(S) GOS USING "AL-HESBAH WEB FORUM" TO GATHER

S E C R E T SINGAPORE 000768

NOFORN

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS AND INR ROBERT EIKEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2028
TAGS: PTER PINR PGOV SN
SUBJECT: (S) GOS USING "AL-HESBAH WEB FORUM" TO GATHER
INFORMATION

REF: A) STATE 65814 B) SINGAPORE 721


Classified By: Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold for Reason 1.4 (e)


1. (S/NF) Singapore Internal Security Department (ISD) Deputy
Director for Counterterrorism Matters FINIAN Markose Silva
told LEGAT July 3 (information reported to FBIHQ separately
through LEGAT channels) that ISD does not currently plan to
take down the al-Hesbah Web Forum website because ISD intends
to exploit this "unique opportunity" to monitor and record
all of the activity on the site.


2. (S/NF) Ref A instructed Post to raise with the GOS USG
concerns that the Singapore-based company New Media Express
has provided Internet hosting to the al-Hesbah website, which
support al-Qaida. Ref B reported that the Ambassador raised
the issue with MFA PermSec Peter Ho, who responded that
Singapore's Infocomm Development Authority would look into
the matter.


3. (S/NF) ISD provided LEGAT a written request for
information on a U.S. individual whom ISD said had paid New
Media to host the site. (NOTE: The request for information
was forwarded to FBIHQ on July 3. End Note.)


4. (S/NF) Silva requested that the USG convey future
requests relating to terrorist-linked websites to ISD, which
he said is facing pressure for GOS higher-ups and "civilians"
to shut down the al-Hesbah site, which ISD prefers to
continue to monitor.

Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm


HERBOLD