Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT1138
2006-04-02 12:43:00
SECRET
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
MFA OFFICIAL CITES INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE IN RIHS
how-toVZCZCXRO9678 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHKU #1138 0921243 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 021243Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3789 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0333 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1223 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0976 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T KUWAIT 001138
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EB FOR JSALOOM, TREASURY FOR
UNDERSECRETARY LEVEY, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2016
TAGS: ECON EFIN PGOV PREL KTFN KU
SUBJECT: MFA OFFICIAL CITES INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE IN RIHS
AND JALAMAH PAPERS
REF: A. KUWAIT 697
B. STATE 28021
C. STATE 25359
D. KUWAIT 251
Classified By: CDA Matthew Tueller. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T KUWAIT 001138
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EB FOR JSALOOM, TREASURY FOR
UNDERSECRETARY LEVEY, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2016
TAGS: ECON EFIN PGOV PREL KTFN KU
SUBJECT: MFA OFFICIAL CITES INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE IN RIHS
AND JALAMAH PAPERS
REF: A. KUWAIT 697
B. STATE 28021
C. STATE 25359
D. KUWAIT 251
Classified By: CDA Matthew Tueller. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) During a March 20 meeting, and in subsequent
conversations, Econoff followed-up with Khaled Al-Maqamis,
the MFA's Director of Follow-up and Coordination (MFA TF
lead) to elicit GOK feedback on the USG non-papers about the
Revival of the Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS) and potential
TF-designations of Jalamah, Bathali and Al-Ali (refs B and
C).
2. (S) Al-Maqamis commented that the RIHS paper had
insufficient evidence to warrant GOK sanctions against the
Kuwait-based organization and welcomed additional information
confirming USG concerns. He expressed frustration with what
he believed to be USG efforts to mistakenly target Islamic
charities, asking at one point if it was the USG's intention
to shut down all Islamic charities based on suspicions of
association with Islamic extremism.
3. (S) Al-Maqamis expressed confidence in GOK oversight of
Kuwaiti charities and pointed to existing MFA measures to
monitor charities activities abroad, including the
requirement for all Kuwaiti charities to pre-register with
GOK embassies in order to secure GOK work authorization in
third countries. Al-Maqamis also pointed to a recent
agreement between RIHS and the Government of Bangladesh that
will require RIHS to hire only local nationals or Kuwaitis to
staff its Bangladesh operations. (Note: Econoff has asked
Al-Maqamis' office for a copy of the agreement. End note.)
Al-Maqamis added that the recent Bangladesh agreement was an
MFA initiative that he hoped to replicate in other countries
with a RIHS presence.
4. (S) Al-Maqamis voiced similar concerns about USG
information regarding Jalamah, Al-Bathali, and Al-Ali,
cautioning that the information outlined in the papers were
insufficient for any legal action in Kuwait against the three
individuals. Al-Maqamis gave no indication of GOK
willingness to co-sponsor a potential designation of the
three individuals. He added that all three individuals were
being closely monitored by Kuwait State Security (KSS).
********************************************
For more Embassy Kuwait reporting, see:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/index. cfm?cables
Or Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************
TUELLER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EB FOR JSALOOM, TREASURY FOR
UNDERSECRETARY LEVEY, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2016
TAGS: ECON EFIN PGOV PREL KTFN KU
SUBJECT: MFA OFFICIAL CITES INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE IN RIHS
AND JALAMAH PAPERS
REF: A. KUWAIT 697
B. STATE 28021
C. STATE 25359
D. KUWAIT 251
Classified By: CDA Matthew Tueller. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) During a March 20 meeting, and in subsequent
conversations, Econoff followed-up with Khaled Al-Maqamis,
the MFA's Director of Follow-up and Coordination (MFA TF
lead) to elicit GOK feedback on the USG non-papers about the
Revival of the Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS) and potential
TF-designations of Jalamah, Bathali and Al-Ali (refs B and
C).
2. (S) Al-Maqamis commented that the RIHS paper had
insufficient evidence to warrant GOK sanctions against the
Kuwait-based organization and welcomed additional information
confirming USG concerns. He expressed frustration with what
he believed to be USG efforts to mistakenly target Islamic
charities, asking at one point if it was the USG's intention
to shut down all Islamic charities based on suspicions of
association with Islamic extremism.
3. (S) Al-Maqamis expressed confidence in GOK oversight of
Kuwaiti charities and pointed to existing MFA measures to
monitor charities activities abroad, including the
requirement for all Kuwaiti charities to pre-register with
GOK embassies in order to secure GOK work authorization in
third countries. Al-Maqamis also pointed to a recent
agreement between RIHS and the Government of Bangladesh that
will require RIHS to hire only local nationals or Kuwaitis to
staff its Bangladesh operations. (Note: Econoff has asked
Al-Maqamis' office for a copy of the agreement. End note.)
Al-Maqamis added that the recent Bangladesh agreement was an
MFA initiative that he hoped to replicate in other countries
with a RIHS presence.
4. (S) Al-Maqamis voiced similar concerns about USG
information regarding Jalamah, Al-Bathali, and Al-Ali,
cautioning that the information outlined in the papers were
insufficient for any legal action in Kuwait against the three
individuals. Al-Maqamis gave no indication of GOK
willingness to co-sponsor a potential designation of the
three individuals. He added that all three individuals were
being closely monitored by Kuwait State Security (KSS).
********************************************
For more Embassy Kuwait reporting, see:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/index. cfm?cables
Or Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************
TUELLER