Maldivian police review visit to detainee at

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001493

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, S/CT; NSC FOR E. MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08-26-13
TAGS: PREL PTER PINS PGOV KISL MALDIVES'>MV
SUBJECT: Maldivian police review visit to detainee at
Guantanamo Bay in meeting with the Charge'

Ref: Colombo 1481, and previous (Notal)

(U) Classified by James F. Entwistle, Charge'
d'Affaires. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: In an August 26 meeting with
Charge', two Maldivian police officials reviewed their
recent visit to Guantanamo Bay to interview a Maldivian
national detained there. The officials said they did
not/not believe the detainee was connected with
terrorism, but noted that there were some loose ends
that still needed to be tracked down. Pending the final
results of their investigation, they said the GoRM would
consider next steps. The GoRM is very appreciative of
the access they have had to the detainee. END SUMMARY.


2. (S/NF) VISIT TO GUANTANAMO: In an August 26 meeting
with the Charge', two Maldivian police officials, Major
Ibrahim Latheef, Assistant Commissioner of Police, and
Lt. Ahmed Faseeh, reviewed their August 21 visit to
Guantanamo Bay. DATT, polchief, and poloff joined in
the meeting. In the Guantanamo detention center, the
police officials, who were accompanied on the trip by
DATT, interviewed Ibrahim Fouwzy, a Maldivian national
detained at the facility.


3. (S/NF) INTERVIEW WITH DETAINEE: Based on their
interview with the detainee and other information, the
Maldivian police officials said their tentative
conclusion was that Fouwzy did not/not have links to
terrorism. They indicated that Fouwzy seemed to have
been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time when he
was detained by Pakistani authorities while studying in
Pakistan. Based on information which has been
corroborated, Fouwzy said he was residing briefly in an
apartment whose owner apparently had a tertiary
connection to an individual who had connections to Al-
Qaida/Taliban elements. After being detained by the
GoP, he was rendered to U.S. authorities who brought him
to Bagram airbase in Afghanistan and then to Guantanamo.
Fouwzy told the police officials that he did not
subscribe to Islamic extremist thinking and he expressed
sadness about the September 11, 2001, attacks. Re
domestic Maldivian politics, Fouwzy indicated that he
was not/not a supporter of President Gayoom.


4. (S/NF) SOME QUESTIONS REMAIN: The Maldivian police
told the Charge' that they still have a few outstanding
questions regarding Fouwzy's account of events,
especially related to his travel from the MALDIVES to
Pakistan via Kenya in early 2000. Fouwzy transited
through Kenya, staying there approximately 10-12 days
while waiting to obtain a Pakistani government No
Objection Certificate (NOC). Fouwzy claimed that he
traveled to Kenya to get the NOC, as he was unable to
get one in Sri Lanka, although his Maldivian traveling
companions were able to receive the necessary travel
documents in Sri Lanka. (Note: The Pakistani High
Commission in Male apparently does not issue the
requisite NOC's.) In addition to the question re the
NOC, Maldivian police said they also wanted to know from
where Fouwzy obtained the funds for his air ticket to
Kenya, which was 1,200 USD. The Maldivian officials
said they were somewhat puzzled by this string of events
and the fact that Fouwzy claimed not to remember his
activities during his time in Kenya.


5. (S/NF) NEXT STEPS: Major Latheef, who did most of
the talking for the Maldivian team, told the Charge'
that he intended to report the results of the visit to
his government and then complete the investigation into
the remaining issues. The GoRM would then finish
evaluating the case and would, at that time, possibly
consider a formal request to the U.S. for Fouwzy's
return. Responding to Charge's question about possible
criminal charges, the Maldivians told us Fouwzy would
not likely face any charges should he be returned to the
MALDIVES. They said the government would carefully
monitor his activities if he was sent back to the
MALDIVES, however.


6. (S/NF) COMMENT: The Maldivian government has been a
strong supporter of the international campaign against
terrorism and seems to be approaching this matter with
the utmost seriousness. In his 25 years in power,
President Gayoom's regime has been no friend of
extremism, locking up a number of Maldivians who it
felt strayed too far from the GoRM-imposed moderate
Islamic orthodoxy. The Maldivian police team expressed
their deep appreciation to the U.S. for allowing access
to Fouwzy, noting that the detainee said he had been
very well treated by the U.S. authorities. They also
relayed the gratitude of Abdul Sattar Anbaree, Minister
of State for Defense and National Security, and Dr.
Ahmed Shaheed, Permanent Secretary of the MFA. END
COMMENT.

7. (U) Minimize considered.

ENTWISTLE