Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03SANTODOMINGO6906
2003-11-28 20:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santo Domingo
Cable title:  

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: 2003 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

Tags:  PTER DR 
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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 03 SANTO DOMINGO 006906 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR S/CT (REAP) AND WHA/CAR (MCISAAC)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER DR
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: 2003 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: STATE 301352

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SANTO DOMINGO 006906

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR S/CT (REAP) AND WHA/CAR (MCISAAC)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER DR
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: 2003 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: STATE 301352


1. Summary. There were no terrorist attacks or known
terrorism related activities in the GODR during calendar year

2003. The GODR continues to work closely with the USG in the
fight on global terrorism. End Summary.


2. Embassy Santo Domingo submits the following responses
keyed to reftel requests.

A) Significant actions taken by the host governments to
support the global coalition against terrorism, particularly
law enforcement actions taken against Al-Qaida operatives,
but including diplomatic efforts and actions to block
terrorist assets, enact new counterterrorism laws, and ratify
existing treaties.

-- The GODR's most significant support to the global
coalition against terrorism came with the deployment of
Dominican troops to Iraq. As a member of the coalition of
the willing, the GODR sent 302 soldiers to Iraq in August as
a part of a Spanish led brigade. The GODR has made a one
year commitment to keeping its troops in Iraq. The Dominican
soldiers currently in Iraq are scheduled to return to the
Dominican Republic in February and be replaced by a similar
number of troops for the remainder of the one year commitment.

-- In hosting the 14th Pan American Games, the GODR gained
first hand knowledge of counterterrorism methods employed to
secure venues susceptible to international terrorist attacks.
This heightened the level of awareness of the threat of
international terrorism to both the Dominican government and
the Dominican people.

-- No Al-Qaida operatives have been located within the
Dominican Republic; therefore, no domestic law enforcement
actions have been taken against them. The GODR cooperated
fully with Embassy Santo Domingo while arresting and
deporting an individual believed to have ties to
international terrorism.

-- The GODR has fully cooperated with US and UN requests to
search their banks for assets held under the names of known
terrorists. No accounts of this type have been found. The
Superintendent of Banks has been cooperative in heading the
GODR's effort to ensure that banks searches are conducted in
a timely manner.

-- The GODR has not enacted comprehensive anti-terrorism
legislation. The GODR Armed Forces are in the process of
developing a draft counterterrorism bill. The bill is
expected to be introduced to the Senate or Chamber of
Deputies in 2004.


B) Describe the response of the judicial system of each
country to acts of international terrorism and/or significant
acts of domestic terrorism during 2003, including any host
government prosecutions relating to terrorism. Particular
attention should be given to host government actions
regarding acts of terrorism against or affecting U.S.
citizens or facilities.

-- There are no pending cases relating to terrorism in the
judicial system in the Dominican Republic, nor have there
been any terrorism related prosecutions during 2003.

C) Did the host government extradite or request the
extradition of suspected terrorists for prosecution during
the year? Particular attention should be given to host
government responses to U.S. requests for extradition or
assistance in terrorist cases.

-- The GODR did not extradite nor request the extradition of
any suspected terrorists during CY03. In general, the USG
and GODR have very good relations on extradition matters. So
far this year, the GODR has extradited eight fugitives to the
US. The US has returned one fugitive to the Dominican
Republic. The GODR has worked with the USG to build cells to
hold 45 prisoners awaiting extradition. Additionally, the
GODR has promised to increase resources in its extradition
unit within the Attorney General's office.

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

-- There is no comprehensive anti-terrorism law in the
Dominican Republic. Any prosecution would have to take place
under existing criminal statutes. The existing criminal code
is fairly comprehensive and includes statutes covering many
terrorism-related crimes such as money laundering, crimes
against persons, crimes against property, homicide (all
degrees),and human rights abuses. The judicial system will
formally adopt a new criminal procedure code in January 2004.
Some portions of the code have gone into effect this year.
The new procedural code moves the GODR away from a strict
Napoleonic Code-based criminal procedural system, towards an
accusatory system.

