MALDIVES DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER PROMISES TO KEEP

S E C R E T COLOMBO 001275 SIPDIS NOFORN STATE FOR SA, SA/INS AND S/WCI LTC MILLER; SECDEF FOR SO/L9IC ASD O'CONNELL NSC FOR E. MILLARD E.O. 12598: DECL: 08/02/14 TAGS: PREL PINS MOPS PHUM PINR MV CE SUBJECT: MALDIVES DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER PROMISES TO KEEP CLOSE TABS ON GUANTANAMO DETAINEE, PREVENT TRAVEL REF: COLOMBO 1196 CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR JEFFREY J. LUNSTEAD. REASONS 1.5 B, D. ¶1. (S/NF) During visit to Maldives for National Day events July 25-26, Ambassador was able to briefly discuss issue of Maldivian detainee at Guantanamo with Deputy Foreign Minister Hussain Shihab. (Foreign Minister was not in Maldives at the time.) Ambassador told Shihab that we were looking into the case, but that we still had concerns about some aspects of the detainee's history. Ambassador also said that we would need to discuss further with the Maldives the GORM's statement that it would "monitor" the detainee if he were returned to Maldives. ¶2. (S/NF) Shihab said that he understood the need to clear up the detainee's story. He said that at a minimum, the GORM would place him under close surveillance if he were to be returned, and would put him on a watch list to ensure that he could not leave the country. Shihab noted that with Maldives as an island nation, this would be effective in preventing him from traveling, unless, Shihab said, "he is very good at rowing." ¶3. (S/NF) COMMENT: Shihab made it clear once again that Maldives is prepared to cooperate fully with us in dealing with the detainee. LUNSTEAD