BRAZIL: CODEL THOMPSON DISCUSSES TERRORISM,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 BRASILIA 000771 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER OREP PGOV BR SUBJECT: BRAZIL: CODEL THOMPSON DISCUSSES TERRORISM, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WITH BRAZILIAN OFFICIALS ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee Bennie Thompson (D-MS),accompanied by other 4 Committee Members and some 20 staff, visited Brasilia on May ¶28. In addition to a country team and special session with Department of Homeland Security representatives (ICE, CBP, USSS) to discuss their work here, Thompson participated in a special closed session of the Chamber of Deputies Public Security Committee where both sides expressed their desire for expanded bilateral cooperation and information sharing on terrorism issues. Deputy Committee Chairman Raul Jungmann called for a national dialogue on international terrorism focused on how it can affect Brazil and what type of legislation is needed to give the GOB more effective tools to deal with terrorist threats that could arise in the future. Members also met with Senators Fortes, Torres, and Tuma over lunch at the Charge,s residence to hear their views on Brazilian internal security, regional security issues, terrorism, and counterterrorism legislation ) that already on the books and that needed. Members were briefed by GSI Minister Jorge Felix on his organization,s mission, particularly in the areas of critical infrastructure protection, cyber security, and counterterrorism. CODEL Members stressed the importance of the fight against terrorism to the USG and American people, thanked Felix for those areas where there is already fruitful cooperation between USG agencies and their Brazilian counterparts that fall under his authority, and noted the need for Brazil to strengthen counterterrorism legislation. General Felix stated that there was no evidence of terrorist activity in Brazil, but stressed that the security of both countries could be only be assured by working together. The message that CODEL Thompson heard consistently from Brazilian interlocutors was that there is no current terrorist threat to Brazil and therefore counterterrorism is not as high a national security priority for Brazil as it is for the United States. End Summary. -------------- Chamber of Deputies Meeting -------------- ¶2. (U) Chairman Thompson and other Members and Staff participated in a special closed session meeting with the Chamber of Deputies Committee on Public Safety and Combat against Organized Crime. In attendance for the Brazilians were Chairman Alexandre Silveira (Socialist People,s Party - PPS, opposition, of Minas Gerais),First Vice chairman Raul Jungmann (PPS - Pernambuco),Third Vice Chairman William Woo (Brazilian Social Democracy Party - PSDB, opposition, of Sao Paulo),Federal Deputies Joao Campos (PSDB - Goias), Guilherme Campos (Democrats - DEM, opposition, of Sao Paulo), and Antonio Carlos Biscaia (Worker,s Party - PT, government coalition, of Rio de Janeiro),and some staff members. ¶3. (SBU) Chairman Thompson told the Brazilians deputies he was on a fact-finding mission and there is concern in the United States that terrorists might exploit the vulnerabilities of our friends to create challenges for us. After briefly describing the origins of his committee and the Department of Homeland Security in the September 11, 2001 attacks, Chairman Thompson said he and his colleagues respect Brazil,s sovereignty and were not there to lecture but to find out what Brazil is doing that might be useful to the U.S. in security policy. ¶4. (SBU) Deputies asked questions about changes in U.S. policy from the Bush administration to the Obama administration. They were interested in what has changed and whether there is a change in emphasis and approach on issues such as drugs and terrorism, while some expressed an interest in counter-narcotics efforts. CODEL Members noted that their point of departure is one of appreciation for other nations in the hemisphere as our partners in facing global challenges. The Obama Administration shares this approach, and U.S. policy has matured after the initial "reflex" response immediately after 9/11. ¶5. (SBU) In response to CODEL inquiries about the adequacy of Brazil,s anti-terrorism legislation, Federal Deputy Jayme Campos, a past chairman of the committee, noted that Brazil's BRASILIA 00000771 002 OF 005 legislation on this dates from the 1960s and Deputy Raul Jungmann, immediate past chairman of the committee, added that Congress needed to have a debate on the issue. Deputies noted that as Brazil is projecting itself globally, global governance is being transformed, and Brazil,s responsibilities are growing. It needs to assume greater responsibility domestically, for which it needs legislation and partnerships on terrorism. Jungmann noted that UNASUL and the South American Defense Council (SADC) are among the key areas for work. He added that that Brazil has signed all UN anti-terrorism conventions. ¶6. (SBU) Deputy William Woo (PSDB-SP) said Brazil could be a close partner of the U.S. on homeland security issues. He noted that Paraguay poses a significant challenge because of its lax controls of illegal arms that enter Brazil. He also pointed to port security, money laundering, cybercrime, and critical infrastructure protection as areas Brazil needs to focus on. -------------- CODEL Hears of Threats from Northern Border, Iran, Russia -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Members of CODEL Thompson heard a sobering