US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1853

S E C R E T COLOMBO 001853 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
FROM THE AMBASSADOR 
STATE FOR SA AND S/WCI LTC MILLER 
SECDEF FOR SOL/LIC ASD OICONNELL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, MOPS, PHUM, PINR, MV, Maldives, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: STATUS OF MALDIVIAN GUANTANAMO DETAINEE IBRAHIM 
FOWZY 
 
REF: COLOMBO 1696 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reason 1.4 (d). 
 
1. (S/NF)  In the past year and a half, we have sent in a 
number of messages asking for updates on the status of 
Maldivian Guantanamo detainee Ibrahim Fowzy and urging that 
consideration be given to a prompt return of Mr. Fowzy to 
Maldives.  In a nutshell, our position has been that the 
Maldivians themselves (after interviewing Fowzy at Guantanamo 
in the summer of 2003) do not believe that he poses a 
particular threat and that the Maldivians have assured us 
that they would keep a close eye on Mr. Fowzy once he is 
returned.  It is important to remember that Mr. Fowzy was 
arrested in Pakistan, not Afghanistan, and never went to 
Afghanistan until U.S. authorities took him to Bagram. 
 
2. (S/NF)  I understand completely that the entire issue of 
Guantanamo releases has been called into question by 
"recidivists" who were released and have again taken up arms 
against us.  Mr. Fowzy,s case should not be lumped in with 
this issue, however.  If he is returned to Maldives, an 
archipelago of islands under close control from the center, 
there are no lawless frontier areas that he could sneak off 
to even if he were so inclined.  As noted above, the 
Maldivian authorities have assured us they are willing to 
discuss with us measures they could take to ensure he would 
not become a threat and I take them at their word. 
 
3. (S/NF)  Maldives is a moderate Muslim country, 
well-disposed to the U.S. and supportive in our global 
counter-terrorism efforts.  Returning Mr. Fowzy would make 
clear that we see them as part of the solution in the GWOT, 
not part of the problem.  Moreover, at a time when we are 
urging Maldives to take difficult steps on the road to 
democracy and to treat political detainees humanely in an 
environment of legal safeguards, our inability to even 
provide updates on Mr. Fowzy,s status and health undercut 
our credibility.  An early return of Mr. Fowzy to Maldives is 
clearly in the U.S. interest. 
 
4. (U)  Please advise. 
 
 
LUNSTEAD