US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4792

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004792 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, PINR, PHUM, KDEM, KU, SUCCESSION 
SUBJECT: PUBLIC PROSECUTION QUESTIONS RULING FAMILY MEMBER 
ABOUT HIS PUBLIC CRITICISM OF GOK 
 
REF: KUWAIT 4372 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: The Public Prosecution Office questioned 
Shaykh Mishal Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, former Assistant 
Undersecretary for State Security Affairs, on November 8 
about his public criticism of the GOK during a September 
interview conducted by Mohammed Al-Jassem on his program 
"Al-Majlis," which airs on Al-Hurra.  During the five and 
one-half hour closed-door session, Shaykh Mishal responded to 
ten charges brought against him by First Deputy Prime 
Minister and Interior Minister Shaykh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber 
Al-Sabah.  Shaykh Mishal denied all of the charges except 
one: his claim that the Government paid seven million KD 
($23.9 million) in bribes to ensure the May 16 National 
Assembly approval of women's suffrage legislation.  The 
English-daily Arab Times quoted Shaykh Mishal as saying, "I 
will reveal, in court, some surprising information on the 
seven million dinars paid by the government to seven MPs for 
approval of the women's political rights law."  Commenting on 
the situation, liberal writer Ahmed Deyain said the 
Government's decision to bring charges against Shaykh Mishal 
was intended to send a message to other GOK critics.  He also 
suggested the decision was linked to the discontent of some 
Al-Sabah with the current distribution of power within the 
ruling family. End summary. 
 
Ten Charges Brought Against Former Security Official 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
2.  (SBU) In an unusual move, former Assistant Undersecretary 
for State Security Affairs Shaykh Mishal Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah 
was brought before the Public Prosecution Office on November 
8 for questioning over comments he made in a September 
interview with Mohammed Al-Jassem on the television program 
"Al-Majlis," which airs weekly on the U.S.-funded satellite 
station Al-Hurra.  The English-daily Arab Times reported 
November 9 that the following ten charges were leveled 
against Shaykh Mishal by First Deputy Prime Minister and 
Interior Minister Shaykh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. 
One observer noted that this is the first time a ruling 
family member has referred another Al-Sabah to the Public 
Prosecution for questioning. 
 
Begin text of Charges: 
 
1) Shaykh Mishal revealed some information which he had 
gained in his official capacity as Assistant Undersecretary 
for State Security Affairs.  This could harm the interests of 
Kuwait. 
2) He divulged information which could undermine Kuwait's 
relations with friendly countries. 
3) He spread false information that there is an old base for 
the al-Qaeda organization in Kuwait.  This could damage 
Kuwait's relations with the United States. 
4) He claimed that the State Security had unearthed a Shiite 
Bahraini network in Kuwait, which could lead to a sectarian 
dispute in the country and also spoil Kuwait's relations with 
the Kingdom of Bahrain. 
5) He alleged that Saudi terrorist Juhayman Al-Otaibi started 
his movement from Kuwait, which could hurt Kuwait's ties with 
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  (Note: The Otaibi tribe is one 
of the most prominent tribes in Kuwait.  End note.) 
6) He claimed Iran has prepared some terrorist groups to work 
in the Gulf region if a war is launched against that country. 
 This could harm bilateral relations between Kuwait and Iran. 
7) He asserted that terrorist groups are able to infiltrate 
Iraq from its neighbors, which could spoil Kuwait's relations 
with these countries, especially Syria and Iran. 
8) He accused two MPs of belonging to al-Qaeda. 
9) He accused the Government of dismissing some 
well-qualified and professional officials from sensitive 
positions. 
10) He claimed that the Government paid seven million dinars 
to some MPs as a bribe to vote in favor of the women's 
political rights law, a charge that could sully Kuwait's 
image. 
 
End text. 
 
Shaykh Mishal Promises to Reveal "Surprising Information" 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
3.  (SBU) Denying all but the tenth charge brought against 
him, Shaykh Mishal told the Public Prosecution, "I will 
reveal, in court, some surprising information on the seven 
million dinars ($23.9 million) paid by the government to 
 
KUWAIT 00004792  002 OF 002 
 
 
seven MPs for the approval of women's political rights law," 
the English-daily Arab Times quoted him as saying.  (Note: 
Rumors that the Government bribed MPs to vote for women's 
suffrage legislation are widespread.  End note.) 
 
Government Trying to Send Message to Critics 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C) Ahmed Deyain, a liberal writer with close ties to 
Shaykh Nasser Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Prime 
Minister's son, told Poloff in an November 9 meeting that the 
only rationale the Government could have for bringing charges 
against Shaykh Mishal was to send a message to other critics. 
 Commenting that the Government's decision to refer Shaykh 
Mishal to the Public Prosecution was either a "stupid move" 
or a "decision to break heads," Deyain argued that the 
Government risks "heroizing" Shaykh Mishal if he is 
acquitted, or appearing to silence a public critic of 
government corruption if he is jailed.  (Comment: Jail is an 
unlikely prospect in our view.  End comment.) 
 
A Succession Squabble Behind the Charges? 
----------------------------------------- 
 
5.  (C) Deyain suggested Shaykh Mishal's referral to the 
Public Prosecution was linked to the struggle within the 
ruling family over succession, which erupted publicly at the 
beginning of Ramadan when Shaykh Salem Al-Ali Al-Salem 
Al-Sabah called for the formation of a three-member committee 
to run the country (reftel).  Shaykh Mishal has close ties to 
former Minister of Interior Shaykh Mohammed Al-Khalid 
Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, who is married to Shaykh Salem Al-Ali's 
daughter Alia.  According to Deyain, both Shaykh Mishal and 
Shaykh Mohammed Al-Khalid have long been at odds with Prime 
Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and are 
dissatisfied with the current distribution of power within 
the ruling family, which they believe disproportionately 
favors the Ahmed line of the Jaber branch.  Shaykh Mishal's 
comments on "Al-Majlis" were likely meant to put pressure on 
Shaykh Sabah and predicated Shaykh Salem Al-Ali's statement, 
Deyain commented. 
 
Bio Note 
-------- 
 
5.  (U) Shaykh Mishal Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, born September 1, 
1956, served as Assistant Undersecretary for State Security 
Affairs at the Ministry of Interior until his replacement by 
Major General Abdullah Al-Fares in November 2002.  Shaykh 
Mishal previously served as Director General of the State 
Security Department at the Ministry of Interior.  He 
graduated from the Kuwait Military College in 1976.  He is 
married with five children: Fawwaz, Sabah, Abdullah, Hissa, 
and Duaij. 
 
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LEBARON