INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS:US/THAILAND C

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS:US/THAILAND COOPERATION

 WASHINGTON FILE

     09 November 1999 

     Transcript: FBI Director Remarks at Bangkok Law Enforcement Academy

     (Freeh praises U.S.-Thai law enforcement relationship) (2650)

     "More and more we see the development of technical means and
     information technologies that allow crimes and criminals to move and
     communicate quicker than ever," Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
     Director Louis Freeh during a November 8 press conference at the
     International Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok.

     Freeh said that as such technology develops the concept of borders --
     whether between countries or police jurisdictions -- becomes less and
     less important.

     "What we need to do is to apply the rule of law and be as competent
     and fast moving and as coordinated as those who would break the law
     using the advantages of globalization and technology to commit those
     ends," he said.

     Freeh said the FBI, which sends agents to teach at the Bangkok
     academy, was "very proud" to have a role in the institution's
     development and running because "this academy and all the other
     bilateral relationships between our law enforcement agencies guarantee
     the people that we serve in both countries will have the advantage of
     the very best in competence in terms of law enforcement as well as the
     tools that are necessary."

     "Our two countries are committed to democracy, committed to the
     protection of human rights," Freeh added, "and more importantly, the
     protection of the people whom we serve in both countries."

     Following is a transcript of the press conference:

     (begin transcript)

     Remarks of FBI Director Louis Freeh
     At the International Law Enforcement Academy, Bangkok
     Monday, November 8, 1999
     2:30 p.m.

     Thank you very much General Pow, thank you, General Watcharapol, also
     let me introduce our Ambassador, Ambassador Hecklinger, who is also
     here today. I'm particularly proud and pleased to visit ILEA, which as
     General Pow has said, is really an historic achievement of not just
     the law enforcement agencies of our two governments, but of this
     government, that has supported this institution, and the leadership of
     the Royal Thai Police, which has provided the infrastructure and the
     necessary relationships to begin what I believe will be a very
     historic institution and a world-wide institution with respect to the
     development of professional law enforcement cooperation.

     As you know, the world has gotten to be much smaller in terms of the
     types of crime and the types of people who commit crime. Whether it's
     money laundering cases, or drug trafficking, or terrorism cases, or
     financial crime cases, more and more we see the development of
     technical means and information technologies that allow crimes and
     criminals to move and communicate quicker than ever. It means that
     borders between our countries and jurisdictions between our police
     agencies have less and less importance. What we need to do is to apply
     the rule of law and be as competent and fast moving and as coordinated
     as those who would break the law using the advantages of globalization
     and technology to commit those ends.

     So I'm particularly pleased and proud to be here. Let me add my high
     praise to this government, to the federal law enforcement agencies who
     have provided assistance here, and most importantly, to our partners
     in the Thai Royal Police for really exceptional leadership and
     organization which has gone into the founding of this academy and now
     the graduation of five hundred police officers.

     I was particularly moved to see the students and what they represent
     in terms of professional law enforcement, in terms of applying the
     rule of law, in terms of cooperating and assisting each other in all
     these necessary endeavors. So the FBI is very proud to play a small
     part in the development and carrying out of this institution. The FBI
     agents who have come here and will come here to teach, benefit greatly
     themselves from the interaction with their counterparts as well as
     with the students, who represent professional law enforcement at its
     best in many, many different venues.

     The trip here to Bangkok, as you probably know, is part of a trip
     we're making to five Asian countries. We'll leave next for Seoul,
     Korea to attend the INTERPOL conference which is now going on. We
     visited Japan, the Philippines, Singapore. I've had the opportunity to
     consult with many of my colleagues in these countries. We were
     particularly honored today to have some of the very precious time of
     your Prime Minister, your Minister of the Interior, your Attorney
     General, your Foreign Minister, all of our police partners, as well as
     our security partners, and to spend a very productive visit discussing
     all the various law enforcement and national security issues which
     unite our countries. Our two countries are committed to democracy,
     committed to the protection of human rights, and more importantly, the
     protection of the people whom we serve in both countries -- people who
     need to be protected from crime, as well as from the fear of crime.

     This Academy and all the other bilateral relationships between our law
     enforcement agencies guarantee the people that we serve in both
     countries will have the advantage of the very best in competence in
     terms of law enforcement as well as the tools that are necessary.

