
¶2.  (C/NF) They acknowledged, however, the difficulties in 
maintaining the pro-reform momentum.  Already, there were 
some signs that the liberal-Islamist alliance at the heart of 
the pro-reform movement was beginning to fragment as each 
group jockeyed for political position in these elections, a 
development noted recently by several columnists. 
Al-Fadhalah claimed the Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood (KMB) in 
particular was playing politics, backing conservative 
candidates running against more liberal incumbents, like 
veteran MP Ahmed Al-Saadoun.  The KMB's willingness to 
undermine more liberal pro-reform MPs merely to increase 
their own influence could "leave a bad taste in our mouth" 
and undermine the cohesion of the new pro-reform block in 
Parliament, he explained.  (Comment: Other liberal contacts 
have similarly questioned the Islamists' commitment to reform 
(ref A).  Islamist contacts, on the other hand, insist that 
their support for reform is genuine and point out that they 
have long been vocal advocates of political reform.  End 
comment.) 
 
¶3.  (C/NF) Ironically, Al-Fadhalah said Salafi candidates 
were less duplicitous and more willing to work together with 
liberals to promote reform.  He cited as an example Waleed 
Al-Tabtabaei, an outspoken Islamist incumbent, whom he said 
they found "kinda cute" once they got to know him. 
Ultimately, though, they were not overly optimistic that the 
pro-reform alliance would hold together into the next 
Parliament.  They were also skeptical that newly elected MPs, 
having spent so much money getting elected, would be willing 
to put their political careers on the line to pressure the 
Government to adopt political reforms.  Despite these 
concerns, they said they would keep up their pro-reform 
campaign and hoped the new MPs would make electoral reform a 
top priority. 
 
A "Vision for Reform" 
--------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU/NF) These youth activists are not the only ones 
championing reform and working to combat corruption, however. 
 The Kuwait Transparency Society (KTS), a local NGO, has 
drafted a document entitled, "Kuwait Vision for Reform," that 
outlines 12 reform objectives (see para 6).  According to 
local press reports, "a large number of candidates, political 
activists, and members of trade unions" have already signed 
the document.  A number of prominent Islamist candidates, 
like Al-Tabtabaei and Jassem Al-Kandari were among the 
signatories.  It remains to be seen what influence this and 
other similar measures will have on the new Parliament. 
 
¶5.  (C/NF) Comment: Post shares these youth activists' 
concern that popular enthusiasm for reform will diminish 
after the elections, particularly as many Kuwaitis leave for 
extended summer vacations abroad.  We are currently examining 
ways to engage pro-reform activists and to use MEPI funds to 
maintain the momentum for reform.  Just one example, on July 
3 the Charge is hosting an ice cream social for youth 
activists to discuss how they can continue to constructively 
advocate for change in Kuwait.  The grassroots, pro-reform 
activism and anti-corruption campaigns of these elections 
present a unique opportunity for the USG to support political 
reform in Kuwait.  End comment. 
 
¶6.  (U) Begin text of "Kuwait Vision for Reform." 
 
KUWAIT 00002568  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
On the occasion of the elections for the 11th Kuwaiti 
Parliament and given the current problems of vote-buying and 
all sorts of corruption that Kuwait is facing, we the 
undersigned vow by signing this document to realize the 
following goals: 
 
¶1.  Present an amendment to the law on constituencies 
slashing them to five or one during the first session of the 
upcoming Parliament. 
¶2.  Ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption. 
¶3.  Re-introduce the law on financial accountability that was 
approved by the 10th Parliament's Budget and Closing Accounts 
Committee. 
¶4.  Issue a law establishing a board for combating corruption. 
¶5.  Ratify the proposal for an administrative reform 
organization to combat administrative corruption in 
governmental agencies. 
¶6.  Issue a law streamlining election campaigns, reinforcing 
freedoms, and prohibiting electoral corruption. 
¶7.  Review the State property systems to better protect and 
maintain public funds. 
¶8.  Revise the State's procurement systems. 
¶9.  Insist that the Ministry of Education teach the 
importance of transparency, social development, and combating 
corruption. 
¶10.  Insist that the Information Ministry work to combat all 
forms of corruption through news and other programming. 
¶11.  Stand by all issues of reform and ratifying all relevant 
legislation. 
¶12.  Work to combat all forms of corruption through effective 
parliamentary tools. 
 
End text. 
 
********************************************* * 
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