US embassy cable - 05RANGOON951

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000951 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EAP/BCLTV; S/CT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, PGOV, BM 
SUBJECT: GOB SHARES INFORMATION ON FOUR SUSPICIOUS MUSLIM 
DEPORTEES 
 
REF: RSO VINCENT-DS/ITA 8/15/05 SPOT REPORT 
 
Classified By: CDA Karl Stoltz for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: Burmese security officials recently shared 
with Emboffs biographic data for four Muslim Indian nationals 
of "Pakistani origin," whom the GOB had deported in June for 
"suspicious behavior."  The GOB did not provide any direct 
evidence of terrorist activities by the four, and Burma has a 
long history of treating all Muslims with discrimination. 
The sharing of this information, however, was a very rare 
gesture and a positive sign of CT cooperation.  We have 
encouraged GOB officials to continue to work closely with us 
on such security matters.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) On June 13, Emboffs learned from GOB police contacts 
that authorities had detained four men of "Pakistani origin" 
who had entered Burma on June 7 on Indian passports.  The 
four individuals, all Muslims, claimed that they had entered 
Burma to conduct business.  However, investigators from the 
Burmese Police Special Branch were concerned that the four 
men had visited local mosques in Shan State and in the 
southern Rangoon suburb of Dallah (Dala), and had 
proselytized in local villages in those areas. 
 
3. (SBU) The four men had valid business visas, and we have 
been informed that background checks at the Indian Embassy 
turned up no results.  However, the GOB concluded that the 
four were not conducting legitimate business and deported the 
entire group back to India o/a June 10. 
 
4. (C) Following deportation of the individuals, Embassy's 
RSO pressed police contacts repeatedly for more information. 
In one meeting with Brig-Gen Myint Thein, Special Branch 
Director, RSO discussed the importance of obtaining names and 
other identifying data so that appropriate name checks could 
be conducted.  Finally, on August 8, Special Branch officials 
provided RSO with biographic data on the four individuals 
(ref e-mail), including the following information: Shahul 
Hameed, dob 9/16/49; Mohamed Johan, 7/4/69; Nasar Mohideen, 
4/9/60; and Mohammed Farooq, 6/1/48. 
 
5. (C) Comment:  The GOB rarely volunteers information to the 
U.S. Embassy on any matter, including security and 
terrorism-related developments.  We do not conclude that this 
rare gesture of information sharing indicates a significant 
change in the GOB's bilateral posture, but we still see it as 
an example of CT information sharing.  We will encourage 
further dialogue on these issues.  End Comment. 
Stoltz