GOB SHARES INFORMATION ON FOUR SUSPICIOUS MUSLIM

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000951

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/BCLTV; S/CT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2015
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV BM
SUBJECT: GOB SHARES INFORMATION ON FOUR SUSPICIOUS MUSLIM
DEPORTEES

REF: RSO VINCENT-DS/ITA 8/15/05 SPOT REPORT

Classified By: CDA Karl Stoltz for Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary: Burmese security officials recently shared
with Emboffs biographic data for four Muslim Indian nationals
of "Pakistani origin," whom the GOB had deported in June for
"suspicious behavior." The GOB did not provide any direct
evidence of terrorist activities by the four, and Burma has a
long history of treating all Muslims with discrimination.
The sharing of this information, however, was a very rare
gesture and a positive sign of CT cooperation. We have
encouraged GOB officials to continue to work closely with us
on such security matters. End Summary.


2. (C) On June 13, Emboffs learned from GOB police contacts
that authorities had detained four men of "Pakistani origin"
who had entered Burma on June 7 on Indian passports. The
four individuals, all Muslims, claimed that they had entered
Burma to conduct business. However, investigators from the
Burmese Police Special Branch were concerned that the four
men had visited local mosques in Shan State and in the
southern Rangoon suburb of Dallah (Dala),and had
proselytized in local villages in those areas.


3. (SBU) The four men had valid business visas, and we have
been informed that background checks at the Indian Embassy
turned up no results. However, the GOB concluded that the
four were not conducting legitimate business and deported the
entire group back to India o/a June 10.


4. (C) Following deportation of the individuals, Embassy's
RSO pressed police contacts repeatedly for more information.
In one meeting with Brig-Gen Myint Thein, Special Branch
Director, RSO discussed the importance of obtaining names and
other identifying data so that appropriate name checks could
be conducted. Finally, on August 8, Special Branch officials
provided RSO with biographic data on the four individuals
(ref e-mail),including the following information: Shahul
Hameed, dob 9/16/49; Mohamed Johan, 7/4/69; Nasar Mohideen,
4/9/60; and Mohammed Farooq, 6/1/48.


5. (C) Comment: The GOB rarely volunteers information to the
U.S. Embassy on any matter, including security and
terrorism-related developments. We do not conclude that this
rare gesture of information sharing indicates a significant
change in the GOB's bilateral posture, but we still see it as
an example of CT information sharing. We will encourage
further dialogue on these issues. End Comment.
Stoltz