KUWAIT COUNTERTERRORISM WORKING GROUP: SOME

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002265 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI AND S/CT; NSC FOR TOWNSEND; LONDON FOR GOLDRICH E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2015 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV EFIN ASEC MARR CVIS KU TERRORISM SUBJECT: KUWAIT COUNTERTERRORISM WORKING GROUP: SOME PROGRESS ON TERROR FINANCE; NEED FOR CAPACITY-BUILDING REF: A. KUWAIT 1908 ¶B. KUWAIT 1734 ¶C. KUWAIT 1733 ¶D. KUWAIT 1731 ¶E. KUWAIT 1730 ¶F. KUWAIT 1501 ¶G. KUWAIT 1159 ¶H. KUWAIT 1400 ¶I. KUWAIT 1071 ¶J. KUWAIT 1069 ¶K. KUWAIT 730 ¶1. (S/NF) Summary: Post's Counterterrorism Working Group (CWG) met May 2 to asses the GOK's progress in developing its counterterrorism (CT) capacity. The group concluded that the GOK remained serious about confronting terrorism, investing heavily in tools and equipment, but is still in need of capacity-building. There was progress in addressing terror financing, such as inter-ministry committee work on terror finance legislation, but weak laws for dealing with terrorists and uneven application reveal considerable room for improvement. (The group, chaired by the Ambassador, includes the DCM and section heads from RSO, POL, ECON, CONS, RMAS, OMC-K, and DIALO.) End Summary. ¶2. (S/NF) RMAS reported that Kuwaiti State Security (KSS) continues to look for financier Mohsen Al-Fadhli, presumed to still be in Kuwait, as well as Khaled Al-Dosari, who may have fled the country. RMAS is working with KSS to determine their whereabouts. There were no reports of new terror cells or threats against the U.S. or GOK. ¶3. (C) Pol Chief provided an update on suspected terrorists released from jail on bail, including former Guantanamo detainee Nasser Al-Mutairi who was released April 14 for health concerns (ref F). The GOK imposed a travel ban on him and his trial is scheduled to resume June 3. (Note: The temporary release by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) contradicted a bilateral agreement reached with the Foreign Ministry and occurred without MFA knowledge. End note.) In addition, the MOJ released on bail 22 individuals accused of waging jihad. They have since been sentenced to prison terms of up to three years and fines of $10,000, verdicts their attorney intends to appeal (ref A). They remain free. ¶4. (C) Pol Chief also reported on legislation proposed by liberal MP Abdulwahab Al-Haroun and Shiite MP Yousef Al-Zalzalah to combat extremism. The draft bill calls for establishing a special council of scholars and religious leaders which would have the sole responsibility for issuing fatwas. It would also ban publications that promote hatred. The National Assembly has not acted on the draft legislation. Pol Chief also noted that despite its coordination role, there is no evidence of strengthened cooperation between the National Security Bureau and KSS (ref I). ¶5. (C) Econ Chief reported progress in GOK efforts to stem terror financing. A total of $4 million in assets has recently been frozen and an inter-ministry committee, led by the Public Prosecutor's Officer, has begun to draft terror finance legislation. He further reported that the mid-April visit of Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary Glaser helped to reinforce the necessity of eliminating terror finance and advanced the bilateral dialogue; Glaser offered Treasury's assistance in drafting Kuwait's new terror financing laws (ref C). The Central Bank Governor confirmed to Glaser that Al-Fadhli's assets had been frozen and reviewed procedures to tighten charity regulation (ref C). Adnan Al-Omar, Assistant Under Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, informed Glaser of new approaches for collecting funds now that the Ministry has removed charity kiosks: door-to-door collection and the diversion of proceeds from the legitimate sale of used clothing. Glaser also raised with Kuwaiti counterparts U.S. concerns about the lack of any declaration requirement for cash carried out of Kuwait. Director General of Kuwait Customs Ibrahim Al-Ghanim replied such a declaration was the "next step," but there does not appear to be a sense of urgency in following through. ¶6. (C) RSO briefed the CWG on Kuwaiti participation in an Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) Senior Crisis Management Seminar held in Washington D.C. April 18 - 23. He described the group, which represented the MFA, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, and Kuwait National Guard, as actively engaged and appreciative of the training. The group responded more positively to case studies (the Iranian Embassy hostage situation in London and the standoff at Waco) than role-playing, and would welcome more opportunities to review crisis response and discuss how best to respond in Kuwait. Kuwaitis will participate in an ATA-sponsored major case management course in July and a senior brigadier general in the police will be attending a counter terrorism seminar sponsored by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS) at Harvard University in June. A needs assessment team from ATA recently visited post and were impressed with the level of knowledge and skills exhibited by the various police units they met. Because of their level of knowledge, the RSO will be working with key police officials to arrange consultation visits to the U.S. rather than sending large groups of police officers for training. RSO also reported the GOK recently signed a 1.5 million pound contract with a British company for SWAT training. Additionally, Kuwaitis and their British counterparts will conduct joint exercises on Failaka Island with a goal of strengthening joint training capabilities. RSO also reported GOK plans to strengthen security cooperation with Germany. The announcement followed the May 1 visit of German Interior Minister Otto Schily to Kuwait. ¶7. (S/NF) DIALO advised the CWG that the Defense Intelligence Agency responded positively to a request to assist the GOK in establishing a Force Protection Directorate (ref H). DIA will conduct a general assessment of the directorate and provide guidance to the Ministry of Defense on how to identify and remove extremists from its ranks. ¶8. (C) Comment: CT remains at the top of the GOK agenda and its security apparatus has invested in the tools of the trade. What the GOK lacks, however, is sufficient capacity to effectively respond to threats or attacks, thus the overtures to the U.S. and others -- the UK, Germany, Jordan, and Egypt -- for training and assistance. ATA training was successful and Kuwaiti participation in Post's April 4 mass casualty exercise highlighted GOK interest in and commitment to reacting quickly and competently to crisis situations, but revealed its limitations as a partner. Post recommends the U.S. focus more attention on helping the GOK strengthen its CT capabilities through training, technical expertise, and model legislation. ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* LEBARON