US embassy cable - 03COLOMBO238

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000238 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, S/CT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  2-11-13 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, MV, Human Rights 
SUBJECT:  Maldivian government proposes names of 
officials for possible Guantanamo visit 
 
Refs:  (A) Colombo-SA/INS 2/10/03 class e-mail 
 
-      (B) 02 Colombo 2323 
-      (C) 02 Colombo 2078  (All Notal) 
 
(U) Classified by W. Lewis Amselem, Deputy Chief of 
Mission.  Reasons 1.5 (b,d) 
 
1. (U) This is an Action Request -- Please see Para 3. 
 
2. (S/NF) Per Reftels, the Maldivian government has 
formally asked for permission to interview a Maldivian 
national being held at Guantanamo.  A diplomatic note 
dated February 6 from the GoRM gives identification 
information on two security officers it would like to 
send to Guantanamo in early April.  The text of the 
diplomatic note, which has been sent to Department in 
Ref A, is also contained in Para 4. 
 
3. (S/NF) ACTION REQUEST: The Maldives has been a strong 
supporter of the U.S.-led war on terrorism and Mission 
strongly recommends that its officials be allowed to 
visit Guantanamo, if at all possible.  Washington is 
requested to provide guidance ASAP on how to respond to 
the request.  If the Maldivian request is agreed to, a 
representative from Mission's DAO would like to 
accompany the Maldivian team.  END ACTION REQUEST. 
 
4. (C) The text of the Maldivian government's February 6 
diplomatic note follows. 
 
BEGIN TEXT: 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of 
Maldives presents its compliments to the Embassy of the 
United States of America to the Republic of Maldives and 
has honor refer to the Ministry's Note No. (F2) WE-7- 
B/2002/51 dated 7 November 2002, and to the information 
conveyed to Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, Permanent Secretary of 
the Ministry by Mr. Joseph L. Novak, First Secretary, 
the Embassy of United States on 17 December 2002, 
regarding the case of Mr. Ibrahim Fauzee, a Maldivian 
national, holding Maldivian passport number A164509, who 
is currently being held at the United States military 
base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 
 
The Ministry wishes to forward herewith the details of 
the two officials from the Ministry of Defense and 
National Security who will be travelling to the United 
States to meet with relevant authorities and officials 
of the United States Government and the detainee, Mr. 
Fauzee.  The officials are tentatively scheduled to 
travel to the United States during the first week of 
April 2003.  Their details are as follows: 
 
Name:  Ibrahim Latheef 
Nationality:  Maldivian 
Date of Birth:  29 October 1962 
Rank:  Major 
Designation: Assistant Commissioner of Police 
Passport No:  A193528 
Date of Issue:  22 July 2002 
Date of Expiry:  22 July 2007 
 
Name:  Ahmed Faseeh 
Nationality:  Maldivian 
Date of Birth:  16 February 1969 
Rank:  Warrant Officer Grade 1 
Designation: Second in Command, Operations Division, NSS 
Passport No:  A180212 
Date of Issue:  19 July 2001 
Date of Expiry:  19 July 2006 
 
It would appreciated if the convenience of the competent 
United States authorities to receive them could be 
confirmed so that travel details could be finalized. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of 
Maldives avails itself of this opportunity to renew to 
the Embassy of the United States of America to the 
Republic of the Maldives the assurances of its highest 
consideration. 
 
Male, 6 February 2003 
 
END TEXT. 
 
WILLS