Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SUVA475
2008-12-22 03:00:00
SECRET
Embassy Suva
Cable title:
KIRIBATI CABINET AGREES TO OFFER ASYLUM TO UIGHURS
how-toO 220300Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY SUVA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0887 INFO AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T SUVA 000475
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PHUM PTER PREL PINR KDRG FJ
SUBJECT: KIRIBATI CABINET AGREES TO OFFER ASYLUM TO UIGHURS
REF: STATE 133238
Classified By: Ambassador C. Steven McGann for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
S E C R E T SUVA 000475
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PHUM PTER PREL PINR KDRG FJ
SUBJECT: KIRIBATI CABINET AGREES TO OFFER ASYLUM TO UIGHURS
REF: STATE 133238
Classified By: Ambassador C. Steven McGann for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) On December 20, Embassy delivered points reftel to
Kiribati Foreign Secretary Tessie Lambourne. Embassy also
forwarded a cover note in conjunction with the non-paper.
The Kiribati cabinet had not been privy to earlier
discussions between governments. Embassy wanted to help
President Tong address concerns - both domestic and
international - that there was a "quid pro quo" for accepting
the Uighurs.
2. (S) Embassy emphasized that the 1979 Treaty of Friendship
between the United States and Kiribati was the underlying
principle of our cooperation; the core package was not
predicated on the arrival of any Uighurs; the U.S. would pay
resettlement costs as instructed; and the potential repairs
to Cassidy Airport (Kirimati Island) were subject to our
internal guidelines. The additional note aided President Tong
in deliberations with his cabinet.
3. (S) On December 22, 2008 Foreign Secretary Tessie
Lambourne informed Ambassador McGann that the "Kiribati
cabinet has agreed in principle to accept the Uighur
detainees, subject to further consultations and agreements on
the details." Today's decision was also made on the
understanding that the U.S. will meet all costs related to
the resettlement process. Ambassador McGann thanked
Secretary Lambourne for Kiribati's willingness to assist the
United States.
4. (S) The following is the formal government of Kiribati
response to the United States request to grant asylum to the
Uighurs:
Begin text:
FAI:13/4/411
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of the
Republic of Kiribati presents its compliments to the Embassy
of the United States of America in Suva, Fiji, and has the
honour to acknowledge receipt of the Embassy's Note No. 56
dated 12 December 2008, relating to the release and
resettlement in Kiribati of up to 17 persons of Uighur
ethnicity ("the detainees") who are currently in the custody
of the Government of the United States of America at the U.S.
Naval facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The Ministry has the further honour to refer to further
discussions between the Governments of Kiribati and the
United States of America held in Tarawa between 16 and 19
December 2008, regarding the detainees.
The Ministry confirms that the Government of Kiribati agrees
in principle to receive for resettlement any of the detainees
who are willing to be resettled in Kiribati, subject to
further consultations and agreement between the two
Governments on the details of the resettlement such as
timing, modalities and logistics. This is based on the
understanding that all costs of the resettlement will be met
by the Government of the United States of America.
The Ministry further confirms that, while Kiribati is not a
State Party to the Convention Against Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the
Government of Kiribati is prepared to abide by the
obligations imposed upon States Parties to the convention in
its dealings with the detainees.
The Ministry also confirms that the Government of Kiribati
will not subsequently transfer a released person to the
custody and control of the Government of the People's
Republic of China.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration avails itself
of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United
States of America in Suva, Fiji, the assurances of its
highest consideration.
Bairiki
Tarawa
22nd December 2008
End text.
MCGANN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PHUM PTER PREL PINR KDRG FJ
SUBJECT: KIRIBATI CABINET AGREES TO OFFER ASYLUM TO UIGHURS
REF: STATE 133238
Classified By: Ambassador C. Steven McGann for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) On December 20, Embassy delivered points reftel to
Kiribati Foreign Secretary Tessie Lambourne. Embassy also
forwarded a cover note in conjunction with the non-paper.
The Kiribati cabinet had not been privy to earlier
discussions between governments. Embassy wanted to help
President Tong address concerns - both domestic and
international - that there was a "quid pro quo" for accepting
the Uighurs.
2. (S) Embassy emphasized that the 1979 Treaty of Friendship
between the United States and Kiribati was the underlying
principle of our cooperation; the core package was not
predicated on the arrival of any Uighurs; the U.S. would pay
resettlement costs as instructed; and the potential repairs
to Cassidy Airport (Kirimati Island) were subject to our
internal guidelines. The additional note aided President Tong
in deliberations with his cabinet.
3. (S) On December 22, 2008 Foreign Secretary Tessie
Lambourne informed Ambassador McGann that the "Kiribati
cabinet has agreed in principle to accept the Uighur
detainees, subject to further consultations and agreements on
the details." Today's decision was also made on the
understanding that the U.S. will meet all costs related to
the resettlement process. Ambassador McGann thanked
Secretary Lambourne for Kiribati's willingness to assist the
United States.
4. (S) The following is the formal government of Kiribati
response to the United States request to grant asylum to the
Uighurs:
Begin text:
FAI:13/4/411
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of the
Republic of Kiribati presents its compliments to the Embassy
of the United States of America in Suva, Fiji, and has the
honour to acknowledge receipt of the Embassy's Note No. 56
dated 12 December 2008, relating to the release and
resettlement in Kiribati of up to 17 persons of Uighur
ethnicity ("the detainees") who are currently in the custody
of the Government of the United States of America at the U.S.
Naval facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The Ministry has the further honour to refer to further
discussions between the Governments of Kiribati and the
United States of America held in Tarawa between 16 and 19
December 2008, regarding the detainees.
The Ministry confirms that the Government of Kiribati agrees
in principle to receive for resettlement any of the detainees
who are willing to be resettled in Kiribati, subject to
further consultations and agreement between the two
Governments on the details of the resettlement such as
timing, modalities and logistics. This is based on the
understanding that all costs of the resettlement will be met
by the Government of the United States of America.
The Ministry further confirms that, while Kiribati is not a
State Party to the Convention Against Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the
Government of Kiribati is prepared to abide by the
obligations imposed upon States Parties to the convention in
its dealings with the detainees.
The Ministry also confirms that the Government of Kiribati
will not subsequently transfer a released person to the
custody and control of the Government of the People's
Republic of China.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration avails itself
of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United
States of America in Suva, Fiji, the assurances of its
highest consideration.
Bairiki
Tarawa
22nd December 2008
End text.
MCGANN