Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SINGAPORE3375
2005-11-28 05:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Singapore
Cable title:  

SINGAPORE: 2005 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

Tags:  PTER ASEC SN 
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UNCLAS SINGAPORE 003375 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR S/CT RHONDA SHORE AND S/CT ED SALAZAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE: 2005 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

REF: STATE 193429

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 003375

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR S/CT RHONDA SHORE AND S/CT ED SALAZAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE: 2005 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

REF: STATE 193429


1. Please find below Embassy Singapore's submission for the
2005 Country Reports on Terrorism. Embassy POC is Senior
Political Officer Christopher Kavanagh, email:
KavanaghCR@state.gov.


2. Begin Text of Draft Report:

Singapore continued to oppose terrorism strongly and worked
vigorously to advance the counterterrorism agenda in
bilateral and multilateral contexts. It provided no support
or sanctuary for international terrorism, terrorists or
terrorist groups. There were no acts of international or
domestic terrorism in Singapore in 2005.

Over the course of the year, Singapore announced the
detention of three members of the regional terrorist group
Jemaah Islamiya (JI) under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
As of November, 36 people with links to terrorist groups were
in detention. Detainees include members of JI, who plotted
to carry out attacks in Singapore in the past, and members of
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Under their
"Orders of Detention," the detainees are required to undergo
a program of religious counseling with a group of volunteer
religious counselors. Singapore has enlisted the support of
religious teachers and scholars to provide the counseling,
study JI's ideology, and develop teachings to counter its
spread within Singapore's Muslim community.

During 2005, Singapore continued its intelligence and law
enforcement cooperation with a variety of governments,
including the United States, to investigate terrorist groups,
especially JI. Singapore has requested that Indonesia
extradite several JI members to face trial for engaging in a
conspiracy to commit terrorist acts in Singapore.

In February, Singapore announced it would spend $23 million
over three years to enhance computer security and combat
cyber-terrorism. Singapore's parliament amended the
Money-Changing and Remittance Businesses Act in August to
strengthen the government's ability to combat money
laundering and terrorist finance-related activities in the
money-changing and remittance sector.

Singapore officials have taken strong measures to enhance
maritime security in nearby waters, especially the Strait of
Malacca. These measures are focused on addressing terrorist
threats as well as piracy and other criminal attacks. The
Republic of Singapore Navy has deployed Accompanying Sea
Security Teams (ASSeT) to escort selected vessels through the
Singapore Strait. In August, Singapore hosted a
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) maritime interdiction
and port search exercise named Exercise Deep Sabre. This was
the first PSI exercise in Southeast Asia and included
participants from 13 nations. Singapore and the United
States agreed in August to launch Operation Safe Commerce
Singapore Phase Three, a program that evaluates
vulnerabilities in maritime trade lanes that could allow
entry of weapons of mass destruction, contraband or illegal
immigrants into U.S. ports. In September, Singapore,
Indonesia, and Malaysia announced their intention to launch
an "Eyes in the Sky" Initiative, whereby they will conduct
combined maritime air patrols over the Straits of Malacca and
Singapore.

Singapore actively participated in counterterrorism efforts
through various international fora, including the ASEAN
Regional Forum, and has worked to enhance regional
counterterrorism capabilities. In March, Singapore and the
United States co-hosted an ASEAN Regional Forum Confidence
Building Measure conference on Maritime Security. In June,
Singapore hosted the first Asia-Middle East Dialogue, with
government and non-government representatives from 50
countries. Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong proposed the
dialogue as a "platform for progressive Muslim voices."

End Text of Draft Report.
FERGIN