TRILATERAL COUNTERTERRORISM MEETING, APRIL 18

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 000878 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/CT AND DS/T/ATA SINGAPORE FOR MATT SPELSBERG, ICE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2027 TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL MY SUBJECT: TRILATERAL COUNTERTERRORISM MEETING, APRIL 18 REF: KUALA LUMPUR 458 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David B. Shear, reasons 1.4 b an d d. Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) DCM chaired an April 18 meeting with Japanese and Australian counterparts on trilateral counterterrorism cooperation, the second such meeting in Kuala Lumpur. The delegations discussed the potential for trilateral cooperation in Malaysia and possible recommendations to be presented for consideration at the June Ambassadorial level meeting in Sydney, Australia. All sides agree that the trilateral forum is a useful venue to coordinate CT activity in Malaysia, although host government sensitivities to multilateral activity and disparate interests place limits on joint action in the near term. End Summary. U.S. Hosts Latest Trilat -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On April18 , DCM chaired our latest meeting with Japanese and Australian counterparts on trilateral counterterrorism cooperation. The meeting followed discussions hosted by the Australian DCM in January (reftel). Canberra has charged the Australian High Commission with developing concrete proposals for trilateral action in Malaysia ahead of the Ambassadorial level meeting scheduled for June in Sydney. Update on Bilateral Efforts -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The U.S. side provided a brief update on the Border Control Assistance Initiative (BCAI) that had a team consisting of Embassy and U.S.-based participants in the field to evaluate border security issues in Eastern Sabah in January/February. It was noted that the Malaysian Government provided considerable support to the team in its examination of port operations in Tawau, Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu but otherwise considerably restricted the visit. We explained that offices in Washington are taking the lead in drafting a report on the assessments conducted in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines that should lead to recommendations on how the U.S. might assist in building host nation capacity in the Sulu and Sulawesi Sea area. We offered to make those findings available to Japanese and Australian counterparts as appropriate. ¶4. (SBU) Japan offered an update on their bilateral training program with Malaysia. Events included a vessel boarding course and exercise with the MMEA that took place in Japan. Australia discussed a recent export control seminar that received robust participation by the Malaysian government and demonstrated that they have the technical ability to move forward in that area. Through APEC, they recently conducted a charities abuse course and have various events schedules through the Southeast Asian Centre for Counterterrorism (SEARCCT). Ideas for Moving Forward -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Joint document examination training represents one of the most promising areas for trilateral action. All three countries currently have related training programs that are attended by Malaysian officials and recent statements by Malaysian Immigration and Home affairs officials have indicated their desire to receive more training opportunities for their border control personnel. The three sides agreed to look more closely at the working level at possibilities for cooperation in the areas of law enforcement and non-proliferation. Money laundering courses and industry outreach programs related to export controls were mentioned as potential areas for collaboration. SEARCCT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) In leading the discussion on SEARCCT, we spoke about the general success of SEARCCT as a conference organizer but noted its lack of progress in fulfilling two of its stated mission goals: research and terrorism public awareness. Statements to U.S. officials by the center's leadership have suggested that SEARCCT remained committed to the ideas, yet KUALA LUMP 00000878 002 OF 003 no action has been taken to advance them. In an attempt to initiate progress, the U.S. provided SEARCCT's library with $20 thousand in research equipment and materials. Additionally, U.S. military public affairs officers met with the center last year to discuss counter-extremism. ¶7. (C) Australian diplomats provided a dim view on the willingness and ability of SEARCCT to make progress in these areas. They reported that the center had thus far resisted attempts to engage in counter-radicalization issues and suggested that future programs would be limited to advancement within the government of Prime Minister Badawi's Islam Hadhari principles. The U.S. side also made reference to recent difficulties in coordinating courses with SEARCCT. In previous discussions with U.S. embassy staff, the Australians reported that SEARCCT withdrew sponsorship of an APEC charities abuse course following complaints that the examples of Muslim charities too prominently figured in the exercise. The Australians indicated they would use a planned meeting with the SEARCCT Director General to probe further on the center's plans to expand its role and to address their concerns on course planning. MMEA -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is charged with assuming the maritime law enforcement role but is severely lacking in manpower and equipment. The Japanese Coast Guard has seconded an officer to MMEA headquarters and maintains a Coast Guard Attach at its embassy. A Japanese embassy official provided a brief outlining the agency's deficiencies and the Japanese government's efforts to provide training, expertise and some equipment. However, he noted that Malaysia has the ability to adequately fund MMEA if it follows through with funding articulated in the latest five-year development plan. For the time being, the Japanese believe donor nations should focus their assistance efforts on capacity-building for MMEA personnel, rather than equipment and physical infrastructure. ¶9. (C) The Australians described the recent visit to Australia of MMEA Commander Admiral Nik who met with senior Australian military, customs and border protection officials. During the visit, Nik was frank about the substantial need for development and improvement with his agency. He reportedly commented on the generally poor state of the officers and equipment that MMEA obtained from the navy and marine police during its creation and said he needed to create a culture of professionalism within MMEA. Australia is working with MMEA on an MOU to facilitate future training and exercises though Nik indicated during his visit that MMEA would only be prepared to accept training in the near term. ¶11. (SBU) The U.S. has attempted to increase the interaction between the MMEA and the U.S. Coast Guard and we are assisting the Director General's visit to USCG training facilities. We reported on the first boarding and planning courses with MMEA personnel that have been scheduled for later this year and on the agency's participation in 2007 CARAT exercises. We indicated our desire to gain an accurate picture of MMEA's capabilities and needs, and the three sides agreed to explore the possibility of undertaking a joint assessment and developing trilateral training courses. Comments -------------- ¶12. (C) The trilateral meetings and frequent, informal exchanges have led to good coordination between Australia, Japan and ourselves related to counterterrorism assistance in Malaysia. We intend to continue this trilateral approach. Finding concrete programs where we can work trilaterally in Malaysia, however, faces several challenges. First, the Malaysian government remains reluctant to engage in multilateral efforts, particularly outside of ASEAN or UN auspices. Second, the area of greatest interest from the perspective of the U.S. and Australia is the Malaysia/Indonesia/Philippines triborder area, a location where Malaysia views with suspicion most outside involvement. Third, the Japanese view their security interests in Malaysia as firmly fixed in the Straits of Malacca and direct their security assistance, including CT-related assets and training, accordingly. Attempts to engage Japanese counterparts in initiatives in the Sulu/Sulawesi seas area have been largely unsuccessful. Given these constraints, the three missions are likely to find greatest short and KUALA LUMP 00000878 003 OF 003 medium-term success in coordination of their bilateral CT efforts, rather than pursuing trilateral activities. In the trilateral forum we will continue to work on incremental steps with the Malaysian government toward multilateral and regional efforts. LAFLEUR