APPROACH TO THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN ON ASSISTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 079114 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2019 TAGS: PREL JA PS KDRG SUBJECT: APPROACH TO THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN ON ASSISTING WITH UIGHUR MEDIVACS FROM PALAU Classified By: Special Envoy Daniel Fried ¶1. This is an action request. Embassy Tokyo is requested to meet with Government of Japan (GOJ) officials to request their assistance in allowing Uighur Medivacs from Palau to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Okinawa. ¶2. Background: On June 4, 2009, Special Envoy for Closure of the Guantanamo Detention Facility Daniel Fried met with President Toribiong of Palau. At these meetings, Palau officially offered to accept the remaining Uighur detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities. Palau is currently working on a resettlement package to offer the Uighurs, which will likely elicit positive responses from a number of Uighurs who are willing to go to Palau. One concern that Uighur counsel have raised is access to appropriate medical care. While Palau has a hospital and medical facilities, resources are limited and major procedures and operations must occur off-island. Not having access to appropriate medical care is a potential deal-breaker for the resettlement of some of the Uighurs to Palau. DOD is considering whether the U.S. Naval Hospital in Okinawa could be made available to the Uighurs for a period of time, should the Japanese concur with this approach. ¶3. The following talking points have been provided by the Office of the Special Envoy for Closure of the Guantanamo Detention Facility (S/GC). ¶4. Proposed Talking Points: President Obama has ordered the detention facilities in Guantanamo Bay closed, an objective that enjoys broad international support. Resettlement of Uighurs currently detained in Guantanamo is integral to this effort. Discussions are underway between the U.S. Government and the Government of Palau to resettle in Palau a number of these detainees. One of the issues for resettlement relates to whether the U.S. will agree to provide access to appropriate advanced medical care if and when necessary. Palau has a hospital and medical facilities, but major procedures must be undertaken off island. Japan is the nearest country that has appropriate U.S. medical facilities that could possibly be utilized in order to support this effort. Proximity of appropriate facilities would be of paramount concern should a medical emergency arise. Pursuant to resettlement arrangements, we ask whether the GOJ would allow the Uighurs to enter Japan in order to access the U.S. Naval Hospital in Okinawa, solely in medical cases where adequate treatment facilities in Palau are not available. Japan's assistance in this regard would contribute greatly to President Obama's plan to close the Guantanamo facilities, which is central to our overall strategy in fighting terrorism. Japan's help would also strengthen our overall bilateral relationship, particularly our cooperation in the Pacific Islands. In recent discussions with Department of State Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell, Japanese officials highlighted the need for collaboration in that region. Japan is not being asked to assume any of the costs associated with this contingency. The Palauans are willing to provide travel documentation (not/not passports) to the Uighurs. We are happy to work with the GOJ to address any further questions that may arise from this request. ¶4. The Office of the Special Envoy for Closure of the Guantanamo Detention Facility requests that the Government of Japan be approached at the highest level possible. ¶5. Embassy Tokyo's assistance is appreciated. CLINTON