CURRENT STATUS OF ALLEGED TERRORIST LUIS POSADA

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 001486 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2015 TAGS: PREL PTER EAIR KJUS CU VE JM SUBJECT: CURRENT STATUS OF ALLEGED TERRORIST LUIS POSADA CARRILES AND POSSIBLE EXTRADITION REF: STATE 99854 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Ronald S. Robinson, per 1.5(d). ¶1. (SBU) On June 8, Pol/Econ Chief met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT) Caribbean and Americas Director Joy Wheeler to convey reftel talking points, a copy of which he provided her. He emphasized the USG's commitment to handle the Posada case consistent with U.S. law and with our international obligations, and noted GOV and GOC manipulation of the matter for political reasons. ¶2. (C) Wheeler was surprised to learn that the GOV had not yet submitted an extradition request, and that the GOV's provisional arrest request was flawed. She thanked P/E Chief for the information, which she said she would share with appropriate Ministry colleagues. Wheeler observed that news of the downing of the 1976 Cubana Airlines flight off the coast of Barbados had hit hard ("a sad, heavy blow") in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean, and that some of her colleagues had known relatives of individuals lost in that incident. She expressed the hope that Posada would be held to account for his alleged crimes by the same standard as other known or suspected terrorists. The GOJ, she said, would watch the proceedings with interest. ROBINSON