Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAMA1163
2006-06-28 11:59:00
SECRET
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
FOREIGN MINISTER FLAGS HARM DONE BY GTMO ISSUE
how-toVZCZCXRO3087 OO RUEHDE DE RUEHMK #1163 1791159 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 281159Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5106 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
S E C R E T MANAMA 001163
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2016
TAGS: PREL KAWC PTER OPDC BA BILAT CTR OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER FLAGS HARM DONE BY GTMO ISSUE
REF: A. STATE 103590
B. MANAMA 1144
C. MANAMA 1000
D. MANAMA 0963
Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
S E C R E T MANAMA 001163
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2016
TAGS: PREL KAWC PTER OPDC BA BILAT CTR OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER FLAGS HARM DONE BY GTMO ISSUE
REF: A. STATE 103590
B. MANAMA 1144
C. MANAMA 1000
D. MANAMA 0963
Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (S) The Ambassador June 25 delivered Ref A diplomatic
note concerning the proposed visit of Bahraini security
officials to GTMO to Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed
Al Khalifa. The Minister thanked the Ambassador for the
response and said he would get back to us on proposed travel
details. Shaikh Khalid commented that the return of 14
Saudis from GTMO the previous day was a good sign if it
signaled momentum to push the issue forward. GTMO is hurting
the GOB's position domestically, he said. He occasionally
must go to parliament to answer questions about the
government's actions in support of the three remaining
Bahraini detainees. He can easily defend Bahrain's relations
with the U.S. but the GTMO issue puts the government into a
corner. He recommended "doing away" with the detention
center as soon as possible.
2. (S) Shaikh Khalid said the USG should return as many
detainees as it could, and try and jail the guilty in
accordance with the law. He stated that the American lawyers
defending the Bahraini detainees issue statements that put
the government into a tough position. He noted that he had
received 150 petitions from Bahraini citizens urging the
government to take whatever action is necessary to bring the
detainees home. (Note: The Embassy has also received 35
letters of a similar nature. The letter drive is part of an
Amnesty International/Bahrain campaign to publicize the
status of GTMO detainees, Ref B.) The Minister said both his
government and the USG are in a defensive position on the
issue and he does not want GTMO to "continue bothering us."
He emphasized that Bahrain had fulfilled its obligations on
the return of the first three detainees and will do the same
for the remaining three.
3. (U) The English-language Gulf Daily News June 28 ran an
article about Bahraini detainee Juma Al Dossary's 13th
attempt to commit suicide at GTMO, complete with lurid
details. The report is based upon the American attorneys'
notes from their visit to the facility in May. The attorneys
call for "maximum efforts to be exerted in Bahrain" for the
release of the three Bahraini detainees.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2016
TAGS: PREL KAWC PTER OPDC BA BILAT CTR OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER FLAGS HARM DONE BY GTMO ISSUE
REF: A. STATE 103590
B. MANAMA 1144
C. MANAMA 1000
D. MANAMA 0963
Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (S) The Ambassador June 25 delivered Ref A diplomatic
note concerning the proposed visit of Bahraini security
officials to GTMO to Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed
Al Khalifa. The Minister thanked the Ambassador for the
response and said he would get back to us on proposed travel
details. Shaikh Khalid commented that the return of 14
Saudis from GTMO the previous day was a good sign if it
signaled momentum to push the issue forward. GTMO is hurting
the GOB's position domestically, he said. He occasionally
must go to parliament to answer questions about the
government's actions in support of the three remaining
Bahraini detainees. He can easily defend Bahrain's relations
with the U.S. but the GTMO issue puts the government into a
corner. He recommended "doing away" with the detention
center as soon as possible.
2. (S) Shaikh Khalid said the USG should return as many
detainees as it could, and try and jail the guilty in
accordance with the law. He stated that the American lawyers
defending the Bahraini detainees issue statements that put
the government into a tough position. He noted that he had
received 150 petitions from Bahraini citizens urging the
government to take whatever action is necessary to bring the
detainees home. (Note: The Embassy has also received 35
letters of a similar nature. The letter drive is part of an
Amnesty International/Bahrain campaign to publicize the
status of GTMO detainees, Ref B.) The Minister said both his
government and the USG are in a defensive position on the
issue and he does not want GTMO to "continue bothering us."
He emphasized that Bahrain had fulfilled its obligations on
the return of the first three detainees and will do the same
for the remaining three.
3. (U) The English-language Gulf Daily News June 28 ran an
article about Bahraini detainee Juma Al Dossary's 13th
attempt to commit suicide at GTMO, complete with lurid
details. The report is based upon the American attorneys'
notes from their visit to the facility in May. The attorneys
call for "maximum efforts to be exerted in Bahrain" for the
release of the three Bahraini detainees.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE