Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SINGAPORE104
2008-01-25 09:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Singapore
Cable title:
SINGAPORE DETAINS TWO MORE TERRORIST SUSPECTS,
how-toVZCZCXRO1008 RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHGP #0104/01 0250952 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 250952Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4797 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2735 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2106 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0801 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0045 RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 3134 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4192 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5851 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000104
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2009
TAGS: KGIT PREL PINS PTER PGOV SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE DETAINS TWO MORE TERRORIST SUSPECTS,
RELEASES OTHERS
REF: 07 SINGAPORE 01145
Classified By: EP Chief Ike Reed for reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000104
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2009
TAGS: KGIT PREL PINS PTER PGOV SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE DETAINS TWO MORE TERRORIST SUSPECTS,
RELEASES OTHERS
REF: 07 SINGAPORE 01145
Classified By: EP Chief Ike Reed for reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: Singapore detained two terrorist suspects and
issued a Restriction Order against a third under the Internal
Security Act (ISA) in December 2007, the Ministry of Home
Affairs announced January 24. MHA said the three men were
involved in "activities that posed a potential terrorist
threat." At the same time, the GOS announced it had released
from detention in December five terrorist suspects associated
with Jemaah Islamiah (JI) and one associated with the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). All six are subject to
Restriction Orders. The GOS also allowed Restriction Orders
against five other JI members to expire. The announcement
was carefully orchestrated to reinforce the need for
vigilance and moderation while minimizing the potential to
inflame communal tensions in multi-ethnic Singapore. End
Summary.
New Detentions
--------------
2. (U) On January 24, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced
it had detained Muhammed Zamri bin Abdullah and Maksham bin
Mohd Shah (both age 26) in December 2007 under the Internal
Security Act (ISA). (NOTE: The ISA allows detention for
renewable periods of up to two years without trial or
judicial review. The GOS currently is detaining
approximately 31 terrorist suspects under the ISA. End
Note.) MHA also issued a
Restriction Order (RO) against Mohammed Taufik bin Andjah
Asmara (also age 26). MHA said its investigations revealed
that Zamri had become "self-radicalized" through "radical
propaganda in publications, videos and the internet" and had
influenced Maksham and Taufik. They had expressed a desire
to engage in armed jihad. Their arrest comes less than a
year after "self-radicalized" lawyer Abdul Basheer Abdul
Kader was detained for making plans to join the Taliban
(Reftel).
More Releases
--------------
3. (U) At the same time, MHA announced it had released five
JI detainees (Hosnay bin Awi, Adnan bin Musa, Fathi Abu Bakar
Bafana, Halim bin Hussain, and Mohamad Anuar bin Margono) and
placed them under ROs. In addition, Mohd Agus bin Ahmad
Selani, a Singaporean detained for his involvement with the
MILF, was released on a Suspension Direction (SD) in January
2008. The ROs of five other JI/MILF members (Abu Bakar Sedek
bin Hashim, Mohamed Yusuf bin Mohamad Noof, Mohammad bin
Hashim, Modh Abdul Rahman bin Baharom and Mohd Shafiee bin
Osman) expired in January and were not renewed. MHA said the
men had been cooperative in investigations and had responded
to rehabilitation. The MHA announced that the five were
determined to "no longer require supervision."
Support from Religious Leaders
--------------
4. (U) Local press also carried reactions by Muslim leaders
in Singapore to the latest round of detentions and releases.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) -- a
government statutory board -- said it supported the actions
taken by MHA. MUIS President Alami Musa said it was clear
that the new detainees had been misled "through unsupervised
learning of Islamic teachings from radical propaganda in
publications, videos and the internet." Musa further
stressed the importance of learning Islam from credible
sources and urged Muslim families to be vigilant about where
their children learn about Islam and the kind of websites
they frequent.
