US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4795

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 004795 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, 
B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN 
USAID/ANE/MEA 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC, KMDR, KIRF, KPAO, PGOV, PHUM, PREL, PTER, KPAO, 
XF, IZ, KU, TIP, TERRORISM 
 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS, HUMAN 
RIGHTS, AND GUANTANAMO 
 
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Summary 
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1. Kuwaiti Arabic-language press responded unfavorably to 
the November 9 roundtable discussion the Ambassador held on 
the topic of trafficking in persons, with the exception of 
one Kuwait University political science professor, who 
thanked the Ambassador in Al-Seyassah.  Al-Rai Al-Aam 
dedicated an entire page to reactions by members of the 
National Assembly.  End summary. 
 
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Selected Headlines 
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2. Sunday, November 13, 2005 
 
-- Al-Rai Al-Aam front page: 
"Independent Salem Al-Hammad called on him not to mix 
matters and Bader Al-Farsi sees Kuwait as spoiling 
expatriate labor.  Islamist MP Waled Al-Tabtabaei: The 
American Ambassador interferes in our affairs.  Islamist 
Faisal Al-Musallam: I resent his repeated inappropriate 
interference but I agree with him" 
 
-- Al-Rai Al-Aam p. 8: 
"We do not deny the lack of legislature and those trading in 
residency visas must be combated; LeBaron's interference is 
unacceptable.  MPs and political activists answer the 
criticisms of the American Ambassador and the predictions of 
James Zogby: Kuwait cares for expatriate labor rights and 
the Gulf region will not witness disturbances like France," 
"Labor laws are very old and must be reviewed.  We must 
change the sponsorship system;" "The government is weak 
against residency visa traders.  We want to expedite the 
establishment of labor cities," "If Ambassador LeBaron 
places Kuwait in the third category then the U.S. is in the 
last;" "Kuwait is a state of law and spoils expatriate labor 
at the expense of its citizens.  We are currently studying 
new legislation;" "Kuwait is badmouthed.  We lend a helping 
hand to countries and we only receive offense;" "We admit to 
problems with expatriate workers in the Gulf region but they 
will not resort to violence;" "Every worker whose rights are 
violated should resort to legal channels and workers in the 
Gulf region do not feel that they are treated unjustly;" 
"There are companies that embarrass Kuwait in human rights 
organizations' reports;" "We do not dismiss the possibility 
of violence in the Gulf because of certain prejudices that 
citizens experience for sectarian reasons." 
 
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Block Quotes 
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3. Monday, November 14, 2005 
 
-- Musaid Adel Al-Zafiri wrote for moderate Al-Watan under 
the title "America and its violations of the Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights:" "'Whereas disregard and 
contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts 
which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the 
advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom 
of speech and belief and freedom from fear.' 
The preamble of the United Nations General Assembly 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights begins with this 
wonderful statement.  The United States is a signatory to 
the declaration yet it has not only disregarded human 
rights, it has trampled them by establishing and maintaining 
the Guantanamo Bay prison facility.  The world is now 
criticizing the United States for its barbarism and 
inhumanity, except of course our liberal brothers here in 
Kuwait who do not see, or hear, or feel." 
 
-- Aziza Al-Mufrij also wrote for moderate Al-Watan under 
the title "Excuse me, Mr. LeBaron, but:" "We are a small 
country that has been invaded and you, a big country, 
 
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liberated us because according to your rhetoric you will not 
allow the strong to swallow the weak.  Your rhetoric may not 
be correct and may only be the result of a mutual interest 
at the time. That is unimportant to us.  What is important 
to us is that you greatly contributed to the return of our 
country and our sovereignty to us.  We appreciate it greatly 
and hold it dear to our hearts. However, we must say that 
you are wrong when you infringe upon our rights and serve 
our small country an injustice.  You constantly accuse our 
people of abusing expatriate and domestic labor.  If you 
were to conduct an honest study, Mr. LeBaron, you would find 
that not a single household has not suffered a crime or 
crimes on the part of the laborers.  Despite this, they are 
sent to their home countries onboard Kuwaiti Airlines at the 
sponsor's expense after having stolen his property and 
violated his honor.  When a person goes to a country to be 
an Ambassador, he should be aware of the traditions of the 
host country.  The Kuwaiti people fear God, Mr. LeBaron, and 
conduct themselves accordingly..  I do not speak of a few 
business owners who trade in expatriate labor as you have 
similar criminal organizations in the United States.  I also 
do not speak of those sick individuals who torture their 
domestic workers because in American you have sadistic 
employers that enjoy torturing others.  Mr. LeBaron, I speak 
of the majority of the simple Kuwaiti people who are unable 
to give up their domestic workers despite all the trouble 
that comes to them as a result.  We, Mr. LeBaron, are the 
ones in need of human rights and studies showing how much we 
have lost as a result of being so dependent upon them.  As 
for humans and their rights, what is your opinion as an 
American of giving those detained without charges brought 
against them or trying them their rights, and freeing them 
from injustice rather than picking on poor people." 
 
-- Liberal Professor of Political Science at Kuwait 
University Dr. Shamlan Al-Issa wrote in pro-government Al- 
Seyassah under the title "America's hostility, in whose 
interest?;" "We thank the Ambassador of the United States of 
America to Kuwait Richard LeBaron for his comments on 
expatriate labor in which he expressed his appreciation for 
the steps finally taken by the Kuwait government to combat 
trafficking in persons and the abuse of expatriate labor. 
He praised the laws passed to improve their conditions and 
he reiterated the importance of enforcing the laws and 
punishing those who do not comply. What enraged the Islamist 
in the National Council was the fact that Kuwait will remain 
a tier-three country until the new laws are enforced.  It 
was strange for the Islamists in the National Council to 
attack the Ambassador's comments rather than thank him for 
his advice.  They attacked American domestic affairs by 
highlighting the mistreatment of minorities in the U.S.  The 
real purpose of their attack was political only, to protest 
against the Guantanamo Bay prison and other secret prisons 
in Eastern Europe.  What the Ambassador said was nothing 
new.  These ideas have been around for years, but have not 
seen the light as a result of mismanagement, delays, and the 
presence of corruption in the National Council, which 
refuses to accept reform under the guise of values and 
traditions and in the name of interference in our domestic 
affairs." 
 
-- Dina Al-Issa wrote for moderate Al-Watan under the title 
"Their rights and our rights?:" "Here in Kuwait, some 
foreigners do have more rights than the citizens themselves. 
Do you remember how many times the domestic labor has caused 
harm to Kuwaiti families in cases that reached the level of 
murder, robbery, poisoning and beating of children and 
sexual harassment?  Do you remember how many times maids 
have escaped from the residences of their employers during 
their summer vacation in Europe without the Kuwaiti sponsor 
being able to complain.?  Do you remember how many cases of 
adultery in which maids were involved were reported?  After 
all this, the Kuwaiti sponsor has to book a ticket to deport 
the maid.  We should not forget that there are five 
nationalities that have the right to seek the help of their 
embassies in the event of being implicated in a case, even 
if they are defendants.  You only have to remember -- if you 
 
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want to get back a Filipino maid who has sought shelter in 
her embassy that you have to be sure that you master all 
kinds of martial arts in order to be able to defend yourself 
against any expected beating at the embassy.  This is only 
part of the problems we face with domestic labor in Kuwait." 
 
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