existence or nonexistence of NSA intelligence records on Barnabas Sueb

National Security Agency
Declassification Services (DJ5)
Suite 6884, Bldg. SAB2
9800 Savage Road
Ft. George G. Meade, MD, 20755-6884

Re: MDR Request - the existence or nonexistence of NSA intelligence records on Barnabas Suebu.

NSA MDR Officer:

This is a request pursuant to the provisions of Executive Orders 12958, 13292, and 13526 for Mandatory Declassification Review of the existence or nonexistence of NSA intelligence records on Barnabas Suebu (born April 29, 1946), also known as Bas Suebu, Governor of the Indonesian province Papua.

This request is not for the intelligence records themselves. The only piece of information for which the Mandatory Declassification Review is requested is the very narrow item of the existence or nonexistence of these records. I.e., if our request is granted, the NSA will only have to send us a letter saying either “Yes, the NSA possesses intelligence records on Barnabas Suebu” or “No, the NSA does not possess intelligence records on Barnabas Suebu.” To the best of my knowledge, this piece of information (the existence or nonexistence of intelligence records on Barnabas Suebu) has not previously been the subject of declassification review within the last two years.

Your cooperation in this matter would be appreciated. If you wish to discuss this request, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Signed,
/Jason Smathers/
Jason Smathers
Filed via MuckRock.com
185 Beacon St. #3
Somerville, MA 02143

Daytime: (857) 488- 3081
E-mail: requests@muckrock.com

NSA/CSS MDR Appeal Authority (DJP5)
National Security Agency
9800 Savage Road, STE 6881
Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755-6881

NSA/CSS MDR Appeal Authority,

I made a request pursuant to the provisions of Executive Orders 12958, 13292, and 13526 for Mandatory Declassification Review of the existence or nonexistence of NSA intelligence records on Barnabas Suebu (born April 29, 1946), also known as Bas Suebu, Governor of the Indonesian province Papua.

This request was assigned serial number MDR-63577, and was denied by letter dated 10 April 2011 and signed by Kristina M Grein. I appeal your determination.

The mere existence or non-existence of records pertaining to Barnabas Sueb should not be classified.

With respect to your statement, "Moreover, you did not specify any documents to be reviewed for declassification," the Mandatory Declassification Review provisions in E.O. 13526 are not limited to documents, but rather apply more broadly to classified information. As such, it is proper to request Mandatory Declassification Review of a fact such as the existence or non-existence of a record under this Executive Order.

Regards,
Jason Smathers

Hello,

Please provide an update on the following MDR request: MDR-63577.

Thank you.