C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001400

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MV
SUBJECT: MALDIVIAN SPECIAL ENVOY REQUESTS MEETING WITH USG
OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON

REF: A. COLOMBO-SA/INS 08-23-04 FAX

B. COLOMBO 1392 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires James F. Entwistle. Reason 1.4 (b,d)
.


1. (U) This is an action request -- please see Para Four.


2. (C) On August 23, Mission received a diplomatic note dated
August 22 from the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ref
A). In the note, the MFA conveys that Dr. Mohamed Latheef,
Maldivian Ambassador to the United States and Maldivian
PermRep in NY, will be traveling to Washington with a letter
from Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to President
Bush. The letter is in reference to the events related to
the August 12-13 demonstration on Male' (see Ref B).
Further, the MFA requests assistance in arranging such a
meeting with President Bush or other "appropriate officials"
after August 28, 2004. Additionally, the MFA requests
Embassy Colombo's assistance in arranging meetings for
Latheef with media and tourism sector representatives.


3. (C) The dipnote followed a separate August 23 call to
Charge' from Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, President Gayoom's
Communications Director. Shaheed said that President Gayoom
spoke with Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon to
update him about the situation in Maldives. Shaheed also
added that no date had been set for the Special Majlis to
reconvene. Given that Special Majlis MP Gasim Ibrahim was
one of those detained and a likely candidate for Speaker of
the Special Majlis, Shaheed added that the body will probably
wait to meet until he is released. Shaheed also confirmed
that a delegation of EU representatives (from diplomatic
missions in Colombo) had appointments in Male' today and
would be visiting the detained MPs. All are being treated
well, Shaheed said. In addition, since the government had
"nothing to hide," Shaheed stated that the GORM will also
formally invite Amnesty International to visit.


4. (C) ACTION REQUEST: We suggest that Latheef be received
by Deputy Secretary Armitage, if possible, in Washington. We
believe Gayoom's representative will likely convey a version
of events similar to those recounted in the GORM's August 18
diplomatic note, i.e., that those detained are dangerous
Islamic "fundamentalists" and anti-American "extremists,"
rather than pro-democracy reformists (Ref B). While we do
not know the identities and affiliations of all 200
individuals arrested, this alarmist characterization does not
accurately describe the prominent Parliamentarians and
business leaders we do know who are included among the
detainees. A discussion with the Deputy Secretary would help
our Maldivian interlocutors understand that our appreciation
of GORM support in the Global War on Terrorism does not
mitigate the importance we attach to due process and
fundamental human rights. END ACTION REQUEST.

ENTWISTLE