US embassy cable - 05MANAMA790

S E C R E T MANAMA 000790 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI AND S/WCI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KAWC, OPDC, BA 
SUBJECT: REPLY TO BAHRAINI SUGGESTION OF DETAINEE WORKING 
GROUP 
 
REF: STATE 97796 
 
Classified by A/DCM Helen H. Hahn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (S) Embassy delivered reftel reply to the Bahraini 
suggestion to form a detainee working group to the MFA via 
diplomatic note number 152 on May 31. 
 
2.  (S) Pol/Econ chief delivered a copy of the diplomatic 
note to MFA Assistant Under Secretary for Coordination and 
Follow Up Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa on June 1. 
 Shaikh Abdul Aziz said he looked forward to hearing the 
results of the Administrative Review Board (ARB) hearings for 
four (of a total of six) Bahraini detainees at GTMO, to be 
held in early summer.  He stated that the MFA was under 
constant pressure from the families of the detainees and 
other advocates, including members of parliament, to do more 
for the detainees.  He noted that the American lawyers for 
all six of the Bahraini detainees, from law firm Dorsey and 
Whitney, would visit Bahrain in mid-June and he likely would 
meet with them.  Shaikh Abdul Aziz requested any updated 
information we had on the status of the ARBs to be held this 
summer, and decisions from the ARBs held for two other 
Bahraini detainees in late 2004. 
 
MONROE