Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SANTIAGO2140
2006-10-12 20:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:  

CHILE EXPLAINS COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS TO G-8

Tags:  PTER PGOV SNAR EFIN RU CI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 122050Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0149
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION PRIORITY 2676
RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 0110
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 3332
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES PRIORITY 3241
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1118
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ OCT 4834
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 4747
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO PRIORITY 3387
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0226
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 002140 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV SNAR EFIN RU CI
SUBJECT: CHILE EXPLAINS COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS TO G-8

REF: A. SANTIAGO 1350

B. SANTIAGO 1924

C. SANTIAGO 2034

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 002140

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV SNAR EFIN RU CI
SUBJECT: CHILE EXPLAINS COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS TO G-8

REF: A. SANTIAGO 1350

B. SANTIAGO 1924

C. SANTIAGO 2034


1. (SBU) Summary. In a local G-8 CTAG meeting, the chiefs of
Chile's National Intelligence Agency and the Director of
intelligence for the National Investigative Police agreed
Chile must seek to disrupt any activity that could benefit
terrorists. They said they had no conclusive evidence of a
terrorist link between the tri-border area and Iquique in
northern Chile. Current evidence suggests there may be
financing coming out of Iquique for radical Middle Eastern
groups. The GOC officials also said they were monitoring the
upcoming conference of radical leftists (reftel) scheduled
for October 27-29, but downplayed G-8 security concerns. The
Swiss Ambassador raised the need for further world discussion
on the use of the internet in terrorism. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Russian Ambassador Filatov hosted a local G-8
Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG) of senior-level
officials from G-8 countries as well as from the Spain and
Switzerland. The Director of Chile's National Intelligence
Agency (ANI),Guillermo Villalobos, and the head of
intelligence for the National Investigative Police (PICH),
Luis Alarcon, attended and outlined Chile's efforts to fight
terrorism.

Chile's Counter-Terrorism Efforts
--------------


3. (SBU) Villalobos identified Islamic terrorism as the
principle terrorist threat in the world. While pointing out
that the threat of terrorism in Chile was relatively low,
Villalobos acknowledged Chile must still engage in
counter-terrorism efforts. He outlined efforts the GOC has
made: Chile meets all international port/maritime security
standards; created a Center for Crisis Resolution to respond
to potential issues with civil aviation; was working to
improve border security; and established a Financial
Intelligence Unit in 2004 to combat money laundering (reftel
A and B). Villalobos identified the possible link between
the tri-border area (Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina) and
Iquique in northern Chile as the GOC's main area of concern
regarding terrorist finance. However, he said the GOC did
not have concrete evidence of any link at this time. At the
same time, Alarcon acknowledged that Chile could be used for
money laundering to finance Islamic terrorism, but was
attempting to address any loopholes through the FIU.

Radical Leftist Meeting
--------------


4. (SBU) When asked about the meeting of radical leftist
organizations, including the FARC, scheduled in Chile Oct.
27-29 (reftel C),Villalobos responded that he suspected this
conference was more "media-oriented than revolutionary." The
Chilean organization hosting the meeting, the FPMR, has been
very public about the entire conference. Villalobos said he
thought it unlikely high-level FARC or members of other
groups would attend such a public meeting. He also observed
that there was no evidence of ties between any of the groups
attending the meeting and Islamic groups.

Embassies Speak
--------------


5. (U) The U.S. delegation, headed by the Ambassador,
highlighted the need for enhanced cooperation among GOC
agencies. The Ambassador noted the USG's own efforts to
improve inter-agency cooperation and encouraged the GOC to
maximize its effectiveness through inter-agency or joint task
forces. The Swiss ambassador, after emphasizing the
importance his country placed on combating terrorist
financing, addressed the use of the internet to spread
terrorist propaganda and plan attacks. The Russian
ambassador highlighted a conference taking place next month
in Moscow on partnership between the state and business in
fighting terrorism. All G-8 representatives emphasized their
availability to work within the G-8 and with the GOC to
combat terrorism.

Comment
--------------


6. (SBU) Villalobos and Alarcon suggested that there was
evidence, though not yet conclusive, of money laundering and
terrorism finance in Chile. The attendance of key GOC
officials at the CTAG meeting and their willingness to
acknowledge this indicate Chilean law enforcement is
detecting problems in these areas. There appears to be a
recognition gap, however, between law enforcement and some
civilian GOC officials who continue to view Chile as an
island immune from terrorist financing or money laundering.
Post will continue to work with the GOC to support the
creation of viable mechanisms to help Chile detect and halt
these activities.
KELLY