US embassy cable - 05MANAMA712

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000712 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, DS/IP/NEA, DS/ITA, DS/ATA, NEA/ARPI, S/CT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2015 
TAGS: ASEC, BA, PGOV, PTER 
SUBJECT: PDAS CHENEY DISCUSSES COUNTERTERRORISM AND 
DEMOCRACY ISSUES WITH INTERIOR 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) NEA PDAS Elizabeth Cheney, accompanied by DAS Scott 
Carpenter, Ambassador Monroe, and the RSO, met with Interior 
Minister Shaikh Rashid Al-Khalifa and Bahrain National 
Security Agency (BNSA) Undersecretary Shaikh Khalifa May 10 
to discuss counterterrorism concerns and democratic 
initiatives.  The Minister discussed at length the recent 
Shia demonstrations in Bahrain, saying that Bahrain in 
principle supports freedom of expression (it approved 148 
demonstrations over the last 10 months), but had a problem 
with the timing of the Sitra march, coming right before the 
Formula 1 race when police resources were already stretched. 
He praised the behavior of both the demonstrators and the 
police during the May 6 demonstration, noting that the trend 
seemed to be going down in terms of numbers of demonstrators. 
 On counterterrorism, Shaikh Rashid said that he will meet 
with parliamentary blocks to develop consensus on a 
much-needed new counterterrorism law; stated that progress 
continues on setting up a Joint Counterterrorism Center; and 
said that surveillance continues on the four terror suspects 
while their case awaits a Constitutional court decision. 
 
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DEMONSTRATIONS AND CIVIL RIGHTS 
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2. (C) PDAS Cheney opened the meeting by noting the 
Department had watched with interest the Bahrain Government's 
handling of recent Shia demonstrations, and asked Shaikh 
Rashid for his perspective.  Shaikh Rashid stated that the 
Ministry has approved permits for 148 demonstrations in the 
last 10 months.  The government supports freedom of 
expression, but within limits.  "We are living in a new era 
of reform," he said, "and trying to cope with it."  The 
values of democracy are important.  People must realize that 
the government is honest and transparent.  For its part, the 
Ministry is training a corps of Shia men and women officers 
(they graduate in four months) to provide community policing 
in Shia areas throughout the country.  The purpose is to give 
the communities a competent and integrated police force to 
gain the confidence of the people.  More broadly, he added, 
Shias and Sunnis must work together.  The country's economy 
can only be built with the participation of all Bahrainis -- 
both Sunni and Shia. 
 
3. (C) PDAS Cheney asked why a permit was denied for the Shia 
demonstration planned for Sitra in March.  The Minister said 
that the major concern was the timing, as the march was 
planned just before the Formula 1 race.  Lots of people were 
coming from abroad for the race, and police ranks were 
stretched thin in preparation for the race and could not be 
diverted to secure such a large demonstration.  The 
demonstration, if not peaceful, would have hurt Bahrain's 
image and future economic development.  The Ambassador, 
noting that a second demonstration had been permitted to take 
place on May 6, asked where the Minister thought the 
demonstrations were leading.  Shaikh Rashid, pulling out an 
aerial photograph to show a smaller crowd than the media 
reported, said that the trend is down in terms of 
demonstration participants.  The Ministry supports the 
peoples' right to demonstrate if they follow procedures and 
maintain order.  The demonstrators did follow the rules on 
May 6, and the demonstration proceeded smoothly.  Shaikh 
Rashid stated that he was proud of the way the police handled 
themselves on May 6.  They are educating themselves, and 
trying to act as a new police force.  He added that the May 6 
demonstration organizers thanked him for the excellent police 
work. 
 
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COUNTERTERRORISM 
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4. (C)  Turning to the issue of counterterrorism, PDAS Cheney 
asked about security situation in Bahrain.  Shaikh Rashid 
replied that the Ministry is building layers of security to 
protect the country, developing a system that depends on 
coordinated cooperation on counterterrorism issues.  Bahrain 
signed some of the United Nations counterterrorism agreements 
and will sign all of them.  He said that Bahrain needs a new 
counterterrorism law, as existing law does not identify 
specific crimes as terrorism.  There are some 
misunderstandings about this law in the parliament, he said, 
but he has met, and will continue to meet, with the heads of 
parliamentary blocks to build consensus to pass the law.  The 
effort to establish a Joint Counterterrorism Center (JCTC) is 
progressing well, he said.  Standard Operating Procedures 
have been written and the other participating Bahraini 
government agencies are cooperating.  The Minister wants to 
move faster in setting up the JCTC, and greatly appreciated 
the contributions from the Embassy and FBI team that visited 
Bahrain in March.  Bahrain proposed to GCC members at the GCC 
security meeting held Riyadh last February to establish 
similar JCTCs throughout the region based on its model.  PDAS 
Cheney offered further support and assistance in setting up 
the JCTC. 
 
5. (S) PDAS Cheney asked about the status of the four 
Bahraini extremists currently under surveillance while their 
case proceeds through the courts.  Shaikh Rashid advised the 
case was now before the Constitutional Court.  Yasser Kamal 
and other three extremists are aware of BNSA surveillance and 
have complained publicly about it.  Shaikh Rashid is not 
happy with the Attorney General's staff and its ability to 
conduct investigations, which he believes may have weakened 
the court case.  He said "we have assigned one of our best 
officers" to the Attorney General's office to upgrade its 
capabilities.. 
 
6. (C) Shaikh Rashid expressed appreciation for the 
Anti-terrorism Assistance (ATA) courses provided by the State 
Department.  He noted the recent VIP Protection training and 
Explosive Detector Dog/Handler course, graduates of which 
were used to sweep her hotel before arrival. 
 
7. (S) Shaikh Rashid stated that a U.S. Coast Guard tam was 
in Bahrain this week to conduct a needs assessment for the 
Bahrain Coast Guard.  He noted the need to build an effective 
and integrated Coast Guard in Bahrain and throughout the GCC. 
 
8. (U) PDAS Cheney cleared this cable. 
MONROE