Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KABUL3297
2006-07-26 08:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:  

DETAINEE DELEGATION MEETINGS FOCUS ON BTIF, PTS

Tags:  PREL KWCR PHUM AF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1435
OO RUEHDBU
DE RUEHBUL #3297/01 2070853
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 260853Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1520
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//JF/UNMA//
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3//
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/COMSOCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2701
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2845
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 6170
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1529
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 003297 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SA/PB, S/CT,
S/WCI, L/PM
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR BREZINSKI, DETAINEE AFFAIRS
CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/24/2016
TAGS: PREL KWCR PHUM AF
SUBJECT: DETAINEE DELEGATION MEETINGS FOCUS ON BTIF, PTS
TRANSFERS, LEGAL FRAMEWORK STATUS

REF: KABUL 2802

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Norland for reasons 1.4(
b),(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 003297

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SA/PB, S/CT,
S/WCI, L/PM
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR BREZINSKI, DETAINEE AFFAIRS
CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/24/2016
TAGS: PREL KWCR PHUM AF
SUBJECT: DETAINEE DELEGATION MEETINGS FOCUS ON BTIF, PTS
TRANSFERS, LEGAL FRAMEWORK STATUS

REF: KABUL 2802

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Norland for reasons 1.4(
b),(d).


1. (C) Summary: In July 23 meetings, a Washington-
based detainee affairs delegation from the
Departments of Defense and State discussed the
status of detainee operations with ICRC
representatives, members of the Afghan interagency
working group, and political-military officers from
ISAF command and member countries. The ICRC
Country Director praised the material conditions at
the BTIF and noted substantial improvement in the
handling of detainees throughout the process. He
said that ICRC believes that lack of clarity
concerning their future status is a contributing
factor to some detainees expressing increased
feelings of stress. ICRC strongly advocated in
favor of sharing more information with the detainees
and permitting family visits. The delegation
advised that the decision on family visits will be
made in Washington and suggested that ICRC
Afghanistan share its proposal with ICRC Washington.
The group also encouraged the Coalition command to
report through channels on any and all contributing
factors related to implementing a family visit plan
to ease this stress, including security, logistics,
and financing. The meeting with the Afghan
interagency group focused primarily on next steps
regarding the Guantanamo detainees to be transferred
back to Afghanistan through the reconciliation (PTS)
program. Regarding the draft legal framework
(reftel),while Ministry of Interior advisor Sabit
said the document will be signed soon, post will
engage at the highest levels of the NSC to make sure
it is briefed to President Karzai, and will continue
to follow up until it is signed. End summary.

ICRC Praise for BTIF
--------------


2. (C) In the ICRC meeting, Country Director Reto
Stocker opened the discussion with visiting detainee
delegation by saying that in ICRC,s view the
material conditions of the Bagram Theater Internment

Facility (BTIF) were very satisfactory. He cited
respect for religious belief and practice, quality
of food, recreation opportunities, and medical
facilities. Stocker said that ICRC has made 105
visits to BTIF since the facility was opened (one
every seven to 10 days),and that many of ICRC,s
original concerns have been addressed, particularly
over the last two years. He said that in only one
of 52 recent interviews was there any complaint of
"rough handling." (The one case they considered to be
a relatively minor incident occurring at point of
capture.) He added that as far as ICRC can tell,
detention procedure at firebases has improved
dramatically. Stocker underscored that respectful
treatment in the earliest stages builds trust that
can lead to later benefits.


3. (C) Stocker did say that ICRC would be interested
in receiving more information on the location of
firebases, not because anyone from ICRC wanted to
visit but because knowing the location of the

KABUL 00003297 002 OF 003


initial detention would help their assessment. He
said he realized there were security and operational
considerations with regard to receiving this
information.

Additional Information for Detainees
--------------


4. (C) Stocker said that in ICRC,s view, the
detainees at BTIF are showing increasing levels of
stress and mental problems, leading to
aggressiveness against both guards and ICRC
visitors, due to their not receiving any information
about "their fate." CFC/SJA COL Supervielle noted
that CFC-A has recently received authority to inform
the detainees in general on the options that may be
used in processing cases, and that CFC-A will do so
once details have been worked out.

