US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1626

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001626 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, BA 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH SHURA COUNCIL CHAIRMAN AL 
MOUSAWI 
 
REF: A. MANAMA 1594 
 
     B. MANAMA 1553 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe, reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  In an October 30 meeting with the 
Ambassador, Shura Council Chairman Dr. Faisal Al Mousawi said 
he anticipates that the opposition political societies will 
participate in the 2006 parliamentary elections and will gain 
between 14 and 18 seats at the expense of the Al Minbar bloc 
and the Independent bloc.  He also anticipates that more than 
20 percent of the Shura Council will change and admits that 
he may not be part of a new Shura Council.  He said that the 
Shura Council is appointed after the elections to provide a 
counterweight to the members of the elected Council of 
Representatives (COR).  Al Mousawi counseled against an 
Embassy response to counter GTMO detainee Juma Al Dossary's 
claims of abuse.  End Summary. 
 
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Final Session of Parliament 
--------------------------- 
 
2.  (C) The Ambassador met with Shura Council Chairman Dr. 
Faisal Al Mousawi October 30 to talk about this fourth and 
final legislative session of this parliament's four-year 
term.  Al Mousawi said that legislation has backed up in the 
elected COR due to the slow progress on labor reform 
legislation.  He said that there are approximately 65 pieces 
of legislation, including anti-terrorism legislation, ready 
for the COR to take up, but he doubted whether the Council 
will be able to get to all of them during this session. 
 
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Political Society Participation 
------------------------------- 
 
3.  (C) Al Mousawi told the Ambassador that he expects Al 
Wifaq to participate in the parliamentary elections, to take 
place October 2006.  He said that the opposition lost ground 
by boycotting the 2002 elections.  He referred to a meeting 
with opposition leaders two years ago during which some 
admitted that the boycott had been a mistake.  Al Mousawi 
estimated that the opposition would win 14 to 18 (of 40) 
seats in the next election, but would not have enough support 
to gain a majority.  He singled out the seven-member Al 
Minbar bloc and the eight-member Independent bloc as those 
that may lose strength due to opposition participation in the 
next election. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Shura Council Changes Next Year? 
-------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C) The Ambassador inquired about anticipated changes in 
the makeup of the Shura Council following the next election. 
Al Mousawi said that the number of members will not change 
from the current 40, but that he anticipates a turnover of 
more than 20 percent, i.e., more than 8 members.  When asked 
whether people lobby the King to be appointed, Al Mousawi 
said people do not.  He said that the King watches the 
current members, and he knows those who do not keep up on the 
legislation, do not contribute much to Shura business and 
debate, or are too busy with their personal business outside 
the Council to be effective.  The King has been considering 
other possible candidates for the Council.  Al Mousawi said 
that Shura members will be chosen after the election to 
provide counterbalance to the makeup of the COR; this is how 
the Shura was appointed in 2002. 
 
5.  (C) When asked whether he would remain chairman in a new 
Shura Council, Al Mousawi admitted that he has been thinking 
about returning to the medical field.  He is an orthopedic 
surgeon and keeps his British medical license current.  He 
told the Ambassador that he has received an offer from the 
World Health Organization to serve in Geneva and would like 
to continue his involvement with the Irish University 
facility in Manama. 
 
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GTMO Detainees 
--------------- 
 
6.  (C) Al Mousawi said that on October 29 he met with the 
Prime Minister, who expressed frustration about criticism of 
the GOB for not working hard enough on the return of the 
Guantanamo detainees.  Al Mousawi reported that the PM said 
he "believes some will come back."  (Note: His meeting with 
the PM was two days prior to the government leak about the 
imminent return of the detainees (Ref A).  End note.)  The 
Ambassador expressed concern that the public would treat GTMO 
returnees like heroes.  Al Mousawi stated that the longer 
they are held, the more they become heroes to the public. 
When asked about his thoughts on an Embassy statement to the 
media to counter claims by detainee Juma Al Dossary (Ref B), 
Al Mousawi counseled silence.  He admitted that their stories 
may be exaggerated, but that countering the claims will only 
invite more talk. 
MONROE