GOB SEEKS INFORMATION ON GUANTANAMO HUNGER STRIKE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001446 SIPDIS STATE FOR S/WCI, NEA/ARPI DEFENSE FOR OSD/ODA, OSD/ISA E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2015 TAGS: KAWC OPDC PREL PTER BA SUBJECT: GOB SEEKS INFORMATION ON GUANTANAMO HUNGER STRIKE, BAHRAIN DETAINEES REF: STATE 174977 Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe. Reason: 1.4 (B)(D) ¶1. (U) This is an action message -- see para 5. ¶2. (SBU) The Embassy received a diplomatic noted dated October 2 regarding the hunger strike of detainees at Guantanamo. The note requests, in light of information received from the Embassy (reftel) and other sources about the hunger strike, that the USG provide the Ministry with a report on the six Bahraini detainees currently at Guantanamo, specifically advising if any of them had participated in the hunger strike, were hospitalized, or received any medical treatment because of participation in the hunger strike. ¶3. (U) Separately, the Ambassador received on October 5 a letter from Faisal Fulad, Director of the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (and Shura Council member),expressing concern about the mental health of the Bahraini detainees and about the hunger strike taking place at Guantanamo. The letter stated that the society "is anxious about any acts of torture or other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment that these detainees have been subjected to or may still be subjected (to)." It requested a meeting with the Ambassador to discuss the issue of releasing the Bahraini detainees, and to arrange a visit to Guantanamo by some of the society's members to take a closer look at the Bahraini detainees' condition. ¶4. (C) Comment. The issue of the Bahraini detainees continues to reverberate here, couched inevitably as a human rights issue that needs to be addressed. The Ambassador, in a front page interview in the local press last month, sought to recast the issue more properly in terms of the background of the detainees and why they were detained in the first place. But with the National Assembly now back in session, we can expect more negative attention to focus on this issue. The MFA, in particular, feels defensive in the face of charges that it is not doing enough to put pressure on its close ally, the United States, to bring the detainees home. This latest dip note is part of an MFA effort to demonstrate it is actively engaged on the issue. ¶5. (SBU) Action request: The Embassy would appreciate guidance on how to respond to the MFA dip note, including whether or not any Bahraini detainees have participated in the hunger strike. Please also advise if Guantanamo is considering visits by groups such as the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society. MONROE