assessment of threats to Brazilian and regional security from three conservative senators. Senators Herclito Fortes (DEM - Piaui),Romeu Tuma (Brazilian Labor Party - PTB, government coalition, of Sao Paulo),and Demstenes Torres (DEM - Goias) told members of the CODEL that they have grave concerns about threats to Brazilian security from the northern border more than from the tri-border area (Brazil-Argentina-Paraguay, described as "more or less under control"),because drug trafficking has been wedded to ideology and put into the service of narco-terrorists. Other threats from the north include Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez's progressive erosion of free market conditions, press freedoms, and political freedoms, which in turn threaten to Mercosul's integrity, should Venezuela be admitted as a full member. They also pointed to the growing closeness between Iran and Venezuela as a threat to regional stability. This relationship, complicated by Russian arms sales, has stimulated arms acquisitions by other South American countries. ¶8. (SBU) The senators noted with concern that Hugo Chavez has become a leading figure for leftists throughout the region, even in Cuba, where he, not Fidel Castro, is becoming a point of reference. The lack of border security, particular in the Amazon region, also was highlighted as a danger that needs attention from regional governments. The Brazilian intelligence service, in the words of one senator, is a "torpedoed organization" that is "going through an institutional crisis" because mismanagement has detoured intelligence officers into the wrong tasks, while ignoring real threats, in spite of Congress's best oversight efforts. They said there has been an alarming increase in drug abuse throughout Brazil, and cooperation with the U.S. on this and other law enforcement matters is welcome and valuable. Finally, the senators urged the U.S. to reassert itself as the regional geopolitical leader by seeking partnership throughout the region with all democratic countries. -------------- Discussing Infrastructure Protection, Counterterrorism -------------- ¶9. (SBU) CODEL Thompson also had the opportunity to discuss counterterrorism and critical infrastructure protection with General Jorge Felix, Minister for Institutional Security and head of the Institutional Security Cabinet (GSI)*an office within the presidency equivalent to a combined Director of National Intelligence, Office of National Drug Control Policy, and infrastructure Protection czar. Felix was accompanied by Alberto Cunha Couto, Secretary for Institutional Studies, Raphael Mandarino Jnior, Director of the Department of Information and Communications Security, General Reinaldo Cayres Minati and Mrcio Paulo Buzzanelli, both advisers to General Felix. Chairman Thompson noted that it is critical for Brazil and the United States to work BRASILIA 00000771 003 OF 005 together to stop activities that may threaten "our friends", Felix agreed, noting that dialogue is important to learn from each other and stating that, "we can only have security if we have security together." STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBILITIES ¶10. (SBU) Felix began the meeting by explaining to CODEL members the structure and responsibilities of GSI and how it had developed national strategies on critical infrastructure, intelligence, and nuclear protection. GSI is charged with providing protection for the president and high level officials within the office of the president, protecting the government,s computer systems, providing crisis management, and advising the president on matters pertaining to security, counterterrorism, and intelligence. As secretary of the government,s National Defense Council and chair of the Government Council,s Subcommittee on National Defense, the Minister and GSI have a role in coordinating military policy in conjunction with the Ministry of Defense. GSI is also responsible for the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN),and the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD). Through the latter, GSI takes a leading role within the Brazilian government establishing anti-drug policy (but not enforcement, which is handled by the Brazilian Federal Police, or DPF). In addition, Felix added, GSI will soon have responsibility over the Nuclear Protection System (SIPRON),which is being transferred over from the Ministry of Science and Technology. Unfortunately, Felix noted, while GSI has been given control over SIPRON, the budget remains with the Science and Technology Ministry, and not with GSI. CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ¶11. (SBU) Felix also discussed Brazil,s critical infrastructure protection plan, which is focused on ensuring continuity of services in the areas of energy, water, transportation, financial services, and telecommunications. One particular area of concern is information security. The Department of Information Security within GSI is working to develop policies for security of information, system management, cryptology, and risk management. GSI chairs a steering committee for information security in which every entity in the government participates, including 37 ministries, 6000 government departments, 320 networks, and 900,000 federal employees. According to Felix, Brazilian networks suffer more than 2000 computer intrusions a day, which they believe represents 1 percent of total incidents. The intrusions come mainly from China and Eastern Europe. ¶12. (SBU) Another critical infrastructure and counterterrorism measure is