R 221204Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4337
INFO NCTC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS PORT LOUIS 000447 
 
 
S/CT FOR RHONDA SHORE AND NCTC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER ASEC MP
SUBJECT: MAURITIUS: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM 
 
REF: STATE 120019 
 
 
The following is a reftel response updating the Country 
Report on Terrorism for Mauritius: 
 
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MAURITIUS 
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In November 2008 Mauritian Prime Minister Rangoulam announced 
before Parliament a series of planned security upgrades to 
ports and airports in an unprecedented push to prevent 
terrorism in Mauritius.  The airport measures are to include 
upgrades of the existing x-ray machines and the installation 
of two new units, the linking of Customs, Passport, and 
Immigration Services databases, a 100 percent screening of 
hold baggage at the airport, and the installation of an 
Advanced Passenger Information (API) system.  Mauritius is 
even developing a Terror Alert Color Code System in 
accordance with international practices.  Due to limited 
available resources to cover its shores and waterways, 
Mauritius has traditionally had problems controlling land 
access, especially by small boats.  To combat this problem, 
Mauritius has fortified its Port security measures by 
strengthening access controls through an enhanced 
identification system, updated Closed Circuit Television 
Systems, and an increased number of police and customs 
officers. 
 
Mauritius' goal of being a port where 100 percent of entering 
cargo is scanned and its Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement 
with the USG have prompted progress on the Mauritian Cargo 
Community System (CCS) project.  The CCS project aims to 
collect, organize, and provide advance electronic information 
on cargo and container shipments to ensure adequate risk 
assessment.  The progress on this project has led to a 
continuous increase in the percentage of containers scanned. 
 
Mauritius has a comprehensive and growing antiterrorism 
legislative framework based on "The Prevention of Terrorism 
Act of 2002," which criminalizes terrorist financing and 
gives the government the power to track and investigate 
terrorist-related assets.  The Mauritian parliament is 
currently considering updating this legislation with "The 
Prevention of Terrorism (Internal Obligations) Bill." 
 
In November 2008, Mauritius established an Anti-Terrorism 
Unit that includes the Commissioner of Police, the Commander 
of the National Guard, and the Head of the Interior Affairs 
Ministry.  The new unit is currently headed by the Mauritian 
National Security Adviser, Gurinder Singh, an Indian national 
who previously supervised anti-terrorist units in India. 
 
Additionally, in December of 2008, Mauritius implemented a 
new Border Control System that enables more effective 
controls over travel documents. Before the implementation of 
the new system, Mauritian Customs officials had caught 20 
travelers using false passports.  While most of these 
individuals were simply released and sent out of the country, 
in November 2008, Customs officials caught six Iraqis on 
their way to Australia using false Danish passports.  The 
Iraqis are currently being held until the Mauritian 
authorities are able to verify their identities. 
 
Although there is currently no evidence of any type of 
terrorist activity, press reports accused Mauritian group 
Front Solidarite Mauricienne (FSM), also called Hizbullah by 
local press, of operating a 'death squad' blamed for three 
killings in October 1996.  During investigation of these 
murders, the police charged and imprisoned the leader of this 
organization for three years, but due to lack of evidence the 
case was eventually dropped.  Today, the leader of the FSM 
focuses on arranging funds from charities for schools and 
hospitals in the Muslim community. The government of 
Mauritius is well aware that organizations who accept charity 
funds could be susceptible to terrorist financing, and 
monitors these types of activities accordingly. 
 
 
CABRERA