Cablegate: Human Rights Vetting for National Counter-Terrorism Special

VZCZCXYZ0007
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPF #0836 3161014
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121014Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1354
INFO RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//JC/J3/J4/J45/J5/FPA//
RHHMUNS/COMSOCPAC HONOLULU HI//SOJ32
RUEHPF/USDAO PHNOM PENH CB

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 000836

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PM-HDP, DRL, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP AND S/GHD

E. O 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS PHUM MARR MASS CB
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING FOR NATIONAL COUNTER-TERRORISM SPECIAL
FORCES PERSONNEL TO PARTICIPATE IN ONGOING US TRAINING OVER A ONE
YEAR PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 30, 2009 IN CAMBODIA

REF: 03 SECSTATE 034981

1. This is an action cable. See Paragraph Six.

2. Reftel is guidance for screening nominees for U.S.-sponsored
training programs.

3. To comply with Leahy amendment relatives to U.S.-sponsored
security assistance training, the U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh has
conducted local human rights vetting for the following unit to
participate in on-going training provided by the U.S. Pacific
Command Augmentation Team (PAT) in Cambodia.

UNIT NAME: National Counter-Terrorism Special Force
COMMANDER: Hun, Manet (Male)
DPOB: October 20, 1977; Kampong Cham
POSITION: Commander
RANK: Brigadier General
DEPT/UNIT: National Counter-Terrorism Special Force

4. The National Counter-Terrorism Special Force (NCTSF) was created
in 2008 under the command of Brigadier General Hun Manet. Members
of the new unit were selected from several existing units of the
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, including some individuals with prior
service in Brigade 70 or the Prime Minister's Bodyguard Unit, in
differing periods from 1998 to the recent past. However, none of
the members of the NCTSF served with B-70 or the Prime Minister's
Bodyguard Unit prior to 31 December 1997. All members of the NCTSF
have been individually vetted by Post and the Department at least
one time, with no derogatory information found. U.S. Embassy Phnom
Penh has reviewed its files and finds that, as of this date, it
possesses no credible information of gross violations of human
rights by the above unit.

5. Individuals in this unit will participate in on-going training
over the period of one year provided by the U.S. Pacific Command
Augmentation Team (PAT) in Cambodia, from not later than November
30, 2009.

6. Action request: Please verify whether the Department possesses
any credible information that the unit named above has been
implicated in gross violations of human rights.

7. Points of contact for Amembassy Phnom Penh are Major Wayne
Turnbull TurnbullPW@state.gov or tel: 855-23-728-219 or Jenae
Johnson JohnsonJD3@state.gov or tel: 855-23-728-118.
RODLEY

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