POLICE RESPOND POSITIVELY DURING CONSULTATIONS ON

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 001658 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS, INL G/TIP -- JANE SIGMON AND EAP/RSP -- RUTH KURZBAUER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS SMIG KWMN KJUS MY SUBJECT: POLICE RESPOND POSITIVELY DURING CONSULTATIONS ON TIP TRAINING REF: A. JAKARTA 3146 - COOPERATION WITH THE FRENCH AGAINST TIP ¶B. KUALA LUMPUR 1557 - POLICE DISCUSS TIP ¶C. WELCOME TRAINING ¶D. KUALA LUMPUR 1236 - MALAYSIA ENACTS TIP LAW ¶E. KUALA LUMPUR 1145 - SENIOR ENGAGEMENT ON TIP ¶1. (SBU) Poloff, Legatt, and an ICITAP trainer from Jakarta met for a full day session on November 15 with senior police leaders from the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) to discuss law enforcement efforts to combat trafficking in persons (TIP) under Malaysia's new anti-trafficking law. The police were represented by the two main divisions tasked with combating TIP, D-7 (Organized Crime Unit) and D-11 (Crimes against Women and Children Unit). The meeting followed the ICITAP - French Embassy sponsored workshop in Bali (reftel A),which included Malaysian law enforcement officers. We discussed at length the deficiencies Malaysian police identified in their ability to investigate and prosecute TIP cases. The RMP desires to develop an operational action plan and receive technical training from U.S. subject matter experts. Senior police officials expressed the RMP's need to develop expertise in investigating TIP cases, especially how to identify potential victims, collect and process evidence, and build a case for successful prosecution. Police officials also recognized a need to improve coordination mechanisms with the national police forces of other countries, such as Indonesia. ¶2. (U) ICITAP's representative agreed to prepare a two-three day workshop with regional subject matter experts to advise RMP on best practices for developing their operational TIP action plan. ICITAP also identified a three-day workshop suitable for training immigration officials at the various Malaysian-Indonesian land crossings in East Malaysia, as well as Johor. Post will continue to work with ICITAP to identify training opportunities where Malaysian officials can be included. Beyond ICITAP assistance, Post seeks subject matter experts whom G/TIP, DOJ, DOJ/OPDAT or other agencies can provide to conduct short-term training sessions with the RMP, prosecutors and judges on adoption of best practices as they prepare to enforce Malaysia's new anti-TIP law. Malaysia's senior law enforcement officials welcome such expert advice (reftel B and D),and appear very willing to make available suitable meeting or training facilities and ensure appropriate staff participation. KEITH