GOK ASKS AGAIN FOR DETAILS ON KUWAITI DETAINEES IN

S E C R E T KUWAIT 003484 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND S/WCI E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2016 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV PHUM KAWC KU IQ SUBJECT: GOK ASKS AGAIN FOR DETAILS ON KUWAITI DETAINEES IN IRAQ REF: A. BROWN/JOHNSON E-MAILS/TELCON DATED 8/21/2006 ¶B. KUWAIT 2020 ¶C. STATE 86377 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 3. ¶2. (S/NF) In a 23 August meeting with the Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of Coordination and Follow-up Ambassador Khaled Al-Maqamis expressed GOK frustration at the perceived continued lack of full disclosure by the USG regarding the status of two Kuwaiti nationals detained in Iraq: Abdelrahman Mobarak Meshakhas Al-Bathali (ISN 157245) and Ali Awad Faraj Farjee Al-Harbi (ISN 166970). (Note: The GOK has been requesting more information on these two cases since their detention in 2004. End note.) Based on information provided ref A, the Ambassador told Al-Maqamis that the USG would seek to facilitate a GOK consular visit to Al-Bathali, if desired. ¶2. (S/NF) As reported in ref B, the GOK considers the information released per ref C to be insufficient and at odds with separate information provided by the Government of Iraq. In contradiction of information in ref B about Al-Harbi being turned over to Iraqi custody, Al-Maqamis said the MFA had been informed by the GOI that this detainee was being held in U.S. custody at the DoD-operated Fort Suse facility along with Al-Bathali. Al-Maqamis also said Al-Harbi's sentence of 15 years in prison seemed unjustified by the simple crime of illegal border crossing. With regard to Al-Bathali, the GOK seeks information on when, how, and by whom his case will be adjudicated. ¶3. (S/NF) Action request: Post requests Department coordinate with DOD and Embassy Baghdad to provide all available information releasable to the GOK on Al-Bathali and Al-Harbi. Please verify the location and custody of Al-Harbi and provide any available information on the charges against him. Please provide whatever information is available regarding next steps in the disposition of Al-Bathali's case. (Note: Post has no interest in seeing either released from custody.) ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * LeBaron