US embassy cable - 04MANAMA1671

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001671 
 
SIPDIS 
 
KUWAIT FOR DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE 
STATE FOR D, NEA/ARPI, S/CT, DS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, ASEC, BA 
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE'S 
NOVEMBER 7-8 VISIT TO MANAMA 
 
REF: A. MANAMA 1665 
 
     B. STATE 234462 
     C. MANAMA 1657 
 
Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
--------------------------------- 
Wrong Signal on Counter-Terrorism 
--------------------------------- 
 
1.  (S) We warmly welcome your visit to Bahrain.  Your trip 
comes at a critical stage.  The court's November 1 decision 
to release the four terrorism suspects sends the wrong signal 
on the GOB's commitment to fighting the war on terrorism. 
Your meeting with King Hamad represents the best opportunity 
to deliver our message to the highest level of the Bahraini 
government. 
 
2.  (S) Since mid-July, when the (then) six terrorism 
suspects were re-arrested, Bahraini officials from Prime 
Minister Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman down have told us 
that the GOB would conduct a thorough investigation and 
aggressive prosecution of the case.  The CP told Homeland 
Security Advisor Townsend and S/CT Ambassador Black September 
15 that the case against the remaining four detainees was 
getting stronger and agreed that the four "must be put away." 
 While assuring us of their vigor in prosecuting the case, 
senior officials including Minister of Interior Rashid Al 
Khalifa have complained of the lack of hard evidence against 
the suspects. 
 
--------------------------- 
Detention Disrupts Planning 
--------------------------- 
 
3.  (S) Given the assurances, we had expected the suspects to 
remain in detention during the course of the trial.  Though 
the outcome of the trial may have been in some doubt, 
according to the GOB, the suspects would have been held for 
three and a half months during the investigative period, and 
for the many months of the trial itself.  On a practical 
basis, their removal from the scene would have conclusively 
disrupted any planning they had completed previously.  It 
also would have sent a strong message that the GOB stood 
firmly against terrorism. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
Consequences for Bilateral Relationship 
--------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (S) The judge's decision to release the suspects during 
the trial may have caught senior officials by surprise, as 
they have told us (Ref A).  We now must push the GOB to take 
the suspects back into custody.  At a minimum, they should be 
able to do this quickly and easily for Yasser Kamal, who fled 
the courthouse during a September hearing.  They also must 
know that by not aggressively pursuing this case, they will 
put into jeopardy further progress on issues of bilateral 
interest, such as expeditious ratification and implementation 
of the free trade agreement and cooperation on CT issues 
through the ATA program and the establishment of a 
counter-terrorism operations center at the Ministry of 
Interior and other sensitive CT cooperation with RMAS. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Human Rights Advocates Under Pressure 
------------------------------------- 
 
5.  (S) You also can express our concern about the GOB's 
closure and dissolution of the Bahrain Center for Human 
Rights and detention of several human rights advocates and 
youth for organizing and participating in a rally in support 
of activist Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja.  There is an apparent 
disconnect between the vigor with which the GOB has pursued 
these cases (all Shias) and the terrorism suspects (Sunnis). 
 
------------------------- 
Suggested Issues to Raise 
------------------------- 
 
6.  (S) Suggested Talking Points: 
 
 
Terrorism 
--------- 
-- The war on terrorism is deadly serious. 
 
-- Governments must use all legal means available, especially 
the justice system, to pursue terrorists aggressively. 
 
-- We are very concerned that Bahrain is not doing this. 
 
-- The court's release of the four suspects even before the 
trial has started has deeply shaken our confidence that 
Bahrain is with us in the global war on terror. 
-- We have raised all along our concerns about the suspects 
and that they be dealt with seriously.  We have seen the 
Bahraini government, however, take a different path.  The 
government: 
 
  -- released the six suspects in June; 
  -- again released two of the six suspects in September; 
  -- allowed Yasser Kamal to flee the courthouse in September; 
  -- provided no advance warning that the judge was going to 
release the four remaining suspects on November 1. 
 
-- We urge you to find a way to put the suspects back into 
custody.  This should be easy to do for Yasser Kamal, who 
clearly demonstrated that he is a flight risk when he fled 
the courthouse in September. 
 
-- We are quite concerned that the case against the suspects 
could be dropped as early as December 6, when the judge will 
hear a constitutional challenge to the charges filed against 
them. 
 
-- Bahrain's actions cause us to question its commitment in 
the war on terror, and sends a signal to the world -- 
especially to the terrorists -- that Bahrain is soft on 
terrorism. 
 
(Watch Out For:  Independent Judiciary) 
 
-- Understand judiciary is independent.  We are urging you to 
pursue the case aggressively so the prosecution has what it 
needs to win the case and put these men away for a long time. 
 
 
Bilateral Relations 
------------------- 
-- We are now at a moment of great opportunity.  We are on 
the verge of ratifying and implementing the free trade 
agreement, and the U.S. Navy is evaluating its future support 
for the Bahrain School. 
 
-- Questions about Bahrain's commitment to the war on terror 
will have an impact. 
 
-- The FTA will be meaningless if business people have doubts 
about the security situation in Bahrain. 
 
-- We can only expand our bilateral cooperation in security 
and counter-terrorism in an environment of trust.  We will 
have to reconsider our plans for anti-terrorism assistance to 
the Ministry of Interior and our help in the establishment of 
a counter-terrorism operations center and other security and 
intelligence assistance. 
 
 
Human Rights Situation 
---------------------- 
-- The GOB's decision to close and dissolve the Bahrain 
Center for Human Rights attracted quite a bit of attention in 
the United States. 
 
-- As you work through this issue, we hope that Bahrain 
continues on its admirable path of reform and democracy. 
 
-- In keeping with the rule of law, we hope there are no 
steps backward on protecting and promoting civil society and 
democratic institutions. 
 
-- We encourage you to find a way to re-open the Bahrain 
Center for Human Rights.  It is an important symbol of 
Bahrain's commitment to human rights. 
 
MONROE