US embassy cable - 04MANAMA1419

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001419 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP AND NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ELAB, PHUM, KMPI, KCRM, KDEM, BA 
SUBJECT: LABOR MINISTER WELCOMES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  In an introductory meeting on September 11, Minister 
of Labor and Social Affairs (MOLSA) Majeed bin Mohsin Al 
Alawi explained to the Ambassador that his portfolio included 
labor reform, vocational training, unemployment, facilities 
for the disabled, occupational safety inspections and 
enforcement, and labor complaints.  Al Alawi added that the 
King had assigned him to be the GOB point of contact in the 
constitutional dialogue with the four main opposition parties. 
 
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Status of Terrorism Suspects 
---------------------------- 
 
2.  (C)  Al Alawi asked about the status of the Navy 
dependents. The Ambassador replied that the Navy will 
continue to evaluate its position on dependents in Bahrain, 
looking closely at the security situation here.  In that 
connection, he stated that we are very interested to see how 
the GOB handles investigation of the six terrorism suspects. 
 
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Constitutional Dialogue 
----------------------- 
 
3.  (C)  Al Alawi said that talks resumed on September 11 
with the four main opposition societies (Al Wefaq National 
Islamic Society, National Democratic Action Society, Al Amal 
Al Islami and Al Tajamu Al Watani) in an attempt to resolve 
constitutional issues concerning the process of introducing 
and passing legislation.  Al Alawi remarked that members of 
the opposition societies need to run for parliamentary office 
if they want to make changes to the constitution.  He said he 
is being careful not to set a precedent by offering to amend 
the constitution outside of the parliamentary process.  He 
complained that the opposition societies continually solicit 
the King's involvement to change the constitution so that the 
elected lower house of parliament (Nuwab Council) can secure 
more legislative power than the appointed upper house (Shura 
Council).  Al Alawi told the Ambassador that the King had 
decided not to get directly involved in this dialogue.  He 
stated that this dialogue will not produce any changes to the 
constitution through channels outside of the legislative 
branch. 
 
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Training and Technical Assistance 
--------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C)  PolOff informed the Minister that the Foundation for 
Global Leadership's trainers will be in Bahrain December 9-22 
to train MOLSA hotline telephone operators and volunteers 
from the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights on dealing with 
foreign laborers who experience problems in Bahrain.  The 
Minister thanked the USG for funding this training and 
welcomed any technical assistance projects that would help 
improve the GOB's labor climate. 
 
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Licensing International NGOs 
---------------------------- 
 
5.  (C)  In response to the Ambassador's inquiry, Al Alawi 
referred us to MOLSA Director of NGO Management Badrea Al 
Jeeb to work on registration for the MEPI-funded National 
Democratic Institute (NDI) project. Al Alawi added that NDI 
will need to complete an application and submit a copy of its 
by-laws for processing.  The Minister remarked that the GOB 
has been very pleased with NDI Program Manager Fawzi Guleid 
but cautioned that the GOB considers his work with the 
opposition to be a sensitive issue, especially during this 
time of constitutional dialogue. 
MONROE