COUNTER-TERRORISM -- EXPEDITED FUNDING REQUEST FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000341 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/CT, EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, INL FOR BOULDIN/BUHLER DOJ FOR CRIM AAG SWARTZ, DOJ/OPDAT FOR LEHMANN/ALEXANDRE/BERMAN DOJ/CTS FOR MULLANEY, ST HILAIRE FBI FOR ETTUI/SSA ROTH NCTC WASHDC NSC FOR EPHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2018 TAGS: PREL KJUS PTER ID SUBJECT: COUNTER-TERRORISM -- EXPEDITED FUNDING REQUEST FOR COURT MONITOR REF: A. JAKARTA 228 ¶B. 07 JAKARTA 3263 Classified By: POL/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (U) This is an Action Request -- Please see Para 6. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: A locally contracted Court Monitor has provided valuable information on the trials of Indonesia's most dangerous terrorists. USG funds for these services were exhausted in January. Some time ago, Mission was advised by Department that additional funds are available to pay the Monitor, but we have not yet received them. We request that all efforts be made to expedite the delivery of these funds so that the Court Monitor program can continue. The Monitor is a valuable asset in Mission's counter-terrorism efforts in Indonesia, and it is vital that this program be sustained with renewed funding. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (C) BACKGROUND: Supported by FY-05 funding, the Court Monitor (CM) has observed and confidentially reported to us on the trials of more than 75 terrorists, most of whom are linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network. Collectively, the suspects have been linked to all the major terrorist attacks in Indonesia over the past five years, including the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings, the 2003 Marriott bombing, the 2004 Australian Embassy bombing and a variety of bombings and assassinations in Poso, Central Sulawesi. ¶4. (C) The Monitor provides Mission with expert commentary on the nature of the charges, the quality of the prosecutions, and the strategies of the defense teams. She also provides copies of court documents, including indictments, defense objections, sentencing requests and decisions. This detailed information has been crucial for Mission and its ability to report authoritatively on these trials. This relationship is so sensitive that it is not publicly acknowledged and her identity is strictly protected. In late 2007, Mission requested a replenishment of funding. Mission was told that $10,000 would be made available in short order, but this funding has not yet been allocated and passed to Mission. ¶5. (C) KEY TRIALS ONGOING: Until January, the Monitor had been reporting as part of her duties on the trials of JI military chief Abu Dujana and JI Acting Emir Zarkasih (ref A),the two highest ranking JI operatives captured in the last several years. Witness testimony will soon be complete in both trials, with closing arguments coming in March and verdicts expected on or around April 1. The exhaustion of current funding will seriously hamper Mission's ability to follow these key cases and those in the future. (Note: Informally, the Monitor continues to brief us on what is transpiring, but will not be able to continue to do so without funding.) ¶6. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Expedited new funding would allow Mission to continue to benefit from the CM's services during these critical trials. We request that all efforts be made to expedite the delivery of needed funds to Mission so that the Court Monitor program can be resumed. The Monitor is a valuable asset in Mission's counter-terrorism efforts in Indonesia, and it is important that it be sustained, especially given ongoing trials. END ACTION REQUEST. HUME