Maldivian government proposes names of

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000238

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, S/CT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2-11-13
TAGS: PREL PTER MV
SUBJECT: Maldivian government proposes names of
officials for possible Guantanamo visit

Refs: (A) Colombo-SA/INS 2/10/03 class e-mail

- (B) 02 Colombo 2323
- (C) 02 Colombo 2078 (All Notal)

(U) Classified by W. Lewis Amselem, Deputy Chief of
Mission. Reasons 1.5 (b,d)


1. (U) This is an Action Request -- Please see Para 3.


2. (S/NF) Per Reftels, the Maldivian government has
formally asked for permission to interview a Maldivian
national being held at Guantanamo. A diplomatic note
dated February 6 from the GoRM gives identification
information on two security officers it would like to
send to Guantanamo in early April. The text of the
diplomatic note, which has been sent to Department in
Ref A, is also contained in Para 4.


3. (S/NF) ACTION REQUEST: The Maldives has been a strong
supporter of the U.S.-led war on terrorism and Mission
strongly recommends that its officials be allowed to
visit Guantanamo, if at all possible. Washington is
requested to provide guidance ASAP on how to respond to
the request. If the Maldivian request is agreed to, a
representative from Mission's DAO would like to
accompany the Maldivian team. END ACTION REQUEST.


4. (C) The text of the Maldivian government's February 6
diplomatic note follows.

BEGIN TEXT:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Maldives presents its compliments to the Embassy of the
United States of America to the Republic of Maldives and
has honor refer to the Ministry's Note No. (F2) WE-7-
B/2002/51 dated 7 November 2002, and to the information
conveyed to Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, Permanent Secretary of
the Ministry by Mr. Joseph L. Novak, First Secretary,
the Embassy of United States on 17 December 2002,
regarding the case of Mr. Ibrahim Fauzee, a Maldivian
national, holding Maldivian passport number A164509, who
is currently being held at the United States military
base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The Ministry wishes to forward herewith the details of
the two officials from the Ministry of Defense and
National Security who will be travelling to the United
States to meet with relevant authorities and officials
of the United States Government and the detainee, Mr.
Fauzee. The officials are tentatively scheduled to
travel to the United States during the first week of
April 2003. Their details are as follows:

Name: Ibrahim Latheef
Nationality: Maldivian
Date of Birth: 29 October 1962
Rank: Major
Designation: Assistant Commissioner of Police
Passport No: A193528
Date of Issue: 22 July 2002
Date of Expiry: 22 July 2007

Name: Ahmed Faseeh
Nationality: Maldivian
Date of Birth: 16 February 1969
Rank: Warrant Officer Grade 1
Designation: Second in Command, Operations Division, NSS
Passport No: A180212
Date of Issue: 19 July 2001
Date of Expiry: 19 July 2006

It would appreciated if the convenience of the competent
United States authorities to receive them could be
confirmed so that travel details could be finalized.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Maldives avails itself of this opportunity to renew to
the Embassy of the United States of America to the
Republic of the Maldives the assurances of its highest
consideration.

Male, 6 February 2003

END TEXT.

WILLS