PHILIPPINES SEEKING CO-SPONSORS FOR 1267 LISTING

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 001301 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/REDMON) JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS) E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2017 TAGS: PTER EFIN ETTC PREL KTFN PINR AS ID JA MY UK, RP SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES SEEKING CO-SPONSORS FOR 1267 LISTING OF RSM REF: A. MANILA 1017 ¶B. STATE 30485 ¶C. MANILA 781 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: (U) Pol/C Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (S/REL AUS/JA/UK) Summary. Philippine officials informally briefed representatives from U.S., Australian, Japanese, and British Embassies on April 23 seeking a listing of the Rajah Solaiman Movement and some of its key members with the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee and to explore possible co-sponsorship. The Philippines plans also sound out Indonesia and Malaysia on April 25. The Department of Foreign Affairs would like to move forward quickly once these consultations with potential co-sponsors are complete. Although Philippine counterparts did not mention a specific timetable, June would likely be the earliest target date for submission to the 1267 Committee. End summary. SOUNDING OUT POTENTIAL CO-SPONSORS -------------- ¶2. (S/REL AUS/JA/UK) The Philippine National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) invited representatives from the U.S., Australian, Japanese, and British Embassies to attend an August 23 inter-agency briefing that laid out the case for listing the Rajah Solaiman Movement and its key members with the UN's 1267 Sanctions Committee. GRP representatives noted that, with U.S. help (ref A),they had nearly finished the statement of case, and were now getting ready to approach potential co-sponsors. Another, separate package would focus on individuals, such as Madhatta Haipe and Borhan Mundos, linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). ¶3. (S/REL AUS/JA/UK) According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Executive Director for United Nations and International Organizations Julius Torres, the Philippines intends also to sound out Malaysia and Indonesia on April 25 about their willingness to co-sponsor the RSM listing. The GRP is prepared to modify its draft based upon inputs from that meeting. NICA agreed to share its initial draft informally with the Australians, Japanese, and British in anticipation of a more formal request for co-sponsorship, which would occur after the meeting with Indonesia and Malaysia. "We hope our friends can add, verify, or confirm our information in order to build the strongest possible case," Torres said. ¶4. (S/REL AUS/JA/UK) Australian Pol/C Pablo Kang noted that NICA Director General Cesar Garcia had raised the issue of designation during mid-April meetings in Canberra. Australia, Kang stated, was looking "very positively" at co-designation, but wanted to ensure that all the legal issues, especially those relating to links to al-Qaida, were examined closely. Japanese Pol/C Taeko Takahashi promised to inform Tokyo but gave no indication of what recommendation she might make. HOPE TO MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY -------------- ¶5. (S/REL AUS/JA/UK) Asked about his timeline, Executive Director Torres said that he hoped to move forward quickly once consultations were complete and a final draft ready. "We want to cut the RSM's supply lines and prevent them from conducting further attacks," Torres stated, adding that the DFA intended to approach the 1267 Committee formally once it had determined what countries were ready to co-sponsor the listing. COMMENT -------------- MANILA 00001301 002 OF 002 ¶6. (S/REL AUS/JA/UK) June is likely the earliest possible date the Philippines would be ready to submit its RSM designation package. The package of JI-linked individuals may take longer. It is good news that the GRP has taken the initiative to sound out other potential co-sponsors in this -- its first-ever -- effort to list a terrorist organization and its associated members with the 1267 Committee. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY