Mission Law Enforcement and Stability Goals

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000042 SIPDIS STATE FOR INL/AAE (BUHLER) INL/RM (BYRNES) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR EAID MASS PREL KCRM TI SUBJECT: Mission Law Enforcement and Stability Goals ¶1. Introduction and Summary: A recent review of the Mission Strategic Plan provides a good snapshot of what we achieved in the last year and our top priorities looking ahead. This is the first in a series of cables to provide a goal by goal look of what Embassy Dushanbe is doing. The Border and Law Enforcement Working Group (BLEWG) coordinates the work towards the peace and stability goal. The BLEWG includes the DCM, POL/ECON, INL/DOJ ICITAP, EXBS, DAO, RSO, ODC, DEA, AID, CONS, and Public Affairs. Key goals are to disrupt criminal organizations, extend the reach of the national government into remote areas, expand rule of law, and promote stability. Key achievements in 2008 included improved law enforcement coordination, the delivery of effective training, and improved infrastructure. Key goals for 2009 include improved communication infrastructure, more joint Tajik-Afghan training, and demining work. End Intro and Summary. Top 2008 Accomplishments ¶2. Much of our work was directed at achieving better coordination among Tajik law enforcement agencies within Tajikistan and more joint work with agencies in neighboring countries. With USG support and advocacy, the Drug Control Agency and the Ministry of Internal Affairs began to share forensics and intelligence technology. We linked border posts along Tajik-Afghan border by tactical radio communications. Our new initiatives with the State Committee for National Security (GKNB)include an agreement to train Afghan Border Guard and Law Enforcement officials. Various law enforcement agencies, but most notably the State Committee for National Security, agreed to create a Joint Intel Center. We negotiated agreement on construction and multi-agency use of a National Counternarcotics/ Counterterrorism Training Center at Karatog. DEA successfully conducted joint Tajik/Afghan Drug enforcement training -- the first time we have succeeded in getting Afghans allowed into Tajikistan for joint training. We supported one controlled delivery and two joint investigations between Tajik and Kyrgyz drug agencies. We secured the establishment of a strategic planning committee to guide reform of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, began curricula review and revision, and conducted an intensive summer seminar at the Academy for English language instructors from multiple law enforcement agencies. ¶3. We made significant progress in improving infrastructure and working conditions for those on the front lines of border security. We increased the use of the Nizhniy Pyanj bridge/port of entry. Diplomatic pressure yielded 200 vehicles crossing per day. We furnished the existing facilities. We have made progress on completing leftover Phase I construction elements and the commercial customs facility. We are seeing some cross-border coordination with Afghan counterparts. We currently are renovating and equipping the GKNB analytical center, Kulma and Kyzyl Art joint border facilities, and the Murgab detachment barracks. We completed the Sari Gor border outpost. We overcame obstacles to progress on projects underway in Ribhoz, Sayod, Kokul, Shogun and Khirmanjo border posts. ¶4. We undertook a number of training events in which the units successfully demonstrated the benefits of training in later operations. The Defense Department completed four Counter-narcoterrorism training (CNT) events in 2008. One of the units trained, the Border Guard special force group, afterward Qunits trained, the Border Guard special force group, afterward conducted three successful operational missions resulting in drug seizures. We developed counterterrorism capacity within the Ministry of Internal Affairs OMON unit used for SWAT and other emergency response operations. The MVD's elite Militia Detachment for Special Purposes (OMON) drill at the Embassy demonstrated an improved anti-terrorist response and confirmed OMON's capacity after a change in leadership. We did follow-on training with ARSOF CNT trainers, who were integrated into SOCCENT's CNT strategy. ¶5. Other achievements included our successful advocacy in the Border International Group for OSCE's national border control strategy. Our Rule-of-Law initiatives improved the selection and training process for judges. We trained both prosecutors and defense attorneys in how to ensure balanced trials. We engaged the Islamic University Law Center on Shariah and secular law. Measuring Tajik Progress ¶6. In efforts against human trafficking, Tajikistan maintained its place on the Tier 2 Watch list. In prosecutions in 2008 there were: six cases under TIP Law compared to zero in 2007; there