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.

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GENERAL ASSESSMENT
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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.

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SANCTUARY (SAFE HAVENS) ASSESSMENT
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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.

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TERRORIST GROUPS
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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.

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FOREIGN GOVERNMENT COOPERATION
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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.

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PROPOSED TEXT FOR 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM
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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