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