

Currently released so far... 12478 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AU
ASEC
AE
AF
AORC
AEMR
AMGT
ABUD
AFFAIRS
APER
AS
AMED
AY
AG
AR
AJ
AL
AID
AM
AODE
ABLD
AMG
AFIN
ATRN
AGAO
AFU
AN
AA
ALOW
APECO
ADM
ARF
ASEAN
APEC
AMBASSADOR
AO
ASUP
AZ
AADP
ACOA
ANET
AMCHAMS
ACABQ
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APCS
AGMT
AINF
AIT
AORL
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
ADANA
ADPM
AX
ADCO
AECL
AMEX
ACAO
ASCH
AORG
AGR
AROC
ASIG
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
BL
BR
BO
BA
BD
BM
BK
BG
BU
BB
BH
BTIO
BY
BEXP
BP
BE
BRUSSELS
BF
BIDEN
BT
BX
BC
BILAT
BN
BBSR
BTIU
BWC
BMGT
CA
CASC
CVIS
CM
CH
CO
CU
CD
CWC
CI
CS
CY
CMGT
CF
CG
CR
CB
CV
CW
CE
CBW
CT
CPAS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CJAN
CODEL
CIDA
CDG
CDC
CIA
CTR
CNARC
CSW
CN
CONS
CLINTON
COE
CROS
CARICOM
CONDOLEEZZA
COUNTER
CL
COM
CICTE
CIS
CFED
COUNTRY
CJUS
CBSA
CEUDA
CLMT
CAC
COPUOS
CIC
CBE
CHR
CTM
CVR
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CACS
CAN
CITT
CARSON
CACM
CDB
CAPC
CKGR
CBC
EC
EG
EPET
ECON
ETRD
EFIN
EIND
EMIN
ENRG
EAID
EAGR
EUN
ETTC
EAIR
ENIV
ES
EU
EINV
ELAB
ECIN
EFIS
ELTN
EWWT
ECPS
ECONOMIC
ENGR
EN
EINT
EPA
ELN
ESA
EZ
ER
ET
EFTA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
EXTERNAL
EI
EUR
EK
ERNG
ENGY
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENERG
EINVEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELECTIONS
ETC
EUREM
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EURN
ECINECONCS
EEPET
EXIM
ERD
ENVI
ETRC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EAIG
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
EIAR
EXBS
ECUN
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINVETC
IZ
IT
IR
IS
IN
IC
IAEA
IO
ICAO
IWC
ID
IV
ISRAEL
IAHRC
IQ
ICTR
IMF
IRS
IDP
IGAD
ICRC
ICTY
IMO
IL
INRA
INRO
ICJ
ITU
IBRD
INMARSAT
IIP
ITALY
IEFIN
IACI
ILO
INTELSAT
ILC
ITRA
IDA
INRB
IRC
INTERPOL
IA
IPR
IRAQI
ISRAELI
INTERNAL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IBET
INR
IEA
IZPREL
IRAJ
ITF
IF
KDEM
KU
KPAL
KNNP
KCRM
KZ
KN
KS
KJUS
KTFN
KSCA
KV
KISL
KPAO
KPKO
KIRF
KTIA
KIPR
KFLO
KFRD
KTIP
KAWC
KSUM
KCOM
KAID
KE
KTDB
KMDR
KOMC
KWBG
KDRG
KVPR
KTEX
KGIC
KWMN
KSCI
KCOR
KACT
KDDG
KHLS
KSAF
KFLU
KSEO
KMRS
KSPR
KOLY
KSEP
KVIR
KGHG
KIRC
KUNR
KIFR
KCIP
KMCA
KMPI
KBCT
KHSA
KICC
KIDE
KCRS
KMFO
KRVC
KRGY
KR
KAWK
KG
KFIN
KHIV
KBIO
KOCI
KBTR
KNEI
KPOA
KCFE
KPLS
KSTC
KHDP
KPRP
KCRCM
KLIG
KCFC
KTER
KREC
KTBT
KPRV
KSTH
KRIM
KRAD
KWAC
KWMM
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KOMS
KX
KMIG
KRCM
KVRP
KBTS
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNAR
KPWR
