HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT DELIVERED TO GOB

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000288

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2015
TAGS: PHUM KDEM KJUS BA
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT DELIVERED TO GOB

REF: STATE 31996

Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief delivered the 2004 Bahrain Human
Rights Report to MFA Director of Bilateral Relations Dhafer
Alumran February 28. Alumran pledged to disseminate the
report within the GOB and instructed an assistant to fax it
to Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa,
currently in London. Commenting on government-initiated
reform efforts, Ambassador Alumran said "although we know we
have many things to do, we are moving in the right direction."


2. (C) PolOff met with MFA Assistant Undersecretary for
Coordination and Follow-up Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al
Khalifa March 1 to discuss the Human Rights Report. Sheikh
Abdul Aziz stated that overall the report seemed more
positive than in recent years, but that the GOB disputed some
sections of it pertaining to judicial independence, the role
of parliament, treatment of prisoners, and discrimination
against Shi'a.


3. (C) The Bahrain Tribune, a pro-government newspaper,
published a front page article March 1 on the Human Rights
Report entitled "U.S. Hails Reforms, Freedoms in Bahrain."
The lengthy article focused almost exclusively on passages
from the report focusing on positive actions the GOB has
taken with regard to human rights in the last year. In the
coming days, other newspapers and civil society organizations
will likely highlight portions of the report that are more
critical of the government.


4. (U) The 2004 Bahrain Human Rights Report was posted on
Embassy Manama's website March 1.
MONROE