CENTRAL JAVA -- KEYSTONE COPS MISTAKENLY SHOOT AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 003362

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, INR/EAP, DS/IP/EAP,
DS/T/ATA, S/CT, EAP/ANP
NSC FOR E.PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINS ASEC PTER ID AS
SUBJECT: CENTRAL JAVA -- KEYSTONE COPS MISTAKENLY SHOOT AT
AUSTRALIAN CT OFFICIAL

REF: JAKARTA 3273

Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b-d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a bizarre incident, an Australian
counterterrorism official became the target of gunfire while
driving his vehicle in Central Java on November 25. He was
not injured. Amid initial fears of a possible terrorist
incident or maybe an attempted car-jacking, police now admit
that the attack was conducted by counter-narcotics agents who
mistakenly thought the vehicle was running drugs. END
SUMMARY.


2. (C) SHOOT 'EM UP IN JAVA: A bizarre incident has
embarrassed the Indonesian police. Lester Cross, the
Australian Director of the Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement
Cooperation (JCLEC) in Semarang, Central Java, was attacked
by armed men on November 25 near the city of Solo, Central
Java. (Note: Formed after the October 2002 Bali bombing,
JCLEC--which is run by Australia in concert with the
GOI--instructs Indonesian officials in counterterrorist law
enforcement. See reftel.)


3. (SBU) Based on what we understand, four armed men on
motorcycles chased Cross' vehicle--which is armored--and
attempted to stop it. Cross--who is a highly experienced
agent of the Australian Federal Police--took counter-measures
and continued driving away from the attackers. The attackers
then opened fire on his vehicle, shooting a bulletproof
window and puncturing one tire. Cross evaded the attack and
returned safely to Semarang. Pol/C--during a visit to
Semarang--subsequently met Cross who said he was fine, though
shaken by the incident.


4. (C) VARIOUS WRINKLES: The incident has had various
wrinkles. Media reports immediately after the incident
claimed that it might have had a terrorist connection,
speculating that Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) elements--historically
strong in Central Java--might have tried to kill Cross. The
initial INP investigation, however, asserted that the attack
was an attempted car-jacking. Cross confirmed to Pol/C
during a November 30 conversation that he did not think the
attack was aimed at him specifically or was related to his
position at JCLEC, but was rather criminal in nature.


5. (SBU) THE LATEST EXPLANATION: In the latest twist, the
police now say the attack was inadvertent--and they took
responsibility for it. On December 7, Central Java Police
Chief MG Dodi Sumantyawan told the media the incident was a
case of mistaken identity and had been carried out by members
of a police counter-narcotics unit.


6. (SBU) According to Sumantyawan, the police had received a
tip that a drug dealer carrying drugs in his vehicle would be
in an area where Cross happened to be traveling. The police
had assumed that Cross was the drug dealer whom they were
pursuing. As police had approached the vehicle on
motorcycles, Cross had taken defensive measures and had not
stopped. Concluding that Cross was trying to elude them,
police had opened fire on the vehicle. Cross had escaped the
attack and returned to his home.


7. (C) WELL, WE'RE SORRY: Privately, Sumantyawan contacted
Cross and apologized for the mistake. Cross and a team of
Australian Federal Police investigators told Pol/C they agree
with the INP's assessment that the attack was a case of
mistaken identity and entirely unrelated to Cross' position
at the JCLEC counterterrorism training facility.


8. (C) NO PROBLEMS, MATE: In the end, the incident--which
could have had tragic consequences--has not resulted in any
problems between the Australians and the Indonesian police.
Working relations between the Australians and the Indonesians
at JCLEC are excellent and seem set to remain so. Cross--who
has shrugged his shoulders at the whole situation--remains at
work in Semarang; he rotates out, returning to Australia
early next year.

HUME