US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT594

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000594 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, PHUM, KPAO, KU 
SUBJECT: C/T UPDATE: PM SAYS ERA OF SOFTNESS OVER, TERROR 
COURT PROPOSED, INFORMATION CONTROLS AND NO TO UNLICENSED 
MOSQUES 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 538 
     B. KUWAIT 512 
 
 1. Summary: Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed told 
newspaper editors February 7 that the "era of softness" was 
over and the GOK would begin demolishing unlicensed mosques 
which the GOK partially blamed for the spread of radical 
ideology.  The comments came during a meeting the PM called 
with editors of all Kuwaiti dailies to warn them about the 
extent of their coverage of terrorism-related stories (ref. 
A) and to communicate the seriousness of the government's 
efforts to eradicate terrorism.  Reinforcing this message, 
the GOK also took the additional steps of proposing a special 
court to try terror suspects, blocking websites that incite 
violence, and tightening security at border checkpoints.  The 
government continued its enforcement of a law banning fully 
veiled women from driving, drawing increased protest from 
conservative Kuwaitis.  In addition, the GOK released five 
suspects it had captured in a Feb. 5 raid in Sulaibiya (ref. 
B) and announced on February 9 the death in captivity of 
terror suspect Amer Khlaif Al-Enezi. On the financial front, 
the GOK agreed to join the UN Convention for the Suppression 
of the Financing of Terrorism and submitted the treaty to 
Parliament for ratification.  In addition, it issued orders 
tightening controls over chemicals that could be used to make 
bombs or other weapons.  End Summary. 
 
PM Vows to End Terror, Demolish Unlicensed Mosques 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
2. During a February 7 meeting (ref. A), PM Shaykh Sabah 
Al-Ahmed told editors of Kuwait's daily newspapers that the 
"era of softness" was over and that the GOK had "decided to 
end terrorism once and for all."  Stating that terrorism was 
a threat to national security, the PM said that local 
municipal authorities had been instructed to demolish 
unlicensed mosques which it partially blames for the spread 
of radical ideology.  He added that attempts to prevent such 
actions  through "wasta," or influence, would not be accepted 
by Kuwaiti authorities. 
 
Special Terror Court Proposed 
------------------------------ 
 
3. Reinforcing this message, the government, in coordination 
with MPs, proposed on February 7 the establishment of a 
special terror court to handle the cases of those militants 
that have been involved in clashes with police since January 
10.  MP Ali Al-Hajeri told English language daily Kuwait 
Times on February 8 that such a court would "issue stiff 
penalties against any person proved to be a member of those 
deviant groups involved in terrorism." 
 
Terrorist Websites Blocked 
--------------------------- 
 
4. Expanding its anti-terror efforts to the internet, the 
Ministry of Communications began to block websites that 
"incite terrorism and instability" on February 6, according 
to the Kuwait Times.  Communications Ministry U/S Hamed Khaja 
said the Ministry had begun compiling a list of offending 
websites weeks earlier, and hoped to eventually block access 
to these websites by as much as 90% of the time. 
 
Border Security Tightened, Citations for Veiled Women 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
5. In keeping with the tough rhetoric emanating from 
high-level political figures, police authorities continued to 
enforce a 1984 law banning fully veiled women from driving 
(ref. B), issuing a reported 500 citations since the 
enforcement of the law began in earnest in late January.  The 
practice of requesting that women reveal their faces to 
police to facilitate identification was expanded to the 
Saudi-Kuwaiti border crossing, where conservative Kuwaitis 
and Saudis alike complained that the practice contravened 
Islamic tradition. 
 
6. The Kuwait Times reported February 7 that border police 
along the Saudi-Kuwaiti border have implemented extensive 
investigative procedures for those entering Kuwait, including 
lengthy interrogations and the photocopying of identification 
documents.  Some Saudi males have reportedly been denied 
entry because they were not traveling with their families. 
 
Release of Suspected Militants 
------------------------------- 
 
7. After questioning suspected militants that it had formerly 
referred to as "wanted terrorists," the GOK released on 
February 7 three Jordanians and two Saudis that it had 
detained during a February 5 raid in the Sulaibiya 
neighborhood west of Kuwait City (ref. B).  The released 
former suspects told local dailies that they were treated 
well while in captivity. 
 
Death of Detained Kuwaiti Militant 
---------------------------------- 
 
8. International press reported widely on February 9 that 
detained militant and former Imam Amer Khlaif Al-Enezi, 
brother of slain militant Nasser Khlaif Al-Enezi, suffered 
"heart failure" and died while in the custody of the Kuwaiti 
Ministry of Interior.  The Embassy has not yet independently 
confirmed this information. Amer's wife remains in custody 
for aiding and abetting her husband and brother-in-law in 
terrorist activities. 
 
Terrorist Finance Convention 
----------------------------- 
 
9. The Council of Ministers agreed on September 7 that Kuwait 
would become a party to the UN Convention for the Suppression 
of the Financing of Terrorism.  The National Assembly will 
have to ratify this decision before it can go into effect. 
With this action, Kuwait will be a party to 11 of the 12 
international terrorism conventions.  Kuwait has not yet 
signed the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist 
Bombings. 
 
Tightening Controls on Chemicals 
--------------------------------- 
 
10. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued two 
orders to tighten controls over chemicals that could be used 
to make bombs and other explosive devises.  According to 
Undersecretary Rasheed Al-Tabtabaei, the first order (issued 
February 3) prohibits petrochemical and chemical companies 
from selling hydrogen peroxide and its byproducts without the 
Ministry of Interior's permission.  Ministry of Commerce 
inspectors visited all chemical companies in Kuwait to 
hand-deliver this order and to warn them not to sell without 
MOI approval, he said.  On February 7, the ministry -- in 
coordination with the Ministry of Interior and the Customs 
Service -- issued a second order banning companies from 
importing chemicals without a license certified by the 
Ministry of Commerce. 
 
Kuwaitis Support Terror Crackdown 
--------------------------------- 
 
11. On February 8, PolOffs attended an open forum against 
terrorism at the diwaniya of MP Jamal Al-Omar.   Formal 
speakers at the forum entitled "Together Against Terrorism" 
included MPs Hassan Jowhar, Ali Al-Hajjiri, Saleh Ashour, 
Issam Al-Dabbous, Jamal Al-Omar and Minister of Awqaf and 
Islamic Affairs Dr. Abdullah Al-Maatouq.  The Minister of 
Communications attended but did not speak.  All spoke before 
the media and a crowded room of onlookers about the 
intolerable nature of terrorism, emphasizing Kuwait's history 
of inclusion and tolerance and calling fpr stronger 
legislation, better parenting and enhanced controls on 
mosques and those issuing fatwas. 
 
12. On February 7, PolOffs attended the liberal diwaniya of 
Najib Al-Saleh to discuss the issue of terror.  The diwaniya 
was uncharacteristically packed with prominent liberals to 
include a Member of Parliament, the media advisor to Prime 
Minister, a former Chairman of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, 
and a number of noted columnists and academics.  All engaged 
in an open dialogue condemning terrorism and its supporters 
in Kuwait.  Among the comments and condemnation were 
suggestions on how the GOK might better deal with the threat 
of terror and ideological extremism, The suggestions included 
reforming school curricula and increased monitoring of mosque 
sermons. 
LEBARON