INDONESIAN POLICE ASK FOR U.S. HELP IN MUNIR CASE

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 013007

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS PINR KCRM ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIAN POLICE ASK FOR U.S. HELP IN MUNIR CASE

REF: A. JAKARTA 12300


B. JAKARTA 12379

Classified By: AMBASSADOR B. LYNN PASCOE FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) On October 31, General Sutanto, Chief of the
Indonesian National Police (INP),formally asked Thomas
Fuentes, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Office of International
Operations, and Embassy Legatt for the FBI's technical
assistance in the ongoing investigation into the 2004 murder
of Indonesian human rights activist Munir Thalib. Sutanto
asked the FBI to recover text messages sent from and received
by four cell phones allegedly used by Pollycarpus Budihari
Priyanto, the suspect in the Munir case who was recently
acquitted of murder charges by the Indonesian Supreme Court.
The request is a very positive development and we must assist
the INP. Agreement to assist the INP is not only the right
thing to do, it is in keeping with the USG's long-standing
offer to provide Indonesia with technical assistance in the
Munir murder investigation.


2. (C) We understand that it might be technically feasible
for the FBI to recover these text messages. INP has
requested permission for two or three Indonesian officers to
transport the cell phones to FBI labs in the U.S. and to
observe the recovery of the text messages. INP has agreed to
brief extensively the FBI on the investigation. We will keep
the Department informed of next steps.


3. (C) The Government of Indonesia (GOI) is sensitive about
foreign assistance in this sensitive investigation. We
should not release this information unless they do.

PASCOE