URUGUAY: 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 000760 C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - REVISED TEXT SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/CT RHONDA SHORE DEPT FOR NCTC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC KCRM KPAO KHLS EFIN UY SUBJECT: URUGUAY: 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM REF: STATE 109980 ¶1. (U) This is a CORRECTED COPY of 09 Montevideo 760. Embassy point of contact for this report is Pol/Econ officer Eric Theus. -------------- GENERAL ASSESSMENT -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Uruguay is a willing partner of the U.S. in counterterrorism efforts. It supports the fight against international terrorism and is improving its ability to fight international crime through legislation, better protection of its borders and through military training. The government of Uruguay focuses its participation on efforts to promote global security through collective action within multinational organizations such as the U.N. and OAS. Through a variety of peacekeeping missions throughout the world, including in Haiti and the Congo, it seeks to work collaboratively to assist countries suffering from political and social instability. The Frente Amplio (FA) administration of President Tabare Vazquez reasons that this is Uruguay's contribution to the international fight against terrorism. Uruguay participates in joint military training outside of its borders, but is hesitant to permit joint military training on its soil because of residual mistrust of the military after a thirteen-year period of military dictatorship (1972- 1985) that saw significant human rights abuses. Still, Uruguay is becoming more aware of the ways that it is affected by international crime, causing Uruguayan officials to increase efforts to fight all international crime. ¶3. (SBU) The Frente Amplio's presidential nominee, Jose Mujica, won the late November 2009 election and will take office in March ¶2010. During the lengthy presidential campaign in 2009, Mujica consistently indicated that his administration would follow the model of Vazquez's term in office, which exhibited a strong level of bilateral cooperation on many issues, including law enforcement. ¶4. (U) Uruguay's most notable contribution to counterterrorism, if only indirectly, is its substantial commitment to UN peacekeeping missions in Haiti, Africa and other regions, including a contingent to the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai. Uruguay provides the greatest number of UN peacekeepers, in per capita terms, of any UN member state. Although these efforts are not specifically focused on counterterrorism, Uruguay's use of its diplomatic and military resources to fight global instability serves to address root causes of terrorism such as political, economic and social instability. ¶5. (U) Uruguay is a member of the MERCOSUR Permanent Working Group on terrorism, together with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Bolivia. The group facilitates cooperation and information sharing among countries combating terrorism. Uruguay has also been active in a range of international counterterrorism efforts, particularly in the Rio Group and the Organization of American States (OAS). ¶6. (U) Uruguay has signed and ratified twelve of the thirteen major United Nations conventions on terrorism. In 2003, Uruguay ratified the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. In 2004, the Uruguayan Congress approved Law 17,835, which significantly strengthened Uruguay's money laundering regime. The law included specific provisions related to the financing of terrorism and to the freezing of assets linked to terrorist organizations. A new money laundering law passed this year further defines money laundering, including as it relates to terrorist financing. ¶7. (U) Law 17.835 from 2004 and Law 18.494 from 2009 significantly strengthened the GOU's anti-money laundering regime by including specific provisions related to the financing of terrorism and to the freezing of assets linked to terrorist organizations. Under Law 17.835, terrorist financing was a separate, autonomous offense that can be prosecuted from other terrorism-related crimes. ¶8. (U) The level of cooperation and intelligence sharing on counterterrorism related issues improved in 2009. The political leadership in the Ministries of Defense and Interior increasingly see terrorism as a significant issue for Uruguay, and working level officers in law enforcement and security services recognize the importance of conducting proactive investigations and intelligence sharing with the USG and any other appropriate services from other Latin American countries. -------------- SANCTUARY (SAFE HAVENS) ASSESSMENT -------------- ¶9. (U) There are no known terrorism sanctuaries in Uruguay, although Uruguay's northern border with Brazil is characterized by limited border control at any of the land crossings and heavy traffic. Uruguayan law enforcement control over its porous borders will be bolstered by the use of a radar system purchased in 2009 that will be implemented in northern Uruguay with the support of the U.S. military State Partners program. -------------- TERRORIST GROUPS -------------- ¶10. (U) There are no known representatives of al-Qa'ida or other international terrorist groups in Uruguay, and Uruguayan authorities have not discovered terrorist assets in Uruguayan financial institutions. ¶11. (U) There have not been any incidents of thwarted terrorist activity or the destruction of terrorist cells in Uruguay in 2009, nor has Uruguay requested the extradition of any suspected terrorist in 2009. -------------- FOREIGN GOVERNMENT COOPERATION -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Although the USG has not explicitly requested Uruguayan government assistance or cooperation in the investigation of an act of international terrorism in 2009, government of Uruguay officials have routinely condemned terrorism and have issued statements against terrorist acts after they have occurred. Uruguay was not directly involved in any international investigations related to terrorist acts and did not undertake any major counterterrorism efforts in 2009. ¶13. (SBU) There have been no host government efforts in 2009 to create organizations or processes to fight terrorism and there were no extremist or violence-supporting groups active in Uruguay in 2009 that would require government intervention. ¶14. (U) Uruguay does not have any significant impediments to the prosecution or extradition of suspected terrorists. The Uruguayan judicial system is independent from external influences. Uruguay is a cooperative partner in extraditions, but extradites criminals to countries that impose the death penalty only with a guarantee that the person will not be subject to it. The government of Uruguay has improving, but still limited surveillance and communication intercept capabilities and can only employ these resources with a court order. There is no special examining magistrate for terrorism cases. Suspected terrorists, like any suspected criminal, will be held for 24 hours unless evidence is presented in court. -------------- -------------- PROPOSED TEXT FOR 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM -------------- -------------- ¶15. (U) Following is Post's proposed text for the 2009 Country Reports on Terrorism: "The government of Uruguay generally cooperates with the United States and international institutions in the war on terrorism, but has not devoted great resources to the effort. There were no significant incidents of international terrorism in Uruguay in ¶2009. Uruguayan banking and law enforcement agencies search for financial assets, individuals, and groups with links to terrorism, but have not discovered any terrorist assets in Uruguayan financial institutions, nor have they discovered any terrorist operatives in Uruguay." SCHANDLBAUER