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 -------------- ¶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