Country Reports on Terrorism 2012

Countering Terrorist Finance: Kyrgyzstan is a member of the Eurasian Group on Combating
Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, a Financial Action Task Force-style regional
body. Its Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) belongs to the Egmont Group of FIUs. On May 28,
the Kyrgyz government established a Commission on Combating Financing of Terrorism. The
Commission will function as a consultative body under the government to coordinate activities
between relevant state bodies on combating terrorist financing and the laundering of criminal
earnings. The Government of Kyrgyzstan did not report any efforts to seize terrorist assets in
2012. For further information on money laundering and financial crimes, we refer you to the
2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Volume 2, Money Laundering
and Financial Crimes: http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/index.htm.
Regional and International Cooperation: In 2012, Kyrgyzstan participated in counterterrorism
activities organized by the OSCE, the Commonwealth of Independent States Anti-Terrorism
Center, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
MALDIVES
Overview: Maldives is a strategically located series of atolls in the heart of the Indian Ocean.
Since 2010, there has been growing concern about the activities of a small number of local
extremists who support violence and their involvement with transnational terrorist groups. There
has been particular concern that young Maldivians may be at risk of becoming radicalized and
that some are joining violent extremist groups, including those with ties to Laskhar-e-Tayyiba
(LeT) and al-Qa’ida (AQ).
Recent arrests in Pakistan of Maldivian citizens connected to terrorist groups have heightened
the concern over radicalization. The Government of Maldives has been an enthusiastic partner
with the United States to strengthen its law enforcement capacity and to conduct community
outreach to counter violent extremism.
While Pakistan has been a traditional destination for education, young Maldivians have
increasingly sought Islamic education in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Sudan due to perceived
physical security risks associated with traveling in Pakistan. Some have expressed concern that
students studying in the Gulf countries are bringing home radical ideology.
Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security: There were no successful prosecutions
of individuals promoting violent extremism and terrorism in 2012, as existing laws severely
limited the ability of law enforcement agencies to prosecute such cases.
Maldives became a new partner nation in the Department of State's Antiterrorism Assistance
(ATA) program in 2011, and 2012 programming efforts focused on building capacity in
counterterrorism leadership and management, critical target protection, and regional cooperation.
The police participated in five ATA courses in 2012.
On December 17, the Maldivian Parliament approved Maldives’ accession to the UN Convention
Against Transnational Organized Crime. At year’s end, the Attorney General was reviewing the
convention, after which the President will ratify it.
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