Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1023.htm
June 13, 2008
HP-1023
Kuwaiti Charity Designated for Bankrolling al Qaida Network
Washington - The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated the Kuwait-based Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS) for providing financial and material support to al Qaida and al Qaida affiliates, including Lashkar e-Tayyiba, Jemaah Islamiyah, and Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya. RIHS has also provided financial support for acts of terrorism.
“Designating and freezing the assets of an organization engaged in charitable work is a decision not taken lightly because the last thing we want to do is cut off needed humanitarian assistance,” said Stuart Levey, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “However, the reality is that RIHS has used charity and humanitarian assistance as cover to fund terrorist activity and harm innocent civilians, often in poor and impoverished regions. We have a responsibility to do all we can to shut down the funding channels of terrorism.”
RIHS was designated today under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing financial, technological, or material support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. Any assets RIHS holds under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with RIHS.
The RIHS offices in Afghanistan (RIHS-Afghanistan) and Pakistan (RIHS-Pakistan) were designated by the U.S. Government and the United Nations 1267 Committee in January 2002 based on evidence of their support for al Qaida. At that time, there was no evidence that the Kuwait-based RIHS headquarters (RIHS-HQ) knew that RIHS-Afghanistan and RIHS-Pakistan were financing al Qaida.
Since that time, however, evidence has mounted implicating RIHS-HQ in terrorism support activity. The U.S. Government has learned that RIHS senior leadership, who have actively managed all aspects of the organization’s day-to-day operations, have been aware of both legitimate and illegitimate uses of RIHS funds.
“We designated two branches of RIHS in 2002, and since then a number of other countries have taken action against RIHS. We look forward to continuing our work with Kuwaiti authorities to ensure that legitimate charitable giving can reach those in need and not be diverted to terrorist organizations,” Levey continued.
Suspected of providing support to terrorism, RIHS offices have been closed or raided by the governments of Albania, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, and Russia.
In countries where RIHS activities are banned or scrutinized by local governments, RIHS-HQ has developed multiple methods to continue its operations. After the Government of Bangladesh closed RIHS offices, RIHS-HQ funneled money into Bangladesh through another organization to continue RIHS activities and to help shield it from scrutiny there. RIHS-HQ has used RIHS officials and other individuals to courier funds out of the country in order to evade the scrutiny of the international financial system. In some countries, including Albania and Kosovo in particular, RIHS senior officials have assisted RIHS branch offices with name changes, and then continued to provide financial support to the new organizations.
RIHS Support for Terrorism in South Asia
RIHS-HQ provides significant financial and logistical support to the U.N.-designated terrorist group Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based terrorist group with links to the al Qaida network. LeT was reportedly implicated in the July 2006 attack on multiple Mumbai commuter trains, and in the December 2001 attack against the Indian Parliament. As of 2007, RIHS provided office space to an LeT leader who visited Kuwait to raise funds for LeT operations. RIHS officials accompanied the LeT leader while he raised funds throughout Kuwait. As of late 2007, RIHS sent money to LeT elements on a monthly basis, and regularly transferred funds to LeT representatives’ bank accounts in Pakistan. In some cases, LeT has received the funds at charitable entities associated with RIHS.
RIHS also reportedly provided a key source of funding for terrorist attacks carried out by an extremist group in Bangladesh in 2005. Despite a February 2005 Bangladeshi government ban of the terrorist group Jamaaat Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB), on August 17, 2005, JMB launched a series of near-simultaneous bomb attacks across Bangladesh, killing two and injuring 64 persons. Over 400 bombs exploded during the course of these attacks, which were carried out in 63 of Bangladesh’s 64 provinces. Following the bombings, RIHS was identified as one of the key sources of funding needed for staging these attacks. After the August 2005 bombings, RIHS was accused of funding JMB’s military activities with overt and covert funds. These funds were channeled through a senior leader of a Bangladeshi Islamic organization. As of early 2005, RIHS in Bangladesh had contributed millions of dollars to this organization.