5. (C) Comment: As it has in the past, the GOS meticulously
managed the announcement of the new detentions, coupling the
"good news" of the release of the reformed detainees with the
"bad news" of the new round of detentions. The
government-influenced media also featured prominent members
of the Malay/Muslim community speaking out in support of the
government,s actions and emphasizing that the radical views
and actions of the detainees represented serious deviations
SINGAPORE 00000104 002 OF 002
from "true" Islam. The GOS clearly wanted to underscore the
need for vigilance while minimizing the potential for any
backlash from among Singapore,s Malay/Muslim minority. End
Comment.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2009
TAGS: KGIT PREL PINS PTER PGOV SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE DETAINS TWO MORE TERRORIST SUSPECTS,
RELEASES OTHERS
REF: 07 SINGAPORE 01145
Classified By: EP Chief Ike Reed for reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: Singapore detained two terrorist suspects and
issued a Restriction Order against a third under the Internal
Security Act (ISA) in December 2007, the Ministry of Home
Affairs announced January 24. MHA said the three men were
involved in "activities that posed a potential terrorist
threat." At the same time, the GOS announced it had released
from detention in December five terrorist suspects associated
with Jemaah Islamiah (JI) and one associated with the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). All six are subject to
Restriction Orders. The GOS also allowed Restriction Orders
against five other JI members to expire. The announcement
was carefully orchestrated to reinforce the need for
vigilance and moderation while minimizing the potential to
inflame communal tensions in multi-ethnic Singapore. End
Summary.
New Detentions
--------------
2. (U) On January 24, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced
it had detained Muhammed Zamri bin Abdullah and Maksham bin
Mohd Shah (both age 26) in December 2007 under the Internal
Security Act (ISA). (NOTE: The ISA allows detention for
renewable periods of up to two years without trial or
judicial review. The GOS currently is detaining
approximately 31 terrorist suspects under the ISA. End
Note.) MHA also issued a
Restriction Order (RO) against Mohammed Taufik bin Andjah
Asmara (also age 26). MHA said its investigations revealed
that Zamri had become "self-radicalized" through "radical
propaganda in publications, videos and the internet" and had
influenced Maksham and Taufik. They had expressed a desire
to engage in armed jihad. Their arrest comes less than a
year after "self-radicalized" lawyer Abdul Basheer Abdul
Kader was detained for making plans to join the Taliban
(Reftel).
More Releases
--------------
3. (U) At the same time, MHA announced it had released five
JI detainees (Hosnay bin Awi, Adnan bin Musa, Fathi Abu Bakar
Bafana, Halim bin Hussain, and Mohamad Anuar bin Margono) and
placed them under ROs. In addition, Mohd Agus bin Ahmad
Selani, a Singaporean detained for his involvement with the
MILF, was released on a Suspension Direction (SD) in January
2008. The ROs of five other JI/MILF members (Abu Bakar Sedek
bin Hashim, Mohamed Yusuf bin Mohamad Noof, Mohammad bin
Hashim, Modh Abdul Rahman bin Baharom and Mohd Shafiee bin
Osman) expired in January and were not renewed. MHA said the
men had been cooperative in investigations and had responded
to rehabilitation. The MHA announced that the five were
determined to "no longer require supervision."
Support from Religious Leaders
--------------
4. (U) Local press also carried reactions by Muslim leaders
in Singapore to the latest round of detentions and releases.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) -- a
government statutory board -- said it supported the actions
taken by MHA. MUIS President Alami Musa said it was clear
that the new detainees had been misled "through unsupervised
learning of Islamic teachings from radical propaganda in
publications, videos and the internet." Musa further
stressed the importance of learning Islam from credible
sources and urged Muslim families to be vigilant about where
their children learn about Islam and the kind of websites
they frequent.
5. (C) Comment: As it has in the past, the GOS meticulously
managed the announcement of the new detentions, coupling the
"good news" of the release of the reformed detainees with the
"bad news" of the new round of detentions. The
government-influenced media also featured prominent members
of the Malay/Muslim community speaking out in support of the
government,s actions and emphasizing that the radical views
and actions of the detainees represented serious deviations
SINGAPORE 00000104 002 OF 002
from "true" Islam. The GOS clearly wanted to underscore the
need for vigilance while minimizing the potential for any
backlash from among Singapore,s Malay/Muslim minority. End
Comment.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD