PRESS, DIP NOTE PROTEST CONTINUED GTMO DETENTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000268

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/WCI, NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: KAWC PTER PREL BA APDC BILAT CTR
SUBJECT: PRESS, DIP NOTE PROTEST CONTINUED GTMO DETENTION
OF BAHRAINI

REF: A. MANAMA 0089

B. STATE 10487

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


1. (U) This is an action request; please see para 7.

--------------
Summary
--------------


2. (C) Bahraini newspapers February 22 reported that
Bahraini detainee Juma Al Dossary would remain at Guantanamo
for at least one more year following an Administrative Review
Board (ARB) decision that he continues to be a threat to the
United States. American lawyer Joshua Colangelo-Bryan sent a
letter to military authorities requesting that Al Dossary be
moved from a psychiatric ward, where he is now held, to an
area where he could interact with other detainees. Al
Dossary told Colangelo-Bryan that he felt the ARB panel
members were moved by his plea to return to Bahrain. MP
Mohammed Khalid told the press that parliament would discuss
the continued detention of Bahrainis at GTMO next month and
he asked rhetorically what the government was doing to free
them. Separately, the Embassy February 21 received a
diplomatic note from the MFA asking that the U.S. take action
to prevent Al Dossary's condition from deteriorating further
and for the return of all three remaining detainees to
Bahrain. End Summary.

--------------
ARB Ruling Adds to "Despair and Hopelessness"
--------------


3. (U) The local press reported February 22 that Bahraini
GTMO detainee Juma Al Dossary learned in January that an ARB
ruled that he continues to be a threat to the United States
and so must remain at Guantanamo until at least the next
review, in another year. American lawyer Joshua
Colangelo-Bryan, from the Dorsey and Whitney law firm, broke
the news to the press. Colangelo-Bryan noted there is no
appeals process for the ARB outcome and the decision would
"naturally add to Juma's despair and hopelessness." Al
Dossary has attempted suicide ten times during his four years
in detention.


4. (U) Colangelo-Bryan added that he had sent a letter to
military authorities requesting that Al Dossary be moved to
an area where he could talk and interact with other
detainees. Al Dossary reportedly is held in a psychiatric
ward occupied by prisoners with severe emotional problems who
"shout incessantly," according to Colangelo-Bryan. He stated
that prior to his placement in the psychiatric ward, Al
Dossary had been held in isolation for more than 18 months.
Colangelo-Bryan reported that Al Dossary told him that he
felt the ARB panel members had been moved by his plea to
return to Bahrain. Al Dossary said that he told the ARB
about his suicide attempts and the "very serious abuse" he
has suffered at GTMO. He promised the panel that he would
stay in his house "for 75 years" if he was released.


5. (U) Khalid Al Dossary, brother of the detainee, told the
Gulf Daily News that the decision to hold Juma another year
was "bad news," noting that he thought the Bahraini
government was holding "intensive talks" on the release of
his brother and the other two Bahraini detainees, Essa Al
Murbati and Salah Al Balooshi. MP Mohammed Khalid, an
outspoken advocate for the detainees, told the press that
parliament will discuss the issue in March. He said, "We are
waiting to see what the Foreign Affairs Ministry will do.
This is a question for them - what will the government do?"

-------------- --------------
Note Requests End to Isolation, Return of Detainees
-------------- --------------


6. (C) In a separate move, the Embassy February 21 received
the following diplomatic note from the MFA:

Begin Text:

Ref: 19/1/5-61182
Date: February 18, 2006

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain
presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States
of America in the Kingdom of Bahrain and would like to notify
the Embassy that information has been received recently from
the local press and through the lawyers of Dorsey and Whitney
about the Bahraini detainee, Juma Mohammed Al Dossary,
stating that he is currently detained in the psychiatric
ward. The information also stated that Al Dossary tried to
commit suicide several times and that he has been kept in
isolation.

The Ministry would very much appreciate it if the esteemed
Embassy would kindly contact the concerned authorities in the
United States to take an action to prevent Al Dossary's
condition from getting worst and to end the isolation.

The Ministry would also like to emphasize that Bahrain
considers its relationship with the United States of America
to be distinguished and friendly. On the other hand, Bahrain
is concerned about the three Bahraini detainees, health and
psychological conditions and hopes that the United States
would accept the Kingdom's request to release them and send
them back to Bahrain.

The Ministry avails itself of this opportunity to renew to
the esteemed Embassy the assurances of its highest
consideration.

End Text.

--------------
Comment and Action Request
--------------


7. (C) We had informed the Foreign Minister in January of
the ARB's November decision to detain Al Dossary an
additional year (reftels). Public reporting of the news,
following negative coverage of UN and Amnesty reports on
Guantanamo, will increase pressure on the MFA to "do
something" on behalf of the detainees. The latest diplomatic
note is the last in a string of notes we have received from
the MFA, clearly part of the GOB's effort to document its
engagement on the issue. Post requests Washington guidance
to respond to this latest Bahraini diplomatic note.

MONROE