Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MANAMA411
2004-03-25 09:49:00
SECRET
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
GUANTANAMO AGAIN ON MFA MINSTATE'S AGENDA
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T MANAMA 000411
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR S/WCI, S/CT, AND NEA/ARP
CAIRO FOR STEVE BONDY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2029
TAGS: PTER PREL BA
SUBJECT: GUANTANAMO AGAIN ON MFA MINSTATE'S AGENDA
Classified By: CDA Robert S. Ford for reasons 1.4(b)(d).
S E C R E T MANAMA 000411
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR S/WCI, S/CT, AND NEA/ARP
CAIRO FOR STEVE BONDY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2029
TAGS: PTER PREL BA
SUBJECT: GUANTANAMO AGAIN ON MFA MINSTATE'S AGENDA
Classified By: CDA Robert S. Ford for reasons 1.4(b)(d).
1.(S) The Foreign Ministry is under increasing parliamentary
criticism related to the status of Bahrain's Guantanamo
detainees, MFA Minister of State Abdulghaffar complained on
March 23 to Charge. Many Islamists, he continued, are now
accusing the ministry of working with the U.S. to keep the
Bahrainis in Guantanamo detention. No one in the parliament,
Abdulghaffar said, believes that the MFA is talking to the
USG about the detainees.
2.(S) Abdulghaffar again asked that the USG release the
detainees to the GOB. Charge reiterated that the USG would
consider releasing the Bahrainis if the GOB would put them in
jail in Bahrain. Abdulghaffar said he could not promise
indefinite detention in Bahrain because the law no longer
allows it. He did say that he could administratively prevent
them from ever leaving the island. Charge countered that the
freedom given to known extremists in Bahrain already did not
create confidence in Washington to release GTMO detainees to
similar status. Abdulghaffar retreated saying he could only
seek detention through the courts and requested that the USG
provide evidence against the detainees that not only could be
presented to the courts, but to the public as well.
3.(S) COMMENT: The MFA also gave us a diplomatic note
requesting the release of the Bahrainis in GTMO. Our sense
is that the angst about this is confined to the Foreign
Ministry which has the responsibility ofinteracting with the
parliament and its strong Islamist elements. The MFA can
show the dipnote -- which in Bahraini eyes is a big deal --
to the parliamentarians, for example. By contrast, neither
the King (strictly protect) nor the Crown Prince (strictly
protect) raised GTMO detainees with General Abizaid on March
24. END COMMENT.
FORD
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR S/WCI, S/CT, AND NEA/ARP
CAIRO FOR STEVE BONDY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2029
TAGS: PTER PREL BA
SUBJECT: GUANTANAMO AGAIN ON MFA MINSTATE'S AGENDA
Classified By: CDA Robert S. Ford for reasons 1.4(b)(d).
1.(S) The Foreign Ministry is under increasing parliamentary
criticism related to the status of Bahrain's Guantanamo
detainees, MFA Minister of State Abdulghaffar complained on
March 23 to Charge. Many Islamists, he continued, are now
accusing the ministry of working with the U.S. to keep the
Bahrainis in Guantanamo detention. No one in the parliament,
Abdulghaffar said, believes that the MFA is talking to the
USG about the detainees.
2.(S) Abdulghaffar again asked that the USG release the
detainees to the GOB. Charge reiterated that the USG would
consider releasing the Bahrainis if the GOB would put them in
jail in Bahrain. Abdulghaffar said he could not promise
indefinite detention in Bahrain because the law no longer
allows it. He did say that he could administratively prevent
them from ever leaving the island. Charge countered that the
freedom given to known extremists in Bahrain already did not
create confidence in Washington to release GTMO detainees to
similar status. Abdulghaffar retreated saying he could only
seek detention through the courts and requested that the USG
provide evidence against the detainees that not only could be
presented to the courts, but to the public as well.
3.(S) COMMENT: The MFA also gave us a diplomatic note
requesting the release of the Bahrainis in GTMO. Our sense
is that the angst about this is confined to the Foreign
Ministry which has the responsibility ofinteracting with the
parliament and its strong Islamist elements. The MFA can
show the dipnote -- which in Bahraini eyes is a big deal --
to the parliamentarians, for example. By contrast, neither
the King (strictly protect) nor the Crown Prince (strictly
protect) raised GTMO detainees with General Abizaid on March
24. END COMMENT.
FORD