US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT2800

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002800 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, PA, INR/NESA 
STATE FOR IIP/G/NEA-SA, INR/B 
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, PARIS FOR O'FRIEL 
USDOC FOR 4520/ANESA/ONE/FITZGERALD-WILKS 
USDOC FOR ITA AND PTO/OLIA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KU, KDMR 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION KUWAIT August 24-25: Human Rights, 
Iraq, Terrorism 
 
1.  SUMMARY: The long-awaited recognition by the government 
Kuwait of an NGO dedicated to human rights became a 
lightning rod for comments both for and against. Many 
commentators condemned the violent incursion of Coalition 
forces into Najaf, and others continued to discuss extremist 
ideologies and their influence on the youth, but both issues 
were drowned out by the NGO discussion. Conservatives 
declared it simply an American puppet group bent on meddling 
in Kuwaiti affairs. Liberals, long champions of the new NGO, 
praised the group and explored the perceived hypocrisy of 
their opponents. Owner and editor-in-chief Ahmad al-Jarallah 
wrote in independent al-Seyassah (8/24): "What is strange is 
that the opposition denies us the decision to respect human 
rights, while at the same they require it of the U.S., whom 
they say has pressured us into recognizing the society in 
the first place." END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  "Opposition that Violates Human Rights" 
Owner and editor-in-chief Ahmad al-Jarallah wrote in 
independent al-Seyassah (8/24): "We wonder why the Kuwaiti 
opposition is against the recognition of a Human Rights 
Society in Kuwait. Do they wish for these rights to remain 
without protection, and hence be subject to abuse and 
without any supervising or protecting body? Or are these 
people against the Society's recognition because they see in 
it the beginning of equilibrium and balance between the 
institutions of the Kuwaiti civil society and its electoral 
body? What is strange is that the opposition denies us the 
decision to respect human rights, while at the same they 
require it of the U.S., whom they say has pressured us into 
recognizing the society in the first place. In doing this, 
the opposition is limiting this noble cause to the U.S., 
whom they say does not believe in God and whose killing is 
favorable." 
 
3.  "The Scene in Najaf and the American Mistakes" 
Ammar Taqi wrote in independent al-Rai al-A'am  (8/24): "The 
American use of harsh force in the recent events in Najaf is 
the damning proof that their promises of bringing a peace 
and stability more humane than that during Saddam's rule are 
nothing but lies. It doesn't seem that the U.S., which has 
sunk deeper in the Iraqi swamp, has learned anything from 
its strategic ally Israel regarding how military might does 
nothing but encourage more resistance against the occupier. 
It is a certainty that the disrespect of holy sites and 
murder which the Americans are spreading in Najaf today will 
remain in the minds of Iraqis for years to come, and that 
the future beyond the events of Najaf will be a grim one." 
 
4.  "He Hit Me Then Cried and Complained Against Me" 
Ali Ahmad al-Baghli wrote in independent al-Qabas  (8/24): 
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that one of the 
Kuwaiti members of the Salafi [Islamic fundamentalist] 
movement blamed terrorism on liberals. How could this be 
when Kuwait's fundamentalists are known to have made a pact 
with the government to fight constitutional freedoms, 
openness, and modernization? Because of the fundamentalist- 
government coalition books are supervised, films are 
censored, innocent musical events are not allowed, 
universities are segregated, women's Olympic sports are not 
aired, etc. Those fundamentalists will not be satisfied 
until they hold on to power, so they can terrorize and 
murder the society, and hence leave it as barren as their 
likes have in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and the Sudan." 
 
5.  "HI . . . And More to Come" 
Dr. Sajed al-Abdali wrote in independent al-Rai al-A'am 
(8/25):  " Hi is an eloquent Arabic speaking magazine aimed 
at youth, printed in the latest style, produced 
professionally,.and has a copy editor. This is an important 
matter since most of our Arabic magazines don't have such a 
man.The magazine's pages have varied cultural topics that 
cover arts, sports, technology, science, literature, and 
others, all of which are written in meticulous form.Despite 
this being a form of the cultural invasion we have so often 
heard about, I cannot call for the boycott of such a 
wonderful magazine." 
 
6.  "An Unfair Organized Campaign!" 
Ali Ahmad al-Baghli wrote in independent al-Qabas  (8/25): 
"The campaign led by the fundamentalists against Dr. Najma 
Idrees as punishment for criticizing the Fundamentalists by 
requiring her students to study Dr. Khalifa al-Waqayaan's 
book `The Journey of Dreams and Worries,' which diagnoses 
the reasons and sources of terrorism in our society, is a 
blatant attack on the freedom of education, and the 
independence of that process, especially after a committee 
deemed the book suitable for teaching. All we ask is that 
government organizations, and in particular Kuwait 
University and the Minister of Education, not be affected by 
this unfair campaign so as to prevent this group from 
interfering with what is taught at our universities." 
 
7.  "NO to Playing Around With Human Rights" 
Abdullatif al-Du'aij wrote in independent al-Qabas (8/25): 
"The Salafi dogma is the most critical of those who are not 
of it, and is known for infringing upon the personal and 
religious rights of others. It is funny how the Head of the 
Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Mr. Waleed 
Tabtaba'i claims that the current Human Rights Society has 
not shown interest in his clan's complaint against state 
security, whereas he and his clan, and his entire 
parliament, stand against hundreds of deprived Christian 
citizens who are not even allowed to sound the bells of 
their churches." 
 
 
Tueller