US embassy cable - 05MANILA5709

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 005709 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP, SCT/CRUMPTON, INR/EAP, EAP/RSP, EAP/MTS, 
EAP/MLS, EAP/J, DS/ATA 
USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO 
SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP FOR ALLEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, PGOV, ASEC, AS, JA, RP 
SUBJECT: FURTHER GROUNDWORK ON PROPOSED TRILATERAL 
COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION CONFERENCE 
 
REF: A. MANILA 5486 
     B. STATE 191306 
 
Classified By: (U) Acting Political Counselor Joseph L. Novak 
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C/NF) Summary.  The Japanese are now seeking to shift 
the dates of the proposed Trilateral Terrorism Cooperation 
Conference in Manila from mid-January to early February 2006. 
 The primary focus of the meeting would be on maritime 
security, with help for Philippine National Police (PNP) 
reform and "peace building activities" also suggested items 
for the agenda.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C/REL AUS/REL JPN) In a follow-up to the November 22 
working level talks on the proposed Manila Trilateral 
Counterterrorism Cooperation Conference (refs A and B), an 
expanded group from the Japanese, Australian, and US 
Embassies, including development assistance, law enforcement, 
military, and security officials, met December 2 for a 
roundtable discussion.  The meeting was hosted by the 
Japanese Embassy with the aim of reviewing bilateral 
cooperation with the GRP and examining possible agenda items 
for the Manila Trilateral discussions.  Japanese Political 
Counselor Taeko Takahashi indicated that Tokyo was now 
looking to host the conference in Manila in early February 
2006, vice the earlier proposed dates of mid-January.  She 
said the Japanese agreed the primary focus should be on 
maritime security issues. 
 
3.  (SBU) In a review of bilateral programs, Japanese 
representatives noted that, in addition to development 
assistance targeting Mindanao, Japanese counterterrorism 
assistance was devoted primarily to the PNP and Philippine 
Coast Guard.  GoA representatives remarked that Australia, 
like the United States, devotes 60-percent of its development 
aid to Mindanao.  (Note: The Philippines currently receives 
A$55 million -- roughly $40 million USD -- in annual 
development assistance, making it the 6th largest recipient 
of Australian aid.  End Note.)  Similar to US programs, 
Australian efforts are focused on the underlying poverty and 
underdevelopment that help create the conditions for 
terrorism, including terrorist recruitment.  Australian 
bilateral counterterrorism assistance, which was increased in 
May 2005 to A$10 million (roughly $7.5 million USD) over five 
years, is directed at building the counterterrorism 
capabilities of the PNP, National Bureau of Investigation 
(NBI), and the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime 
(PCTC). 
 
4.  (C/REL AUS/REL JPN) According to Australian Defense 
Attache Colonel Chris Burns, Australia has decided to supply 
15 small boats to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 
for use in riverine and marsh operations in central Mindanao. 
 This package would include spare parts and training. 
Australia was also pursuing a maritime security initiative 
that would assist the Philippines in establishing a "coast 
watch" system in Mindanao.  Burns said an Australian maritime 
needs analyst was now in country conducting an overall 
assessment.  He offered to share the results of this 
assessment with Japanese and US counterparts. 
 
5.  (C/REL AUS/REL JPN) Ian Sinclair, the resident Australian 
Police Advisor, noted that bilateral GoA law enforcement 
assistance was focused on the PNP Bomb Data Center, 
development of a case management system for the PNP, NBI, and 
PCTC, post-blast investigation skills, and intelligence 
training, dealing with both tactical and strategic skills. 
Sinclair said the case management system consisted of a 
central data base linking the PNP, NBI, and PCTC, with 
outstations -- including terminals in Zamboanga, Davao, and 
General Santos City -- providing national coverage.  The 
planned installation of terminals in a total of 168 locations 
would provide the GRP with a central counterterrorism 
intelligence data base, which would encourage interagency 
cooperation, the Australians hoped. 
 
6.  (C/REL AUS/REL JPN) The US side briefed on its extensive 
counterterrorism cooperation, which include:  USAID 
development assistance; Joint US Military Advisory 
Group-Philippines (JUSMAG-P) support for defense reform; 
Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) 
advice; assistance, and intelligence fusion to the AFP and 
civil-military operations in Mindanao; Joint Interagency Task 
Force-West (JIATF-West) maritime intelligence fusion centers; 
and INL-funded interagency law enforcement assessment of the 
PNP.  Takahashi suggested that the upcoming conference could 
focus on additional areas where there appeared to be 
synergies among the Australian, Japanese, and US efforts. 
 
7.  (C/REL AUS/REL JPN) In addition to maritime security, 
Takahashi thought coordinating efforts with the Philippine 
Coast Guard (PCG) and PNP were worth considering, as well as 
development of programs to promote more tolerant madrassah 
curriculum.  She proposed that the Australian maritime needs 
assessment be presented as a paper at the February 
conference, with each country taking the lead on a concept 
paper on a specific issue, identifying weaknesses and 
potential areas of support and cooperation on the issues of 
maritime security -- including the PCG (Australia), PNP 
reform (US), and "peace building activities" (Japan). (Note: 
Takahashi stated that Tokyo hoped that the intelligence 
exchange in February on the situation in the southern 
Philippines could occur at "above the secret level."  End 
Note.) 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
Jones