KHARTOUM: PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION OPPOSING GUANTANAMO BAY

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000080 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/DSS, DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, S/USSES, AF, AF/EX, AND S/GC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC AEMR PTER PGOV PREL SU SUBJECT: KHARTOUM: PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION OPPOSING GUANTANAMO BAY DETENTION CENTER ¶1. (SBU) A group of approximately 50 peaceful demonstrators gathered outside the Chancery in Khartoum on Monday, January 11, 2010 calling for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. According to banners and speeches, the demonstration was organized by two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) - Civic Aid International Organization and the Guantanamo Justice Center. The latter is a Sudanese NGO founded by returned detainee Sami al-Hajj. A large banner written in English and Arabic read, "Eight Years of Guantanamo. Shut down Guantanamo Now." The banner and fliers handed out to passers-by had the logos of both organizations prominently displayed. The demonstrators also erected a public address system with loudspeakers directed towards the Embassy to broadcast several speeches. In their remarks, the protestors claimed that January 11 marked the eight year anniversary of the first Guantanamo detainee being taken into custody. They urged President Obama to close down Guantanamo immediately. ¶2. (SBU) According to Embassy records, all but three of the twelve Sudanese men detained at Guantanamo Bay have been released. One of the three, Mahmoud Idriss, is scheduled to be returned to Sudan in late January. The other two, Mohammed al Nur and Ibrahim Al Qosi are still being held for possible prosecution. Al Qosi's Office of Military Commissions (OMC) defense team is scheduled to return to Khartoum from January 15 to 22 to meet with the detainee's family and to interview several of the former detainees. RSO and RAO are coordinating closely with appropriate host government officials to ensure the safety of the OMC defense attorneys (JAG officers) during their visit here. Interviews of former detainees will be conducted in a safe environment after the returnees have been thoroughly searched. WHITEHEAD