US embassy cable - 05SINGAPORE3375

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 003375 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR S/CT RHONDA SHORE AND S/CT ED SALAZAR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, ASEC, SN 
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE: 2005 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM 
 
REF: STATE 193429 
 
1. Please find below Embassy Singapore's submission for the 
2005 Country Reports on Terrorism.  Embassy POC is Senior 
Political Officer Christopher Kavanagh, email: 
KavanaghCR@state.gov. 
 
2. Begin Text of Draft Report: 
 
Singapore continued to oppose terrorism strongly and worked 
vigorously to advance the counterterrorism agenda in 
bilateral and multilateral contexts.  It provided no support 
or sanctuary for international terrorism, terrorists or 
terrorist groups.  There were no acts of international or 
domestic terrorism in Singapore in 2005. 
 
Over the course of the year, Singapore announced the 
detention of three members of the regional terrorist group 
Jemaah Islamiya (JI) under the Internal Security Act (ISA). 
As of November, 36 people with links to terrorist groups were 
in detention.  Detainees include members of JI, who plotted 
to carry out attacks in Singapore in the past, and members of 
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).  Under their 
"Orders of Detention," the detainees are required to undergo 
a program of religious counseling with a group of volunteer 
religious counselors.  Singapore has enlisted the support of 
religious teachers and scholars to provide the counseling, 
study JI's ideology, and develop teachings to counter its 
spread within Singapore's Muslim community. 
 
During 2005, Singapore continued its intelligence and law 
enforcement cooperation with a variety of governments, 
including the United States, to investigate terrorist groups, 
especially JI. Singapore has requested that Indonesia 
extradite several JI members to face trial for engaging in a 
conspiracy to commit terrorist acts in Singapore. 
 
In February, Singapore announced it would spend $23 million 
over three years to enhance computer security and combat 
cyber-terrorism.  Singapore's parliament amended the 
Money-Changing and Remittance Businesses Act in August to 
strengthen the government's ability to combat money 
laundering and terrorist finance-related activities in the 
money-changing and remittance sector. 
 
Singapore officials have taken strong measures to enhance 
maritime security in nearby waters, especially the Strait of 
Malacca.  These measures are focused on addressing terrorist 
threats as well as piracy and other criminal attacks.  The 
Republic of Singapore Navy has deployed Accompanying Sea 
Security Teams (ASSeT) to escort selected vessels through the 
Singapore Strait.  In August, Singapore hosted a 
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) maritime interdiction 
and port search exercise named Exercise Deep Sabre.  This was 
the first PSI exercise in Southeast Asia and included 
participants from 13 nations.  Singapore and the United 
States agreed in August to launch Operation Safe Commerce 
Singapore Phase Three, a program that evaluates 
vulnerabilities in maritime trade lanes that could allow 
entry of weapons of mass destruction, contraband or illegal 
immigrants into U.S. ports.  In September, Singapore, 
Indonesia, and Malaysia announced their intention to launch 
an "Eyes in the Sky" Initiative, whereby they will conduct 
combined maritime air patrols over the Straits of Malacca and 
Singapore. 
 
Singapore actively participated in counterterrorism efforts 
through various international fora, including the ASEAN 
Regional Forum, and has worked to enhance regional 
counterterrorism capabilities.  In March, Singapore and the 
United States co-hosted an ASEAN Regional Forum Confidence 
Building Measure conference on Maritime Security.  In June, 
Singapore hosted the first Asia-Middle East Dialogue, with 
government and non-government representatives from 50 
countries.  Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong proposed the 
dialogue as a "platform for progressive Muslim voices." 
 
End Text of Draft Report. 
FERGIN