Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MANAMA1165
2005-08-10 13:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

BAHRAIN: SPEAKING OUT ON GITMO AND DETAINEES

Tags:  KAWC KISL PGOV 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.

101329Z Aug 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001165 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/WCI AMBASSADOR PROSPER
ALSO FOR NEA, NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2015
TAGS: KAWC KISL PGOV PREL BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: SPEAKING OUT ON GITMO AND DETAINEES

REF: STATE 142348

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 001165

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/WCI AMBASSADOR PROSPER
ALSO FOR NEA, NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2015
TAGS: KAWC KISL PGOV PREL BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: SPEAKING OUT ON GITMO AND DETAINEES

REF: STATE 142348

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


1. (C) The Charge delivered reftel talking points concerning
detainee operations at Guantanamo to Deputy Prime
Minister/Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al
Khalifa August 10. In presenting the points, the Charge
emphasized that capturing and detaining enemy combatants is a
national security and military necessity. She pointed out
that though Al Qaeda is a terrorist organization and
therefore not covered by the Geneva Conventions, all
detainees are treated in accordance with international
obligations and the principles of the Geneva Conventions.
She stressed that allegations of abuse or other misconduct
are reviewed and, if warranted, investigated, and those
responsible are punished. Detainees are treated humanely and
are allowed to practice their religion. She noted that we
expect the population of detainees at GTMO to continue to
decrease. However, a few former detainees who have been
released have returned to the fight, engaging in armed combat
against U.S. forces.


2. (C) Shaikh Mohammed listened carefully to the points and
did not dispute them. Signaling his position of looking
ahead rather than back, he asked about any new information
regarding the release of Bahraini detainees at GTMO. (Note:
Bahrain's August 10 newspapers cover comments by the
detainees' American lawyer urging GOB efforts to bring back
the detainees to Bahrain, and MFA Under Secretary Yousef
Mahmoud's statement that the MFA sent a memo to the USG about
the return of the detainees. End Note.) The Charge replied
that we had nothing new on the issue. Shaikh Mohammed said
that the USG should tell the GOB what steps it should take to
create the right conditions for a return of the detainees.
In particular, he was interested in what Bahrain could learn
from the U.S.'s experience with releases to other countries.


3. (C) The ForMin said that the detainee issue continued to
figure prominently in the Bahraini press, and the government
wants to take actions that will help calm the situation.

ZIADEH