Cablegate: Timor-Leste: 2009 Country Reports On Terrorism

VZCZCXRO4871
PP RUEHPB
DE RUEHDT #0326 3480504
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 140504Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4634
INFO RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1361
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 4190

UNCLAS DILI 000326

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR S/CT: RHONDA SHORE AND NCTC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL TT
SUBJECT: TIMOR-LESTE: 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

REF: STATE 109980

(U) Post offers the following submission in response to reftel.
The Embassy Point of Contact is Jonathan Henick, Deputy Chief of
Mission, henickj@state.gov.

Timor-Leste

Although Timor-Leste faces no serious indigenous terrorist
threats, weak border security and the porous land and maritime
borders with Indonesia present a serious vulnerability to
external terrorist groups. The Timor-Leste government has
expressed increasing concern about the potential international
terrorist threat and has appealed to the United States and other
international donors for assistance in strengthening its
counterterrorism capabilities. Formal responsibility for
policing in most of Timor-Leste continues to lie with the United
Nations Mission in Timor-Leste. The United Nations Police and
other bilateral partners work closely with the National Police
of Timor-Leste to manage the borders and provide internal
security. In addition, the National Intelligence Service,
formally established in 2009, has also been charged with the
prevention of terrorism, among other functions.

Timor-Leste is not a party to any of the 16 international
terrorism-related Conventions and Protocols, although the penal
code adopted in 2009 criminalizes certain terrorist acts, the
promotion or establishment of terrorist organizations, and most
offenses related to terrorist financing and money-laundering.
The government has prepared a separate draft law on
money-laundering and counterterrorism financing which, if
adopted, would bring Timor-Leste closer to compliance with
international recommendations.

KLEMM

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