SEEKING INFORMATION ON THE CURRENT ACTIVITIES OF

UNCLAS STATE 075015 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN PREL PTER UNSC XY SUBJECT: SEEKING INFORMATION ON THE CURRENT ACTIVITIES OF JUANITA NEAL ¶1. This is an action request. Post is requested to seek from the Government of Liberia any information on the individual listed in para 5 and transmit response via a standalone UNCLASSIFIED cable. -------------- STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE -------------- ¶2. The strategic objective is for the United States to have current information on those subject to domestic and/or UN sanctions to ensure targeted measures are fairly and effectively administered. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶3. On 26 December 2001, the UN Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia ("the Liberia Sanctions Committee" - www.un.org/sc/committees/1521/index.shtml) listed Juanita Neal. The Liberia Sanctions Committee delisted Neal on 16 March 2004, but the United States has not removed Neal from the U.S. Specially Designated Nationals list, and hence she remains domestically designated. Any assets Neal has on U.S. territories remain frozen. Neal has not assisted with investigations into Taylor,s millions of dollars diverted from Liberian revenues, even though she was the Deputy Minister of Revenue and there are copies of letters with her signature directing companies to pay money directly into foreign back accounts associated with Taylor. Ms. Neal testified at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on February 17, 2009; the video is posted online at www.trcofliberia.org. The Liberia Sanctions Committee's Panel of Experts reported Neal to be one of the trusted corrupt partners in the regime who collected budgetary and extra-budgetary revenues and dispersed them as directed by Taylor into personal accounts. When the UN panel tried to meet with her, its request was declined. Ms. Neal has petitioned OFAC to have her name removed and her petition is in process. To assist in our evaluation of her petition, the United States is seeking information on Ms. Neal,s current activities. -------------- -------------- CRITERIA FOR ASSET FREEZE DESIGNATION UNDER E.O. 13348 -------------- -------------- ¶4. Pursuant to Executive Order 13348 (2004),the Secretary of the Treasury can designate for inclusion on its asset freeze list the following individuals to prevent them from using misappropriated funds and property to interfere in the restoration of peace and stability in Liberia and the sub-region: - immediate family members of former Liberian President Charles Taylor; - Senior officials of the former Taylor regime or other close allies or associates; and - those who materially assisted in the unlawful depletion or removal of Liberian resources or the secreting of Liberian funds. -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶5. Department requests Embassy Monrovia seek from host government the following information: -- Juanita NEAL: the United States seeks information on Ms. Neal's current activities, particularly any activities that show continued ties with Charles Taylor or Taylor's associates. -------------- REPORTING DEADLINE AND POC -------------- ¶6. Post is requested to respond by 3 August. Point of contact in IO's Office of Peacekeeping, Sanctions, and Counterterrorism is Jean Clark (202.736.7736; clarkjt@state.sgov.gov). ¶7. Department appreciates Post's efforts. CLINTON