US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT405

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000405 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2015 
TAGS: KISL, PREL, KU, ISLAMISTS 
SUBJECT: SALAFIS ANNOUNCE POLITICAL PARTY; EMBASSY PRESENCE 
PROVOKES FIRESTORM FROM LIBERALS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: The presence of Embassy personnel at a press 
conference held by prominent Salafis to announce the 
establishment of the Hizb Al-Ummah (People's Party or 
Nation's Party) on January 29 provoked a firestorm of 
complaints from liberal Kuwaitis, and a complaint from the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Many Embassy contacts unhappy 
with photos published in local news dailies showing an 
Embassy political officer shaking hands with party officials 
called the Embassy on January 30 to express their 
disappointment.  The announcement of the party (a first for 
Kuwait) comes at a time of increasing tension between 
Islamist and progressive factions of Kuwaiti society.  End 
Summary. 
 
Press Conference Announces Islamic Nation's Party 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
2. (C) Prominent Salafists, including the very recently 
former Secretary General of the Salafi Movement, (aka 
Scientific Salafis), Hakem Al-Mutairi, held a press 
conference on January 29 announcing the establishment of the 
Hizb Al-Ummah (People's Party or Nation's Party).  The new 
party leadership, in letters sent to Prime Minister Shaykh 
Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah and Speaker of the National Assembly 
Jassem Al-Khorafi, implored the GOK to amend legislation to 
allow for the establishment of official political parties. 
(Note: Political parties are neither prohibited nor allowed 
by the Constitution, but the government refuses to recognize 
them; in practice, political "groupings" or "movements" have 
served as de facto parties in Kuwait since the establishment 
of the National Assembly in 1962.  End Note.) 
 
3. (C) Copies of the party platform obtained at the press 
conference call for, among other things, the adoption of 
Sharia law as the sole source of legislation in Kuwait (Note: 
Currently, the Constitution specifies Sharia as "a main 
source of legislation."  The adoption of Sharia as the sole 
source has been a long-standing goal of Kuwaiti Islamists. 
End Note.).  The platform also called for the right to 
political pluralism and the peaceful transfer of power, Islam 
as religion and state, open dialogue between political 
factions and the right to "reject all forms of foreign 
occupation," a thinly veiled criticism of the U.S. presence 
in Kuwait. 
 
Just A Handshake and a Photo 
------------------------------ 
 
4. (C) An Embassy political offficer and the political 
assistant attended the widely publicized press conference as 
observers only but were publicly recognized by the speakers 
at the end of the presentation, drawing focused media 
attention when they stopped to shake hands with the event's 
hosts.  The resulting January 30 photos in local dailies and 
short spots on Al-Jazeera prompted liberal contacts, 
including former Ambassador to the U.S., Shaykh Saud Nasser 
Al-Sabah, to contact the Embassy on January 30 to voice their 
displeasure at the perception that the Embassy was endorsing 
an Islamist political party. 
 
5. (C) MFA Undersecretary  Khaled Al-Jarallah called the 
Ambassador to "convey our worry and concern" about the 
presence of an Embassy officer at the event of the 
"unlicensed" organization.  He asked for clarification that 
he could share with the Foreign Minister.  Ambassador faxed 
Jarallah the text of press guidance that was used with 
Kuwaiti dailies on Jan. 30.  Text:  "The Embassy has received 
inquiries about the attendance of an Embassy officer at an 
event on January 29 sponsored by a group calling itself the 
Hizb Al-Ummah.  Embassy officers meet with a wide spectrum of 
groups and individuals in Kuwait in order to gain an 
understanding of current developments.  Attendance at the 
particular event should not be misinterpreted as an 
endorsement of the group or its objectives. 
LEBARON