Cablegate: Urgent Need to Revise Two Vetting Decisions Based

VZCZCXRO9208
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #1867 2800926
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 060926Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0266
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5460
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 3119
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1346
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1317
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2300
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4975
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2568
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 3138
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 3005
RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 1178
RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001867

SIPDIS

FOR DRL A/S KRAMER FROM AMBASSADOR HUME; ALSO PASS EAP,
EAP/IET, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, PM, INL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PINR PREL KCRM MARR ID
SUBJECT: URGENT NEED TO REVISE TWO VETTING DECISIONS BASED
ON MISTAKEN IDENTITY

REF: JAKARTA 1754

1. (U) This is an Action Request. See paragraph 5.

2. (U) SUMMARY: DRL has rejected two candidates based on
mistaken identity. Mission has thoroughly vetted both
candidates under Leahy guidelines, checking multiple sources,
and we are absolutely certain that the two individuals in
question vet clean. The derogatory information provided by
DRL was for two entirely different individuals. Post
requests DRL reevaluate its findings and allow the candidates
to participate in USG-funded training exercises. Response is
needed by October 8. END SUMMARY.

3. (U) In an email chain dated October 2, 2008, DRL
furnished derogatory information against two candidates
listed in reftel, Indonesia Security Force Vetting Request,
ICITAP-25-2008. As part of the Leahy vetting process, Post
has reviewed the information and determined that DRL's
conclusions were not based on credible evidence. In both
cases, the candidates are not the individuals involved in the
activities cited.

4. (U) Sutrisno (one name only), Senior Police Commissioner
in the Indonesian National Police (INP), was rejected by DRL
based on derogatory information for a different individual,
with a similar name, a Lieutenant Sutrisno (also one name
only) of the Indonesian military (TNI). The two Sutrisnos
have different ranks and positions and have never served in
the same organization. Lt. Sutrisno was linked to a massacre
in Bobonaro District, East Timor in 1999. Our candidate,
Commissioner Sutrisno, was assigned to police Mid-Level
Management School that same year and was not in East Timor.
The candidate is not the individual cited by DRL and this
mistake was due to a naming mismatch.

5. (U) In a second case, Syaiful Bahri, administrator at the
Indonesian Police Academy (AKPOL), was rejected based on
information linking the candidate to terrorist suspects
arrested in connection to the 2004 bombing of the Australian
Embassy in Jakarta. Open source information states,
&Syaiful Bahri, alias Apuy, has been in police custody since
November 20048; please see DRL's reference
(http://old.thejakartapost.com/yearender/nat0 2.asp). Again,
the candidate is not the individual cited in information
provided by DRL. The candidate is a career police officer
and currently a police commissioner. The other Syaiful
Bahri, "Apuy" is a civilian, initially selected as a suicide
bomber for the 2004 Australian Embassy bombing, convicted of
terrorism for his role in that bombing, and is now in prison.
This case also is clearly a naming mismatch.

6. (U) ACTION REQUEST: In each instance, Mission completed
Leahy vetting of the candidates prior to submitting a request
to DRL. Post did not find any credible evidence of gross
violations of human rights for the two candidates. Post
requests that DRL approve these two individuals by October 8,
2008 for training to commence on October 13, 2008. END
ACTION REQUEST.
HUME

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