US embassy cable - 04MANAMA1528

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001528 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI AND S/WCI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2014 
TAGS: PTER, KAWC, PINR, PREL, BA 
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN:  COMBATANT STATUS REVIEW TRIBUNAL REQUEST 
FOR ASSISTANCE 
 
REF: A. MILLER-BERNS E-MAIL DATED 9/27/04 
 
     B. STATE 210778 
     C. MANAMA 1476 
     D. STATE 203875 
 
Classified by Charge d'Affaires Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Pol/Econ Chief October 4 delivered Refs A and B 
information regarding Guantanamo detainee Shaikh Salman 
Ebrahim Mohammed Al Khalifa's request for witness testimony 
to MFA Under Secretary Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa.  He 
listened carefully to the points and reconfirmed that the 
United States was looking for a mutually agreeable way to 
take written testimony from the two witnesses identified by 
the detainee.  He ruled out the witnesses traveling to either 
the United States or Guantanamo, but thought that, if the 
ministry was successful in locating the witnesses and in 
obtaining their permission, there might be a way for the 
testimony to be provided in Bahrain. 
 
2.  (C) In a follow up conversation on October 5, Shaikh 
Abdul Aziz told Pol/Econ Chief that the MFA had contacted 
both witnesses identified by detainee Shaikh Salman Ebrahim 
Mohammed Al Khalifa and they were willing to do "all they 
could" to provide testimony in support of the detainee.  He 
looks forward to hearing from us on next steps regarding 
substance and logistics of the testimony. 
 
3.  (C) In the October 4 meeting, Pol/Econ Chief also briefed 
Shaikh Abdul Aziz on the status of Refs C and D request for 
testimony for detainee Abdullah Al Noaimi.  MFA Director for 
Consular Affairs Yusuf Ahmed had informed us earlier that he 
had spoken with Al Noaimi's father about locating Mohammed 
Salman Al Khalifa.  Al Noaimi's father had been very 
cooperative, but said that he was unsure precisely who his 
son wanted to provide testimony. 
 
4.  (C) In the October 5 follow up conversation, Shaikh Abdul 
Aziz told Pol/Econ Chief that a member of his staff had 
contacted the father a second time and the father had said 
that his son could have been referring to either Mohammed 
Salman Al Khalifa or Ahmed Salman Al Khalifa.  The father 
believes that his son was more likely interested in Ahmed 
Salman Al Khalifa's testimony because they have a very close 
friendship and they had studied together.  While the son also 
has a relationship with Mohammed Salman Al Khalifa, they are 
not as close.  According to the father, Ahmed Salman Al 
Khalifa himself believes that the detainee would more likely 
want his testimony.  In any case, the father assured Shaikh 
Abdul Aziz that both men are willing to provide testimony on 
behalf of Abdullah Al Noaimi. 
 
ZIADEH