Brazil,s implementation of the International Shipping and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. According to Felix, Brazil has developed a comprehensive plan to implement ISPS, which includes multi-layered response plan for each level of threat. For example, at the lowest threat level, the response is handled at the port. For this, training was provided to four officers in every port (237) and in every ship in Brazil,s merchant marine (82 ships). At the next level, state commissions for the security of ports have been established; and in level 3, a commission headed by GSI and composed of representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of External Relations, the Presidency,s Civilian Household, and the DPF convenes for the purpose of handling the crisis. At signs of trouble, merchant marine vessels are instructed to contact Brazilian Naval vessels and the National Command Center. The most common type of incident at sea involves the travel of clandestine passengers. INTELLIGENCE ¶13. (U) Chairman Thompson and CODEL members praised Brazil,s efforts on critical infrastructure protection and asked, in light of the United states, own experience 9-11 attacks, whether Brazil had similar issues as in the United States with different agencies not talking to each other. Felix recounted how they have found that despite the creation of a Department for the Integration of the Brazilian Intelligence System (DISBIN) within ABIN, the same is true in Brazil. The BRASILIA 00000771 004 OF 005 DISBIN was created in 2008 as a means of establishing an entity within ABIN capable of coordinating and sharing information across the Brazilian government related to security, but so far without much success. As a result of the continuing confusion, the government is currently studying and drafting a new national intelligence policy that will the define roles and the scope of activity of the different government entities tied to intelligence and security. The draft of the policy should be ready "within weeks," according to Felix. COUNTERTERRORISM ¶14. (SBU) CODEL members expressed keen interest in Brazil,s posture on countering terrorist activity. Felix explained that counterterrorism is an important component of GSI,s and ABIN,s work. Last year, told Felix, ABIN underwent a reorganization that created within ABIN a Department for Counterterrorism. Asked by the CODEL if Brazil was concerned about terrorism within its territory, Felix hewed to the standard GOB line and observed that Brazil faces only a small risk of suffering terrorist attacks, but that it works together with its neighbors and with the United States to monitor activities of individuals that could be linked to terrorism. Despite this, Felix noted that so far there has been no proof of links to terrorism of anyone within Brazilian territory. There are allegations that individuals in the Triborder Area of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay are sending money to Lebanon, particularly for Hizballah and HAMAS, but these amounts are consistent with remittances that are sent from abroad to family members. He further added that there are people within Brazilian territory who are accused of having links to terrorist groups, but unless they are in UN or Interpol lists or commit crimes within Brazilian territory, Brazil can,t do anything about them. Brazil does not have anti-terrorism legislation, so it cannot combat mere membership in a terrorist organization, much less in the case of Hizballah or HAMAS, which are legitimate political parties in their home countries. In fact, Lebanese legislators who belong to Hizballah visit Brazil to maintain contact with the Lebanese community here in Brazil. ¶15. (SBU) The CODEL asked for Felix,s reaction to news that Brazil that week had released a suspected al-Qaeda affiliated individual involved in communications and online propaganda for the group after detaining him for several weeks. (Note: The individual had been arrested for hate crimes, formation of a gang, and incitement to violence, but had to be released after the prosecutor failed to file charges in time. The individual has been stripped of his passport and is prohibited from departing the country, but remains free pending the prosecutor,s decision on whether to try the individual in court. End note.) Felix observed that the arrest had been a Federal Police effort in conjunction with the FBI and as a result GSI kept an eye out on the case from a distance. But, Felix added, their understanding was that it was a crime of opinion involving racist comments about President Obama and Israel, and that there was no evidence of a link to al Qaeda. WMD ¶16. (SBU) Responding to a question from Representative Harman about Brazil,s measures to counteract the possibility of smuggling nuclear or other WMD material through Brazilian territory, Felix noted that because Brazil has a policy of integration with its neighborhoods and has borders with 10 countries, it is increasingly vulnerable, but to mitigate this it is increasing its information sharing with other countries to monitor supplies and purchases of materials. Asked specifically about the possibility that individuals tied to terrorist groups in the Middle East could transit through Brazil, Felix replied that Brazil has good relations with the Arab world and that Brazil would hope that those countries would want to maintain good relations with Brazil and would be on guard to prevent such activity taking place. ¶17. (U) This cable has been cleared by CODEL Thompson. BRASILIA 00000771 005 OF 005 SOBEL