AUSTRALIA PROSCRIBES SIX TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000265 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER AS KVPR CVIS PINR ASEC AF IZ PK YM IN UZ, EG SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA PROSCRIBES SIX TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS ¶1. (U) On March 18 the Australian Attorney General's Office announced the relisting of six groups as terrorist organizations under the criminal code because of information provided by Australia's security agencies. The relisting insures that it remains an offense to associate with, train with, provide training for, receive funds from, make funds available to, or direct or recruit for the following organizations. ¶2. (U) Ansar al-Islam (formerly Ansar al-Sunna) and Asbat al-Ansar are extremist groups which continue to engage in terrorist activity in Iraq. ¶3. (U) The Islamic Army of Aden continues to target Yemeni and Western interests in the southern governorates of Yemen and has previously kidnapped Western tourists, which resulted in the death of an Australian. ¶4. (U) The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan continues to engage in terrorist activity in Afghanistan in support of the Taliban and other Islamic extremist groups. ¶5. (U) Jaish-e Mohammed (JeM) is an extremist organization based in Pakistan which continues to engage in terrorist activity in Kashmir including hijacking, bombings, abductions and training. ¶6. (U) Lashkar-e Jhangvi is based in Pakistan and has close ties to Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LeT) which is also listed as a terrorist organization under Australia's counterterrorism laws and is believed to be responsible for the Mumbai terrorist attacks in November 2008. ¶7. (U) One organization, Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) will not be relisted as it no longer meets the threshold for proscription, based on current intelligence that it has affiliated with other terrorist organizations. CLUNE