Department of State embassy cables concerning the Chagos Archipelago

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. The request seeks a small number of specifically identified Department of State embassy cables as well as any additional cables on the same topic. The cables pertain to UK proposals to establish a marine reserve in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), including the Chagos Archipelago, as well as reference to Chagossian advocates for resettlement rights in the area and UK rights in British Overseas Territories.

I hereby request the following records:

1. The embassy cable bearing the message reference number "09LONDON1156," originating in the London Embassy on 15 May 2009, with the subject "HMG FLOATS PROPOSAL FOR MARINE RESERVE COVERING THE CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO (BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY)";
2. The embassy cable bearing the message reference number "08LONDON2667," originating in the London Embassy;
3. The embassy cable bearing the message reference number "09LONDON1344," originating in the London Embassy on 6 May 2009, with subject "UPDATE ON STATUS OF HMG PROPOSAL FOR MARINE RESERVE IN BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY; USG INITIAL REACTIONS WELCOME";
4. The embassy cable bearing the message reference number "09LONDON993," originating in the London Embassy on 27 April 2009, with subject "UK REBUFFS ARGENTINE CLAIM TO SEABED RIGHTS AROUND SOUTH ATLANTIC BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES, INCLUDING FALKLAND ISLANDS."
5. Any other embassy cables from 2009 to the present date containing reference to the Chagos Archipelago or Chagos Islands and the marine reserve or marine park in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), or Chagossian resettlement rights. Possible search terms could include: "Chagos Archipelago," "Chagos Islands," "British Indian Ocean Territory," "BIOT," "marine reserve," "marine park," "resettlement," "Chagossian rights."

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Matthieu Bourbaki

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 22, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #F-2013-07099.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, originally submitted on April 22, 2013 with reference number #F-2013-07099.

In your previous letter, you offered to provide interim release dates; as my original request labeled requested sets of records 1 - 5, please provide interim release dates for each of these sets. In particular, sets 1 - 4 request specific cables bearing reference numbers:
1. 09LONDON1156
2. 08LONDON2667
3. 09LONDON1344
4. 09LONDON993

Please see our original request for details on the request, and inform us of the estimated completion dates for these documents to be sent as they become available.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 22, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #F-2013-07099.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 22, 2013. You have stated that you have contacted the Case Analyst and requested an estimated completion date for my case, which would be available in a week or so from July 22. I am following up on that notice. You had assigned my case reference number #F-2013-07099.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, originally submitted on April 22, 2013 with reference number #F-2013-07099.

In your previous letter, you offered to provide interim release dates; as my original request labeled requested sets of records 1 - 5, please provide interim release dates for each of these sets. In particular, sets 1 - 4 request specific cables bearing reference numbers:
1. 09LONDON1156
2. 08LONDON2667
3. 09LONDON1344
4. 09LONDON993

Please see our original request for details on the request, and inform us of the estimated completion dates for these documents to be sent as they become available.

Thank you for your help.

Hello,

This is Tom Nash, news editor at MuckRock, just emailing to confirm a conversation I just had on the phone with regards to this request in which I was told State does not provide interim releases on FOIA requests. Please let me know if that's incorrect.

Thanks

Tom

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 22, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #F-2013-07099.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 22, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #F-2013-07099.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 22, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #F-2013-07099.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 22, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #F-2013-07099.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 22, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #F-2013-07099.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 22, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #F-2013-07099.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 22, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #F-2013-07099.

Thank you for your help.

To whom it may concern:

This is a follow up question for my request originally submitted on April 22, 2013. You had assigned it reference number #F-2013-07099.

STATE replied that 39 responsive documents to my request were retrieved, from which 14 are withheld in full under exemption (b)(1).

In my request i asked for the cables with the MRN 09LONDON1156 and 09LONDON1344, neither of which were released either in full or with excisions.

Are the cables with the MRN 09LONDON1156 and 09LONDON1344 withheld in full under exemption (b)(1)?

What are the MRN and date of the remaining 12 cables that you are withholding?

Thank you for your help.

Matthieu Bourbaki