MALDIVIAN SPECIAL ENVOY REQUESTS MEETING WITH USG

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