Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO1840
2009-08-12 08:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

JAPANESE GOVERNMENT INITIAL RESPONSE ON ASSISTING

Tags:  PREL KDRG JA PS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKO #1840 2240823
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 120823Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5342
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001840 

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS TO SPECIAL ENVOY FRIED

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2019
TAGS: PREL KDRG JA PS
SUBJECT: JAPANESE GOVERNMENT INITIAL RESPONSE ON ASSISTING
WITH UIGHUR MEDEVACS FROM PALAU

REF: A. SECSTATE 79114

B. TOKYO 1740

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES a.i., JAMES P. ZUMWALT, REASONS 1.4(B)
AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001840

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS TO SPECIAL ENVOY FRIED

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2019
TAGS: PREL KDRG JA PS
SUBJECT: JAPANESE GOVERNMENT INITIAL RESPONSE ON ASSISTING
WITH UIGHUR MEDEVACS FROM PALAU

REF: A. SECSTATE 79114

B. TOKYO 1740

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES a.i., JAMES P. ZUMWALT, REASONS 1.4(B)
AND (D).


1. (C) Summary: The Japanese government understands the
importance the Obama Administration has placed on the closure
of Guantanamo and wants to cooperate as much as possible on
assisting with possible Uighur medevacs from Palau, according
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). MOFA noted,
however, that legal requirements governing the entry of
foreigners into Japan and restrictions on the use of SOFA
facilities by non-SOFA status personnel make it "difficult"
to grant "blanket" approval allowing detained Uighurs to
enter Japan and access medical services at the U.S. Naval
Hospital in Okinawa. Requests may be granted on a
case-by-case basis on humanitarian grounds, but MOFA wondered
if this position would be acceptable to the U.S.
Additionally, the Japanese government has requested answers
to detailed questions about the detainees in order to make a
final determination (see para 5 for action request). End
summary.


2. (C) As a general rule, Uighurs coming to Japan for medical
treatment, as with all other foreigners, must satisfy the
requirements for granting temporary entry into Japan and
would need to be processed through customs, immigration, and
quarantine (CIQ) procedures, MOFA First North American
Division Deputy Director told Poloff 12 August. Any patient
who would come to Japan would thus need to apply for and be
granted a visa at the Japanese Embassy in Palau.
"Comprehensive" or "blanket" approval for the detainees would
be difficult, if not impossible, for the Ministry of Justice
(MOJ) to provide, according to Yamamoto. In spite of this,
the Japanese government could potentially consider granting
approval without the normal bureaucratic procedures "on a
humanitarian, case-by-case basis."


3. (C) Access by Uighur detainees to a SOFA facility for
medical treatment would also be problematic, as the SOFA
restricts access to these facilities to SOFA-status personnel
only, according to MOFA SOFA Division Deputy Director
Furugori, who also took part in the 12 August discussion. As
with entry into Japan, however, the Japanese government could
possibly consider use of the Naval Hospital in Okinawa to
treat the detainees "on a humanitarian, case-by-case basis,"
but not as a general policy.


4. (C) Poloff thanked MOFA for the information and emphasized
that the U.S. government places a very high priority on this
matter, stressing that Japan's assistance would contribute
greatly to President Obama's plan to close the Guantanamo
facilities, which is central to our overall strategy in
fighting terrorism.


5. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Prior to pursuing this matter further,
the Japanese government has requested the U.S. government
provide answers to the following questions:

- What are the names of the detainees who would be
transferred to Palau and potentially be treated in Okinawa?
- What are the nationalities of the detainees?
- Why were they detained in Guantanamo?
- Who is requesting that detainees be provided this kind of
guaranteed advance medical treatment as a condition of their
transfer? Legal counsel? The Government of Palau? Both?
- Why is the U.S. seeking to use Okinawa instead of Guam or a
third country in the region?

Post realizes the sensitivities involved in some of these
questions, and we would appreciate Department guidance on the
best way to respond.


6. (C) In addition to the questions in para 5, the Japanese
government is very interested in determining the kind of
arrangement the U.S. might find acceptable. If the
humanitarian, case-by-case basis approach suggested herein
will not be acceptable to the U.S., MOFA noted there is "no
point" for them to pursue the issue further with MOJ and
other relevant government agencies. If this approach is
acceptable, however, Japan would like to know whether the
U.S. finds a "gentleman's agreement" sufficient or if we
would be seeking a written instrument.
ZUMWALT