Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MANAMA1528
2004-10-05 10:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

BAHRAIN: COMBATANT STATUS REVIEW TRIBUNAL REQUEST

Tags:  PTER KAWC PINR PREL BA 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001528 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI AND S/WCI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2014
TAGS: PTER KAWC PINR PREL BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: COMBATANT STATUS REVIEW TRIBUNAL REQUEST
FOR ASSISTANCE

REF: A. MILLER-BERNS E-MAIL DATED 9/27/04


B. STATE 210778

C. MANAMA 1476

D. STATE 203875

Classified by Charge d'Affaires Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001528

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI AND S/WCI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2014
TAGS: PTER KAWC PINR PREL BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: COMBATANT STATUS REVIEW TRIBUNAL REQUEST
FOR ASSISTANCE

REF: A. MILLER-BERNS E-MAIL DATED 9/27/04


B. STATE 210778

C. MANAMA 1476

D. STATE 203875

Classified by Charge d'Affaires Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief October 4 delivered Refs A and B
information regarding Guantanamo detainee Shaikh Salman
Ebrahim Mohammed Al Khalifa's request for witness testimony
to MFA Under Secretary Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa. He
listened carefully to the points and reconfirmed that the
United States was looking for a mutually agreeable way to
take written testimony from the two witnesses identified by
the detainee. He ruled out the witnesses traveling to either
the United States or Guantanamo, but thought that, if the
ministry was successful in locating the witnesses and in
obtaining their permission, there might be a way for the
testimony to be provided in Bahrain.


2. (C) In a follow up conversation on October 5, Shaikh
Abdul Aziz told Pol/Econ Chief that the MFA had contacted
both witnesses identified by detainee Shaikh Salman Ebrahim
Mohammed Al Khalifa and they were willing to do "all they
could" to provide testimony in support of the detainee. He
looks forward to hearing from us on next steps regarding
substance and logistics of the testimony.


3. (C) In the October 4 meeting, Pol/Econ Chief also briefed
Shaikh Abdul Aziz on the status of Refs C and D request for
testimony for detainee Abdullah Al Noaimi. MFA Director for
Consular Affairs Yusuf Ahmed had informed us earlier that he
had spoken with Al Noaimi's father about locating Mohammed
Salman Al Khalifa. Al Noaimi's father had been very
cooperative, but said that he was unsure precisely who his
son wanted to provide testimony.


4. (C) In the October 5 follow up conversation, Shaikh Abdul
Aziz told Pol/Econ Chief that a member of his staff had
contacted the father a second time and the father had said
that his son could have been referring to either Mohammed
Salman Al Khalifa or Ahmed Salman Al Khalifa. The father
believes that his son was more likely interested in Ahmed
Salman Al Khalifa's testimony because they have a very close
friendship and they had studied together. While the son also
has a relationship with Mohammed Salman Al Khalifa, they are
not as close. According to the father, Ahmed Salman Al
Khalifa himself believes that the detainee would more likely
want his testimony. In any case, the father assured Shaikh
Abdul Aziz that both men are willing to provide testimony on
behalf of Abdullah Al Noaimi.

ZIADEH