PUTTING ZULKIFLI ON THE REWARDS FOR JUSTICE LIST

S E C R E T MANILA 004388 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, S/CT, AND EAP/MTS STATE ALSO FOR DS/DSS/DO/PETERSON AND DS/ICI/RFJ/SCHINDEL-GOMBIS USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (LAWLESS/TOOLAN/BAILEY) JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS) E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2016 TAGS: PTER PINR PINS ASEC PREL ID MY RP SUBJECT: PUTTING ZULKIFLI ON THE REWARDS FOR JUSTICE LIST REF: A. 05 MANILA 2108 ¶B. 05 MANILA 2105 Classified By: (U) Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE. SEE PARA. 2. ¶2. (SBU) Embassy Manila requests Diplomatic Security add Zulkifli al Musa Abdul Hir, (aka Zulkifli Hir, aka Zulkifli bin Abdul Hir, aka Musa bin Abdul Hir, aka Zulkifli bin Hir, aka Mussa, aka Musa, aka Marwan),a Malaysian citizen born in 1966 in Muar, Johor, to the Department of State's Rewards For Justice list. We recommend up to $5 million as a reward for information leading to his arrest or capture. ¶3. (S/NF) A senior figure in the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist organization, Zulkifli has been implicated in plotting attacks on the USS Blue Ridge, and was centrally involved in hiding ammonium nitrate for planned JI attacks against U.S. facilities in Singapore. He has been directly linked to al-Qaida operative Hambali and is an intimate associate of JI operative Dulmatin. ¶4. (S/NF) Zulkifli, the former head of the JI-associated Kumpulan Militant Malaysia, is wanted by Malaysian authorities for his role in the assassination of Dr. Joe Fernandez, a former member of the Perak State Assembly, and an attack on a police station in Guar Chempedak. Zulkifli is considered a High Value Target by the Department of Defense, and is on its Rewards list. On September 9, 2003, he was named by Executive Order 13224 as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Individual. ¶5. (S/NF) Zulkifli moved to the southern Philippines in early 2002. He is believed currently located in Pikit, Cotabato, where he is receiving support from elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front 105th Base Command. Zulkifli is the senior JI trainer in the Philippines and continues to engage in terrorism financing activities. He has been connected to multiple terrorist incidents here, including the 2003 Davao bombings. ¶6. (S/NF) The announcement of a new high-value reward, and subsequent publicity, will attack the web of social, religious, and cultural ties upon which Zulkifli has relied for his safety and freedom. The Rewards for Justice program has already helped restrict the movement of the JI terrorists Dulmatin and Umar Patek, and could have a significant impact on Zulkifli's freedom of action and ability to conduct JI activities in central Mindanao. ¶7. (U) The point of contact for this request is Regional Security Officer Jake Wohlman at 63-2-527-6300 x2290. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY