US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1446

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001446 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR S/WCI, NEA/ARPI 
DEFENSE FOR OSD/ODA, OSD/ISA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2015 
TAGS: KAWC, OPDC, PREL, PTER, BA 
SUBJECT: GOB SEEKS INFORMATION ON GUANTANAMO HUNGER STRIKE, 
BAHRAIN DETAINEES 
 
REF: STATE 174977 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe.  Reason: 1.4 (B)(D) 
 
1. (U) This is an action message -- see para 5. 
 
2. (SBU) The Embassy received a diplomatic noted dated 
October 2 regarding the hunger strike of detainees at 
Guantanamo.  The note requests, in light of information 
received from the Embassy (reftel) and other sources about 
the hunger strike, that the USG provide the Ministry with a 
report on the six Bahraini detainees currently at Guantanamo, 
specifically advising if any of them had participated in the 
hunger strike, were hospitalized, or received any medical 
treatment because of participation in the hunger strike. 
 
3. (U) Separately, the Ambassador received on October 5 a 
letter from Faisal Fulad, Director of the Bahrain Human 
Rights Watch Society (and Shura Council member), expressing 
concern about the mental health of the Bahraini detainees and 
about the hunger strike taking place at Guantanamo.  The 
letter stated that the society "is anxious about any acts of 
torture or other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment that 
these detainees have been subjected to or may still be 
subjected (to)."  It requested a meeting with the Ambassador 
to discuss the issue of releasing the Bahraini detainees, and 
to arrange a visit to Guantanamo by some of the society's 
members to take a closer look at the Bahraini detainees' 
condition. 
 
4. (C) Comment. The issue of the Bahraini detainees continues 
to reverberate here, couched inevitably as a human rights 
issue that needs to be addressed.  The Ambassador, in a front 
page interview in the local press last month, sought to 
recast the issue more properly in terms of the background of 
the detainees and why they were detained in the first place. 
But with the National Assembly now back in session, we can 
expect more negative attention to focus on this issue.  The 
MFA, in particular, feels defensive in the face of charges 
that it is not doing enough to put pressure on its close 
ally, the United States, to bring the detainees home.  This 
latest dip note is part of an MFA effort to demonstrate it is 
actively engaged on the issue. 
 
5. (SBU) Action request: The Embassy would appreciate 
guidance on how to respond to the MFA dip note, including 
whether or not any Bahraini detainees have participated in 
the hunger strike.  Please also advise if Guantanamo is 
considering visits by groups such as the Bahrain Human Rights 
Watch Society. 
MONROE