Country Reports on Terrorism 2012
Country Reports on Terrorism 2012 Country Reports on Terrorism 2012
Countering Terrorist Finance: Colombia is a member of the Financial Action Task Force of South America against Money Laundering, a Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-style regional body. Colombia stands out as a regional leader in the fight against terrorist financing and has become a key part of a regional Financial Intelligence Unit initiative aimed at strengthening information sharing among Latin American countries. In September, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Finance signed an interagency memorandum of understanding (MOU), which gives legal authority to the Prosecutor General’s Office to implement the necessary seizure orders under existing Colombian asset forfeiture law against the assets of individuals and entities on the UNSC 1267/1989 and 1988 Sanctions Committees’ consolidated list, as well as to adhere to FATF recommendations to freeze the funds of designated terrorists, terrorist financiers, and terrorist groups. The Government of Colombia worked extensively with U.S. law enforcement agencies to identify, target, and prosecute groups and individuals engaged in financial crimes. In November, the Prosecutor General’s Office took steps to seize the property of retired General Mauricio Santoyo, head of security for former President Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010), due to his ties to the Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). The Prosecutor General’s Office seized property including nine farms, five vehicles, a commercial establishment, and a factory. The Prosecutor General’s Office Justice and Peace Division developed a special asset forfeiture unit in May 2011 to identify and seize assets belonging to armed illegal groups, such as the AUC and the FARC (both U.S.-designated terrorist organizations). In 2012, this specialized unit of prosecutors seized 130 assets valued at approximately US $50 million; the money will be used for victim reparations in Colombia. 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: Colombia is actively involved in the UN, the OAS, the Pacific Alliance, the Union of South American Nations, and is a founding member of the Global Counterterrorism Forum. The Colombian government frequently integrates the recommendations of the UN and OAS into its security and human rights decisions. Colombia’s term as a non-permanent member of the UNSC ended on December 31. The CNP operates an Interpol office of approximately 70 analysts, agents, and support staff. Colombia also led the creation of Ameripol, the American Police Community, and CNP Director General Jose Roberto Leon served as Ameripol’s secretary-general in 2012. Colombia also maintained strong bilateral relations with the UK, Canada, and Spain, and coordinated arrests and deportations with those countries on a regular basis. Colombia is becoming a key leader in providing security training and assistance to countries from around the world. It provided judicial training to judges and prosecutors in handling drug trafficking and terrorism cases, basic and advanced helicopter training to pilots from countries throughout Latin America, and frequently opened up its elite “Lancero” and “Jungla” special forces courses to students from other countries. In 2012, Colombia expanded its assistance to the instruction of better methods of strategic communications and civil-military relations. Officers from Brazil, Mexico, and Ecuador were invited to attend a training course in radio station and loudspeaker operations and community interaction. Colombia also dispatched a subject matter 184
expert to Peru to provide instruction on the capabilities of the “radio-in-a-box,” used to disseminate positive radio messages encouraging defections over guerrilla frequencies. Mexico remained the biggest recipient of Colombian counternarcotics and counterterrorism training. Countering Radicalization and Violent Extremism: Colombia employed a robust and modern multi-agency approach to countering radicalization and violent extremism, with a focus on encouraging members and entire units of the FARC and ELN to demobilize and reintegrate with society. In October, with U.S. assistance, Colombia hosted a conference on ways to better counter FARC and ELN ideology and better focus demobilization efforts. The demobilization program provides medical care, psychological counseling, education benefits, job placement assistance, and periodic checks on demobilized former members of the FARC and ELN. Recidivism rates were low to moderate. The Colombian armed forces and police employed a number of fixed and mobile radio transmitters to broadcast strategic messaging to potential deserters. Such messaging was also seen in print, television, and alternative media. The Colombian military employed the same media to counter FARC recruitment efforts. MEXICO Overview: The Mexican government remained vigilant against domestic and international terrorist threats. International terrorist organizations do not have a known operational presence in Mexico, and no terrorist group targeted U.S. citizens in or from Mexican territory. The Government of Mexico continued to strengthen its law enforcement institutions and to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations responsible for drug trafficking-related violence. There was no evidence that these criminal organizations had political or ideological motivations, aside from seeking to maintain the impunity with which they conduct their criminal activities. Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security: The Mexican government continued to improve the abilities of its security forces to counter terrorism. The United States supported these efforts by providing training and equipment to Mexican law enforcement and security agencies, sharing information, and promoting interagency law enforcement cooperation. The United States also supported Mexican efforts to address border security challenges along its southern and northern borders and its ports. The Mexican and U.S. governments shared information and jointly analyzed transnational threats; promoted information and intelligence sharing; deployed enhanced cargo screening technologies; and strengthened passenger information sharing. Mexican and U.S. officials also continued coordinated efforts to prevent the transit of third country nationals who may raise terrorism concerns. On the Mexico-U.S. border, officials increased coordination of patrols and inspections and improved communications across the border. On the Mexico-Guatemala-Belize border, Mexico deployed additional security forces and implemented biometric controls. Mexico remained an important partner nation in the Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance program, which continued its overall shift in focus from protection of national leadership training to border security, preventing terrorist safe havens, and protecting critical infrastructure. In support of U.S. efforts to identify and interdict illegitimate travel and travelers, consular Fraud Prevention Units and Regional Security Office investigators throughout Mexico provided 185