RIHS Support for Terrorism in Southeast Asia and the Horn of Africa
RIHS has provided financial and logistical support to the Southeast Asia based terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). Specifically, an RIHS employee provided logistical support to JI’s fugitive leader Nurjaman Riduan Isamuddin (a.k.a. “Hambali”) prior to his capture in 2003. Due to the high security conditions during the 2002 Asian Summit, the RIHS employee escorted Hambali from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to an alternate location, where he then provided him with accommodations. The employee was later captured and sentenced to life imprisonment on terrorism charges. An RIHS representative in Indonesia provided funding to a JI member collecting money for JI activities. The JI member funneled the funds he received from RIHS and other sources to JI associates for the procurement of weapons to support their operations.
RIHS has also funded al Qaida and like-minded terrorist groups in Somalia. Al Qaida supporters in Somalia reportedly have historically received significant funds through RIHS. In addition, RIHS provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to a university controlled by Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya.
IDENTIFIER INFORMATION
Revival of Islamic Heritage Society
RIHS Headquarters-Kuwait
Revival of Islamic Heritage Foundation
RIHF
Society for the Revival of Islamic Heritage
Islamic Heritage Revival Party
Islamic Heritage Restoration Society
IHRS
Kuwaiti Heritage
Ihya Turas Al-Islami
Ijha Turath Al-Islami
Jamia Ihya Ul Turath
Jamiat Ihia Al-Turath Al-Islamiya
Jam’iyat Ihya’ Al-Turath Al-Islami
Jami’at Ihy’a Al-Tirath Al-Islamia
Jamiatul Ihya Ul Turath
Jamiyat Ikhya At-Turaz Al-Islami, Society of the Rebirth of the Islamic People
Jamiatul-Yahya Ut Turaz
Jomiatul Ehya-Ut Turaj
Jomiyatu-Ehya-Ut Turas Al Islami
Jama’ah Ihya Al-Turaz Al-Islami
Jami’ah Al-Hiya Al-Turath Al Islamiyah
Lajnat Ihya Al-Turath Al-Islami
Lajnat Al-Ihya Al-Turath Al-Islami
RIHS Administration for the Building of Mosques and Islamic Projects
RIHS Mosques Committee
Administration of the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society Committee
RIHS Arab World Committee
RIHS Committee for the Arab World
RIHS Committee for West Asia
RIHS Central Asia Committee
Committee for Europe and the Americas
RIHS Europe and the Americas Committee
RIHS Two Americas and European Muslim Committee
RIHS Europe America Muslims Committee
RIHS Southeast Asia Committee
RIHS Committee for South East Asia
RIHS Indian Continent Committee
RIHS Indian Subcontinent Committee
RIHS Committee for India
RIHS African Continent Committee
RIHS Committee for Africa
Revival of Islamic Society Heritage on the African Continent
RIHS Public Relations Committee
RIHS Cultural Committee
RIHS Principle Committee for the Center for Preservation of the Holy Qu’aran
RIHS General Committee for Donations
RIHS Youth Center Committee
RIHS Scientific Committee-Branch of Sabah Al-Nasir
RIHS Fatwas Committee
RIHS Center for Manuscripts Committee
RIHS Educating Committees, Al-Jahra’
RIHS Audio Recordings Committee
RIHS Project of Assigning Preachers Committee
RIHS Office of Printing and Publishing
RIHS Committee for Women
RIHS Committee for Women, Administration for the Building of Mosques
RIHS Women’s Branch for the Project of Endowment
RIHS Administration for the Committees of Almsgiving
RIHS Committee for Almsgiving and Charities
RIHS Committee for the Call and Guidance
RIHS-Cambodia
RIHS Cambodia-Kuwait Orphanage Center
The Kuwaiti-Cambodian Orphanage Center
The Kuwait-Cambodia Islamic Cultural Training Center
RIHS Chaom Chau Center
Nara Welfare and Education Association
RIHS-Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kuwaiti Joint Relief Committee, Bosnia and Herzegovina
KJRC-Bosnia and Herzegovina
Plandiste School, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Organizacija Preporoda Islamske Tradicije Kuvajt
Kuwait General Committee for Aid
General Kuwait Committee
RIHS-Albania
Center of Call for Wisdom
CCFW
Thirrja Per Utesi
NGO Turath
RIHS-Kosovo
Dora E Miresise
Hand of Mercy
RIHS-Azerbaijan
RIHS-Russia
RIHS-Lebanon
RIHS-Bangladesh
RIHS-Somalia
RIHS-Ghana
RIHS-Tanzania
RIHS-Benin
RIHS-Cameroon
RIHS-Senegal
RIHS-Nigeria
RIHS-Liberia
