Cablegate: Debrief of Brunei Officials - Regional Proliferation

VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBD #0269 3160857
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 120857Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4699
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 3562
RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000269

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

SINGAPORE PASS FOR LEGATT
DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/CPI/GUZMANC, EAP/MTS/COPPOLAMG
DEPARTMENT PASS FOR DOJ/FBI/THOMASJ

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PARM PREL KNNP XB XV XC XD BX
SUBJECT: DEBRIEF OF BRUNEI OFFICIALS - REGIONAL PROLIFERATION
SECURITY INITIATIVE (PSI) WORKSHOP

REF: STATE 71183

BACKGROUND
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1. (SBU) On November 5, 2009, in coordination with the Australian
High Commission, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) and Regional Security
Officer (RSO) met with Government of Brunei (GoB) officials who
attended the Regional PSI workshop held on September 15-17 2009 in
Sydney, Australia (Reftel). GoB attendees included: 1) Ali Rahim
Abdul Rahman - Internal Security Department (ISD), 2) Sufian Sabtu -
Internal Security Department, and 3)Mohammad Jammy Muhd Shah - Royal
Brunei Police Force (RBPF). Australian High Commission Third
Secretary, Damien Donavan, represented the Australian government
during the meeting.

WORKSHOP OUTCOMES
-----------------
2. (SBU) The GoB officials expressed their appreciation for the
invitations and support from the USG and Australia government. They
noted that they are now working closely with the Prime Minister's
Office to establish an ad-hoc committee under the National Security
Committee (NSC) that will pursue Brunei's PSI national framework.
They believe Singapore is the most appropriate model from which to
start in crafting Brunei's framework. The NSC currently has four
committees (Enforcement, Intelligence, Maritime Security, and
Technical) that report their findings to the Prime Minister's
Office. The newly proposed PSI committee would also report to the
Prime Minister's Office.

WHAT IS NEEDED
--------------
3. (SBU) Brunei PSI participants were in agreement that necessary
legislation was not in place to support PSI operations and that this
will be one of the issues that the ad-hoc committee must work on.
Though there is legislation that exists for maritime security, the
legal authority and enforcement currently exists with the Royal
Brunei Marine Police. Brunei PSI participants believe that the
Royal Brunei Navy has the capability and resources to conduct
maritime operations at sea and they believe that this agency should
ideally lead PSI initiatives. Currently, Marine Police officials
are assigned to Brunei Navy vessels while on patrol. However,
Brunei's naval personnel do not have legal authority under Brunei
legislation to conduct operations as envisioned by the PSI
participants. This remains a crucial issue for the ad-hoc committee
to determine which GoB agency will assume PSI lead.

FOLLOW UP
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4. (SBU) Brunei PSI participants requested further legal and
operational assistance with establishing PSI in Brunei and further
commented on wanting to establish regional PSI working-groups to
further promote this initiative. Embassy, in conjunction with the
Australian High Commission, would continue to assist in any way
possible in fulfilling these requests. Embassy welcomes additional
assistance from State and other appropriate USG agencies. Embassy
would like to also thank FBI for assistance and cooperation.

TODD

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