BAHRAIN: REQUEST FOR RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE OF

S E C R E T MANAMA 001468 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015 TAGS: PTER MOPS PREL KAWC BA SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: REQUEST FOR RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE OF CERTAIN DETAINEES FROM GUANTANAMO REF: STATE 183800 Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (S) Per guidance from S/WCI, Post has determined not to deliver reftel demarche concerning the possible resettlement in Bahrain of Uighurs currently detained at GTMO. Bahrain is a small island of only 700,000 residents, of whom 420,000 are citizens. There are no ethnic or cultural links between Bahrainis and Uighurs and the status of the six Bahraini detainees currently at GTMO remains a major bilateral irritant and domestic political issue. The GOB would not understand a proposal to transfer Uighurs from GTMO to Bahrain while Bahrainis remain in detention there, and would face strong criticism from the parliament and public for entertaining such a proposal under these circumstances. MONROE