RIHS-Ivory Coast
Addresses: Part 5, Qurtaba, P.O. Box 5585, Safat, Kuwait
House #40, Lake Drive Road, Sector #7, Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Number 28 Mula Mustafe Baseskije Street, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Number 2 Plandiste Street, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
M.M. Baseskije Street, No.28p, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Number 6 Donji Hotonj Street, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
RIHS Office, Ilidza, Bosnia and Herzegovina
RIHS Alija House, Ilidza, Bosnia and Herzegovina
RIHS Office, Tirana, Albania
RIHS Office, Pristina, Kosovo
Tripoli, Lebanon
City of Sidon, Lebanon
Dangkor District, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Kismayo, Somalia
Kaneshi Quarter of Accra, Ghana
Al-Andalus, Kuwait
Al-Jahra’, Kuwait
Al-Qurayn, Kuwait
Sabah Al-Nasir, Kuwait
Qurtubah, Kuwait
Hadiyah, Kuwait
Al-Qadisiyah, Kuwait
Al-Fayha’, Kuwait
Al-Riqah, Kuwait
Al-Firdaws, Kuwait
Khitan, Kuwait
Al-Sabahiyah, Kuwait
Jalib Al-Shiyukh, Kuwait
Bayan Wa Mashrif, Kuwait
Sabah Al-Salim, Kuwait
Al-Rumaythiyah, Kuwait
Al-Salimiyah, Kuwait
Al-Aridiyah, Kuwait
Al-Khalidiya, Kuwait
Al-Dhahr, Kuwait
Al-Rawdah, Kuwait
Al-Shamiyah Wa Al-Shuwaykh, Kuwait
Al-Amiriyah, Kuwait
Al-Nuzhah, Kuwait
Kifan, Kuwait
Website: www.alturath.org
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1030.htm
June 16, 2008
HP-1030
Treasury Designates Seven Members of the Rajah Solaiman Movement
Washington - The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated seven members of the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), a Philippines-based group that utilizes violence and terrorism with the aim of turning the Philippines into an Islamic state. The U.S. Department of State also named RSM and its leader, Ahmad Santos, as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) today.
“The leader and members of the Rajah Solaiman Movement are responsible for reprehensible acts that include killing citizens and tourists in the Philippines to advance their terrorist agenda,” said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin. “Today’s action will make even basic operational functions more difficult for RSM and its members by increasing their isolation from the international financial system.”
Along with RSM, these eight individuals were added to the U.N. 1267 Sanctions Committee’s Consolidated List of individuals and entities associated with Usama bin Laden, al Qaida and the Taliban on June 4. All UN member states are obligated to freeze the funds and other assets of listed individuals and entities included on the 1267 Committee’s Consolidated List and to apply other sanctions (travel ban and arms embargo). The United States implements its asset freeze through E.O. 13224, which blocks all property, and interests in property, of the designees that are in the United States, or come within the United States, or the control of U.S. persons.
RSM has assisted with the terrorist plots of the al Qaida-affiliated Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Manila and other areas in the northern Philippines. According to Philippine security officials and other sources, RSM members were involved in the ASG’s bombing of Super Ferry 14 in February 2004 and the February 2005 Valentine’s Day bombings. RSM members were involved in several plots to bomb high-profile targets, as well, including Manila public utilities, tourist areas, and the U.S. Embassy in Manila.
RSM has received training, funds, and operational assistance from the ASG and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), two terrorist organizations previously added to the UN’s Consolidated List and designated by the United States as SDGTs on September 24, 2001 and October 23, 2002, respectively. RSM, in return, has provided field operatives and a pool of potential recruits to the ASG and JI, enabling them to expand their reach into the urban areas of the Philippines.
As of 2004, RSM reportedly received funding from private Saudi sources that channeled funds through charitable NGOs in the Philippines. Between 2002 and late 2005, Saudi financiers and at least one Saudi-based Filipino financier also contributed funds to RSM for its training camps and planned terror operations.
