Cablegate: Bahrain: 2004 Annual Terrorism Report

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

230751Z Dec 04

UNCLAS MANAMA 001927

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/CT, NEA/ARPI
STATE PASS TTIC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: 2004 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: STATE 245841

1. Per reftel, below please find the draft report on Bahrain
for the 2004 Patterns of Global Terrorism.

2. Begin text of draft report on Bahrain:

Bahrain

Bahrain is providing important support to our
counterterrorism efforts, particularly efforts to block the
financing of terror groups. Bahrain has continued to respond
positively to requests for assistance to combat terror
financing; it has frozen about $18 million in
terrorist-linked funds. In November 2004, Bahrain hosted the
inaugural meeting of the Middle East and North Africa
Financial Action Task Force (MENA FATF). Bahrain worked
closely with FATF for several years to establish this
regional body. Located in Bahrain, the new MENA FATF
secretariat will promote the FATF 40 and 9 Special

SIPDIS
Recommendations to combat money laundering and terrorist
financing.

Through hosting the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet and other
activities, Bahrain contributes to coalition operations in
Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Bahrain is an eager participant in the U.S. Government's
Anti-Terrorism Assistance programs. Bahrain continued to
provide intelligence and law enforcement cooperation. In
2004, Bahrain arrested, released, and re-arrested a group of
terrorist suspects. The court released them for the period
of the trial, which is ongoing.

- In June, the Government of Bahrain arrested six Bahrainis
and placed one Bahraini under house arrest on suspicion of
plotting terrorist attacks. All seven were released within
two days.

- The Government of Bahrain re-arrested the six individuals
in mid-July. The court ordered the release of two in
mid-September and ordered the release of the remaining four
in early November pending trial.

- Preliminary hearings for the case began in early December.
The court referred to the Constitutional Court a motion
contesting the constitutionality of the charges against the
suspects.

- One of the four escaped the courtroom during a hearing in
mid-September and was re-captured the same day. He was
convicted in mid-November and is serving a six-month sentence.

Bahrain's lack of a domestic conspiracy law hampers its
ability to intervene against suspected extremist plots. This
could encourage terrorists to value Bahrain as a potential
logistic haven. The Government is developing a draft
amendment to the penal code addressing conspiracy to commit
terrorist acts.

Bahrain is a party to seven of the 12 international
conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a
signatory to the Convention for the Suppression of the
Financing of Terrorism.

End text.

MONROE

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