Kyrgyzstan: 2008 Country Reports on Terrorism

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000002 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/CT (RHONDA SHORE) DEPT ALSO FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, AND NCTC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PTER EFIN KCRM KHLS ASEC AEMR KG SUBJECT: Kyrgyzstan: 2008 Country Reports on Terrorism REF: A. 08STATE 120019 ¶B. 08STATE 124033 ¶1. (U) Following is Bishkek's submission for the 2008 Country Reports on Terrorism. ¶2. (SBU) In 2008, the Kyrgyz Republic remained an ally in the global war on terror, taking political, legislative, and law enforcement steps to disrupt and deter terrorism. Since 2001, Kyrgyzstan has hosted the Operation Enduring Freedom Coalition airbase at Manas International Airport near Bishkek. In November 2006, President Bakiyev signed a comprehensive law on "Counteracting Terrorist Financing and Legalization (Money Laundering) of Proceeds from Crime." The law obligates financial institutions to report any suspicious activity and bank transactions that exceed the threshold of $25,000. The law also established a Financial Intelligence Service, an administrative body charged with collecting and analyzing information related to financial transactions, developing systems to prevent and detect suspicious transactions, and submitting cases to the prosecutor's office for further action. ¶3. (SBU) The government of Kyrgyzstan, with the financial support from the U.S. and other international organizations, continued to take efforts to improve border security throughout the country, particularly in the southern Batken region of Kyrgyzstan. These efforts included the construction of more modern border point facilities at several locations throughout the country, a program to create central communications between the dispersed boarder points and several government agencies, the installation of radiation detection equipment at select crossings, and the establishment of a tracking system to monitor the transit of certain dual-use equipment throughout the country. ¶4. (SBU) Kyrgyzstan's military and internal forces worked to improve their counterterrorism capabilities and to expand cooperation with regional partners. Kyrgyzstan is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Cooperative Security Treaty Organization (CSTO),which established lists of banned terrorist groups in an effort to streamline cooperation. With U.S. assistance, the Kyrgyz armed forces continue to build capacity in terms of their facilities and tactical capabilities. U.S. financial support has resulted in the training of dozens of Kyrgyz armed forces personnel, and the establishment of more modern defense facilities. Further, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Defense is in the process of reorganizing their forces to more efficiently respond to perceived threats in the southern region of Kyrgyzstan. ¶5. (SBU) The Government of Kyrgyzstan did not provide safe haven for terrorists or terrorist organizations. However, the Government of Kyrgyzstan has not sufficiently addressed the problems of poverty, lack of education, and despair among the population which creates the conditions that terrorist groups may attempt to exploit. As a result, more of the populace is increasingly susceptible to extremist ideologies. Separately, Kyrgyzstan's under-regulated borders, particularly in the Batken region, have allowed for people and illicit goods to move into and out of the country with a large degree of freedom. Kyrgyz law enforcement still lacks the equipment, man power and funding to effectively detect and deter terrorists or terrorist operations in the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan. ¶6. (SBU) Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT),banned as an extremist group in Kyrgyzstan since 2003, is believed by local specialists to have approximately 15,000 members in Kyrgyzstan. These HT members are located primarily among Kyrgyzstan's ethnic Uzbek population in the south, but are achieving an increased following in the north as well. Kyrgyz officials reported growing support for and bolder public outreach by HT in 2008. Supporters of terrorist groups the Islamic Jihad Group (IJG) and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) are also believed to maintain a presence in Kyrgyzstan, and Kyrgyz authorities allege that both groups receive material support from HT. ¶7. (U) Embassy point of contact is Political-Economic Officer Brian O'Bierne. Email: obiernebt@state.gov. LITZENBERGER