COUNTERTERRORISM -- ACTION GROUP DISCUSSES JIHADI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001079

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, S/CT, DS, EAP/RSP
NSC FOR E.PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ID
SUBJECT: COUNTERTERRORISM -- ACTION GROUP DISCUSSES JIHADI
PUBLISHING

REF: A. JAKARTA 524


B. JAKARTA 427

Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The local G-8 Counterterrorism Action Group
(CTAG) met in Jakarta on June 2. A visiting Japanese
counterterrorism (CT) expert reviewed the role of CTAG in the
international CT effort. A Russian Embassy proposal for a
joint local CTAG demarche to the GOI concerning "jihadi"
publishing in Indonesia was supported by U.S. and French
representatives, but rejected by the CTAG as a whole.
Mission will continue to press for the joint demarche. The
local CTAG will meet again before the G-8 Summit in July.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) JAPANESE CT EXPERT: The Japanese Embassy hosted a
local G-8 (plus Australia) CTAG meeting on June 2. A
visiting CT expert from Japan briefed the group on the role
of CTAG in the international CT effort. Funio Shimizu,
Director, International Counterterrorism Cooperation
Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the need
for improved capacity building with the GOI on CT efforts,
and the continued need to assess the threat of terrorism
despite major CT successes.


3. (C) Shimizu emphasized the positive efforts made by the
GOI to deradicalize arrested terrorists. He mentioned that
Japan was interested in working with the GOI--especially the
police and prison system--to provide a moderate Islamic
message to captured terrorists. The Australians said they
were also encouraged by the potential of the program but
worried about ad hoc elements of the plan. Poloff stated
that Mission was working with police and prisons to create a
more formal deradicalization program that would better
account for the funds spent to assist families of imprisoned
terrorists and for the job training provided to the prisoners.


4. (C) RUSSIAN REQUEST: Prior to the CTAG meeting, Russian
Pol/C contacted Mission Pol/C to elicit support for a
proposed joint CTAG demarche to the GOI to underscore the
potential danger of allowing (increasingly sophisticated)
jihadi publications to go unchecked by the GOI (ref B).
Recently, high quality "Jihadi" publications such as
magazines, books and DVDs have been sold in Solo, Central
Java, and Jakarta. The publications glorify violence and
those who perpetrate violence. The Russians--apparently
worried that Chechnya is mentioned in some of the
publications--have already demarched the GOI about these
materials. Ambassador Hume echoed the request to Department
of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Cotan in a meeting in
February (ref A).


5. (C) When Russian Pol/C proposed the joint demarche at the
June 2 CTAG meeting, poloff voiced support for the proposal.
The French DCM also agreed with the proposal. Australia and
most European members present, however, urged that the issue
continue to be raised in bilateral discussions with the GOI.
They argued that a joint demarche might negatively impact the
GOI's willingness to pursue the publishers of the materials.
Australia and Canada said the GOI was aware of the issue and
should be given more time to take appropriate action.


6. (C) The consensus was to allow the GOI more time to

JAKARTA 00001079 002 OF 002


collect information on who was publishing the material and to
monitor the situation without pressure from the CTAG. The
Japanese Chair summarized the group's decision to hold off on
a joint demarche and to continue to press the GOI through
bilateral talks for the near term. Mission will continue to
press for the joint demarche.


7. (U) NEXT MEETING: The Jakarta CTAG plans to meet next
before the G-8 Summit in Japan in July.

HEFFERN