GOB RE-ARRESTS THE BAHRAINI SIX

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001120

SIPDIS

FOR NEA FRONT OFFICE - DAS PHILO DIBBLE AND NEA/ARP - TOM
WILLIAMS/DAVID BERNS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2005
TAGS: PGOV PREL BA
SUBJECT: GOB RE-ARRESTS THE BAHRAINI SIX

REF: WILLIAMSON/DIBBLE 07/15/04 EMAIL

Classified By: BY CDA MOLLY K. WILLIAMSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. The GoB re-arrested the "Bahraini Six" yesterday afternoon
on suspicion of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts. The six
were taken to the Public Prosecutor's Office and were
transferred to Galali prison at approximately 2:00 a.m. this
morning. Amal Ahmed Abdulla Abdul, Under Secretary of the
Prosecution, confirmed to PolOff that they were taken into
custody after examination of computer hard drives and
chemicals seized on July 22. Col. Tariq Mubarak bin Daineh,
Director of the Public Security Special Response Team (Najda)
and Communications and Abdulla Abdul confirmed to the Embassy
this morning that the six will be held for 45 days to develop
a criminal case.


2. It appears as though the six detainees may have already
started their efforts to elicit public sympathy. Col. Tariq,
during his conversations with the A/RSO and PolOff, noted
that the six have started a hunger strike to protest their
incarceration. At this time, we have no other information or
outside confirmation of this development.


3. Yesterday's arrests have aroused local suspicions about
the GoB's motives. PolOff and PolFSN spoke with
Parliamentarian Fareed Ghazi Raffee, legal counsel for
Mohieddin Khan. Raffee expressed his dismay that no evidence
was presented by the prosecutor while the six were awaiting
detention at the Public Prosecutor's Office. He stated that
the questioning was based on hearsay and circumstantial
evidence. He believes that the case against Mohieddin is
based on his having spent time in Afghanistan in 1989. Raffee
stated that he did not know about the chemical and computer
evidence until he read the Al Ayam and Gulf Daily News this
morning. Rashid Al Ghayeb, Al Ayam reporter and former
Fulbrighter, in his comments to PolFSN, reported that he
doubts that Al Ayam was able to photograph and report on
actual new evidence. He stated that this morning's photo of
seized evidence looked "like anything you could download off
the Internet." He is confident that the re-arrest of the six
is due to US pressure and the GoB's desire to put an end to
the U.S. Embassy and the Navy's recent moves to transfer
non-essential employees and family members. Al Wasat
reporter, Hani Ferdan, who has followed the arrests and
detention of possible terror suspects Mohammed Saleh Mohammed
and Merbati, doubts if there is any new evidence. He stated
that if there is any new evidence, it must have been planted
to incriminate the defendants. Abdulla Hashim, legal counsel
for five detainees, reported to PolFSN, that he believes that
the decision to hold them for 45 days was a political
decision since the Prosecutor did not present any evidence.
Hashim plans to file a suit against the GoB for slander.


4. Our public diplomacy guidance has been:

--- A) We are trying to confirm reports of the re-arrest of
the six.
--- B) If these reports are accurate, it reflects GoB
commitment to public safety and the security of its citizens
and foreign guests.


5. COMMENT: It is important to counter widespread public
perception that the GoB action is just a put-up job designed
to respond to USG pressure and reverse the travel warning,
Embassy authorized departure and Navy involuntary departure
of families. We insist that the GoB action is not a gift to
the USG, but rather, an action taken in light of its own
security interests. END COMMENT.




WILLIAMSON