HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING FOR INDIVIDUALS TO ATTEND STAFF AND

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 000933

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PM-HDP, DRL, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP AND S/GHD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS PHUM MARR MASS CB
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING FOR INDIVIDUALS TO ATTEND STAFF AND
INSTRUCTOR TRAINING FROM 3-31 JANUARY 2009 IN PHNOM PENH

REF: 03 SECSTATE 034981


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


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


3. To comply with the Leahy amendment relative to U.S. sponsored
security assistance training, the U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh has
conducted local human rights vetting for the following individuals
selected for the Staff and Instructor Training in Phnom Penh from
3-31 January 2009.


4. The following individuals are members of a new unit that falls
directly under the authority of the civilian National Counter
Terrorism Committee. In February 2008, the Cambodian Prime Minister
signed sub-decrees which established the Cambodian National Counter
Terrorism Committee Secretariat. The
Sub-decrees dictated the formation of the National Counter Terrorism
Committee Special Forces (NCTCSF),the action arm of the
Secretariat, with Colonel Hun Manet, a 1999 United States Military
Academy Graduate, as the commander. Oversight for the manning and
structure of the NCTCSF was an international effort between
Cambodian, United States, Australian, and South Korean government
officials with additional input provided by Japan and Singapore.
The screening of candidates for the NCTCSF was thorough, including
verification that recruits were fit to serve.


--MAJ Pong Bunthy, Date of Birth: 10 May 1969, Place of Birth: Siem
Reap Province, POSITION: Driver, Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--2LT Nov Savorn, Date of Birth: 03 April 1966, Place of Birth:
Takeo Province, POSITION: Deputy Commander, Counter-Terrorism
Special Force

--CSM Samrith Phon, Date of Birth: 04 August 1978, Place of Birth:
Takeo Province, POSITION: Driver, Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--CSM Nun Nil, Date of Birth: 05 May 1970, Place of Birth: Takeo
Province, POSITION: Driver, Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--SSG Luk Traw, Date of Birth: 21 October 1981, Place of Birth: Svay
Rieng Province, POSITION: Driver, Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--SSG Som Sophal, Date of Birth: 13 March 1972, Place of Birth:
Takeo Province, POSITION: Driver, Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--SSG Kuy Mony, Date of Birth: 06 July 1986, Place of Birth: Svay
Rieng Province, POSITION: Driver, Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--SSG Som Nimal, Date of Birth: 07 August 1986, Place of Birth: Svay
Rieng Province, POSITION: Driver, Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--SSG Un Phorng, Date of Birth: 05 May 1986, Place of Birth: Svay
Rieng Province, POSITION: Driver, Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--SSG Orn Sovannthorn, Date of Birth: 29 September 1986, Place of
Birth: Svay Rieng Province, POSITION: Driver, Counter-Terrorism
Special Force

--SSG Lay Saren, Date of Birth: 02 March 1974, Place of Birth: Prey
Veing Province, POSITION: Cook, Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--SSG Sim Bunthouen, Date of Birth: 19 June 1976, Place of Birth:
Kendal Province, POSITION: Cook, Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--SSG Meas Somphors, Date of Birth: 11 November 1986, Place of
Birth: Svay Rieng Province, POSITION: Cook, Counter-Terrorism
Special Force

--SSG Chay Sina, Date of Birth: 25 April 1982, Place of Birth: Svay
Rieng Province, POSITION: Cook, Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--SSG Meas Som Orn, Date of Birth: 07 May 1975, Place of Birth: Svay
Rieng Province, POSITION: Cook, Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--CSM Khem Somkhan, Date of Birth: 01 November 1983, Place of Birth:
Kampong Cham Province, POSITION: Deputy S-4, Counter-Terrorism
Special Force

--Maj Lim Thong Eng, Date of Birth: 08 February 1968, Place of
Birth: Siem Riep Province, POSITION: Medic Leader, Counter-Terrorism
Special Force

--MAJ Gnin Khundy, Date of Birth: 11 February 1972, Place of Birth:
Svay Rieng Province, POSITION: Medic Deputy Commander,

Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--1LT Pun Ketnary, Date of Birth: 31 August 1986, Place of Birth:
Kendal Province, POSITION: Medic, Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--2LT So Mauk, Date of Birth: 10 January 1978, Place of Birth:
Kampot Province, POSITION: Medic, Counter-Terrorism Special Force

--Cadet Thouk Sotharoth, Date of Birth: 20 November 1980, Place of
Birth: Kendal Province, POSITION: Medic, Counter-Terrorism Special
Force

--Cadet Phon Chanthy, Date of Birth: 23 January 1980, Place of
Birth: Kandal Province, POSITION: Medic, Counter-Terrorism Special
Force


5. 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 individuals.


6. Individuals will attend the Staff and Instructor Training from
3-31 January 2009 in Phnom Penh.


7. Action request: Please verify whether the department possesses
any credible information that the individuals named above have been
implicated in gross violations of human rights.


8. Points of contact for Amembassy Phnom Penh are Major Paul W.
Turnbull at turnbullpw@state.gov or tel: 855-23-728-219, or Janet
Deutsch at deutschje@state.gov or tel: 855-23-728-118.

RODLEY