KNPP
KDEMAF
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KGIT
KPAI
KTLA
KFSC
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KOM
KMOC
KJUST
KGCC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KO
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KCMR
KCHG
KICA
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KCGC
KWWMN
KPAK
KWNM
KWMNCS
KRFD
MOPS
MCAP
MPOS
MARR
MO
MNUC
MX
MASS
MG
MY
MU
ML
MR
MILITARY
MTCRE
MT
MEPP
MA
MDC
MP
MAR
MASSMNUC
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MD
MI
MEETINGS
MK
MCC
MEPN
MRCRE
MAS
MIL
MASC
MC
MV
MTCR
MIK
MUCN
MEDIA
MERCOSUR
MW
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTRE
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
NO
NATO
NL
NP
NZ
NSF
NI
NH
NG
NAFTA
NU
NASA
NR
NATOPREL
NSSP
NSG
NA
NT
NW
NK
NPT
NPA
NATIONAL
NPG
NSFO
NS
NSC
NE
NGO
NDP
NIPP
NRR
NEW
NZUS
NC
NAR
NV
NORAD
OTRA
OPCW
OVIP
OAS
OREP
OPIC
OIIP
OPRC
ODIP
OEXC
OPDC
OSCE
OIC
OSCI
OECD
OFDP
OFDA
OMIG
OPAD
OFFICIALS
OVP
OIE
OHUM
OCS
OBSP
OTR
OSAC
ON
OCII
OES
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PTER
PINS
PINR
PREF
PK
PROP
PA
PARM
PBTS
PMAR
PM
PGIV
PE
PRAM
PHUH
PHSA
PL
PNAT
PO
PLN
PAO
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PF
PEL
PBIO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PAS
POL
PREO
PAHO
PMIL
POGOV
POV
PAK
PNR
PRL
PG
PREFA
PSI
PINL
PU
PARMS
PRGOV
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
PROG
PORG
PTBS
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PRELP
PSEPC
PGOVE
PINF
PNG
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
POLINT
PGGV
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RELATIONS
RW
RO
RM
RP
ROOD
RICE
RUPREL
RSO
RCMP
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RF
RFE
RSP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
SU
SCUL
SNAR
SOCI
SF
SA
SHUM
SENV
SP
SR
SY
SANC
SC
SMIG
SZ
SARS
SW
SEVN
SO
SEN
SL
SNARCS
SNARN
SI
SG
SN
SH
SYR
SAARC
SPCE
SHI
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SYRIA
SWE
STEINBERG
SIPRS
ST
SNARIZ
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SIPDIS
SAN
TC
TI
TBIO
TH
TSPL
TRGY
TSPA
TPHY
TU
TW
TS
TAGS
TK
TX
TNGD
TZ
TF
TL
TV
TN
TD
TIP
TR
TP
TO
TT
TFIN
THPY
TERRORISM
TINT
TRSY
TURKEY
TBID
US
UK
UNGA
UP
UZ
UNMIK
USTR
UNO
UNSC
UN
UNESCO
UNAUS
UNHRC
UY
UG
UNHCR
UNCND
USOAS
USEU
UNICEF
UNEP
UV
UNPUOS
UNCSD
USUN
UNCHR
UNDC
USNC
UE
UNDP
UNC
USPS
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
UNFICYP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07MANAMA375, LONE SUNNI OPPOSITION MP UPBEAT ON LEVEL OF
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07MANAMA375.
