REMOVING FORMER JI-LEADER NASIR ABAS FROM

S E C R E T JAKARTA 007397 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, S/CT, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/CC DOJ FOR CTS THORNTON, AAG SWARTZ FBI FOR ETTIU/SSA ROTH TREASURY FOR OFAC JPHILIPP NSC FOR THINNEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016 TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS KPAO ID SUBJECT: REMOVING FORMER JI-LEADER NASIR ABAS FROM TERRORIST FINANCE LISTS REF: JAKARTA 2527 "ENGAGING THE GOI ON TF AND PRE-NOTIFICATION OF JI-4 DESIGNATIONS" Classified By: Economic Officer Tobias Glucksman for reasons 1.4 (b) an d (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. We believe the time has come for former Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist network leader Nasir Abas to be removed from the U.S. and UN terrorist finance lists. We believe that it is critical to respond to the requests to do so by our closest national security contacts. Now considered one of the Indonesian National Police,s (INP) most important counter-terrorism (CT) assets, Abas sent a letter to the Ambassador requesting removal of his name from the USG Executive Order 13224 and UNSCR 1267 terrorist finance designation lists. His letter followed similar recent requests by senior Government of Indonesia counter-terrorism officials. Based on these requests and our recent discussions with Abas, Embassy recommends that Washington pursue Abas, removal from the E.O. 13224 and UNSCR 1267 lists. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Former JI terrorist network leader Nasir Abas, now considered one of the INP,s most important CT assets, sent a letter to the Ambassador, June 3, requesting removal of his name from the USG Executive Order 13224 and UNSCR 1267 terrorist finance designation lists. In the letter (text in paragraph 8),the now penitent former-JI Mantiqi III leader admitted his formal role as a senior JI official, his sentencing to 10 months of prison in 2003, and his subsequent cooperation with police, testimony against JI members, and public outreach efforts against terrorism. Abas attached to his letter an 88-point detailed account of his activities in support of combating terrorism since 2002. ¶3. (S) Abas, letter follows similar requests on his behalf by senior Government of Indonesia counter-terrorism officials. As reported reftel, Coordinating Ministry for Political, Law and Security Affairs (MENKOPOLHUKAM) Counter Terrorism Coordinating Desk head Ansyaad Mbai on February 21 urged Embassy to help remove Abas from the UN 1267 list, noting that Abas recently published a book exposing the inner workings of JI titled "Membongkar Jamaah Islamiyah." At an Embassy function on June 1, Mbai and INP Generals Gores Mere and Bekto Suprapto directly lobbied the Ambassador and other Embassy officials for Abas, delisting. ¶4. (S) When we met Abas, June 4, to discuss his appeal and current situation, he candidly described his background, views on terrorism, and plans for the future. He clearly stated, with apparent sincerity, his rejection of the violence and ideology associated with terrorism, including disagreement with the underlying goal adopted by JI to establish a caliphate in the region, whether by violent or non-violent means. He told us he had based his involvement in the organization on his belief at the time that Muslims should prepare to defend themselves if attacked. He added that he firmly believed that Muslims in the SEA region do not face attack and can freely practice their religion. ¶5. (S) Even as a JI member, a trainer and organizer in Southern Philippine camps and Mantiqi leader, Abas said he never felt comfortable with the more violent ideology promoted by Hambali and Abu Bakar Ba,asyir. According to Abas, he refused Ba,asyir,s 2000 request for all Mantiqis and their leaders to accept Bin Ladin,s fatwa justifying attacks on Westerners and their supporters. Abas asserted that he never became involved in or supported JI attacks and felt shocked when he saw reports of the 2002 Bali attacks. Abas told us that he felt relieved at the time of his 2003 arrest as it presented a chance to change. ¶6. (S) Abas routinely works in the field with INP CT investigators and told us that he would like to continue doing so. Originally from Singapore and Malaysia, Abas said he would like to return to Malaysia to reestablish his citizenship and rebuild his family life, before returning to Indonesia to continue CT work with the INP. We ran into Abas again during June 6 meetings with senior INP CT investigators, including Deputy Criminal Investigator BG Gories Mere, Team Bomb Commander BG Surya Dharma, and Detachment 88 head General Bekto Suprapto. Mere, Dharma, and Suprapto all mentioned the significant contribution Abas had made to INP CT activities, both in investigations and in deprogramming terrorists. Mere gave us a March 2006 internal INP letter (see para 5) to MENKOPOLHUKAM Coordinating Minister Widodo recommending that the GOI pursue Abas, removal from E.O 13224 and UNSCR 1267 lists. Regular discussions with International Crisis Group JI expert Sidney Jones, a close contact of both Abas and the INP, have confirmed Abas, key role in INP CT efforts. Comment -------------- ¶7. (S) Based on our discussions with Abas, senior INP CT investigators, and International Crisis Group JI counter-terrorism expert Sidney Jones, Embassy sees a compelling case for the removal of Abas, designation as a terrorist financer. We believe such a step is important for future cooperation with GOI national security personnel who implemented the CT fight even when central government support was weak. The Mission recommends that Washington agencies review Abas, case and consider pursuing his removal from the E.O. 13224 and UNSCR 1267 lists. Text of Abas Letter -------------- ¶8. (C) Begin Text of Abas Letter to Ambassador Pascoe: The Hon. Lynn Pascoe, U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia Fax: (021) 