US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT1901

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001901 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, KWMN, KU, WOMEN'S POLITICAL RIGHTS 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HOSTS WOMEN'S RIGHTS DIALOGUE; WOMEN 
PROMOTE ONE-DAY STRIKE 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 1863 
     B. KUWAIT 1836 
     C. KUWAIT 1633 
     D. KUWAIT 1091 
     E. KUWAIT 944 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (U) Summary: During a May 7 luncheon hosted by the 
Ambassador for Kuwaiti women's rights activists, many women 
expressed astonishment that an amendment to allow women 
political participation at the municipal level did not 
succeed during a second-round vote May 2. In general, they 
now reject the municipal vote. To protest their perception of 
the GOK's insincerity to grant them political rights, women 
are organizing a one-day strike May 9. They have also 
submitted a petition requesting the Government to redouble 
efforts to pass an Assembly bill granting full women's 
suffrage rather than focusing on municipal level rights. 
Despite this new twist in this overly-long saga, the GOK 
asserts that women will obtain their municipal rights after a 
May 16 vote. End summary. 
 
Ambassador Hosts Frank Discussion with Female Activists 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
2. (C) The Ambassador hosted 15 female Kuwaiti women rights 
activists at the residence May 7 to discuss the political 
wrangling surrounding the May 2 vote that failed to grant 
women's political rights at the municipal level (ref B) and 
the movement's next steps in the campaign to attain women's 
suffrage. Guests included professors, activists, artists and 
scientists. Many women echoed Dr. Rola Dashti's sentiments 
that she was surprised that the May 2 vote ended in 
disappointment since the municipal voting rights measure 
succeeded in the first-round of balloting 26 to 20 (ref C). 
Lulwa Al-Mulla of the Kuwait Women's Cultural and Social 
Society called last week's parliamentary actions a 
"disgrace." Another woman was surprised by the lack of "yes" 
votes since, in her words, "the Government bought these MPs," 
an accusation that the GOK financed the campaigns of 
preferred candidates. 
 
3. (C) When the Ambassador asked if obtaining the municipal 
vote was a good thing, a cacophony of "no's" filled the room. 
Some women said they wanted full political rights and not 
half measures. Others said they now did not want the 
amendment to pass since they would not be allowed to vote in 
Municipal Council elections until 2009 at the earliest. In 
fact, many agreed to urge their MP allies to reject the 
municipal vote with the goal of forcing a confrontation with 
the Government. Yet others added that MPs were holding the 
municipal voting issue hostage in an attempt to advance their 
own agenda items like a public sector salary increase, 
reduction in voting age for males from 21 to 18 and inclusion 
of security service personnel in the voting registers. (Note: 
Press reports May 7 indicate the GOK has agreed in principle 
to boost government salaries. MFA Under-Secretary Khaled 
Al-Jarallah told the Ambassador May 7 that the GOK was 
reaching out to political blocs in Parliament but had not 
made any concessions (septel). End note.) Many questioned the 
GOK's sincerity to muster the votes needed to grant women the 
right to vote. 
 
4. (U) In terms of next steps, the women are divided. They 
mentioned that a campaign via text message was underway to 
urge women and men alike to skip work on May 9 to protest the 
lack of political rights for women. It is unclear how many 
will participate in the work stoppage and what impact, if 
any, their actions may have. Meanwhile, Dashti reported that 
nearly 150 women signed a petition May 6 to urge the GOK to 
re-commit to women's full political rights. Some women 
claimed challenging in the courts the constitutionality of 
not allowing women to vote remained an option. Ten MPs 
threatened this course of action in February but withdrew 
plans after the Parliament agreed March 7 to expedite 
consideration of a bill granting full women's suffrage (ref 
E); the legislation continues to languish in the Assembly's 
Interior and Defense Committee. 
 
What Will Happen May 16? 
------------------------ 
 
5. (C) The Government, as reported in local dailies, expects 
women to obtain their municipal level political rights May 16 
when the Parliament is scheduled to take up the discussion. 
One estimate puts the margin of victory at a single vote. An 
English-language newspaper reported May 7 that the GOK, 
however, does not intend to name a new Health Minister, a 
position vacant since April. Appointing a new minister would 
have guaranteed another vote in favor. Justice Minister Ahmad 
Baqer, an Islamist who opposes women's suffrage, apparently 
has a medical examination scheduled for May 16, which will 
prevent him from voting. Baqer also missed the May 2-3 
sessions for "medical" reasons. 
 
Columnist Questions GOK Sincerity 
--------------------------------- 
 
6. (C) Ahmed Al-Deyain, liberal columnist for Arabic daily 
Al-Rai Al-Aam, told Poloff May 8 that the GOK is not serious 
about supporting women's rights. He had not heard of any 
deal-making leading up to the May 2 vote, which surprised him 
since the GOK often makes efforts to do so before important 
parliamentary votes. He said Prime Minister Sabah Al-Ahmad 
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's announced delay until May 16 is like the 
act of an acrobat: just a performance. He described the GOK 
as wayward and not interested in being progressive, only in 
staying in power. 
 
********************************************* 
Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website 
********************************************* 
LEBARON