VZCZCXRO3729
OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMK #0375/01 1131410
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 231410Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6744
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 000375
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BA POL
SUBJECT: LONE SUNNI OPPOSITION MP UPBEAT ON LEVEL OF
COLLABORATION IN PARLIAMENT
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
-------
Summary
-------
¶1. (C) In an April 17 meeting with Poloff, Independent MP
Dr. Abdul Aziz Abul, the only Sunni member of the opposition
in the elected Council of Representatives (COR), was
optimistic about real collaboration between parliamentary
members and blocs. He was also optimistic about increased
numbers of Shia being hired by the Ministry of Interior and
the positive ways the Minister was working with leaders in
the Shia community to address concerns about aggressive
police tactics. Abul expressed disappointment for a missed
opportunity for Al Wifaq to address a long-term grievance
about compensation to families of individuals killed in the
unrest of the 1990's. He said that Al Wifaq is concerned
about frustrated and emotional youth who have been carrying
on low-level agitation but who do not listen to the Shia
community's religious and political leaders. COR
oppositionists continue to oppose a royal decree to establish
a commission responsible for complete oversight of the over
$10 billion Qatar-Bahrain causeway. End summary.
¶2. (C) In a meeting with Poloff April 17, Independent MP Dr.
Abdul Aziz Abul, who is the chair of the Finance and Economic
Affairs Committee and sole Sunni member of the elected COR
who is allied with Al Wifaq's 17 MPs in the opposition,
expressed much optimism about cooperation between
parliamentary blocs and the work accomplished in the first
four months of the new parliament. Abul spoke of his effort
to focus initially on issues for which there can be
cooperation with MPs of other blocs, and said that later he
will raise more difficult issues, such as constitutional
amendments and election district reform. He spends more time
than he would like on constituent services, such as housing
and employment matters, and pointed to the need for a staff
budget to hire someone to follow up on cases. (Note: Al
Wifaq MP Jawad Fairooz confirmed in a separate meeting that
other parliamentary blocs had realized after beginning to
work together that Al Wifaq MPs were not "monsters" but were
rational, reasonable individuals who shared mutual concerns.)
-------------------------------
Politics of Compromise...Almost
-------------------------------
¶3. (C) In discussing the need for greater cooperation in the
chamber, Abul described a proposal introduced by COR Speaker
Khalifa Al Dhahrani at the end of the day's legislative
session on April 10, calling for government compensation to
owners of property that was damaged during the unrest in the
1990's. The proposal sparked an angry reaction by Al Wifaq
MP Mohamed Al Maza'al, who demanded that compensation for
people who were killed or tortured, nearly all of whom were
Shia, should be the focus of any proposal for compensation.
(Note: There were 40-some people who died in the 1990's
unrest. The Shia community has long called for compensation
for victims. Sunni proposals for compensation typically have
focused on property damage that resulted from vandalism
caused by Shia rioters.) According to Abul, Al Maza'al's
emotional reaction quickly polarized the discussion, spoiling
the opportunity for a win-win outcome for a long-standing,
difficult issue.
¶4. (C) When Al Dhahrani unexpectedly introduced the
proposal, Abul said he had spoken with first deputy speaker
and head of Al Asala (Salafi) bloc Ghanim Al Buainain, and
asked for his thoughts on the proposal. Having told Abul
previously that Al Asala was not opposed to helping Al Wifaq
realize some of its long-term demands, Al Buainain said that
MPs should vote to approve the proposal first, and then have
committee members introduce amendments that would include
compensation for human losses. Al Buainain had said that Al
Asala was open to supporting some compensation for these
losses, and other blocs had expressed varying degrees of
support. Abul regretted that the blocs had not been given a
heads up that this proposal would be coming, so that they
could have strategized before the session. As he discussed
the matter with fellow MPs from Al Wifaq after the session,
Abul said they realized that they had miscalculated and
squandered an opportunity.
----------------------------
Shias in the Security Forces
----------------------------
¶5. (C) Abul told Poloff that he is encouraged by meetings
with and statements by Minister of Interior General Shaikh
MANAMA 00000375 002 OF 003
Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, particularly regarding the
hiring of Shia. Abul said he believes that the Ministry has
now institutionalized an unbiased process to evaluate all
applicants, give them a series of physical and written tests,
and for those who pass, place them on a list for hiring.
