PREPARING FOR THE MARITIME BORDER CONTROL NEEDS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 007378 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016 TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS KPAO ID SUBJECT: PREPARING FOR THE MARITIME BORDER CONTROL NEEDS ASSESSMENT REF: A. STATE 87696 B. BANGKOK 2270 C.JAKARTA 1454 Classified By: Political Officer David Willis for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request:see paragraph 8. ¶2. (S) Summary: Embassy Jakarta strongly supports S/CT's Ref A interest in a border control needs assessment for the Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia triborder area. Post agrees that host nation support is essential and will discuss the potential needs assessment at a June 12 meeting with the GOI's Maritime Security Agency (BAKORKALMA) and during subsequent discussions with appropriate police, Immigration, and Customs officials. Post recommends moving visit by assessment team from July/August to September/October to enable coordination with host governments. Post recommends assessment team comprise no more than three to five persons and urges that Embassy's existing knowledge and talent base form the core of the assessment teams. Post recommends that official ports of entry be the initial strategic target. Heightened GOI sensitivities on CT issues suggest that a focus on transnational crime, to include terrorism, may avoid engendering unnecessary criticism. End Summary ¶3. (S) Post appreciates S/CT's Ref A proposal for a DS/ATA-funded border control needs assessment for the Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia triborder area. As determined during the Southeast Asia CT Regional Strategic Initiative (REFS B and C),a technical needs assessment is key to determining the next steps to secure this key border area. Jakarta's Maritime Security Working Group reviewed and discussed the proposal and provides below several concerns and recommendations for S/CT and DS/ATA's further consideration. Post looks forward to further discussions in this critical area. SOLICITING HOST NATION VIEWS -------------- ¶4. (S) We have not yet met with GOI officials to discuss the proposal, but agree that host nation approval and buy-in is critical to conduct a program in these often-sensitive border areas. We will present the concept at a June 12 meeting with Andi Amir Husein, head the GOI's Maritime Security Agency (BAKORKALMA),located in the Coordinating Ministry for Politics, Law and Security (MENKOPOLHUKAM). As a coordinating agency with participation from the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI),Immigration and Customs Services, we will explore whether BAKORKALMA could serve as a useful central point of contact for the proposal. Following our initial BAKORKALMA meeting, we plan discussions with appropriate Indonesian National Police (INP),Immigration, and Customs officials to obtain their views and interest in increasing cooperation in the triborder area. ¶5. (S) Post appreciates S/CT interest in moving forward quickly on REF A proposal, but may require more time to work with GOI offices unaccustomed to close cooperation or that have competing agendas. The PACOM sponsored triborder tabletop exercise scheduled for late August will involve triborder military, police, immigration, and customs officials; it may serve as a useful springboard to conducting an assessment in September or October. SIZE OF ASSESSMENT TEAM -------------- ¶6. (S) Embassy Jakarta requests S/CT and DS/ATA closely review the size of the assessment team. We are very concerned that an assessment team of more than three to five persons may weaken GOI support. Post maintains a strong talent and knowledge base with expertise in assessing security issues and we encourage using these resources, including regional ICE and NCIS representatives, to further decrease the assessment team's overall footprint. FOCUS OF ASSESSMENT -------------- ¶7. (S) Post recommends that the assessment team focus on potential efforts to secure the official access points that ring the triborder area to legitimize cross-border transit. Key ports of entry on the Indonesian side include Nunukan, Tarakan, Toli-Toli, Manado, and Tahuna. Such a more focused JAKARTA 00007378 002 OF 002 approach could also encourage clearer measures of effectiveness. As the result of heightened GOI sensitivities on CT issues in recent weeks, Post recommends identifying transnational crime, including terrorism, as the focus of the assessment to avoid engendering unnecessary criticism. ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶8. (C) Action request: Post requests S/CT and DS/ATA forward details of REF A proposal on border control needs assessment for the Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia triborder area. PASCOE