US embassy cable - 04MANAMA1698

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001698 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, S/CT, DS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, PHUM, BA 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES COUNTER-TERRORISM, IRAQ, 
HUMAN RIGHTS WITH PRIME MINISTER 
 
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 met with Prime Minister Khalifa bin 
Salman Al Khalifa November 8 for a discussion that included 
counter-terrorism, Iraq, and human rights.  He expressed the 
USG's deep concern about the judge's release of the four 
terrorism suspects on November 1 and urged the GOB to use all 
legal means available to prosecute them.  The PM replied that 
he would not allow anything to harm U.S. interests in the 
Kingdom and noted that the suspects are under surveillance. 
He said that Iraqi President Yawar was staying in Bahrain for 
an extended period in order to spend time with his family, 
which is visiting from Saudi Arabia, and this provided a good 
opportunity for the Bahrain leadership to get to know him. 
The Ambassador raised the closure of the Bahrain Center for 
Human Rights and suggested that allowing the Center to 
re-open would send a strong signal on openness in Bahrain. 
The PM replied that while Bahrain is an open society, some 
people try to abuse this to cause divisions.  He said that 
Bahrain is committed to the rule of law and a free society 
and there is no going back.  End Summary. 
 
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U.S. Concern About Release of Terror Suspects 
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2.  (S) The Ambassador called on Prime Minister Khalifa 
November 8 and discussed a range of issues, including 
counter-terrorism, Iraq, and human rights.  Noting that the 
Deputy Secretary had met with King Hamad the evening before, 
the Ambassador stated that the United States is deeply 
concerned about the outcome of the court case for the four 
terrorism suspects.  We regard them as being very dangerous. 
The Ambassador urged the GOB to use all legal means available 
to prosecute them energetically and to keep them off the 
street as long as possible.  Their November 1 release by the 
judge sends the wrong signal about Bahrain's commitment to 
fighting terrorism. 
 
3.  (S) The Prime Minister replied that Bahrain will work 
very hard to ensure that nothing harms U.S. interests in the 
Kingdom.  The four suspects are under surveillance and can be 
brought in and questioned at any time.  He would not let the 
suspects move without being monitored.  The PM said, "your 
security is our security," and he would not let anything 
endanger Bahrain's security and stability. 
 
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Getting To Know Yawar 
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4.  (C) The PM stated that Iraqi President Yawar was staying 
in Bahrain for an extended period, visiting with his family 
which lives in Saudi Arabia and is now also here.  Yawar 
planned to return to Iraq before the Eid Al Fitr holiday, 
expected to begin on November 14.  The PM said Bahrain 
appreciated Yawar's visit as it allowed the country's 
leadership to get to know him better.  He said that Bahrain 
was ready to support Iraq in any way it could, noting the 
current program to train up to 4,000 Iraqi firefighters. 
 
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Re-open Human Rights Center? 
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5.  (C) The Ambassador explained that while the United States 
was appreciative of Bahrain's progress on reform, many people 
had noticed certain recent moves such as the GOB's decision 
to close and dissolve the Bahrain Center for Human Rights 
(BCHR), and wondered what it meant.  Did the move signal a 
change in direction for Bahrain?  We understand that the 
issue is complex, but we are looking for confirmation that 
Bahrain will continue to move in a positive direction.  The 
BCHR may have done some things that the GOB considers 
mistakes, but permitting the Center to re-open would send a 
strong signal about Bahrain's openness. 
 
6.  (C) The PM stated that Bahrain is an example of openness 
and reform in the Gulf.  However, some people try to abuse 
this openness.  Democracy is not the freedom to divide people 
and disregard laws.  When citizens follow the law and respect 
order, there are no problems.  The Ambassador pointed out 
that there are those in any society who push the envelope and 
may even go too far.  But this should not bring about an 
overreaction. 
 
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Bahrainis United Under Constitution and Law 
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7.  (C) The Prime Minister said that anyone could see that 
the human rights situation in Bahrain was good.  Bahrain is 
the deputy chair of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva 
and there are human rights organizations in Bahrain other 
than the BCHR.  However, there are those who use human rights 
as cover for other activities, and the GOB must show that it 
is not fooled by them.  Bahrain is committed to rule of law 
and a free society, and there is no going back.  Bahrain's 
citizens are united under the constitution and the law. 
There will be municipal elections in 2005, and the government 
wants the people to participate in the elections and it looks 
forward to working with the election winners. 
 
MONROE