SEMARANG - SPECIAL DETACHMENT 88

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 003163 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, S/CT, DS, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITA AND DS/T/ATA DOJ FOR CTS THORNTON, AAG SWARTZ FBI FOR ETTIU/SSA NORTH E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017 TAGS: ASEC PTER EFIN KCRM KHLS PKPAO ID SUBJECT: SEMARANG - SPECIAL DETACHMENT 88 Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY RSO JEFF LISCHKE. REASON 1.4 (B&D). ¶1. (C) RSO and DS/ATA Country Manager visited the Special Detachment (SD) 88 in Semarang, the Indonesian National Police (INP) anti-terrorism training center in Plantina and the Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) from 10/30 - 10/31. The main purpose of the visit was to inspect SD-88 to ensure that the detachment was in control of and maintaining its DS-issued equipment. We also wanted to verify that the members of SD-88 Crisis Response Team (CRT) were still together, training and functioning as a unit. ¶2. (C) The Commander of SD-88, Colonel Drs. Daryono, described the organization of SD-88 and the numerous issues it is facing regarding office space and equipment. According to Colonel Drs. Daryono, 21 of the original 24 members who received CRT training March 14- April 21, 2005 remain with the team. Three members of the original team have moved on as a result of promotions or upon request of higher level INP officials to fulfill other duties. All of the DS-issued equipment was accounted for and was in excellent condition. ¶3. (C) Colonel Drs. Daryono stated that the Detachment consists of 83 personnel and is broken down into four groups - the CRT (21 members),investigations (25 members), intelligence & surveillance (25 members) and logistics (12 members). The Commander made it clear that his personnel needed more training and funding. He stated that his operational capabilities were extremely limited due to lack of funding. He explained that his men were unable to conduct operations in many smaller villages throughout cental Java considered to be the "hotbed" of terrorists because his unit did not have sufficient funds. ¶4. (C) When asked what the members of the CRT do when not conducting operations he said they are tasked with escorting prisoners, conducting close protection of VIP's or training. In spite of the issues they are facing, their morale appeared to be high and their belief in their mission was firm. ¶5. (C) After visiting SD-88, the RSO and DS/ATA country manager visited the Counter-terrorism center at Plantina. The facility is used for advanced CRT training that is conducted by experienced INP CRT team members. The facility was in rather poor conndition and definitely needs some work. There was an airplane, train, boat and a three story "mock" hotel and office that are used for hostage training scenarios. The Commander of Platina, Colonel Slamet Loesiono, showed us a video of a CRT conducting motorcade training and hostage rescue operations. Although not exceptional, the CRT did possess the basic knowledge and skills that form a basic foundation of police SWAT tactics. ¶6. (U) The Aussie-funded JCLEC facility is impressive. It is an ultra modern state of the art facility that consists of class rooms, conference facilities, excellent accommodations and a dining facility. An Australian Federal Police Officer, Adam West, is the Coordinator of Training Projects Development and Delivery. Although there have been several training courses conducted at this 40-million USD facility, Mr. West stated the it is under-utilized. It appears that they followed the model of the U.S. International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Bangkok and are trying to organize more courses and seminars not only for the INP, but other police personnel from Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. He added that it can be used for diplomatic conferences and seminars as well. ¶7. (C) We completed our visit to Semarang with a courtesy call to Major General Drs. D. Sumantyawan, who is the Kapolda for central Java. The atmosphere of the meeting was positive and he expressed appreciation for the training and equipment the DS/ATA program has provided SD-88. He confirmed that SD-88 is a cohesive unit and that it works and trains together and that the commander reports directly to him. The General added that terrorism needs to be confronted on several different fronts - political, economic and educational - and the INP would appreciate all the training, equipment and assistance the USG can offer in the future. ¶8. (U) POC is RSO Jeff Lischke at 62-21-0811-969-4791. HUME