PDAS FEIERSTEIN ENGAGES GOI ON SUCCESSFUL CT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001135 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, S/CT NSC FOR E.PHU S/CT FOR PDAS FEIERSTEIN, T.ALLEGRA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2018 TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL ID SUBJECT: PDAS FEIERSTEIN ENGAGES GOI ON SUCCESSFUL CT EFFORTS REF: JAKARTA 733 Classified By: Deputy Pol/C Daniel E. Turnbull, reasons 1.4 (b+d). ¶1. (U) This message requests Washington's approval--Please see para 4. ¶2. (S) SUMMARY: S/CT PDAS Jerry Feierstein discussed counterterrorism issues with Mission and Indonesian officials on June 4-5 in Jakarta and explored ways to improve the already solid cooperation in this area. Indonesian interlocutors included the Head of the Counterterrorism Desk in the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs; the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) and the commander of the police anti-terrorist unit, Special Detachment 88 (SD-88). Mission discussions included DS/ATA, DOJ/OPDAT and DOJ/ICITAP, USAID and DOD. DEPLU officials proposed holding a formal CT meeting to strengthen the bilateral partnership and inquired about Guantanamo prisoner Hambali's status. The SD-88 commander requested additional training in intelligence gathering and surveillance methods. The chief CT coordinator described steps toward possible GOI designation of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) as a terrorist organization and terrorist deradicalization efforts by the police. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (C) BILATERAL CT MEETING PROPOSAL: Desra Percaya, Director for International Security and Disarmament at DEPLU, proposed that U.S. and Indonesian representatives meet in Jakarta for a formal discussion of CT cooperation strategy and issues. The idea of a formal bilateral meeting is new to the joint U.S.-Indonesian CT effort. Percaya indicated that DEPLU was ready to meet as soon as a mutually convenient date could be found. The Indonesian side would include the Indonesian National Police's anti-terror unit and Special Detachment 88 and would cover marine security issues, prison reform and terrorist deradicalization, and terrorist finance issues. (NOTE: At a subsequent meeting on terror finance on June 9, DEPLU officials repeated Percaya's proposal for a formal CT meeting.) ¶4. (C) DEPARTMENT'S APPROVAL REQUESTED: Mission requests Department's approval to agree to and proceed with the planning of formal CT talks as proposed by DEPLU. Potentially Washington officials could participate in such talks if appropriate. ¶5. (S) HAMBALI: In the course of the discussion, Percaya asked about the status of suspected terrorist Hambali. (Note: Hambali is currently being held by the U.S. military at Guantanamo. The GOI requested access to Hambali in early 2007 but the U.S. Department of Defense denied the request. Indonesia again requested access to Hambali in April 2009--reftel. Mission has not received a response from Washington to this request.) Feierstein told Percaya that Hambali remained in detention at Guantanamo. Percaya did not formally request access. ¶6. (C) ADDITIONAL TRAINING: Special Detachment 88 (SD-88) Commander Brigadier General Surya Dharma told Feierstein that Indonesia would welcome training in intelligence gathering and surveillance methods as well as in high-intensity tactical operations in the small-structure environment typical of Indonesian residential communities. Feierstein agreed to develop additional training modules along these lines, which could be ready in a matter of months. ¶7. (C) TOWARD DESIGNATION OF JI: Inspector General (ret.) Ansyaad Mbai, Chief Counterterrorism Coordinator at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, briefed Feierstein on his efforts to obtain GOI JAKARTA 00001135 002 OF 002 designation of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) as a terrorist organization. Mbai cited the recent trial of captured JI leader Abu Dujana as laying the basis for such a designation. Designation would allow police to arrest known members such as Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, the spiritual leader of the group on the basis of their membership. Although the judge in Dujana's trial had identified JI as a terrorist organization, the government has so far been unwilling to take the next step, Mbai said, citing lack of political will on the part of the Indonesian legislature (DPR) as the main obstacle. ¶8. (C) DERADICALIZATION: Mbai outlined the Indonesian police's emerging program to deradicalize terrorist prisoners. The main thrust of the effort, which was headed by Surya Dharma, was to work through collaborating ex-terrorists to convince imprisoned terrorists that violence was not the way to achieve their goals. At the same time, converts could be tapped for intelligence on JI and other radical groups. Mbai said partial financial support of the terrorist's families and provision of job skills to the prisoners were critical elements of successful deradicalization. Feierstein said Washington could consider providing assistance to the program once it was better structured and financially transparent. Mbai said he would continue to work in this direction. (Note: Mission recently obtained funding to assist a similar but separate deradicalization program operated by the Indonesian prison system.) ¶9. (C) WANT TO KEEP GOING: Throughout the visit, Indonesian officials made clear their desire to continue working with the United States on counterterrorism. The discussions confirmed that the GOI understands the importance of combating terrorism in Indonesia and continues to welcome U.S. assistance in meeting this goal. The desire to engage in formal CT talks bodes well for continued cooperation and the development of shared strategies and priorities. ¶10. (U) PDAS Feierstein did not clear this message. HUME