FOREIGN ASSISTANCE WORKER POSSIBLY TARGETED IN ACEH

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001903 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, DS S/P (GREG BEHRMAN) NSC FOR D.WALTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS ID SUBJECT: FOREIGN ASSISTANCE WORKER POSSIBLY TARGETED IN ACEH ¶1. (U) This is a Consulate Medan message. It is Sensitive but Unclassified. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Indonesian police are investigating an incident involving the representative of the European Commission in Banda Aceh. A bullet or some other type of projectile was apparently fired at the representative's Banda Aceh home on November 16. There were no injuries. This appears to be an isolated incident and not part of any concerted effort to target Westerners. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) An incident in Aceh has stirred concern. John Penny, the European Commission (EC) Representative in Banda Aceh and a UK national, and his wife were sitting near the front window of their home at the Euro Guest House in Banda Aceh at 10 p.m. November 16 when Penny heard what he believes was a loud noise and observed a clean round hole in the window. Forty police responded to his emergency call but could find no bullets or other evidence. Based on the nature of the hole and the fact it did not shatter the window, Penny told ConGen Medan he is almost certain it was not a rock. Penny believes the cause was either an air rifle or bullet although police could find no bullets at the scene. ¶4. (SBU) Penny believes this was a threat directed at him but has no idea of the motive. He said the hole in the window was at head level and the direction of any projectile would have been a half meter from his wife's head and a meter from his. ¶5. (SBU) Penny told Congen Medan that the incident may arise from a dispute he had with a former driver that same morning. Penny fired his driver two months prior over a salary dispute. The night of the incident, Penny attended the first of the weekly European film screenings and had just returned home when the incident occurred. ¶6. (SBU) The European Union (EU) Mission in Jakarta has sent an official to Banda Aceh in response. Penny said the EU has not decided how the incident will affect its profile in Aceh. ¶7. (SBU) We believe it is too early to assess the security impact of this incident. Based on what we know it appears to be an isolated event. We do not believe that there is a heightened threat against AmCits or other Westerners in Aceh. Having said that, this is the second attack in the past month against Westerners (a German Red Cross worker was injured in a recent incident) and we will continue to assess the security situation carefully. Congen Medan is scheduled to meet with the Aceh Province Deputy Police Chief on November 18. HUME