MALDIVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER REQUESTS MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001568

SIPDIS

NOFORN

STATE FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2014
TAGS: OVIP PREL MV
SUBJECT: MALDIVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER REQUESTS MEETING WITH
SECRETARY


SIPDIS

REF: A. COLOMBO 1516

B. COLOMBO 1549

C. STATE 191997

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JEFFREY J. LUNSTEAD. REASON: 1.4 (B,D).


1. (U) On September 20 the Embassy received a diplomatic
note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government
of the Republic of Maldives (GORM) advising that Foreign
Minister Fathulla Jameel requests a meeting with the
Secretary on October 1 "on matters of mutual interest." The

SIPDIS
Foreign Minister will be in Washington to attend IMF and
World Bank Board meetings on October 2-3.


2. (C/NF) The Secretary met Foreign Minister Jameel in
Male' during a brief stop on July 1 during which time Jameel
asked to see the Secretary in Washington. (Jameel repeated
this request in a brief September 20 meeting with DCM.) The
Deputy Secretary met Maldivian PermRep Ambassador Mohamad
Latheef in Washington on September 1 (Ref C). We recommend
that Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs Christina
Rocca and/or Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Asian
Affairs Donald Camp meet the Foreign Minister, if possible.
The Foreign Minister has a reputation as a hardliner and is
widely believed to have played a leading role in the GORM's
harsh reaction to demonstrations on August 12 and 13 and the
continued detention of pro-reform activists, including at
least 12 Members of the Special Majlis. A September 16
resolution by the European Parliament condemning the State of
Emergency and the detentions (Ref B) has the GORM in full
defensive mode. We expect Jameel, who angrily rebuffed a
demarche from a visiting delegation of EU Chiefs of Mission
on September 6 (Ref A),will offer up the much-repeated
official explanation that continuation of the detentions and
State of Emergency is necessary to investigate purported
links between the reformists and anti-American
fundamentalists. A meeting with SA A/S Rocca and/or DAS
Camp would provide an important opportunity to re-emphasize
U.S. interest in progress toward democratic reform in
Maldives, as well as the welfare of the detainees. Suggested
talking points follow below. In addition, we should brief
Jameel on whatever the status at that time is of Guantanamo
detainee Fowzy.


3. (C) Suggested Talking Points:

--The U.S. remains concerned that the events of August 12-13
appear to have derailed the promising start toward greater
democratic reform indicated in President Gayoom's speech of
June 9.

--What plans does GORM have to get this process back on
track? When will the Special Majlis meet again? Do you plan
to lift the State of Emergency?

--We are concerned that over 70 people remain jailed without
charge. Ensuring due process is crucial to respect for human
rights. We urge the GORM to provide all detainees with
access to legal counsel. If the GORM has evidence that the
detainees have committed criminal acts, we urge that charges
be brought and the legal process begun as soon as possible.

--We understand your government has decided to sign a
Memorandum of Agreement with the ICRC allowing confidential
visits to detainees. We commend this decision and urge its
expeditious conclusion.

End suggested talking points.
LUNSTEAD