US embassy cable - 04MANAMA1365

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001365 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, S/CT, DS 
LONDON FOR E GOLDRICH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, ASEC, ETRD, ECON, BA 
SUBJECT: CABINET AFFAIRS MINISTER MUTAWWA DELIVERS DRAFT 
COUNTER-TERRORISM LAW, DISCUSSES SECURITY SITUATION IN 
AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL 
 
 
Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d) 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (S) The Ambassador paid an introductory call September 1 
on Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al 
Mutawwa and discussed Bahrain's draft counter-terrorism law, 
bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation and the six terrorism 
suspects, U.S. influence in the Arab world, Saudi Arabia, 
Iraq, democracy, and bilateral economic ties.  Al Mutawwa 
passed the Ambassador a copy of Bahrain's draft 
counter-terrorism law, which the Cabinet has approved and 
will deliver to parliament in early October when the next 
session begins.  The Ambassador urged the GOB to keep the six 
suspects in prison while the prosecution builds a case 
against them.  He said that he and Washington officials had 
serious concerns about the suspects, and the U.S. reaction 
would be very strong if they were released.  Al Mutawwa said 
that the GOB needed hard evidence against the six to keep 
them in custody and requested our assistance in collecting 
evidence.  He told the Ambassador that he would urge the 
Prime Minister to meet with the Ambassador soon to discuss 
this issue.  End Summary. 
 
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Draft CT Law Delivered 
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2.  (C) Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al 
Mutawwa September 1 welcomed the Ambassador to Bahrain and 
assured him that he would find Bahrainis at all levels of 
society to be very open with him.  He commented on the 
strength of our bilateral relations and said the two 
countries were poised to take major steps, particularly 
signing the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA).  In the 
context of enhancing bilateral cooperation, Al Mutawwa passed 
the Ambassador a copy of the draft counter-terrorism law in 
Arabic.  He said that the Cabinet had approved the text of 
the law and that the draft would be delivered to parliament 
at the opening of the next session, in early October.  He 
hoped it would become law by the end of the year.  Al Mutawwa 
said that the Cabinet had not yet decided whether to present 
the law as an amendment to the existing criminal code or as 
new legislation.  In any case, the substance would be the 
same.  The drafters used a recent UK counter-terrorism law as 
the basis for the Bahraini draft.  (Note:  Embassy is 
reviewing the draft and developing an executive summary. 
Embassy will forward full Arabic text to NEA/ARPI.  End Note.) 
 
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Serious Concerns About Terrorism Suspects 
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3.  (S) The Ambassador stated that he had spent the summer in 
Washington working on security-related issues with a focus on 
the case of the six terrorism suspects.  He said that 
U.S.-Bahrain cooperation has been excellent, and the U.S. is 
pleased with Bahrain's steps related to the CT draft law and 
the development of a CT Operations Center.  He noted that he 
had been able to point to the many positive measures the GOB 
had taken when arguing to lift the travel warning and Embassy 
authorized departure, and to keep the DOD Bahrain School 
open.  He indicated, however, that he was concerned about the 
status of the six detainees.  He had learned that the 
Bahraini judge had decided to extend their detention for just 
15 days rather than 45 days, as the prosecutor had requested. 
 The Ambassador emphasized that they must remain in prison 
while prosecutors and investigators built a case against 
them.  The Ambassador stated that he and Washington officials 
had serious concerns about the suspects, and the U.S. 
reaction would be very strong if they were released. 
 
4.  (C) The Minister said that security was Bahrain's top 
priority.  The GOB understands that terrorists can attack 
anywhere, and life means nothing to them.  He is pleased that 
the GOB and USG are working together on counter-terrorism and 
this cooperation will lead to real results. 
 
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GOB Needs Additional Evidence Against Suspects 
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5.  (S) Regarding the six suspects, Al Mutawwa said that hard 
evidence against them would improve the case to keep them in 
custody.  The court might rule that there was not enough 
evidence against them currently to keep them in prison. 
However, as additional evidence came to light, the GOB could 
arrest them again.  The Ambassador stressed the need for a 
thorough investigation, and to keep the suspects in prison 
while a case against them was being developed.  The Minister 
said that he understood the Ambassador's message and promised 
to pass it to Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. 
He also pledged to urge the PM to meet soon with the 
Ambassador. 
 
6.  (C) The Minister asked about the current situation in 
Saudi Arabia.  The Ambassador responded that it remained 
worrisome.  It was a good example of what could happen if a 
government does not get on top of the security situation 
early enough.  He noted that bilateral cooperation was very 
good now.  Al Mutawwa stated that in the case of Iraq, 
Bahrain shared and believed in the U.S. aim of stability. 
 
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U.S. Assistance on Democracy and Economy 
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7.  (C) The Ambassador said that Bahrain had taken many 
positive steps on democracy and economy.  Al Mutawwa thanked 
the Ambassador for U.S. assistance in these areas.  He said 
that Bahrain wanted to build a strong democratic base and was 
committed to dialogue with the opposition to achieve this. 
Regarding the FTA, the Minister said that the GOB was focused 
on the benefits the Bahraini people can derive from the 
agreement.  The Ambassador pledged to work with the Bahraini 
government and private sector to deepen trade and investment 
ties between the two countries. 
 
MONROE