TERROR FINANCE: ANOTHER RUN AT THE MFA ON

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000832 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EB/ESC/TFS; NSC FOR KIFAYAT, TREASURY FOR A/S PATRICK O'BRIEN; S/CT FOR MONOSSON; AMMAN FOR TREASURY E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2017 TAGS: EAID EFIN ETTC IZ KU PREL PTER KTFN SUBJECT: TERROR FINANCE: ANOTHER RUN AT THE MFA ON TERRORIST FACILITATORS AND RIHS REF: A. STATE 65371 ¶B. KUWAIT 808 ¶C. KUWAIT 816 ¶D. DHAKA 816 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C/NF) Summary: Econcouns met with MFA Director of Follow-up and Coordination Khalid Maqamis on May 27 to hand-deliver a diplomatic note pressing our case on the designation of three Kuwaiti terrorist facilitators in light of their continued freedom of movement and access to international media outlets to call for jihad. Econcouns asked the GOK to reconsider its opposition to the designation of the three at the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee. Econcouns also informed Maqamis that the Government of Bangladesh had recently revoked the license of the Kuwaiti NGO Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS),a development Maqamis was unaware of. Maqamis said he would respond to these points after he had had a chance to review the material we passed to him. End Summary. ¶2. (S/NF) On May 27, Econcouns met with MFA Director of Follow-up and Coordination Khalid Maqamis to pass him copies of a diplomatic note and non-papers sent to the MFA on May 21 in response to Ref A. (Ref A highlights the importance of maintaining international support for CT objectives under UNSCR 1267.) Embassy's diplomatic note (full text in para 7) included non-papers with further background on UNSCR 1267 and 1735, along with a classified attachment with additional points pertaining to Kuwaiti terrorist facilitators Jaber Al-Jalahmah, Hamid Al-Ali, and Mubarak Al-Bathali, first passed to the MFA during the April 2007 visit of Treasury A/S O'Brien (Ref B). ¶3. (S/NF) Econcouns used the occasion to emphasize once again USG concerns about public calls for jihad and the on-going fund-raising activities of the three Kuwaiti terrorist facilitators. Econcouns noted that, as referenced in the diplomatic note, the three individuals appear to continue to enjoy considerable freedom of movement, including the ability to travel outside of Kuwait and access international media outlets such as Al-Jazeera. Econcouns handed Maqamis a poem allegedly penned by Hamad Al-Ali, which appeared on the website Ana al-Muslim (www.muslm.net/vb),a popular site for statements by jihad groups in Iraq and elsewhere in the Arab world. In the poem Hamad Al-Ali takes a swipe at the recent Iraq Compact signing ceremony in Egypt, vilifying participants as throwing themselves at the feet of Christians, and vows to "teach our enemies a lesson" with the edge of a sword. Econcouns noted also statements by Kuwaiti Islamists, among them Mubarak Al-Bathali, mourning the recent death of Taliban commander Dadallah and exhorting jihadists to fight on. ¶4. (S/NF) Maqamis said he had not yet received the diplomatic note or seen the website and associated material referred to, but he said he would review them and comment later. He said if "making a lot of noise" was all these Kuwaiti jihadists did, then we should be glad and go after bigger fish. He reminded Econcouns that the three Kuwaitis were under tight surveillance by Kuwait security. Econcouns said both the U.S. and GOK believed there was evidence that at least one of the three individuals was still raising or transferring money for jihad in Iraq, so perhaps the surveillance was not as tight as it should be. Maqamis said the surveillance was meant to ensure that the three "do not do anything bad. If they do, we would arrest them." Econcouns stressed that the ongoing activities of the three individuals -- rhetoric, fundraising -- were not in Kuwaiti or U.S. interests and asked Kuwait to lift its objection to designation of the three individuals by the UN 1267 Committee. Maqamis said he would review our materials and respond later. KUWAIT 00000832 002 OF 003 ¶5. (S/NF) Econcouns turned to the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS),noting that we were grateful for the MFA's recent official REPORT on RIHS's background and activities (Ref C). Econcouns said that as much of the material was in Arabic and other foreign languages, we were still going through it and would comment on its contents in more detail later. Maqamis asked whether the REPORT had been shared with Washington, and Econcouns said key parts had been, after being translated at the embassy, and the rest of the REPORT would be sent shortly. ¶6. (S/NF) Drawing from Ref D, Econcouns informed Maqamis that the Government of Bangladesh had revoked RIHS's license on May 18. Maqamis said he had not heard that. Econcouns said he looked forward to discussing this development once the GOK had more information. (Comment: We welcome further details from Embassy Dhaka on this move, and encourage the Bangladeshis to make their concerns about RIHS known directly to the Kuwait Embassy in Dhaka. End Comment). ¶7. (S/NF) Begin text of Embassy dipnote of May 21: No. 307 The Embassy of the United States of America presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait and has the honor to refer the Ministry to the pending United Nations 1267 Sanctions Committee designation of Jaber Al-Jalahmah, Mubarak Al-Bathali, and Hamid Al-Ali. Despite Government of Kuwait efforts to monitor and restrict their activities, Al-Jalahmah, Al-Bathali, and Al-Ali remain active and continue to incite jihadist activities. In addition to statements published in local newspapers and on jihadist websites, the three continue to fundraise and promote terrorism and attacks on Coalition Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States urges the Government of Kuwait to take measures to ensure that the three end public incitement and other activities in support of terrorism. In addition, the United States requests that the Government of Kuwait encourage the Government of Qatar to remove its hold on these individuals and allow designation at the United Nations to proceed. The United States refers the Government of Kuwait to the enclosed document entitled "Information of Concern on U.S. designated Kuwait-based Jaber al-Jalahmah, Mubarak al-Bathali and Hamid Al-Ali" which details additional areas of concern. This document was first presented to the Ministry on April 24, 2007 by visiting U.S. Treasury Assistant Secretary Patrick O'Brien. The Embassy also wishes to refer the Ministry to the enclosed texts highlighting the importance of United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1267 and 1735. On May 22, 2007, the 1267 Committee Chairman will brief the Security Council on the importance of UNSCR 1735. The United States encourages all Member States to attend this briefing, which will include information on broader UN efforts to combat terrorism, including on the UN's Counterterrorism Committee (CTC) and UNSCR 1540. Complimentary closing. End text. ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * KUWAIT 00000832 003 OF 003 LeBaron