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