DPM JAYAKUMAR ON MLAT AND TERRORISM

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 000274

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR L/LEI DAVID BUCHHOLZ, JUSTICE FOR DOJ/OIA STEWART
ROBINSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KIPR ECON KJUS KTIA KCRM SN
SUBJECT: DPM JAYAKUMAR ON MLAT AND TERRORISM


1. (SBU) Summary: On January 26, the Ambassador raised the
U.S. interest in concluding a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty
(MLAT) with Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister for Law

S. Jayakumar. DPM Jayakumar noted the recent efforts by the
GOS to amend its Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act
(MACMA) to broaden the scope of assistance it can provide.
The Ambassador commended Singapore for recently amending its
Copyright Act, but stressed the importance of ensuring that
adequate criminal penalties are in place and devoting
sufficient resources to the police's Intellectual Property
Rights (IPR) branch. DPM Jayakumar discussed Singapore's
efforts to thwart extremist attempts to radicalize its Muslim
population. End Summary.

AMENDING THE MACMA
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2. (U) In her January 26 courtesy call on DPM Jaykumar, the
Ambassador said the December 2005 discussions between USG
lawyers and their GOS counterparts in the Attorney General's
Chambers had resulted in a more active dialogue on an MLAT.
She expressed hope that MLAT negotiations could move forward
and that lingering issues over sharing financial information
could be resolved. DPM Jayakumar pointed out that the GOS
had introduced a bill in Parliament on January 16 to amend
Singapore's restrictive Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters
Act (MACMA). He noted that, prior to the introduction of
this bill, a bilateral treaty had to be in place before the
GOS could render assistance. This created a rigidity that
prevented the GOS from responding to urgent requests for
assistance. DPM Jayakumar averred that the proposed
amendments to the MACMA broadened the scope of assistance the
GOS could provide and allowed the GOS to respond to urgent
requests even when there was no bilateral treaty. He
estimated that Parliament would pass the bill within a few
weeks. (Note: We have faxed the proposed changes to State
L/LEI and Justice OIA. End Note.)

ENSURING RESOURCES FOR IPR ENFORCEMENT
--------------


3. (SBU) The Ambassador observed that Singapore's strong IPR
protection regime had yielded tangible results, including
significant investments by IP-intensive U.S. companies such
as Lucasfilms and Welch Allyn. The United States appreciated
Singapore's recent amendments to its Copyright Act, in line
with its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) commitments. The
Ambassador cautioned, however, that Singapore must follow up
on these legislative changes by ensuring adequate criminal
penalties were in place and sufficient resources devoted to
the police IPR branch. DPM Jayakumar said that technology
made enforcement of IPR protections difficult and often
outstripped legal regulatory efforts. Singapore had made
great strides in its IPR protection regime and GOS officials
maintained an active dialogue with their USG counterparts.

FIGHTING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF TERRORISM
-------------- --


4. (U) DPM Jayakumar focused on Singapore's efforts to
prevent radicalization of its Muslim minority community --
"the psychological and ideological aspects of terrorism."
Religious and secular leaders in the Muslim community had to
condemn extremism because non-Muslims lacked credibility to
do it. Because of its size and history, Singapore could not
afford the damage that a terrorist incident would do to race
relations. The GOS, therefore, had begun to address this
issue and established interracial harmony circles in every
constituency. If an attack did occur, and the perpetrators
were Singapore-born, the GOS hoped there would be no visceral
anti-Muslim reaction.


5. (SBU) Comment: DPM Jayakumar's discussion of the bill to
amend the MACMA is a positive development. More changes to
the MACMA (now under review) could follow soon. End Comment.
HERBOLD