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sdohasntsc  05/17/2007 07:46:40 AM  From  DB/Inbox:  APR07 Archive

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UNCLAS        DOHA 00368

SIPDIS
CXDOHA:
    ACTION: P/E
    INFO:   DAO PAO RAO DCM FCS AMB

DISSEMINATION: P/E /2
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB:CGUNTERMEYER
DRAFTED: P/E:TFINGARSON
CLEARED: P/E:APYOTT, A/DCM:MNANTONGO

VZCZCDOI461
RR RUEHC RUEHZM
DE RUEHDO #0368/01 0951432
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051432Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6464
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DOHA 000368 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KMPI PREL QA
SUBJECT: QATAR CENTRAL MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS SEE 
NEARLY 50 PERCENT TURNOUT 
 
REF: A. DOHA 340 
     ¶B. DOHA 327 
 
¶1. Summary. Qatar held national elections for the third 
session of the Central Municipal Council (CMC) April 1. The 
turnout (nearly 50 percent) was higher than many predicted. 
One of three women running for the council was re-elected in 
a landslide. Voting ran smoothly without significant 
problems. In contrast to previous elections, affinity to 
familial and tribal ties appeared to count less than 
experience and ability. Women's direct participation 
increased, and their influence on the choices of other 
members of the family was noted by the candidates.  End 
Summary. 
 
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Turnout 
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¶2. Elections for the third session of the Qatar Central 
Municipal Council (CMC) on April 1 saw a notable increase in 
voter turnout compared to the last elections held in April 
¶2003. According to figures released by the Ministry of 
Interior (MOI), 51 percent of the registered voters cast 
their ballots as compared to the 40 percent who voted in the 
2003 election. Of 28,139 registered voters, 13,656 exercised 
their franchise - 7,295 men and 6,361 women. The total number 
of male registered voters was 14,531, while there were 13,608 
registered female voters. (Note: According to the total voter 
breakdown provided by the MOI, the actual turnout was 48.5 
percent vice 51.1 percent. Post will attempt to clarify the 
discrepancy between these two figures.) Women's participation 
in the elections increased significantly compared to prior 
elections. Their relative participation was higher than men 
in nine of the 29 districts. 
 
¶3. Cities and villages outside Doha recorded a higher voter 
turnout compared to several prominent constituencies inside 
the city. Of the 29 constituencies, Al-Shahaniya recorded the 
highest voter participation (more than 80 percent), closely 
followed by Al-Shamal. In contrast, less than 40 percent of 
the registered voters in the New Doha district voted. 
 
---------------------------------- 
Female Candidate Wins in Landslide 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶4. Sheikha Al-Jefairi, the only female CMC member, received 
the highest percentage of votes for any candidate. Of the 879 
votes cast in her district, she received 800 of them, while 
the remaining 79 were shared by two male candidates. There 
were a total of 1,451 registered voters in the constituency - 
740 women and 711 men. Sheikha Al-Jefairi told Poloff April 3 
that she won because of her achievements and dedication in 
the previous session of the CMC. She added that her victory 
is a fitting response to those who questioned her eligibility 
when she won her seat in the second CMC election by 
"recommendation." (Note: A male member of Sheikha 
Al-Jefairi's family dropped out of the race shortly before 
the 2003 election, leaving her unopposed for the seat.) 
 
¶5. In a meeting with U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney 
(D-NY) April 3, Sheikha Al-Jefairi exuded confidence and 
noted that she had predicted her election victory in advance. 
She noted that she would fulfill her electoral program and 
provide her constituents with better healthcare and 
educational facilities by establishing a health care center 
and by increasing the number of schools in the area. "I will 
also seek to find a solution to the recurring traffic snarl 
in the area and ensure high standards of road safety," she 
added. Congresswoman Maloney was present in Qatar during the 
first CMC elections in 1999 and noted, "It seems that some 
sort of change is happening. I think Al-Jefairi's win is a 
step forward in the direction of women's empowerment in 
Qatar." When asked if she planned to run for the national 
Advisory Council, the elections for which are expected 
sometime next year, Al-Jefairi was non-committal. She said 
she preferred to be a member of the CMC and added, "I do not 
consider running for the proposed elections, at least for 
now." 
 
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The Losers 
---------- 
 
¶6. The situation was different for female candidate Suhaila 
Al-Hareb. Suhaila was seeking election in the Al-Jasrah 
district which witnessed the lowest voter turnout (28 
percent). She lost the election, receiving only 50 votes 
compared to 180 votes for her male rival. Al-Hareb told 
Poloff April 3 that friendship and personal relations were 
the primary motivating factors for voters in her district. 
She also accused the MOI Election Supervising Committee (ESC) 
of not being neutral by allowing family members of the male 
candidate to be present at the polling station and to 
influence voters before casting their votes. Rather than 
officially contesting the vote, Suhaila plans to publicize 
her opinions in the local press. 
 