3435.9916 Date: June 03, 2006 Dear Ambassador, I would like to petition for the removal of my name from the list of terrorists maintained under Executive Order 13224 or Liste Bush 39. My name appears on the list of persons designated as terrorists on 09-05-03: Sulaiman bin Abas aka Moh. Nasir bin Abas. And my name also appears on the list of persons designated as terrorists under UN Security Council Resolution 1267, as follows: *Name: 1: MOHAMAD NASIR 2: ABAS 3: na 4: na Title: na Designation: na DOB: 6 May 1969 POB: Singapore *Good quality a.k.a.: na Low quality a.k.a.: a) Abu Husna b) Addy Mulyono c) Malik d) Khairudin e) Sulaeman f) Maman g) Husna *Nationality: Malaysian Passport no.: A 8239388 National identification no.: 690506-71-5515 Address: Taman Raja Laut, Sabah, Malaysia *Listed on: 9 Sept. 2003 *Other information: na I was arrested in Indonesia in April 2003 and sentenced to ten months in prison. At the time of my arrest, I was a senior official of Jemaah Islamiyah but I never agreed with nor took part in attacks of any kind. Since my arrest, as the attached letters attest, I have been helping the police to understand the nature of this organisation, to arrest people involved in violence, and to persuade the Indonesian public, as well as detained members of jihadist organisations, that to mount indiscriminate attacks on civilians is a distortion of the meaning of jihad. I have testified against my former colleagues in court, and I have gone on speaking tours, appeared on Indonesian television, and given interviews to journalists from all over the world. I have helped the Malaysian and other foreign police with their investigations as well as the Indonesian authorities. I am opposed to terrorism in any form, and have made that clear in all my activities. I would like to return home to Malaysia and resume my life as an ordinary citizen, and I seek your assistance in removing my name from the Treasury Department,s list and Security Council list. With this letter I enclose the list of my activities in Indonesia. Sincerely, ¶M. Nasir Abas June 03, 2006 End Text of Abas Letter to Ambassador Pascoe Text of INP Memo to Coordinating Minister -------------- ¶9. (S) Begin Text of INP Memo to Coordinating Minister THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE INDONESIAN NATIONAL POLICE Jakarta, March 2006 No. Pol. : R/ /III/2006 Classification: CLASSIFIED Re: Proposal to remove Mr. Nasir Abbas from The 1267 (Al-Qaida/Taliban) Committee and Liste Bush 39. To COORDINATING MINISTER OF POLITICS, LAW AND SECURITY in Jakarta Referring to Terrorist List stipulated in the 1267 (Al-Qaida/Taliban) Committee (UN) and Terrorist List in Liste Bush 39 (United States Treasury) whick listed Mr. Nasir Abbas as one of terrorist crime perpetrator and made him arrest target of law enforcement. In regards of the above matter, the following facts are conveyed: a. Until 2003, Mr. Nasir Abbas had the position in Al-Jama,ah Al-Islamiyah organization as Head of Mantiqi III (the area of South Philippines, Sabah, East Kalimantan and Sulawesi) and therefore, the said person had been target of pursuit of law enforcement in South East Asia. However, Mr. Nasir Abbas was arrested in April 2003 and the said person has undergone this sentence in an Indonesian Penitentiary Institution up to February 2004. b. While being in prison and especially after undergoing his sentence, Mr. Nasir Abbas realized his mistakes that he has done so far and has been intensely assisted Indonesian Law Enforcement especially the Indonesian National Police in revealing Al-Jama,ah Al-Islamiyah Organization, especially in destroying terrorism acts in bombing cases, including being directly involved in the raid planning and execution of Dr. Azahari by INP Bomb Task Force/Special Detachment 88/AT. c. Mr. Nasir Abbas at present is very active in: -- Giving testimony in courts which reveal all information related to terrorist act network that had been unknown by Law Enforcements/Governments in the South East Asia. -- Conducting re-education program both to convicts of terrorist activities and to other members of Al-Jama,ah Al-Islamiyah Organization. -- Giving enlightment seminars and actively participating in scientific discussions to reduce radicalism and militant ideologies that develop in the society in various Pesantren (Islamic Boarding Schools) and universities in Indonesia, as well as in various electronic and printed media. -- Being speakers of guest lecturer in various trainings and courses of Counter Terrorism for members of INP, Law Enforcement agency of the Republic of Indonesia as well as of countries in the world held by JCLEC (Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement Cooperation) in Semarang and Terror Eradication Coordination Desk of the Coordinating Ministry of Politics, Law and Security of the Republic Indonesia. d. Also, Mr. Nasir Abbas has written various articles that speak against terrorism. Moreover, he has written a book titled Membongkar Jama,ah Islamiyah, (translation: Exposing Jama,ah Islamiya,),which has been translated into English with the title of Unveiling Jamaah Islamiyah: Confession of ex - JI Member,. In relation to the above matters and due to various requests for enlightment seminars from various Law Enforcement around the world, in order to utilize the ability and commitment of Mr. Nasir Abbas to eradicate terrorism in the world, it is hereby suggested that the Government of the Republic of Indonesia propose the de-listing of Mr. Nasir Abbas from Terrorist List stipulated in The 1267 (Al-Qaida/Taliban) Committee and Terrorist List of United States Treasury (Liste Bush 39). Attached is the complete list of the activities of Mr. Nasir Abbas in Counter Terrorism. Thank you very much for your attention and consideration. CHIEF OF THE INDONESIAN NATIONAL POLICE Drs. SUTANTO POLICE GENERAL Carbon Copy: Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of Indonesia End Text of INP Memo to Coordinating Minister PASCOE