US embassy cable - 04MANAMA1564

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001564 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
STATE FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/ITA, DS/ATA, NEA/ARPI, S/CT, INL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2014 
TAGS: ASEC, BA, PINR, PREL, PTER 
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF INTERIOR: FOUR EXTREMISTS TO BE TRIED 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM T. MONROE FOR REASONS 1.4 (c) and (d) 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (S/NF) Minister of the Interior Shaikh Rashid assured the 
Ambassador October 11, 2004 that the four extremists 
currently in detention would appear in court shortly, and 
that he had anticiapted they would be brought to trial.  (On 
October 13, BNSA advised the Embassy that the four will 
continue to be held until November 1, at which time they will 
be brought to court for trial.)  Also during the meeting, the 
Minister discussed this week's GCC Interior Ministers meeting 
in Kuwait, during which he met bilaterally with his Saudi 
counterpart.  Shaykh Rashid said Bahrain would take a 
proactive role in GCC security cooperation,including a 
possible follow-on meeting in Manama. The Minister described 
Bahrain as a safe place and assured continuing security 
cooperation between Bahrain and the U.S.  The Minister 
expressed interest in improving Bahrain's consequence 
management capability and strengthening the country's Coast 
Guard. End Summary. 
 
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THE FAMOUS FOUR 
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2. (S/NF) During an October 11 call on Minister of Interior 
Shaykh Rashid bin Abdulla al Khalifa, the Ambassador asked 
about the next step for the four extremists whose current 
term of detention was expected to expire this week.  Shaikh 
Rashid advised that the Attorney General will take the case 
to court.  The four will likely be seen by a judge on October 
12 for a hearing. (NOTE: BSNA advised late on October 13 that 
it was decided to extend the detention until November 1, at 
which time they will be brought to court for trial.)  The 
Minister expressed his expectation that the four should be 
kept in jail for some time.  In any event, he added, 
community support for them has dwindled, and they are no 
longer famous.  Shaikh Rashid stated that they have a 
cooperative witness in the group and are monitoring the two 
men who were released last month and the four in custody. 
The Ambassador commented that the men must be brought into 
court and a trial held.  This will send a message to the 
extremist leadership that Bahrain is not a place where 
terrorists can operate.  He further inquired about the 
interrogation of the men while in custody. (NOTE: The 
Attorney General's office has not conducted effective 
interrogations of the four men).  The Minister said he was 
transferring one of his senior officers to the Attorney 
General's Office to improve performance in that office.  The 
Minister offered to call the Ambassador with news regarding 
the status of the four extremists. 
 
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THE GCC MEETING 
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3. (S) Shaikh Rashid had returned to Bahrain on October 10 
from a GCC Interior Minister's meeting in Kuwait.  He 
described a bilateral meeting with the Saudi Minister of 
Interior regarding security in the Kingdom.  Both countries 
are working together on the terrorism  problem, but it will 
take some time to resolve.  He added that Bahrain and Saudi 
Arabia are cooperating and exchanging information on 
terrorists.  The Saudi Royal family is getting stronger, in 
the Minister's opinion, by working with the people.  All GCC 
Ministers agreed to exchange information and demonstrate 
resolve in the fight against terrorism.  Shaikh Rashid 
indicated Bahrain would take a proactive role in GCC 
cooperation on security issues, inculding a probable 
follow-on meeting in Bahrain. 
 
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SECURITY COOPERATION 
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4. (S) The Ambassador underscored the importance of security 
cooperation and sharing intelligence between Bahrain and the 
U.S.  The Minister assured the GoB's full support.  Shaikh 
Rashid wants to improve Bahrain's consequence management 
capability and strengthen the Coast Guard by adding more 
land, sea and air capability.  RSO reviewed the July 2004 
Coast Guard training program provided by DS/ATA and the 
robust schedule of ATA courses planned in 2004 and 2005. 
Major General Abdul Latif al Zayani mentioned the Deep Water 
Program, designed to integrate existing systems and improve 
the Coast Guard fleet of ships and aircraft.  (NOTE:  Post 
will explore the Deep Water Program and what it can provide 
for the MOI).  The Ambassador thanked the Minister for the 
excellent security support provided for the SECDEF and 18 
Ministers of Defense visit to Bahrain (10/10-11) along with 
the CNO's visit (10/11-12). 
 
MONROE