MALDIVES CLARIFIES POSITION ON GUANTANAMO DETAINEE

S E C R E T COLOMBO 000358

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA, SA/INS AND S/WCI
SECDEF FOR SOL/LIC ASD OICONNELL
NSC FOR DORMANDY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2015
TAGS: PTER KAWC PREL PINS MV
SUBJECT: MALDIVES CLARIFIES POSITION ON GUANTANAMO DETAINEE
IBRAHIM FOWZY

REF: (A) COLOMBO 291 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JEFFREY J. LUNSTEAD FOR REASON 1.5 (D).


1. (S) Maldivian Foreign Ministry Permanent
Secretary Zakariyyah called DCM February 15 to

SIPDIS
advise that, after the DCM's February 3
conversation with the Maldivian Attorney
General, the GoRM had further considered its
position on the return of Maldivian Guantanamo
detainee Ibrahim Fowzy, in particular what the
GoRM would be willing to do once Mr. Fowzy was
back in Maldives. Zakariyyah advised that a
diplomatic note on the subject has just been
faxed to the Embassy, the text of which follows.

Begin text

Reference No. (C2)-EA-US/B/05/06

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Maldives presents its compliments to the
Embassy of the United States of America to the
Republic of Maldives and with reference to the
Embassy's Note No. 097 dated 13 December 2004
regarding Mr. Ibrahim Fauzee who is currently in
detention in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has the
honour to state as follows:

Following the release of Mr. Ibrahim Fauzee from
US military detention in Guantanamo Bay and upon
his return to the Maldives, the Government of
Maldives undertakes to treat him humanely in
accordance with the laws, and its international
obligations.

The Government of Maldives further undertakes to
assume the responsibility to ensure that
information on Mr. Fauzee, are entered into
relevant national and international watch lists
and to apply every measure consistent with its
laws to keep him under surveillance, to monitor
his movements, and if necessary and appropriate,
to restrict them, in order to prevent him from
actively engaging in terrorism related
activities or associating himself with terrorist
organizations.

The Government of Maldives also undertakes to
reciprocally share with the United States
appropriate information on Mr. Fauzee, and
intelligence relevant to the general purpose
for, and shared interest in, fighting against
global terrorism; extending its full cooperation
to the United States in this vital area.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Maldives avails itself of this opportunity to
renew to the Embassy of the United States of
America to the Republic of Maldives the
assurances of its highest consideration.

Male, 15 February 2005

End Text


2. (S) Comment: We think this further
strengthens what we already found to be a
reasonable Maldivian position on how it would
treat Mr. Fowzy. Please advise soonest so that
this matter may be brought to a close.
LUNSTEAD