DEBRIEF OF BRUNEI OFFICIALS - REGIONAL PROLIFERATION

UNCLAS BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000269 SENSITIVE SIPDIS SINGAPORE PASS FOR LEGATT DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/CPI/GUZMANC, EAP/MTS/COPPOLAMG DEPARTMENT PASS FOR DOJ/FBI/THOMASJ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PARM PREL KNNP XB XV XC XD BX SUBJECT: DEBRIEF OF BRUNEI OFFICIALS - REGIONAL PROLIFERATION SECURITY INITIATIVE (PSI) WORKSHOP REF: STATE 71183 BACKGROUND -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On November 5, 2009, in coordination with the Australian High Commission, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) and Regional Security Officer (RSO) met with Government of Brunei (GoB) officials who attended the Regional PSI workshop held on September 15-17 2009 in Sydney, Australia (Reftel). GoB attendees included: 1) Ali Rahim Abdul Rahman - Internal Security Department (ISD),2) Sufian Sabtu - Internal Security Department, and 3)Mohammad Jammy Muhd Shah - Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF). Australian High Commission Third Secretary, Damien Donavan, represented the Australian government during the meeting. WORKSHOP OUTCOMES -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The GoB officials expressed their appreciation for the invitations and support from the USG and Australia government. They noted that they are now working closely with the Prime Minister's Office to establish an ad-hoc committee under the National Security Committee (NSC) that will pursue Brunei's PSI national framework. They believe Singapore is the most appropriate model from which to start in crafting Brunei's framework. The NSC currently has four committees (Enforcement, Intelligence, Maritime Security, and Technical) that report their findings to the Prime Minister's Office. The newly proposed PSI committee would also report to the Prime Minister's Office. WHAT IS NEEDED -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Brunei PSI participants were in agreement that necessary legislation was not in place to support PSI operations and that this will be one of the issues that the ad-hoc committee must work on. Though there is legislation that exists for maritime security, the legal authority and enforcement currently exists with the Royal Brunei Marine Police. Brunei PSI participants believe that the Royal Brunei Navy has the capability and resources to conduct maritime operations at sea and they believe that this agency should ideally lead PSI initiatives. Currently, Marine Police officials are assigned to Brunei Navy vessels while on patrol. However, Brunei's naval personnel do not have legal authority under Brunei legislation to conduct operations as envisioned by the PSI participants. This remains a crucial issue for the ad-hoc committee to determine which GoB agency will assume PSI lead. FOLLOW UP -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Brunei PSI participants requested further legal and operational assistance with establishing PSI in Brunei and further commented on wanting to establish regional PSI working-groups to further promote this initiative. Embassy, in conjunction with the Australian High Commission, would continue to assist in any way possible in fulfilling these requests. Embassy welcomes additional assistance from State and other appropriate USG agencies. Embassy would like to also thank FBI for assistance and cooperation. TODD