Family Visits Request
--------------


5. (C) On the issue of family visits, Stocker made a
strong pitch, saying that it would not only ease the
mind of detainees, it would be a powerful tool
against unfounded rumors of mistreatment that
spread through the country, improve the reputation
of the U.S. among the Afghan people, and help the
GOA authorities who will be taking increasing
responsibility for detainee operations. He said
that ICRC would be willing to substantially assist
in the information-sharing and logistics required
for these visits, including informing and
registering the families in advance of the visit,
and offering financial assistance, including
transportation to and from Bagram Air Base. COL
Supervielle noted that a draft ICRC document
detailing these arrangements is presently under
review by CFC-A, and that CFC-A commander strongly
supports family visits as he fully concurs with the
IO benefits cited by the ICRC.


6. (C) BTIF Commander COL Miller said that her staff
will be building a facility on BAF outside of BTIF
for the PTS program that could accommodate both GOA
and family visits with detainees. She said that she
will work on ways to ensure that acceptable security
standards are maintained.


7. (C) The U.S. delegation representatives said that
they would take this information back to Washington,
while noting that the decision would be made at a
high level in accordance with an array of policy
issues. They told Stocker that it would be helpful
if ICRC Afghanistan could forward this commitment
regarding financial and logistical support to the
ICRC office in Washington, which has the lead in
dealing with OSD/Detainee Affairs. Stocker said
that was a good suggestion and agreed to do so.
CFC-A also agreed to send back additional
information, particularly regarding security
arrangements, once it has been developed in country.

NDS Facilities
--------------


8. (C) On a separate subject, Stocker noted that,

KABUL 00003297 003 OF 003


while he was not able to comment in detail in order
to maintain ICRC,s confidentiality, the National
Directorate of Security (NDS) has made faster
progress than other ministries (notably Ministry of
Justice) in developing standards and procedures. He
also noted that NDS appeared less corrupt than other
ministries. Stocker said that ICRC has a good
working relationship with NDS under its present
Director General, Amarullah Saleh.

Afghan Interagency Group and Immediate Next Steps
-------------- --------------


9. (C) The Washington-based delegation met over
lunch with the Afghan interagency team that had
traveled to Guantanamo Bay to interview the
detainees held there. It was a cordial meeting in
which both sides reiterated their pledge to bring
this task, agreed upon by both countries,
presidents, to successful conclusion. Detailed
discussion centered around the modalities for the
transfer of the first two tranches of Guantanamo
detainees back to Afghanistan to be handled under
the reconciliation (PTS) process. A final list of
51 individuals that the GOA is requesting be
transferred back through PTS has been finalized and
will be forwarded by Embassy to Washington upon
receipt. Discussion also included the timing and
modalities of GOA access to Afghan detainees at
Bagram in preparation of their transfer to the GOA.


10. (C) DOS/L Pelofsky queried Ministry of Interior
legal advisor Sabit regarding the status of the
draft legal framework that would provide a mechanism
for determining the disposition of detainees
transferred from Guantanamo/Bagram or taken off the
battlefield and handed over to GOA (reftel). Sabit
said that the draft had been finalized and should be
approved "soon." (Note: Embassy and CFC-A have
heard that the document may be stuck within the GOA.
Ambassador raised the issue with Minister of Defense
Wardak on the evening of July 23 - Wardak said that
National Security Advisor Rassoul had the lead.
Post will follow up with Rassoul over the next
several days. Once the document has been briefed to
President Karzai, Ambassador will raise the issue
with him at the appropriate time. End note.)

Arrangements by ISAF Nations
--------------


11. (C) Finally, the group met with pol-mil
representatives of ISAF countries operating in the
south - Canada, UK, the Netherlands, and Australia -
as well as the ISAF Acting POLAD and Legal Advisor,
to discuss those countries, arrangements for dealing
with combatants taken off the battlefield in light
of the 96-hour rule required by most of these
countries. While there were no taskings to come
out of the meeting, it was informative in showing
the difficulties these countries face when dealing
with this issue, in the absence of a GOA facility
and an adequately trained guard force.


12. (U) The visiting delegation has cleared this
cable.
NEUMANN