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