BURMA: 2004 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

UNCLAS RANGOON 001627 SIPDIS PASS TO S/CT AND FOR TTIC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC BM SUBJECT: BURMA: 2004 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT ¶1. Embassy Rangoon's submission for the annual terrorism report follows. Post will update the final section of this short statement when GOB provides requested information. Burma Burma maintained its solid position against international terrorism in 2004. The regime previously enacted an anti-money laundering law that could help block terrorist assets if and when fully implemented. The military government is fighting several low-intensity conflicts against ethnic insurgents. The junta has occasionally sought to portray insurgent attacks against infrastructure such as bridges and pipelines as terrorism, but there were no known acts of international terrorism during 2004. Several improvised explosive devices exploded or were discovered in various locations in Burma in 2004. There were no credible claims of responsibility for these acts. In December an improvised explosive device exploded in Rangoon, injuring one person. The perpetrators' identity and motives are unclear. According to United Nations information, Burma is party to or a signatory of nine of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism. ¶2. This additional information is keyed to para 15 of reftel. a. GOB has cooperated in various counter-terrorism and security issues, such as continuing to keep closed the major street fronting the chancery and by providing armed police at the chancery and other embassy facilities. b. see above c. none d. n/a e. The GOB has fairly well developed human and technical surveillance capabilities focused primarily on the domestic political opposition and insurgent groups. f. The GOB maintains stringent border controls along its border with Bangladesh in a region alleged to be of interest to extremist groups from South Asia. g. none h. Previous border control joint unit known as NaSaKa has reportedly been disbanded for alleged corruption and is being replaced by separate units of police, immigration, and customs officials. i. none j. GOB counter-insurgency forces operate on the Thai and Indian borders. k. none l. n/a m. none n. none o. none p. none q. none r. none MARTINEZ