Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR74
2008-02-01 07:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
COUNTERTERRORISM: THIRD TRILATERAL STRATEGIC
how-toVZCZCXRO8386 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKL #0074/01 0320709 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 010709Z FEB 08 ZDS ZDK FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0506 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2457 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2488 RHMFIUU/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000074
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY - ADDED CAPTION
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER MARR AS JP MY
SUBJECT: COUNTERTERRORISM: THIRD TRILATERAL STRATEGIC
DIALOGUE MEETING IN KUALA LUMPUR
KUALA LUMP 00000074 001.3 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000074
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY - ADDED CAPTION
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER MARR AS JP MY
SUBJECT: COUNTERTERRORISM: THIRD TRILATERAL STRATEGIC
DIALOGUE MEETING IN KUALA LUMPUR
KUALA LUMP 00000074 001.3 OF 002
1. (SBU) Summary: The Japanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur
hosted the third local meeting of the Trilateral Strategic
Dialogue (TSD) January 28. The Japanese, Australian, and
U.S. delegations reviewed their respective counterterrorism
(CT) activities in Malaysia. Discussion focused on terrorist
financing; assistance to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement
Agency (MMEA); border security; bio-terrorism and export
controls; and counter-radicalization. The delegations agreed
to form working groups to facilitate follow-up in the areas
of border security and export controls. End Summary.
Terrorist Financing
--------------
2. (SBU) Australia noted developments, since an October
meeting in Sydney on terrorist financing, focusing on plans
to conduct regional training on bulk cash smuggling April
21-24 at the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation.
The AUSDEL wished to bring ten instructors from Australia,
the U.S. and possibly Japan to train Malaysian, Indonesian,
Philippines and Thai personnel. The USDEL expressed interest
in conducting cash courier training at the Kuala Lumpur
International Airport.
MMEA
--------------
3. (SBU) Japan provided a summary report on the MMEA,
developed by a Japanese Coast Guard officer embedded with the
MMEA (the substance of the report will be reported septel).
Japan also distributed its January 25 announcement of an
approximately USD 4.4 M grant to upgrade the MMEA's sea
surveillance equipment. (Comment: While the system has
application in both the tri-border region of Sabah as well as
the Straits of Malacca, the latter shipping corridor is
clearly the focus of Japanese regional strategic interests.)
Japan solicited input on U.S. and Australian assistance to
the MMEA to include in its report. The USDEL characterized
its Title 1206 and 1207 programs, with their emphasis on
domain awareness, information fusion, and maritime law
enforcement in the tri-border region.
Border Security
--------------
4. (SBU) The USDEL outlined a planned five-day training
program for border operations officers to be conducted with
the Southeast Asia Regional Center on Counter Terrorism
(SEARCCT). The program focuses on passenger assessment,
fraudulent document identification, and interviewing
techniques. The USDEL invited Australia and Japan to
contribute subject matter experts to the effort. Australia
noted a related APEC initiative in place between Australia,
New Zealand and the U.S. to detect lost, stolen and
counterfeit passports. Australia encouraged Japan to
consider adopting this Regional Movement Alert System.
Bio-terrorism and Export Controls
--------------
5. (SBU) The AUSDEL reiterated the wish to make a joint
approach to SEARCCT requesting it co-host a workshop on
countering bio-terrorism prior to the conclusion of the
Australian fiscal year in June. The AUSDEL acknowledged
existing U.S. support for making the approach together, but
noting that the planning window was closing, added that
Australia would be willing make the approach alone were
unanimity on the question not established soon. The JADEL
said it would need to consult again with Tokyo.
Working Groups and Counter-radicalization
--------------
6. (SBU) The USDEL requested that working groups be formed
to facilitate ongoing work in the areas of border security
and export controls. Participants also agreed to meet and
share information regarding assistance to the MMEA. The
AUSDEL mentioned that the High Commission was also working
cautiously to develop counter-radicalization programs, citing
Malaysian reluctance to follow up on a suggestion by the GOM
itself to explore the role of the media in CT. The USDEL
mentioned two of Embassy KL's programs: one to televise in
Malaysia information about Muslim families in the U.S. and
the other a DRL grant to The Asia Foundation to explore the
intersection of Islam and democracy in Malaysian society.
