Maldivian government requests return of

S E C R E T COLOMBO 002009

SIPDIS

NOFORN

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11-20-13
TAGS: PREL PTER PINS PGOV KISL MV
SUBJECT: Maldivian government requests return of
national detained at Guantanamo

Ref: Colombo 1493 (Notal)

(U) Classified by James F. Entwistle, Deputy Chief of
Mission. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (S/NF) This is an Action Request -- Please see
Para 3.


2. (S/NF) On November 18, Mission received a letter
dated November 5 from the Maldivian government
requesting the release and return to the Maldives of
Ibrahim Fauzee (or Fouwzy),a Maldivian national
detained at Guantanamo (see Para 4 for text of the GoRM
letter). In addition to requesting Fauzee's release,
the letter (addressed to the DCM) thanked the U.S. for
its assistance in arranging an August visit by Maldivian
government personnel to Guantanamo to interrogate
Fauzee. In a readout with DCM following their August
visit (see Reftel),the Maldivian officials expressed
their assessment that Fauzee had not/not been involved
in terrorist-related activities, although they said they
needed to check out some of the information Fauzee had
relayed to them in Guantanamo before reaching a
definitive conclusion about him and possibly requesting
his return. The GoRM has now evidently completed that
investigation and concluded that Fauzee poses no threat.


3. (S/NF) ACTION REQUEST. Mission requests
Department's guidance on how to respond to the Maldivian
government's request for release of Fauzee. END ACTION
REQUEST.


4. (S/NF) The Maldivian government's letter follows:

Begin Text:

5 November 2003

Dear Mr. Entwistle,

With reference to our discussion about the possibility
of securing the release of Mr. Ibrahim Fauzee, the
Maldivian national who is being held at Guantanamo Bay,
CUBA, I would like to convey to you that the Government
of Maldives would be very pleased if Mr. Fauzee could be
released and allowed to return to the Maldives.

In this regard, I wish to thank you very much for all
the assistance rendered to the two officials from the
Ministry of Defense and National Security, who went to
the US to meet with relevant US authorities and with Mr.
Ibrahim Fauzee.

Yours sincerely,
/signed/
Ahmed Shaheed
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Male', Maldives

End Text.


5. (U) Minimize considered.

LUNSTEAD