KEY POLICE UNIT REVIEWS CIRCUMSTANCES OF SULAWESI

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000743 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, S/CT, DS/ICI/RFJ, DS/IP/EAP, DRL, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/CC, DS/IP/SC INR FOR CHARLIE ZENZIE, HEIDI PANETTA DOJ FOR CTS THORNTON, AAG SWARTZ DOJ/OPDAT FOR LEHMANN, ALEXANDRE, BERMAN DOJ/CTS FOR MULLANEY, ST.HILAIRE FBI FOR ITOSI, SSA SOLOMON NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2018 TAGS: PGOV PINS ASEC ID SUBJECT: KEY POLICE UNIT REVIEWS CIRCUMSTANCES OF SULAWESI SHOOTING REF: A. SURABAYA 44 ¶B. 07 JAKARTA 194 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d). ¶1. (U) This message was coordinated with ConGen Surabaya. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: Mission approached the GOI's key anti-terror unit, SD-88, and asked about the recent shooting death of a Muslim sect leader in central Sulawesi. SD-88 claims the individual in question--who was wanted for alleged involvement in the killing of three police officers--was wielding a machete and the police had to take action in self-defense. The suspect died enroute to medical facilities. The incident--and its handling--has not/not sparked an outcry of any sort in Indonesia. Mission is working to include emergency medical training in its regular cooperative activities involving SD-88, END SUMMARY. ¶3. (C) Mission is looking into a recent police shooting case. Reacting to reports, the RSO contacted the Indonesian National Police's Special Detachment 88 (SD-88) Intelligence Chief, Colonel Tito Karnavian, on April 9 regarding the shooting death of Arifin, a Muslim sect leader. Arifin had been holding out in the hill of Palu in central Sulawesi (see ref A). (Note: Arifin, who apparently also went by the name "Madi," was wanted in connection with the 2005 killing of three police officers. Arifin apparently led an Islamic sect that was at odds with orthodox interpretations of Islam in this majority Sunni country--see ref A.) At RSO's request, Tito sent the official police report to Mission on April 10. ¶4. (C) The report states that SD-88 members hiked several hours to reach the small village in which Arifin was hiding. The unit surveilled the village. The unit then immediately began searching several huts, finding three people and securing them before continuing their search for Arifin. They entered a hut and found him. Arifin wielded a machete and moved toward the police officers. A team member gave a warning shot but Arifin continued to advance toward them. A second shot was fired, hitting Arifin in the leg. When he still did not stop, he was shot in the right shoulder. The police secured Arifin and carried him to the nearest medical facility. About an hour into the journey, Arifin died of his wounds. ¶5. (SBU) Congen Surabaya is continuing its efforts to confirm the facts in the police report. So far the shooting has not generated much press play or other interest. ¶6. (C) Mission has a long-running program of cooperative training activities with SD-88. Given the nature of SD-88's operations, the Diplomatic Security Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program (DS/ATA) has recognized the need to provide emergency medical training to SD-88 members. The DS/ATA program held its first such course in early March and will incorporate this sort of training regularly in the advanced training module now offered to all SD-88 units deployed in Indonesia. HUME