¶7. Dr. Amina Al-Heil, the third female candidate, remains 
undaunted. During a reception for the election winners April 
3, she announced her decision to run in the upcoming 
parliamentary elections, "I will not give up. I will contest 
the upcoming parliamentary election. I also plan to contest 
the next CMC elections." 
 
¶8. Pol Assistant contacted two of the five incumbent 
candidates on April 4 who lost their races. Issa Al-Kuwari, 
Deputy Chairman of the current CMC, ran against two other 
candidates and lost. Explaining his defeat, he told Emboff, 
"People wanted a change, that's all." Nassir Suleiman 
Al-Dosari ran against one other candidate (Mubarak Farish 
Mubark Saleh Salem) in the Doha suburb of Gharaffa. He told 
us that the winner used his position in sewage affairs at the 
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture to his 
advantage. Al-Gharaffa has no sewage system and relies 
completely on tankers provided by the municipality. "Because 
of his position, he has access to the contact information for 
all voters in the district. He was able to reach the women 
inside their homes and got their promises to vote for him," 
Al-Dosari noted. He added that, "Women have a strong 
influence over their family members; as such the women voters 
affected the result significantly." He blamed the voters for 
the lack of awareness. "They based their votes on promises 
given to whoever could reach them first rather than their 
capabilities or achievements," he added. Given that many 
people don't read newspapers in Qatar, he blamed Qatar TV for 
its weak coverage of the election campaign. He believes that 
TV is the most important tool that can be used to raise 
awareness among the voters. Citing an example, he noted, 
"People did not know that they have to register their names 
at least two weeks before the election. A lot of them were 
sent away on voting day because their names were not 
registered." 
 
--------- 
The Polls 
--------- 
 
¶9. Polling started at 8am and closed at 5pm, at which time 
the ballot boxes were sealed. One public school in each 
district was used as a polling station. Ministers, the 
Advisory Council Spokesman, and other high-ranking officials 
were noted casting their votes in their respective districts. 
The President of Courts and the Minister of Interior toured 
the polling stations to witness the process. The Qatar 
National Human Rights Committee formed four committees to 
survey the 29 polling stations in order to ensure 
transparency and to confirm that the rights of voters and 
candidates were guaranteed. Qatar TV and Radio and local 
newspapers covered the election. The counting started 
immediately after closure, and results were announced the 
same evening. 
 
¶10. Speaking to the media April 1, Major Salim Saqr 
Al-Miraikhi, head of the legal section of the ESC, said the 
polling ran smoothly in all constituencies, despite some 
minor violations of electoral rules. According to 
Al-Miraikhi, one voter came to one of the polling stations 
wearing a t-shirt displaying the picture of a particular 
candidate, which was illegal. He was ordered to leave the 
area. 
 
¶11. Emboffs visited five polling stations during the voting. 
According to observations, the turnout was generally low 
early and picked up gradually by midday. Women's 
participation was noticeable. Since CMC election regulations 
require the personal presence of each voter, aged and 
handicapped people with wheelchairs were seen participating 
in the process. Women's polling places were separated from 
those for men. Male and female security personnel were 
deployed in all constituencies and were assisted by 
volunteers of both genders to guide and help voters. Voters 
had to show their identification and voting cards in order to 
be allowed directly to the polling counter. Those who had 
registered but didn't have their voting cards with them were 
given one on the spot. Voting procedures were explained 
patiently to voters when required. 
 
¶12. Some voters felt that the election was an important step 
towards achieving a democratic system in Qatar. Ali Moosa 
Eisa, a voter from the Old Airport district, told a local 
newspaper, "Gone are the days when people voted for members 
of their family or tribe. Now the voters are more critical 
and they are looking at the qualifications of the candidate 
and whether they are capable of doing some good job in their 
constituency." 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶13. Given the perceived apathy by voters and even some of the 
candidates prior to the election, the turnout was much higher 
than expected. The voting process appeared very orderly and 
well supervised. Candidates and voters have learned much 
through the three elections. The role of women in elections, 
not only as candidates or voters, but as a powerful influence 
in the home, has been realized by some of the population. It 
appears as if this incremental step in democratization may 
lead to a more participative role of citizens in the 
governing of their country. 
UNTERMEYER