Abul said that there has been a steady, albeit slow, stream
of Shia being hired by the Ministry of Interior. There still
is an apparent glass ceiling preventing Shia from being
commissioned as officers, but Abul pointed out that the
director of the Undersecretary's office was a Shia with the
rank of captain. The Minister has shown flexibility in
recognizing the grievances of the Shia community about
aggressive police tactics and is willing to address these
concerns. In response to Poloff's question about the heavy
police presence during Formula One (F1) activities April
13-15, Abul said that this period was an exception, as the
government did not want to allow protests that could mar the
F1 event. Regarding the Ministry of Defense, Abul said that
Minister General Shaikh Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa
continues to adhere to his policy of not hiring Shia.
----------------
Al Wifaq and Haq
----------------
¶6. (C) Abul said that Al Wifaq was concerned about recent
street protests by Shia youth because efforts to reason with
the youths had not been effective, reflecting badly on Al
Wifaq. The majority of these youth are between the ages of
14 and 19 and do not listen to religious or community
leaders, including Shaikh Isa Qassim and Shaikh Ali Salman,
MP and the head of Al Wifaq. Abul said that Haq Movement
leader Hasan Mushaima had so far been unresponsive to
requests from Shaikh Isa Qassim to get the youth to stop.
Abul saw only very small numbers of Shia defecting from Al
Wifaq to join the Haq camp and said that Al Wifaq still has
time to produce results from the parliamentary process before
larger segments of the Shia community become disenchanted.
--------------------------
Objection to Royal Decrees
--------------------------
¶7. (C) Abul said that members of the opposition in the COR
continue to maintain their objection to Law by Royal Decree
number 80 of 2006, which authorizes the establishment of a
commission to manage the construction of, and later the
running of, a causeway between Bahrain and Qatar. His
opposition to the decree is that the size of the project
(current projections are BD 4 billion ($10.6 billion) and
will likely rise) warrants the inclusion of increased
oversight of the project, including by the COR. Abul said
that he and others in the opposition support the causeway in
principle, but the large sums of money involved may be
vulnerable to corruption if the project lacks a sufficient
level of oversight. The COR has asked that a cabinet
minister be appointed as liaison between the causeway
commission and the COR, and the GOB proposed Minister of
Finance Shaikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa to play this
role, likely a suitable outcome, in Abul's view.
------------------------------
Good to Be Working from Inside
------------------------------
¶8. (C) Reflecting on the parliament, Abul concluded that it
was absolutely the right decision for the opposition to work
within the system rather than continue its boycott. The
boycott sent a message at the time (in 2002), but now he and
Al Wifaq were able to see ways that they can make a real
difference. Abul admitted that he had become more moderate
in his rhetoric and had focused on working together with
other MPs to accomplish common goals. He also commented on
the way that Al Wifaq had matured over the last few months.
The bloc decided not to push hard right away on sensitive
issues, such as election district imbalances, but to "hold
the stick from the middle" (an Arabic proverb) and build a
productive working foundation with other blocs.
---------------------------
Low Caliber of Al Wifaq MPs
---------------------------
¶9. (C) Abul told Poloff that it was unfortunate that so few
of Al Wifaq's MPs were qualified to serve in the COR. Only
four or five were competent enough in English to be able to
consult research on political and social issues in order to
educate themselves about matters they faced in parliamentary
discussions. Abul said that he regularly consults studies
conducted in the U.S., the U.K., Australia, and Canada, to
MANAMA 00000375 003 OF 003
inform his policy stance on issues of concern. He said that
there was little research available in Arabic on matters
taken up in parliament, and that those MPs who were limited
to Arabic materials were at a disadvantage to others who were
comfortable in English.
-------
Comment
-------
¶10. (C) Abul's views of parliament's work are among the most
optimistic and encouraging that post has heard. He strongly
believes that if the government offered carrots instead of
sticks to the opposition, it would find a more positive
reaction from the community at large. This represents a
180-degree swing from his previous views, when he was a
committed boycotter and head of the opposition Constitutional
Conference, which championed amending the 2002 Constitution.
It remains to be seen whether his optimism can hold as the
COR gets deeper into the business of legislation, with many
issues cutting along sectarian lines.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE