Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02AMMAN6691
2002-11-13 18:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDAN: 2002 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

Tags:  PTER CASC 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 006691 

SIPDIS

S/CT FOR REAP, NEA/ARN FOR ZIADEH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER CASC
SUBJECT: JORDAN: 2002 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: SECSTATE 201772

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 006691

SIPDIS

S/CT FOR REAP, NEA/ARN FOR ZIADEH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER CASC
SUBJECT: JORDAN: 2002 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: SECSTATE 201772


1. Answers keyed to reftel.

A) (U) Significant actions taken by host governments to
support the global coalition against terrorism.

The GOJ continues to be a strong supporter of the global
coalition against terrorism and has responded positively to
our requests for assistance. To support Operation Enduring
Freedom (OEF) efforts in Afghanistan, the GOJ continues to
maintain a de-mining platoon and a Jordanian Armed Forces
(JAF) field hospital there.

B) (U) Describe the response of the judicial system of each
country to acts of international and/or domestic terrorism.

The Jordanian penal code provides the judicial branch with
many legal tools to pursue and convict terrorists. In 2002,
the GOJ was involved in prosecuting several terrorism-related
cases.

-- The GOJ is currently prosecuting 10 Jordanians involved
in a plot to target U.S. interests in Jordan, possibly
including people jogging in the neighborhood surrounding the
Embassy. Members of the group have allegedly confessed to
buying machineguns to launch military attacks inside ISRAEL.

-- Ra'ed Hijazi: The Court of Cassation requested
information from the State Security Court in October 2002 to
support the death penalty sentence handed down by the State
Security Court earlier this year. Despite press reports to
the contrary, Hijazi is not being retried and remains in
custody.

-- "Reform and Challenge" organization: The State Security
Court on Wednesday, October 2, 2002 acquitted six men
standing trial on charges of carrying out subversive and
arson acts in 1998.

-- Assassination of Jordanian diplomat Na'eb al-Ma'ayteh: In
July 2002, the Court of Cassation upheld the death by hanging
sentence handed down by the State Security Court in December
2001 against Yasser Abu Shinnar for his role in the 1994
assassination of Jordanian diplomat Na'eb Ma'ayteh.

-- Car bomb plotters: On May 20, 2002, the State Security
Court prosecutors indicted six unnamed suspects in connection
with a bomb that targeted the vehicle of a GID
counterterrorism officer. The blast killed two passersby.
There has been no date set for the trial.

The GOJ continues to apprehend and prosecute individuals
involved in smuggling weapons and/or explosives to the West
Bank. For example, four Syrians in July 2002 were convicted
of illegally possessing explosives and received sentences

ranging from one and a half years to three years.

C) (U) Did the host government extradite or request the
extradition of suspected terrorists for prosecution during
the year?

Yes, Jamal Fatayer was extradited from Libya in January 2002
in connection with the 1994 assassination of Jordanian
diplomat Nayeb Ma'aytah in Beirut.

D) (U) Describe any significant impediments to host
government prosecution and/or extradition of suspected
terrorists.

There are no legal or administrative impediments to the
prosecution of terrorist cases in Jordan. However, there are
some constitutional impediments to extraditing Jordanian
citizens who may be suspected terrorists. Most extraditions
have been put on hold following a 1997 Jordanian court ruling
that Jordan's bilateral extradition treaty with the U.S. is
invalid until ratified by parliament.

E) (U) Discuss host government responses other than
prosecution.

GOJ officials have consistently issued statements denouncing
both international and domestic terrorist acts.

The GOJ is working closely with US officials to investigate
the October 28 murder of USAID officer Laurence Foley.

F) (U) Describe major counterterrorism efforts undertaken in
2002 by the host government, including steps taken in
international fora.

GOJ officials are close to signing two additional UN
terrorism conventions, which would make Jordan a signatory on
10 of the 12 conventions.

H) (U) Has the host government made any public statements in
support of a terrorist-supporting country on a terrorism
issue?

No
I) (U) Describe any significant change since 2001 in the host
government's attitude toward terrorism.

There has been no change in the GOJ's strong commitment to
the coalition against terrorism or to its own domestic
counterterrorism program.
J) (U) Describe U.S. counterterrorism efforts and initiatives
with the host government, including, but not limited to,
requests to the host government for specific cooperation and
efforts by the U.S. in the host country to eliminate
international financial support to terrorist grounds directly
or in support of their activities.

The USG has a robust Anti-terrorism Assistance (ATA) program
with Jordan, which has increased the professionalism of the
Public Security Directorate (PSD). ATA training has also
been extended to other sectors of the Jordanian government.
This spring, ATA provided training in counterterrorism
legislation to several participants from the legislative and
financial government sectors.

At this time, there is no evidence that Jordan is a center of
illicit funding for terrorist groups. Under UNSCR 1267,
Jordanian authorities have searched bank, stock exchange, and
land registry records but have found no evidence of financial
or real assets in Jordan connected with any of the groups or
individuals listed by the United Nations or EO 13224.

K) (U) Cooperation with host government during the previous
five years:

-- (I) The extent to which the host government in 2002
cooperated or is cooperating with the USG in apprehending,
convicting, and punishing the individual(s) responsible for
the act.

The GOJ has aggressively pursued suspected terrorists, and
has successfully prosecuted and convicted many involved in
plots against US or ISRAELi interests.

The GOJ is in the preliminary stages of its investigation
into the death of Laurence Foley and has conducted the
investigation in cooperation with USG officials.

-- (II) The extent to which the host government in 2002
cooperated or is cooperating in preventing further acts of
terrorism against US citizens.

The GOJ has been very responsive to the security needs of US
citizens in Jordan. During times of tension, the GOJ has
increased security around the embassy perimeter and in areas
where Americans tend to gather, including tourist sites and
hotels. After the tragic murder of USAID administrator
Laurence Foley, the security services immediately increased
security around the homes of most US diplomats and increased
the presence of marked and unmarked patrol cars in the
neighborhoods of US diplomats.

L) (U) If the US has sought cooperation during the past five
years, describe the extent to which the host government in
2002 cooperated or is cooperating in preventing acts of
terrorism against US citizens.

Please see above.


GNEHM