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