KUALA LUMP 00000074 002.2 OF 002
Comment
--------------
7. (SBU) We hope that with the establishment of the two
working groups and meetings to coordinate assistance to the
MMEA, the trilateral format will begin to yield more
practical benefits for our objectives in Malaysia.
KEITH
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY - ADDED CAPTION
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER MARR AS JP MY
SUBJECT: COUNTERTERRORISM: THIRD TRILATERAL STRATEGIC
DIALOGUE MEETING IN KUALA LUMPUR
KUALA LUMP 00000074 001.3 OF 002
1. (SBU) Summary: The Japanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur
hosted the third local meeting of the Trilateral Strategic
Dialogue (TSD) January 28. The Japanese, Australian, and
U.S. delegations reviewed their respective counterterrorism
(CT) activities in Malaysia. Discussion focused on terrorist
financing; assistance to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement
Agency (MMEA); border security; bio-terrorism and export
controls; and counter-radicalization. The delegations agreed
to form working groups to facilitate follow-up in the areas
of border security and export controls. End Summary.
Terrorist Financing
--------------
2. (SBU) Australia noted developments, since an October
meeting in Sydney on terrorist financing, focusing on plans
to conduct regional training on bulk cash smuggling April
21-24 at the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation.
The AUSDEL wished to bring ten instructors from Australia,
the U.S. and possibly Japan to train Malaysian, Indonesian,
Philippines and Thai personnel. The USDEL expressed interest
in conducting cash courier training at the Kuala Lumpur
International Airport.
MMEA
--------------
3. (SBU) Japan provided a summary report on the MMEA,
developed by a Japanese Coast Guard officer embedded with the
MMEA (the substance of the report will be reported septel).
Japan also distributed its January 25 announcement of an
approximately USD 4.4 M grant to upgrade the MMEA's sea
surveillance equipment. (Comment: While the system has
application in both the tri-border region of Sabah as well as
the Straits of Malacca, the latter shipping corridor is
clearly the focus of Japanese regional strategic interests.)
Japan solicited input on U.S. and Australian assistance to
the MMEA to include in its report. The USDEL characterized
its Title 1206 and 1207 programs, with their emphasis on
domain awareness, information fusion, and maritime law
enforcement in the tri-border region.
Border Security
--------------
4. (SBU) The USDEL outlined a planned five-day training
program for border operations officers to be conducted with
the Southeast Asia Regional Center on Counter Terrorism
(SEARCCT). The program focuses on passenger assessment,
fraudulent document identification, and interviewing
techniques. The USDEL invited Australia and Japan to
contribute subject matter experts to the effort. Australia
noted a related APEC initiative in place between Australia,
New Zealand and the U.S. to detect lost, stolen and
counterfeit passports. Australia encouraged Japan to
consider adopting this Regional Movement Alert System.
Bio-terrorism and Export Controls
--------------
5. (SBU) The AUSDEL reiterated the wish to make a joint
approach to SEARCCT requesting it co-host a workshop on
countering bio-terrorism prior to the conclusion of the
Australian fiscal year in June. The AUSDEL acknowledged
existing U.S. support for making the approach together, but
noting that the planning window was closing, added that
Australia would be willing make the approach alone were
unanimity on the question not established soon. The JADEL
said it would need to consult again with Tokyo.
Working Groups and Counter-radicalization
--------------
6. (SBU) The USDEL requested that working groups be formed
to facilitate ongoing work in the areas of border security
and export controls. Participants also agreed to meet and
share information regarding assistance to the MMEA. The
AUSDEL mentioned that the High Commission was also working
cautiously to develop counter-radicalization programs, citing
Malaysian reluctance to follow up on a suggestion by the GOM
itself to explore the role of the media in CT. The USDEL
mentioned two of Embassy KL's programs: one to televise in
Malaysia information about Muslim families in the U.S. and
the other a DRL grant to The Asia Foundation to explore the
intersection of Islam and democracy in Malaysian society.
KUALA LUMP 00000074 002.2 OF 002
Comment
--------------
7. (SBU) We hope that with the establishment of the two
working groups and meetings to coordinate assistance to the
MMEA, the trilateral format will begin to yield more
practical benefits for our objectives in Malaysia.
KEITH