Identifying Information
ANGELO RAMIREZ TRINIDAD
AKAs: Angelo Trinidad y Ramirez
Khalil Trinidad
Khulil Trinidad
Abu Khalil Trinidad
Calib Trinidad
Kalib Trinidad
Adrian Tomas
DOB: 20 March 1978
POB: Gattaran, Cagayan Province, the Philippines
FORMER ADDRESS: 3111 Ma. Bautista, Punta, Santa Ana, Manila, the Philippines
NATIONALITY: Filipino
Angelo Ramirez Trinidad is a member of RSM, and at the time of his arrest in February 2005, was also a member of an ASG operational cell in Manila.
On the orders of senior ASG figure Jainal Antel Sali, Trinidad and an accomplice conducted the February 2005 Valentine’s Day bombing of a passenger bus in Manila that killed six and wounded over 100. Trinidad assembled the bomb, helped plant it on the bus and triggered it by cell phone. The ASG publicly claimed credit for this bombing. A Philippine court convicted Trinidad of the bombing in October 2005. Sali, now deceased, was named as an SDGT pursuant to E.O. 13224 on November 30, 2005 and was added to the UN’s Consolidated List on December 6, 2005.
In February 2005, ASG members positively identified Trinidad as having participated with the ASG in the April 2000 kidnappings of 21 foreign tourists and Malaysian workers from Sipadan Island, Malaysia.
PIO ABOGNE DE VERA
AKAs: Pio de Vera y Abogne
Pio Abogue de Vera
Pio Abagne de Vera
Leo M. Obogne
Ismael de Vera
Ismail de Vera
Esmael de Vera
Manex
Tito Art
DOB: 19 December 1969
POB: Bagac, Bagamanok, Catanduanes Province, the Philippines
FORMER ADDRESS: Concepcion, Zaragosa, Nueva Ecija Province, the Philippines
NATIONALITY: Filipino
Pio Abogne de Vera is a member of the ASG. At the time of his arrest in December 2005, he was also believed to be RSM’s second-in-command and its operations officer.
De Vera played an active role in an RSM plot to bomb civilian targets in Manila in 2005. He purchased and transported the explosives and scouted targets frequented by Americans and other foreign nationals. Philippine authorities disrupted this plot before its execution.
De Vera also was one of two persons tasked in 2003 with executing another aborted RSM plot to bomb several targets in Luzon, the Philippines, including telecommunications and power facilities.
REDENDO CAIN DELLOSA
AKAs: Redendo Dellosa y Cain
Redendo Cain Jabil Dellosa
Hakid Akmal
Habil Akmad Dellosa
Habil Ahmad Dellosa
Reendo Cain Dellos
Ahmad Dellosa
Abu Llonggo
Abu Ilonggo
Abu Muadz
Brandon Berusa
Arnulfo Alvarado
DOB: 15 May 1972
POB: Punta, Santa Ana, Manila, the Philippines
FORMER ADDRESS: 3111 Ma. Bautista Street, Punta, Santa Ana, Manila,
the Philippines
NATIONALITY: Filipino
PHILIPPINE SSN: 33-3208848-3
Redendo Cain Dellosa is an RSM leader, as well as a member of the ASG. Philippine authorities arrested Dellosa in March 2004.
Dellosa allegedly led the February 2004 bombing of a passenger ferry in Manila Bay that killed over 100 people. Dellosa reportedly planted the bomb, and the ASG publicly claimed credit for the attack.
In early 2004, ASG leader Khadafi Janjalani (SDGT), now deceased, tasked Dellosa, through an associate, to devise a plan to kill Philippine Vice Presidential candidate Loren Legarda. Dellosa admitted to authorities that he had decided to place a bomb at one of her campaign stops.
Philippine authorities charged Dellosa with participation in the ASG’s 2001 kidnapping of 20 people, several of whom were killed, from the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan, the Philippines. He was also reportedly implicated in the ASG kidnapping of 21 people on Sipadan Island, Malaysia, in 2000.
FELICIANO SEMBORIO DELOS REYES, JR.
AKAs: Feliciano de los Reyes
Feleciano Semborio Delos Reyes
Feleciano Delos Reyes y Semberio
Feliciano Abubakar De Los Reyes
Ustadz Abubakar Delos Reyes
Abubakar Reyes
Ustadz Abubakar Abdillah
Abubakar Abdillah
Abdul Abdillah
Jorge Castro
DOB: 04 November 1963
POB: Arco, Lamitan, Basilan Province, the Philippines
NATIONALITY: Filipino
Feliciano Semborio Delos Reyes, Jr. is a founding member and a senior leader of RSM. In 2006, Reyes conducted military and counterintelligence training in the Philippines for students of an ASG and JI-linked educational center.
