US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1275

S E C R E T COLOMBO 001275 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
STATE FOR SA, SA/INS AND S/WCI LTC MILLER; SECDEF FOR 
SO/L9IC ASD O'CONNELL 
 
NSC FOR E. MILLARD 
 
E.O. 12598:  DECL:  08/02/14 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, MOPS, PHUM, PINR, MV, CE, Maldives, Human Rights 
SUBJECT:  MALDIVES DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER PROMISES TO KEEP 
CLOSE TABS ON GUANTANAMO DETAINEE, PREVENT TRAVEL 
 
REF:  COLOMBO 1196 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR JEFFREY J. LUNSTEAD.  REASONS 1.5 
B, D. 
 
1.  (S/NF) During visit to Maldives for National Day events 
July 25-26, Ambassador was able to briefly discuss issue of 
Maldivian detainee at Guantanamo with Deputy Foreign 
Minister Hussain Shihab. (Foreign Minister was not in 
Maldives at the time.) Ambassador told Shihab that we were 
looking into the case, but that we still had concerns about 
some aspects of the detainee's history.  Ambassador also 
said that we would need to discuss further with the Maldives 
the GORM's statement that it would "monitor" the detainee if 
he were returned to Maldives. 
 
2. (S/NF) Shihab said that he understood the need to clear 
up the detainee's story. He said that at a minimum, the GORM 
would place him under close surveillance if he were to be 
returned, and would put him on a watch list to ensure that 
he could not leave the country. Shihab noted that with 
Maldives as an island nation, this would be effective in 
preventing him from traveling, unless, Shihab said, "he is 
very good at rowing." 
 
3. (S/NF) COMMENT:  Shihab made it clear once again that 
Maldives is prepared to cooperate fully with us in dealing 
with the detainee. 
 
LUNSTEAD