- Page 133 and 134: intensify cooperation with their ne
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- Page 141 and 142: Overview: Tunisian security forces
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- Page 177 and 178: took place in Switzerland. Argentin
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- Page 181 and 182: Canada has a rigorous detection and
- Page 183: On April 27, in a complex attack in
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- Page 193 and 194: ut instead choose to rejoin SL upon
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- Page 197 and 198: of millions of dollars in support o
- Page 199 and 200: In June 2010, four Sudanese men sen
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Countering Terrorist Finance: Colombia is a member of the Financial Acti<strong>on</strong> Task Force of<br />
South America against M<strong>on</strong>ey Laundering, a Financial Acti<strong>on</strong> Task Force (FATF)-style regi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
body. Colombia stands out as a regi<strong>on</strong>al leader in the fight against terrorist financing and has<br />
become a key part of a regi<strong>on</strong>al Financial Intelligence Unit initiative aimed at strengthening<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> sharing am<strong>on</strong>g Latin American countries.<br />
In September, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Finance signed an interagency<br />
memorandum of understanding (MOU), which gives legal authority to the Prosecutor General’s<br />
Office to implement the necessary seizure orders under existing Colombian asset forfeiture law<br />
against the assets of individuals and entities <strong>on</strong> the UNSC 1267/1989 and 1988 Sancti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Committees’ c<strong>on</strong>solidated list, as well as to adhere to FATF recommendati<strong>on</strong>s to freeze the<br />
funds of designated terrorists, terrorist financiers, and terrorist groups. The Government of<br />
Colombia worked extensively with U.S. law enforcement agencies to identify, target, and<br />
prosecute groups and individuals engaged in financial crimes.<br />
In November, the Prosecutor General’s Office took steps to seize the property of retired General<br />
Mauricio Santoyo, head of security for former President Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010), due to his<br />
ties to the Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). The Prosecutor General’s Office seized<br />
property including nine farms, five vehicles, a commercial establishment, and a factory. The<br />
Prosecutor General’s Office Justice and Peace Divisi<strong>on</strong> developed a special asset forfeiture unit<br />
in May 2011 to identify and seize assets bel<strong>on</strong>ging to armed illegal groups, such as the AUC and<br />
the FARC (both U.S.-designated terrorist organizati<strong>on</strong>s). In <strong>2012</strong>, this specialized unit of<br />
prosecutors seized 130 assets valued at approximately US $50 milli<strong>on</strong>; the m<strong>on</strong>ey will be used<br />
for victim reparati<strong>on</strong>s in Colombia.<br />
For further informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> m<strong>on</strong>ey laundering and financial crimes, we refer you to the 2013<br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al Narcotics C<strong>on</strong>trol Strategy Report (INCSR), Volume 2, M<strong>on</strong>ey Laundering and<br />
Financial Crimes: http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/index.htm.<br />
Regi<strong>on</strong>al and Internati<strong>on</strong>al Cooperati<strong>on</strong>: Colombia is actively involved in the UN, the OAS,<br />
the Pacific Alliance, the Uni<strong>on</strong> of South American Nati<strong>on</strong>s, and is a founding member of the<br />
Global Counterterrorism Forum. The Colombian government frequently integrates the<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s of the UN and OAS into its security and human rights decisi<strong>on</strong>s. Colombia’s<br />
term as a n<strong>on</strong>-permanent member of the UNSC ended <strong>on</strong> December 31. The CNP operates an<br />
Interpol office of approximately 70 analysts, agents, and support staff. Colombia also led the<br />
creati<strong>on</strong> of Ameripol, the American Police Community, and CNP Director General Jose Roberto<br />
Le<strong>on</strong> served as Ameripol’s secretary-general in <strong>2012</strong>. Colombia also maintained str<strong>on</strong>g bilateral<br />
relati<strong>on</strong>s with the UK, Canada, and Spain, and coordinated arrests and deportati<strong>on</strong>s with those<br />
countries <strong>on</strong> a regular basis.<br />
Colombia is becoming a key leader in providing security training and assistance to countries<br />
from around the world. It provided judicial training to judges and prosecutors in handling drug<br />
trafficking and terrorism cases, basic and advanced helicopter training to pilots from countries<br />
throughout Latin America, and frequently opened up its elite “Lancero” and “Jungla” special<br />
forces courses to students from other countries. In <strong>2012</strong>, Colombia expanded its assistance to the<br />
instructi<strong>on</strong> of better methods of strategic communicati<strong>on</strong>s and civil-military relati<strong>on</strong>s. Officers<br />
from Brazil, Mexico, and Ecuador were invited to attend a training course in radio stati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
loudspeaker operati<strong>on</strong>s and community interacti<strong>on</strong>. Colombia also dispatched a subject matter<br />
184