STRENGTHENING THE CASE AGAINST THE RAJAH SOLAIMAN

S E C R E T MANILA 001017 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, PM, S/CT, EB/ESC/ESP, EAP/RSP AND EAP/MTS TREASURY/OIA/CTI FOR POLITZER USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO AND J5 SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (TOOLAN/REDMOND) JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS) E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2017 TAGS: PTER EFIN ETTC PREL KTFN PINR AS ID JA UK RP SUBJECT: STRENGTHENING THE CASE AGAINST THE RAJAH SOLAIMAN MOVEMENT REF: A. STATE 30485 ¶B. MANILA 781 ¶C. 06 MANILA 4252 ¶D. 06 MANILA 4166 ¶E. 06 STATE 153845 ¶F. 06 MANILA 3785 ¶G. 06 MANILA 3471 ¶H. 06 STATE 128377 ¶I. 05 MANILA 2991 Classified By: (U) Deputy Chief of Mission Paul Jones for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (S/REL AUS/UK) Summary. USG cooperation has helped strengthen the Philippine initiative to seek a listing of the Rajah Solaiman Movement with the UN 1267 Committee. The Philippines intends to consult Australia, Great Britain, Japan, and Indonesia about co-sponsorship, along with the U.S. The earliest date to submit would be May. The Philippines may also seek to list some individuals linked to Jemaah Islamiyah. We will work closely also with the Philippines' Anti-Money Laundering Council to ensure it can move quickly to freeze any related assets after the listing. End Summary. SUCCESSFUL TREASURY VISIT -------------- ¶2. U.S. Treasury Analyst Politzer held productive March 20-27 meetings in Manila that helped strengthen the Philippine statement of case to list the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM) with the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee. The Philippine National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) incorporated Politzer's suggestions into its revised package, which makes a more compelling case for listing based upon RSM's ties to the al-Qaida linked Jemaah Islamiyah. (We will pass the revised statement of case via email to EAP/MTS.) REACHING OUT TO AUSTRALIA AND OTHER CO-SPONSORS -------------- -- ¶2. (S/REL AUS/UK) Executive Director Julius Torres of the Department of Foreign Affairs' Office of United Nations and International Organizations reaffirmed Philippine willingness to proceed quickly to request a 1267 listing for the RSM. Torres commented that, in addition to the United States, Australia was the other most plausible co-sponsor, noting as well that the Philippines intended to sound out Great Britain, Japan, and Indonesia. Torres highlighted the merit in approaching Indonesia because it is a fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations member and currently on the UN Security Council and 1267 Committee. He noted that consultations between NICA and its Indonesian counterpart would have to occur first to set the stage for engagement at the diplomatic level. TENTATIVE TARGET DATE OF MAY -------------- ¶3. (S/REL AUS/UK) Torres predicted that, given need for such coordination, May was the earliest realistic target date for filing with the 1267 Committee. Designating RSM and freezing its assets would be a good follow-on step to the approval of the ASEAN Counterterrorism Convention at the January 2007 Cebu Summit, Torres said. "It makes a good case study in counterterrorism cooperation," he stated. ALSO GOING AFTER THE JI -------------- ¶4. (S/REL AUS/UK) At a follow-up meeting requested by the U.S., NICA analysts discussed a separate initiative to designate and list a variety of individuals associated with Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). They took on board U.S. suggestions that they focus their efforts not just on personalities associated with specific bombing incidents, but instead look at the 1267 listing as a strategic effort that would target the key operatives in JI's operations in the Philippines. Khair Mundos, Borhan Mundos, and Yasser Igasan have been conduits for foreign funding but are not on the initial Philippine list, for example. NICA officials noted that they are working with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission to identify for a "sample audit" suspect non-governmental organizations believed to be funneling funds for terrorist activities into the Philippines. AMLC ROLE -------------- ¶5. (S/REL AUS/UK) According to Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Chairman Vicente Aquino, AMLC will need advance notice to ensure that all RSM assets are frozen once the 1267 Committee rules in favor of listing. The resident U.S. Treasury Advisor and a Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent are assisting AMLC in developing financial leads. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (S/REL AUS/UK) This is encouraging progress on the first-ever Philippine initiative on seeking a listing for a terrorist organization and its members with the 1267 Committee. However, the May target date is likely to slip, particularly if the Philippines wants Indonesia fully on board as well as the other co-sponsors. The eventual success in freezing assets will require that Emboffs continues close coordination with AMLC, whose young track record on freezing assets is not yet very impressive. We will also work to ensure full cooperation and a sufficient flow of information between AMLC and NICA. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY