Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE86558
2009-08-19 20:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

WELFARE VISIT REQUEST TO IMPRISONED FORMER GUANTANAMO

Tags:  PHUM PGOV PREL KDRG TI 
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VZCZCXRO6537
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHC #6558 2312020
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 192002Z AUG 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE PRIORITY 1048
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 086558 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/19
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDRG TI
SUBJECT: WELFARE VISIT REQUEST TO IMPRISONED FORMER GUANTANAMO
DETAINEES

Classified by S/GC Deputy Anthony P. Ricci. Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 086558

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/19
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDRG TI
SUBJECT: WELFARE VISIT REQUEST TO IMPRISONED FORMER GUANTANAMO
DETAINEES

Classified by S/GC Deputy Anthony P. Ricci. Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).


1. (U) This is an action message. Please see para 4.


2. (C) Since 2004, 12 Tajik detainees at the Guantanamo Bay
Detention Facility have been returned to Tajikistan. Some were
prosecuted by the Tajik government and imprisoned, while others were
acquitted or served their prison sentences and were released. At
present, one Tajik national remains in detention at Guantanamo Bay,
Umar Abdulloyev (TI-257). We anticipate returning Abdulloyev to
Tajikistan, based on the Tajik Government's adherence to transfer
assurances outlined in a diplomatic note from Tajikistan to the U.S.
dated December 6, 2006, detailing security measures and humane
treatment assurances. Abdulloyev however, has obtained an injunction
from a U.S. district court to prevent his return to Tajikistan, based
on what he claims are humane treatment concerns. We intend to
petition the court for removal of the injunction on the grounds that,
on the basis of available information, the USG has concluded that
Abdulloyev can be repatriated consistent with U.S. post-transfer
humane treatment policies. The USG also has received no credible
allegations to suggest that the Tajik government has treated any of
the 12 detainees who have been repatriated to Tajikistan in a manner
inconsistent with its human treatment assurances.


3. (U) The Tajik newspaper Dushanbe Paykon carried an article dated
July 15, in which Abdulloyev expressed his fear of return to
Tajikistan, claiming poor prison conditions and humane treatment
concerns. Abdulloyev also claimed that the Tajik security services
attempted to recruit him as an informant against extremist Islamist
groups during an interview they conducted with him at Guantanamo. The
article states that three former Guantanamo detainees are imprisoned.
We are aware of only two former Guantanamo detainees currently
serving sentences in Tajikistan.


4. (C) While Embassy officials did not observe signs of abuse during
welfare visits to the Guantanamo detainees returned to Tajikistan, we
would like to reconfirm that there are no humane treatment concerns
related to the return of Guantanamo detainees to Tajikistan.
Credible reports or allegations of physical abuse against the two
detainees would rule out the return of Abdulloyev. Department
therefore instructs Post to request access to the two former
Guantanamo detainees currently in prison (Muqit Vohidov, Rukhiddin
Sharopov) to ascertain their physical well-being and inquire about
their conditions of confinement, as well as any other former
Guantanamo detainees that are in prison. This visit request will
test the procedure for timely welfare visits, as agreed by the Tajik
government prior to the returns. Department also requests that Post
seek the Tajik Government's continued assurances of proper treatment,
as we have done with prior returned detainees. We appreciate Post's
efforts to fulfill this request.


5. (C) Post may draw from the following points in its request for
access:

(BEGIN POINTS)

--As you are well aware, the United States has repatriated to
Tajikistan 12 Tajik nationals formerly detained in Guantanamo Bay,
the latest being Juma Jan in October 2008.

--We appreciate the efforts made by your government to facilitate the
repatriation of the detainees from Guantanamo Bay. Such a transfer
would not have been possible without the assurances provided by your
government regarding security measures and humane treatment outlined
in your diplomatic note of December 6, 2006.

--Of the 12 detainees who were returned, at least two remain in
prison serving their sentences, and possibly a third detainee
(according to media reporting).

--One Tajik national, Umar Abdulloyev remains in detention at
Guantanamo. We may be in a position to repatriate him to Tajikistan
upon conclusion of U.S. legal proceedings regarding his detention.
We do not know at this time when such proceedings will conclude.

--As we work through our legal proceedings and in anticipation of
possibly transferring Abdulloyev, we would like to visit the two
former detainees Vohidov and Sharopov, per the arrangement that we
have in place regarding access. Morever, we would like to ascertain
if any other former Guantanamo detainees are in detention and, if so,
we would similarly like to arrange a visit with them.

--We appreciate your government's expedited response to this request
and will work with you to facilitate the visit.

(END POINTS)
CLINTON