O 220300Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0887
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S E C R E T SUVA 000475 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018 
TAGS: PHUM PTER PREL PINR KDRG FJ
SUBJECT: KIRIBATI CABINET AGREES TO OFFER ASYLUM TO UIGHURS 
 
REF: STATE 133238 
 
Classified By: Ambassador C. Steven McGann for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (S) On December 20, Embassy delivered points reftel to 
Kiribati Foreign Secretary Tessie Lambourne.  Embassy also 
forwarded a cover note in conjunction with the non-paper. 
The Kiribati cabinet had not been privy to earlier 
discussions between governments. Embassy wanted to help 
President Tong address concerns - both domestic and 
international - that there was a "quid pro quo" for accepting 
the Uighurs. 
 
¶2.  (S) Embassy emphasized that the 1979 Treaty of Friendship 
between the United States and Kiribati was the underlying 
principle of our cooperation; the core package was not 
predicated on the arrival of any Uighurs; the U.S. would pay 
resettlement costs as instructed; and the potential repairs 
to Cassidy Airport (Kirimati Island) were subject to our 
internal guidelines. The additional note aided President Tong 
in deliberations with his cabinet. 
 
¶3.  (S) On December 22, 2008 Foreign Secretary Tessie 
Lambourne informed Ambassador McGann that the "Kiribati 
cabinet has agreed in principle to accept the Uighur 
detainees, subject to further consultations and agreements on 
the details."  Today's decision was also made on the 
understanding that the U.S. will meet all costs related to 
the resettlement process.  Ambassador McGann thanked 
Secretary Lambourne for Kiribati's willingness to assist the 
United States. 
 
¶4.  (S) The following is the formal government of Kiribati 
response to the United States request to grant asylum to the 
Uighurs: 
 
Begin text: 
 
FAI:13/4/411 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of the 
Republic of Kiribati presents its compliments to the Embassy 
of the United States of America in Suva, Fiji, and has the 
honour to acknowledge receipt of the Embassy's Note No. 56 
dated 12 December 2008, relating to the release and 
resettlement in Kiribati of up to 17 persons of Uighur 
ethnicity ("the detainees") who are currently in the custody 
of the Government of the United States of America at the U.S. 
Naval facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 
 
The Ministry has the further honour to refer to further 
discussions between the Governments of Kiribati and the 
United States of America held in Tarawa between 16 and 19 
December 2008, regarding the detainees. 
 
The Ministry confirms that the Government of Kiribati agrees 
in principle to receive for resettlement any of the detainees 
who are willing to be resettled in Kiribati, subject to 
further consultations and agreement between the two 
Governments on the details of the resettlement such as 
timing, modalities and logistics.  This is based on the 
understanding that all costs of the resettlement will be met 
by the Government of the United States of America. 
 
The Ministry further confirms that, while Kiribati is not a 
State Party to the Convention Against Torture and Other 
Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the 
Government of Kiribati is prepared to abide by the 
obligations imposed upon States Parties to the convention in 
its dealings with the detainees. 
 
The Ministry also confirms that the Government of Kiribati 
will not subsequently transfer a released person to the 
custody and control of the Government of the People's 
Republic of China. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration avails itself 
of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United 
States of America in Suva, Fiji, the assurances of its 
highest consideration. 
 
Bairiki 
Tarawa 
 
22nd December 2008 
 
End text. 
 
MCGANN