     The FBI has a long and distinguished relationship with our
     counterparts in the Royal Thai Police and the other police services
     here. Over 96 Thai officers have graduated from our National Academy
     in Quantico, Virginia. I had an opportunity to visit with many of them
     today, which was a great thrill. We have a long history of exchanging
     training and working together in counter-terrorism cases. The Yousef
     case, which of course was a case of great importance to both
     countries, was facilitated by the expert work and support we received
     here from both the police services as well as the security services.

     Since 1991 over 42 fugitives have been returned to the United States
     from Thailand pursuant to the rule of law, to be brought to justice
     for crimes against both Americans and Thais. We have many projects
     which are underway. And also many new areas of cooperation which we
     discussed, including computer crime, which has changed the nature of
     policing both internally in our countries as well as transnationally.
     We talked about some of the counter-terrorism initiatives that are
     important to both countries. We talked about some of the new threats
     arising from chemical and biological weapons-people who would use
     those against countries and populations to wreak great destruction.

     We've talked about some of the new types of legislation we need to
     combat crime, including money-laundering. This country recently passed
     a money-laundering statute which will be implemented very effectively
     against those who would use financial channels to promote crime and
     make profits. We talked about the need for continuous high-level
     cooperation and more importantly perhaps, the day-to-day routine
     contacts between our services which allow us to take advantage of a
     very strong relationship, a very critical bilateral relationship in
     terms of law enforcement. And also to look to Thailand as a regional
     leader with respect to law enforcement.

     The Academy represents in many ways the Thai regional leadership in
     terms of law enforcement. And if you look at the success that this
     government and country has enjoyed even in the most difficult
     counter-narcotics area, you know that the establishment of this
     Academy and these relationships will not only enhance the mission of
     law enforcement around the world, but will provide very critical
     leadership to this region by a country committed to democracy, human
     rights, and strong enforcement of the law.

     We're very, very pleased, and proud to be here. And let me just again
     compliment my colleagues, both in the Thai services and the United
     States services, for their support. I also want to thank the
     Ambassador and the Mission here for the particularly strong support he
     has shown in the area of law enforcement, and in the promotion and
     support of this very important institution. It's clear from my
     meetings with him and his staff that they are particularly committed
     and knowledgeable about the importance of these law enforcement issues
     and they play a central role in his Mission.

     And finally, let me thank our Congress, in particular Chairman Gilman
     and others who had the foresight to support this activity and who
     understand that at the end of the day, when it comes down to public
     safety and the protection of those we serve, it's the trust and
     relationships between police forces -- competent, honest police forces
     -- that will give us what we need to overcome great threats and very
     competent adversaries who would commit crimes and destroy our
     democracies as well as our freedoms.

     I'll be happy to take a few questions from members of the press, if
     they wish.

     Q: Mr. Freeh, I'm from Associated Press, I'm Matthew Pennington. The
     FBI has recently completed an investigation into a grenade attack in
     Cambodia ... against opposition politician Sam Rainsy. The report,
     from what I've read, suggests that the body guard troops of Prime
     Minister Hun Sen were present at the rally which was quite unusual.
     But the report doesn't come to any conclusions about whether Hun Sen
     was complicit in the attack. I was hoping you could comment on that
     and whether you think Hun Sen was involved in the attack.

     FREEH: I really can't comment on that. We've not talked about that
     case publicly. We've made some initial reports to our Attorney General
     as well as to our Congress, as well as to some of the other
     governmental parties involved. But as in all matters that we conduct
     in terms of investigation, we don't make those results public. This is
     not, of course, an FBI case. We were asked to conduct an investigation
     and supply some assistance, which we've done. We've reported the
     findings. It's for the principals involved to discuss the particular
     details.

     Q: Mr. Freeh, David Brunstrom from Reuters. I wonder if I can ask you
     about Burma's law enforcement efforts regarding narcotics production.
     Last week, the Burmese government said that they have achieved a 31%
     year on year drop in poppy cultivation. I think that the time frame is
     1999 ... they are characterizing that as a success in law enforcement
     efforts. Do you think that law enforcement does have something to do
     with that, or is it just the weather, maybe?

