FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA: 2008 COUNTRY REPORTS ON

UNCLAS KOLONIA 000187


S/CT FOR RHONDA SHORE
NCTC
MANILA FOR RSO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC FM
SUBJECT: FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA: 2008 COUNTRY REPORTS ON
TERRORISM

REF: STATE 120019



1. Per reftel, post's 2008 Country Report on Terrorism follows.


2. The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is not a focal
point for terrorist activity. No known terrorist groups operate
in the area. To date, no terrorist acts have been committed on
FSM soil, neither against the FSM government nor against
American citizens. The United States has never requested the
extradition of a terrorist suspect from the FSM.


3. The FSM Criminal Code contains no anti-terrorism statutes.
Presumably, the government would invoke laws against murder and
destruction of property if it ever had to prosecute someone for
terrorist activity. Although the FSM ratified the UN Convention
for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism in 2001,
terrorist financing is not a specific crime either. Proposed
Congressional Bill (C.B.) 15-132, imposes a life sentence for
committing a terrorist act and up to 10 years for terrorist
financing. The FSM Congress first considered the bill in 2006,
but has failed to pass it since then.


4. The FSM does not support any terrorist organizations. The
government provides no financial or political support to
terrorists, nor does it confer diplomatic recognition and/or
privileges. Moreover, the country can not be considered a safe
haven for such groups. Given the country's location as a
"crossroads" in the Pacific, the possibility exists that the FSM
could be a transit point for terrorists traveling to other
locations. Chuuk, the FSM's largest state encompassing more
than 40 inhabitable islands, is bankrupt and law enforcement is
weak. However, there is no evidence at this time that Chuuk or
the country plays a role as a crossroads or sanctuary.


5. Potential vulnerability also arises from the fact that the
FSM has no armed forces. Under the Compact of Free Association
the United States is responsible for the defense of Micronesia,
but no U.S. military personnel are based in the country (U.S.
forces in Guam and Hawaii have jurisdiction). Additional
vulnerability can be seen in national and state police forces
that are, for the most part, poorly trained and equipped.
Moreover, airport security screening is the responsibility of
Continental Airlines employees, not government personnel.
Continental is currently the only air passenger carrier at
international airports in each of the four FSM states.


6. Law enforcement efforts against terrorism, limited as they
are given the region's lack of capacity, fall within the purview
of the Transnational Crime Unit (TCU). Relying on American
funding and Australian supervision since its opening in April
2008, the TCU brings officers from a number of Pacific island
nations to the FSM capital of Palikir. Information is then
shared on issues such as narcotics, human trafficking, and
terrorism. The TCU also exchanges information with the FBI and
the Australian Federal Police, making it the recipient of any
terrorist-related intelligence.


7. There is no suggestion that the FSM's limited
counterterrorism activities have resulted in the suppression of
legitimate political opposition or dissent.


8. Embassy point of contact for this report is William
Douglass, e-mail: douglasswd@state.gov, tel.: 691-320-2187.

HUGHES