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