-- The 1909 extradition treaty between the USG and the GODR
does not list "terrorism" as an extraditable crime.
Nevertheless, the treaty contains a comprehensive list of
crimes under which a request for extradition could be made.
Additionally, the GODR has honored extradition requests for
crimes not specifically enumerated in the treaty. For
instance, fugitives accused of certain drug related crimes
have been extradited under the authority of other
international treaties to which both countries are parties.

-- The USG and the GODR have a high level of cooperation on
extradition matters.
E) Discuss host government responses other than prosecution.
These would include, but are not limited to, public
statements by government officials or official news agencies
following a terrorist incident (in or outside the country)
and efforts by host government to investigate terrorist
incidents or to assist with international terrorism
investigations.

-- The GODR willingly assists USG agencies in international
terrorism investigations and international law enforcement
matters in general. Hosting the 14th Pan American Games
this year provided a unique opportunity for the GODR to raise
the country's level of awareness to the possibility of
international terrorism. GODR security force members, both
military and police, were quoted as saying the GODR was
prepared for potential terrorist attacks on its soil. (See
paragraph F, below)

F) Describe major counterterrorism efforts undertaken in 2003
by the host government, including steps taken in
international fora.

-- The GODR's troops currently stationed in Iraq received
counterterrorism training prior to deployment. A second
group of soldiers, scheduled to be deployed in February 2004,
will begin their counterterrorism training in 2003 and finish
it in 2004. These sessions are the first counterterrorism
training received by any GODR military or police troops.

-- Embassy's Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) sponsored a
number of training programs with counterterrorism components.
A group of airport security officers went to Miami to
receive dogs and canine handlers training. The training
focused on the detection of explosive devices. This unit is
now operating at Las Americas airport in the Dominican
Republic. Additionally, NAS, in conjunction with the
Department of Justice, sponsored two money laundering
workshops for prosecutors and law enforcement officers.

-- A small number of military and police officers received
counterterrorism training and guidance from the USG and
Israel, prior to the opening of the 14th Pan Am Games in
Santo Domingo. The Pan Am Games brought more than 1600
athletes, trainers and support personnel from western
hemisphere countries to participate in an Olympic style
competition over two weeks. The GODR stated it was in a
position to handle an international terrorist attack, but
security throughout the games showed numerous deficiencies.
Military forces with security responsibilities were not
appropriately trained or equipped. Access controls to
athletic event venues were lax and the physical design and
structures for the venues failed to provide adequate security
controls. There were no serious security breaches or attacks
during the games.

G) Describe any significant host government support for
international terrorism, terrorists, or terrorist groups,
including (but not limited to) political and financial
support or terrorists or their activities; diplomatic support
through diplomatic recognition; misuse of the diplomatic
pouch and other diplomatic privileges to support terrorism;
provision of sanctuary and/or the presence of offices or
terrorist groups; provision of training or training sites;
provision of weapons; and positions taken on terrorism issues
in international fora.

-- The GODR has not shown any support for international
terrorism, terrorists or terrorist groups. The widespread
acceptance of bribes or favors by officials and security
forces could leave the Dominican Republic susceptible to
exploitation by terrorist organizations. Relatively high
level government officials and at least one prominent
congressional representative have been implicated in alien
smuggling operations and have been tied to other illicit
activities. Embassy Santo Domingo is vigilant in efforts to
detect and report individuals of responsibility engaged in
suspicious activities.

H) Has the host government made any public statements in
support of a terrorist-supporting country on a terrorism
issue? (The seven governments designated as state sponsors of
terrorism are CUBA, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Syria,
and Sudan. Please note that, although Iraq remains a
designated state sponsor, all applicable sanctions have been
suspended.)

-- The GODR has not made any public statements in support of
a terrorist-supporting country on a terrorism issue.

I) Describe any significant change since 2002, positive or
negative, in the host government's attitude toward terrorism,
international or domestic. What is responsible for the
change?
-- Overall there has been a positive change in the GODR's
attitude toward combating terrorism during 2003. The
government has engaged with the deployment of troops to Iraq
and with its hosting of the Pan Am Games, gaining a better
understanding of terrorist threats in both international and
domestic arenas. GODR and USG officials have further
improved screening and reviewing suspect third country
nationals in the Dominican Republic. The Foreign Ministry
has worked with Embassy's Consular Fraud Prevention Unit in
reviewing suspect visa applications and detecting fraud.
KUBISKE