JAKARTA EAC MEETING, NOVEMBER 13, 2006

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 013191 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, S/CT, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/CC E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2016 TAGS: PTER CASC PGOV PINS KJUS KISL ASEC AS AEMR KVPR, CVIS, ID SUBJECT: JAKARTA EAC MEETING, NOVEMBER 13, 2006 Classified By: Ambassador Lynn Pascoe, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Embassy held an Emergency Action Committee meeting on November 13, 2006, to discuss the November 11 detonation of an explosive device at an East Jakarta A&W Restaurant. The RSO and LEGAT told the EAC that only the suspect was injured in the blast, that evidence suggested the suspect was emotionally unstable, and that there were no apparent links to any other individuals or to the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) or any other terrorist network. The EAC decided that the Embassy would retain its current high security posture, and recommended that the incident should not impact the upcoming POTUS visit or other Mission operations. RSO expected the POTUS visit to attract public demonstrations by local groups in both Jakarta and Bogor. The EAC agreed on text for an updated warden message. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On November 13, 2006, the Embassy held an EAC meeting in which the RSO briefed on the November 11 detonation of an explosive device at a Jakarta A&W Restaurant. The explosion occurred at 11:45 A.M. local on the ground floor of the Kramat Jati Indah Plaza in a largely poor area of East Jakarta not frequented by Westerners. The explosion resulted in serious injuries to the suspect and relatively minor physical damage to the restaurant. The suspect was being treated for his injuries at a police hospital near the site of the incident. No other injuries were reported. ¶3. (SBU) According to INP intelligence officials and officers from the INP's DS/ATA-trained CT unit Detachment 88, the suspect entered the restaurant carrying a plastic bag, agitatedly placed an order, sat down at a table, and loudly ordered a drink. Witnesses said the suspect was extremely tense, sweating heavily and sitting stiffly. Witnesses saw the suspect put both hands into the plastic bag just prior to the explosion. ¶4. (SBU) INP forensic teams found a plastic bag at the scene that contained a pipe filled with gunpowder and buckshot pellets. The team also found a cable connecting the package to a cellular phone. The INP publicly said there was no indication this was intended to be a suicide bombing. Detachment 88 investigators searched the suspect's house and found additional explosive material used in making devices similar to those found at the scene. INP investigators told the RSO that potassium and small "bullets" were also found at the suspect's house. It was not yet clear whether the explosion occurred intentionally or prematurely, whether the A&W Restaurant was the actual target, or whether there were other targets identified by the suspect. ¶5. (SBU) The INP identified the suspect as Muhammad Nuh (36), a resident of Bidara Cina, East Jakarta. He worked as an electronics repairman at a stall near the Kramat Jati Indah Plaza. INP investigators believed the suspect was emotionally disturbed and reportedly had been acting abnormally since the death of his mother. The INP said the suspect confessed to the incident and to wanting to create a sensation. The suspect cited a Dick Tracy movie as his inspiration. The INP said the suspect's erratic behavior at the scene may have been due in part to the fish poison he claimed to have consumed prior to the incident. The INP provided the following additional personal information: DPOB: 10/02/1970; Jakarta National Identification Number: 0954040210700162 Address: Perum Poloniart 014/006, No. 30, Bidara Cina, East Jakarta Tel:(021) 8564763 Father's Name: Muji Tabah Mother's Name: Sahroni al Nani Education: graduated in electronics from a senior technical school in Jakarta ¶6. (SBU) The RSO and LEGAT told the EAC that evidence suggested the suspect was emotionally unstable, and that there were no known links to any other individuals or to the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) or any other terrorist network. The EAC concluded that the Embassy would retain its current high security posture and that the incident did not impact the upcoming POTUS visit or other Mission operations. ¶7. (C) On November 11 and 12, RSO and Embassy staff briefed White House, Secret Service, Secretary's Detail, and other JAKARTA 00013191 002 OF 002 advance personnel on the incident. In addition, RSO staff and INP counterparts met with security chiefs and general managers of the hotels used by the advance personnel and briefed them on the incident and the need to enhance security. In addition to the security measures already in place, RSO said the Embassy would use local Embassy security staff in plainclothes to augment the screening of people and vehicles at the two major hotels being used. ¶8. (SBU) The RSO reminded EAC members to expect the upcoming POTUS visit to attract public demonstrations by local groups in both Jakarta and Bogor. A Hizbut Tahrir demonstration in Bogor on November 11 attracted approximately 1500 demonstrators. RSO staff said they were satisfied with the INP response in providing approximately 600 police officers, 100 of them positioned at the main hotel used by advance personnel. ¶9. (C) On November 14, the Ambassador, RSO, RA, and US Secret Service's lead advance officer plan to meet INP Chief General Sutanto to discuss the incident and overall security for the POTUS visit. ¶10. (U) The Embassy has issued the following warden message, which was cleared by phone with the Ops Center: ---BEGIN TEXT--- U.S. Embassy Jakarta U.S. Consulate General Surabaya Warden Message November 13, 2006 The U.S. Embassy informs American citizens that several groups in Indonesia have held or have announced plans to hold demonstrations protesting the upcoming visit of President Bush to Indonesia later in November. Most demonstrations to date have been small and peaceful. While legitimate groups intend their demonstrations to be peaceful, any demonstration can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. Most groups publicize demonstrations in advance. The Embassy urges Americans to avoid the areas announced as demonstration sites, and to exercise caution if caught close to a demonstration. The Embassy urges Americans to avoid crowds, maintain a low profile, and be vigilant about security at all times. The U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya intend to maintain normal consular services during demonstrations, but may have to close on short notice if security conditions prevent public access to the Embassy or Consulate grounds. American citizens seeking consular services may call the Consular Sections at the numbers below before coming to the Embassy or Consulate to inquire about possible demonstrations. Americans living and traveling in Indonesia are urged to register and update their contact information with the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, or U.S. Consular Agency in Bali. Registration facilitates the U.S. Mission,s contact with Americans in emergency situations, and may be done online and in advance of travel. Information on registering can be found at the U.S. Department of State,s Consular Affairs website at http://travelregistration.state.gov and at the Embassy,s website at http://jakarta.usembassy.gov. All Travel Warnings, Public Announcements and recent warden messages are posted on the Embassy website. The Embassy is located at Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan No. 4-5, Jakarta; the 24-hour telephone number is 62-21-3435-9000. The telephone number of the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya is 62-31-295-6400; the number for the U.S. Consulate in Medan is 62-61-415-2200; the number for the U.S. consular Agency in Bali is 62-361-233-605. ---END TEXT--- PASCOE