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