     FREEH: Well, I don't know, and I'm sorry to say I'm not particularly
     familiar with that issue. I know the documented, historic reductions
     here in Thailand of both cultivation and processing have been
     verified. I'm very familiar with those figures. I'm not that familiar
     with the neighboring country figures. Obviously we want to maximize
     all of our efforts, both as a regional matter and internationally to
     ensure that producer countries are doing whatever is necessary to
     interdict and suppress this kind of trade. On the other hand, we have
     to work harder as consumer countries. Of course the United States is
     the largest consumer of illegal drugs in the world. To reduce that
     demand, we're not going to solve the international crisis by law
     enforcement. Law enforcement is certainly a necessary part of that.
     And we must never relent in our efforts to enforce the law, whether by
     interdiction, by arrest and prosecution. But the real issue has to be
     addressed on the consumer/demand level. And the United States has to
     do a much better job with respect to that, as we ask other countries
     to do their share.

     Q: To follow up on that, would you say that the FBI is happy with the
     law enforcement efforts being taken by the Burmese, and would your
     institution like to see greater U.S. involvement in those efforts?

     FREEH: We would like to see the strongest counter-narcotics efforts by
     every government, including the government that you mentioned. And
     those efforts obviously have to be undertaken at the highest level.
     They have to be sustained, they have to be honest efforts. They also
     have to be efforts that respect human rights as we also conduct
     enforcement. I'm not, as I said, (familiar) with the numbers that you
     mentioned or the reports of progress, but we certainly want to promote
     and support counter-drug activities along the lines that I've
     described.

     Q: Dan Eaton, AFP. Looking at the millenium, what do you see as the
     biggest threats to security in Asia and how you see the FBI involved,
     in what role? I'm particularly interested in the IT angle you
     mentioned earlier.

     FREEH: Well, I think the threats to the new century are in most cases
     continued from threats of the last century. We see, as I mentioned,
     narcotics issues. In all the countries that I've visited, the
     methamphetamine production and consumption and distribution have
     become recently much more pronounced. It's probably one of the fastest
     growing narcotic problems within the United States. So we have to do a
     better job internationally and regionally in focusing on a problem
     which was not traditionally the center of that kind of international
     attention. Information technologies which are wonderful for education
     and the promotion of good things, are also used by people to do harm
     and commit crimes. Whether it's a pedophile using the internet or a
     terrorist looking to shut down a stock exchange or perhaps shut down a
     "911" emergency system as we had a hacker recently do in Florida;
     whether it's a person sitting in a far-away country with a lap-top
     computer breaking into Citibank in New York and moving 10 million
     dollars as we recently saw; whether it's a terrorist who attempts to
     use chemical weapons to commit attacks, which is one of the charges
     against Bin Laden and the other individuals in the East African
     bombings case. These are threats that are facilitated by
     globalization, by information technologies, and by telecommunications
     efforts and channels that are sometimes even beyond the ability of law
     enforcement to counter. So I think the millenium will require
     international cooperation at unprecedented levels, which is why this
     Academy, and its sister Academy in Budapest, are good and important
     steps and initiatives in that direction. What has to happen is what is
     happening. And that is high level law enforcement officers,
     governments, presidents, prime ministers have to ensure that public
     safety issues and law enforcement issues are as important as matters
     of foreign policy, as are defense issues, as are economic issues.
     National security today and certainly in the millenium is equal to
     public safety. And we have to make sure we give those issues the
     highest priority. As I think you see in APEC, ASEAN, in NATO
     consideration. This has to be elevated to the very top or our
     priority.

     Q: Dave Brunstrom here, I just wondered if you were in a position to
     say anything about the Egypt Air investigation ....

     FREEH: The National Safety Board is of course the lead United States
     federal agency conducting that investigation. The FBI is playing a
     very supportive role at this point. We're processing and working the
     case with a view towards preserving all the evidence if in fact we
     were to receive information that this was a criminal act. We have not
     received any such information. However, we can't rule out anything
     until all the facts are obtained by the Safety agency, and we've all
     had a chance to review them. So there's no new developments there
     except the weather and the depth of the water has made it a very
     difficult operation both in terms of the recovery of bodies, the
     identification of victims -- this is a very difficult disaster for the
     families. We're trying to deal with that and at the same time get the
     necessary facts to make some findings, that we hope we'll be able to
     do.

     (end transcript)