were six recruitment cases, down from 13 in 2007; there were 11 minors cases, up from 10 in 2007. While the statistics may not be reliable, the criminal justice system is nevertheless applying the new TIP law (i.e. six new cases) and increasing public education/awareness efforts. Forced cotton labor, which is a form of trafficking, is still an issue. There is a forthcoming collaborative project between ABA and IOM to advocate improved TIP legislation and a pending project with IOM to train law enforcement officials. ¶7. In narcotics interdiction, according to DCA statistics, there were total 775 crimes connected to drugs in 2007 and 603 in 2008. In 2008, DCA, BG and GKNB increased drug seizures, but seizures decreased in the MVD for reasons unknown. Overall seizures increased 11%. There were over 5 metric tons seized in 2008 up from 4.5 metric tons kg in 2007. In interagency and international enforcement cooperation DCA conducted 37 joint operations with Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan. Joint Tajik-Afghan counternarcotics cooperation yielded destruction of four large drug labs. Tajik drug liaison officers were deployed to Afghanistan. Looking Ahead - Top Goals for 2009 ¶8. We plan to improve border security by upgrading Border Control Points or Border Crossing Points. We have four in progress, three planned, and four projected, not counting projects in Murghab. We plan to provide alternative energy for critical border infrastructure at remote posts. In a related effort to improve communications infrastructure, we will conduct a Harris communications survey in the second quarter of FY 09 to expand the design and implementation of a system to allow voice/data communications by select law enforcement, military and security services at the operational and strategic levels, including SOCCENT-trained mobile units. ¶9. Training will continue to be a major activity and will include joint Customs Service and Border Guards mentoring and training at Nizhniy Pyanj; training for Customs Service and Border Guards at border posts, railway crossing points, and railway freight yards including active and passive scanning units. We will provide English language training (ELT) to multiple agencies, including a four-month DoD training team for the Ministry of Defense and the National Guard, and will implement ongoing programs to create language laboratories in the law enforcement academies. ELT links Tajikistan's law enforcement and security services to the international law enforcement and military community and creates the necessary platform to teach values such as rights of the accused, ethics, anti-corruption, public service, and technical courses such as crime scene procedures, chain of evidence, use of informants. Our overall CN/CT strategy includes tiered training to multiple military and law enforcement units:NG, BG SGSR, GKNB Personal Protection Services, MVD OMON, Spetznaz, CT investigation unit] with emphasis on train-the-trainer/leader development. In 2009 we will design and begin to implement SOCCENT's National Training Center for U.S. and all Tajik law enforcement/military structures with a CN/CT mission. We will foster a partnership of the Customs Academy and Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and seek to establish a technical training branch to do training on interdiction equipment. Finally, we will work on ways to better measure the effectiveness of training and quantify the impact of training programs. ¶10. In 2009 we will carry out the Global Peace Operations Initiative and support laws, regulations and cadre training needed to deploy a professional peacekeeping unit. We expect this project to tie in with military reform. We will also: carry out Explosive Ordinance Device (EoD) initiatives; provide demining equipment; implement a second phase of bomb tech training with MVD; and, conduct EoD officer training. We will continue to work to improve intelligence sharing and collaboration among Tajik law enforcement agencies. We will launch a major new community policing project with funds provided by DOD through S/CRS. Major Challenges and Positive New Developments ¶11. The most significant obstacle identified by the team to making more progress on this goal included the limited management platform in the Embassy to support staff needed to carry and oversee projects. The second most significant obstacle was the uneven Qprojects. The second most significant obstacle was the uneven cooperation and limited capacity in Tajik law enforcement agencies, for example the understaffed liaison office of the Tajik Border Guards. On the positive side, the establishment of the Inter-ministerial Commission on Trafficking in Persons looks to be a step forward on TIP issues. President Rahmon's public commitment to joint training of Tajiks and Afghan law enforcement officers is an opening we intend to pursue. JACOBSON