COUNTERTERRORISM -- PROMOTING DERADICALIZATION,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000204 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, INL, S/CT, INL FOR BLOOMQUIST/CARLON DOJ FOR CRIM AAG SWARTZ, DOJ/OPDAT FOR ALEXANDRE/BERMAN/JOHNSON DOJ/CTS FOR MULLANEY, ST HILAIRE FBI FOR ETTUI/SSA ROTH NCTC WASHDC NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ID SUBJECT: COUNTERTERRORISM -- PROMOTING DERADICALIZATION, INTER-AGENCY COORDINATION REF: 08 JAKARTA 545 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Counterterrorism experts from across Indonesia led a training workshop on strategies for deradicalizing terrorists, February 2-4. Mission, using an INL-funded grant, was one of four co-sponsors of the workshop, which was held at the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) located in Semarang, Central Java. The experts--who represented key GOI agencies involved in the CT effort--emphasized the need for targeted deradicalization programs and effective inter-agency coordination. END SUMMARY. USG CO-SPONSORS SEMINAR ¶2. (SBU) The USG co-sponsored a counterterrorism training workshop in Semarang for 40 Indonesian law enforcement and judicial officials, February 2-4. Australia, Canada, and New Zealand also co-sponsored the workshop, which was held at JCLEC. As in previous years (see reftel),the event--on the U.S. part--was funded through an INL-funded grant administered through the DOJ Office of Overseas Prosecutor Development and Assistance Training (OPDAT). Poloff participated in the event for the USG. ¶3. (SBU) Indonesian participants included representatives from the police, prosecutors, judges, and prison officials from the provinces of West Java, South Sumatra, and East Kalimantan. Presenters included Indonesian CT experts from the Indonesian National Police (INP),the Attorney General's Office (AGO),the Supreme Court, the Department of Corrections at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (MLHR), and academia. EMPHASIZING DERADICALIZATION ¶4. (C) Participants underscored the importance of effective, targeted deradicalization programs. Special Detachment 88 (DS-88) Deputy Chief Usman Nasution placed a spotlight on the INP's success in using information obtained through the INP's deradicalization program to apprehend potential terrorists before they commit a terrorist or criminal act. The INP's deradicalization program was based on the premise that terrorists were not mentally ill, but rather rational actors motivated by their respect for terrorist leaders and a genuine (if violently misplaced) desire to change society. Nasution explained that by demonstrating that most police officers were also devout Muslims who pray regularly and treat others humanely, terrorists could see an alternate way of observing Islam. THE NEED FOR COORDINATION ¶5. (C) The vital importance of inter-agency coordination was also highlighted by presenters. In a joint panel presentation, Senior Superintendent Hamidin from SD-88 and Narendra Jatna from the AGO Task Force on Terrorism and Transnational Crime described how solid GOI inter-agency coordination in recent cases had resulted in effective prosecutions and longer sentences. ¶6. (C) Explaining that successful prosecutions began with thorough investigations, the presenters made clear that police and prosecutors had a responsibility to work together to make sure that CT cases were handled properly from beginning to end. This emphasis on due process was especially important in high-profile cases, when the public was especially interested in the nature of the prosecution and outcome of terrorist cases. ¶7. (C) There was also some self-criticism. Irsyad Bustaman, the Director for Security in the Directorate General for Corrections, accepted criticism from participants for the extensive attention that the Bali bombers received in the JAKARTA 00000204 002 OF 002 local media throughout their incarceration due to the granting of interviews, etc. (Note: The three bombers were executed on November 9, 2008.) In his presentation, he emphasized the need for greater reforms in the prison sector. He mentioned that the GOI was developing guidelines for the better handling of terrorist offenders. (Note: This is a USG-funded initiative.) NEXT STEPS ¶8. (SBU) Participants' assessments of the workshop were overwhelmingly positive. The participants were particularly appreciative of the opportunity to network--many of the GOI agencies do not interact with each other on a regular basis. Mission's initiative to fund the development of a standard operating procedure manual for the better handling of terrorist prisoners was a direct result of last years' program. While the facility is co-managed by the Australian government and foreign governments helped sponsor the workshop, the event was run by Indonesians for Indonesians. HUME