HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING FOR CAMBODIAN NOMINEES FOR ILEA "POST BLAST INVESTIGATION" COURSE IN BANGKOK

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 000924

SIPDIS

SECSTATE FOR INL/C/CJ
BANGKOK FOR ILEA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR, MASS, MOPS, PHUM, PREL, CB
SUBJ: HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING FOR CAMBODIAN NOMINEES FOR ILEA "POST
BLAST INVESTIGATION" COURSE IN BANGKOK

REF: STATE 93058

1. This is an action cable. See Paragraph Six.

2. Reftel is guidance for screening nominees for U.S.-sponsored
training programs.

3. Post requests a Leahy vetting response from the Department by
December 12, 2008. The individuals listed below will attend ILEA
Post Blast Investigation Course scheduled for January 12 - January
23, 2009 with report date of January 11, 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand.
To comply with the Leahy amendment relative to U.S.-sponsored
security assistance training, the U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh conducted
local human rights vetting for the following individuals selected
for ILEA-funded training:

NOMINEES:
NAME: CHANN, Hor (Male)
DPOB: Apr. 9, 1973; Kampong Cham
POSITION: Deputy Office Chief
RANK: Major
DEPT/UNIT: MOI, Kampong Cham provincial police

NAME: SEA, Sophonn (Male)
DPOB: Jul. 12, 1969; Phnom Penh
POSITION: Deputy Office Chief
RANK: Lt.
DEPT/UNIT: MOI, Kandal provincial police

ALTERNATE:
NAME: VENG, Vannarith (Male)
DPOB: Oct. 10, 1958; Kandal
POSITION: Deputy Office Chief
RANK: Capt.
DEPT/UNIT: MOI, Kandal provincial police

4. U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh has reviewed its files and finds that,
as of this date, it possesses no credible information of gross
violations of human rights by the above-mentioned individuals.

5. The individuals listed above will attend ILEA Post Blast
Investigation Course scheduled for January 12 - January 23, 2009
with report date of January 11, 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand. This
course will provide the participants with hands-on training by
requiring them to reconstruct components of an explosive device
recovered through various investigative techniques including
sifting. In addition, the course curriculum requires the students
to participate in a guided practical exercise during which
instructors guide the students through one of three bombing
scenarios.

6. Please verify whether the Department possesses any credible
information that the individuals named above have been implicated in
gross violations of human rights. Post requests a Leahy vetting
response from the Department by December 12, 2008.

7. Point of contact for Amembassy Phnom Penh is Janet Deutsch at
deutschje@state.gov or tel: 855-23-728-118, or Alicia Gale at
galean@state.gov or tel: 855-023-728-110.

CAMPBELL