In April 2003, Reyes reportedly joined with the ASG in planning and preparing a proposed bombing in Manila.
Reyes also participated in the February 2003 Awang airport bombing near Cotabato City, the Philippines, which killed one soldier and wounded three civilians. Philippine Government authorities arrested Reyes in December 2006.
RICARDO PEREZ AYERAS
AKAs: Ricardo Abdulkarim Ayeras
Ricardo Abdulkareem Ayeras
Ricky Ayeras
Abdul Kareem Ayeras
Abdul Karem Ayeras
Abdul Karim Ayeras
Abdul Karim Ayers
Khalil Ayeras
Isaac Jay Galang Perez
Jay Perez
Abdul Mujib
DOB: 15 September 1973
POB: 24 Paraiso Street, Barangay Poblacion, Mandaluyong City, Manila, the Philippines
FORMER ADDRESS: 24 Paraiso Street, Barangay Poblacion, Mandaluyong City, Manila, the Philippines
NATIONALITY: Filipino
Ricardo Perez Ayeras is a member of RSM. Philippine Government authorities arrested Ayeras in January 2007 for his role in the February 2005 Valentine’s Day bombing of a passenger bus in Manila that killed six and wounded over 100.
Ayeras was also a central player in RSM’s 2005 “Big Bang” plot to bomb civilian targets in Manila. Ayeras was to drive the bomb-laden car, staying with it as a suicide bomber, if necessary. He also helped purchase the explosives for the plot. In addition, a JI operative channeled several thousand U.S. dollars, probably destined for this same attack, through Ayeras’s ATM account.
RUBEN PESTANO LAVILLA, JR.
AKAs: Reuben Omar Lavilla
Omar Lavilla
Reuben Lavilla
Ahmad Omar Sharief
Shaykh Omar Lobilla
Omar Labella
Reymund Lavilla
Mile D. Lavilla
Mike De Lavilla
Abdullah Muddaris
Ramo Lavilla
DOB: 04 October 1972
POB: Sitio Banga Maiti, Barangay Tranghawan, Lambunao, Iloilo Province, the Philippines
FORMER ADDRESS: 10th Avenue, Caloocan City, Manila, the Philippines
ALT. FORMER ADDRESS: Sitio Banga Maiti, Barangay Tranghawan, Lambunao,
Iloilo Province, the Philippines
NATIONALITY: Filipino
Ruben Pestano Lavilla, Jr. founded RSM, along with Santos and others, and is believed to have taken over as RSM’s political, religious and strategic leader following Santos’s 2005 arrest. Lavilla is considered RSM’ s spiritual advisor.
Lavilla channeled funds to RSM from personal Arab contacts. At some point before 2003, Lavilla also personally couriered approximately US $200,000 for RSM.
Lavilla was part of the ASG-sponsored cell that carried out the February 2004 bombing of a passenger ferry in Manila Bay that killed over 100 people.
DINNO AMOR ROSALEJOS PAREJA
AKAs: Dino Amor Rosalejos-Pareja
Dinno Rosalejos Pareja
Khalil Pareja
Kahlil Pareja
Khalil Pareja Aminah
Johnny Pareja
DOB: 19 July 1981
POB: Cebu City, Cebu Province, the Philippines
FORMER ADDRESS: Atimonan, Quezon Province, the Philippines
NATIONALITY: Filipino
Dinno Amor Rosalejos Pareja assumed a senior leadership role for RSM following the arrests of RSM leader Santos and RSM second-in-command De Vera in 2005.
Pareja was the key operative in the August 2005 twin bombings in Zamboanga City, the Philippines, which wounded 26 people. In November 2006, Pareja led a group in casing bombing targets in Cebu City, the Philippines, for an attack planned to coincide with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit. Senior ASG figure Jainal Sali, now deceased, directed Pareja to conduct this attack. Earlier, around 2004, RSM leader Santos entrusted RSM funds to Pareja.
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