JOLO LOCALS WELCOME US ATTENTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 001955 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/PMBS,INR/EAP, USIP - SOLOMON USAID FOR INFO PHILIPPINE DESK OFFICER CALISTA DOWNEY, ANE/DAA DEBBIE KENNEDY-IRAHETA, ANE/EAA KAY FREEMAN, DAA WALTER NORTH NSC FOR GREEN SEOUL FOR ERIC JOHN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PTER KISL PGOV PHUM PINS PREL MOPS RP SUBJECT: JOLO LOCALS WELCOME US ATTENTION REF: A. MANILA 835 ¶B. 04 MANILA 5628 ¶C. 04 MANILA 3817 ¶D. 04 MANILA 3939 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Ambassador's April 22 visit to Jolo Town, the capital of Sulu Province, centered on handover ceremonies for several USAID-funded assistance programs including road projects, village electrification, and Internet-linked computers for an elementary school. USAID Manila Mission Director, visiting SOCPAC Commander, and the Italian Ambassador accompanied local politicians and military commanders who warmly responded to US military proposals to assess local humanitarian needs in cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). End Summary. Local Appreciation -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador's delegation to Jolo included Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Umberto Colesanti, Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao Governor Parouk Hussin, Sulu Governor Benjamin Loong, USAID-P Mission Director Dr. Michael Yates, US Defense Attache Colonel Terry Cook, and visiting BGen David Fridovich, the Commanding Officer of Special Operations Command - Pacific (SOCPAC). ¶3. (SBU) The April 22 tour of the city showcased the range of USAID programs in the island province, which is located 570 miles south of Manila. USAID's road improvement projects link key towns outside of Jolo -- an important transportation development, according to one local, who noted that it was previously easier to travel between coastal towns by sea rather than by using the dilapidated road. Parents, teachers, and students were grateful for Internet-linked computers from USAID that now provide almost 10,000 students in Sulu Province internet and computer literacy training. To date, USAID has also electrified 18 remote villages on Jolo, with 70 more to follow. US JSOTF-P To Assess Community Needs -------------- ¶4. (SBU) In a private meeting, Ambassador and BGen Fridovich sounded out Governors Loong and Hussin as well as LtGen Alberto Braganza -- Commander, Philippine Southern Command -- about a proposed Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) assessment team that could potentially set the stage for US civil-military activities on the island. Loong, Hussin, and Braganza expressed eagerness for such an assessment and confidence that local inhabitants would welcome the team. However, Governor Hussin cautioned that the inhabitants of Jolo are known for their combative nature. While eager for US attention and development assistance, whether from civilian or military sources, local communities would react to any appearance that US soldiers were there to "conduct operations against them." ¶5. (SBU) BG Fridovich stressed that a small JSOTF team would conduct their assessment transparently and in a short time. They would come only if and when they are welcomed by the local communities. They would seek an open exchange of ideas and intentions with all players, building on Governor Loong's projects that supplement the University of the Philippines water survey, and USAID's experience. US soldiers also would work with AFP counterparts, not unilaterally, in their assessments and any resulting civil affairs projects. BG Fridovich acknowledged Governor Loong's assertion that potable water was a priority, and saw such engineering projects as a distinct possibility for US cooperation with AFP engineers. He was careful to repeat that JSOTF-P could make no promises for specific projects in advance of the survey, and reminded the Governors to avoid raising community expectations. ¶6. (SBU) At a later roundtable with local Muslim clerics, one 80-year old imam appeared thrilled at the prospect of foreign -- particularly US -- assistance. Speaking in front of a room full of fellow Muslims and national media at the Jolo Islamic Library, he stressed to the Ambassador: "We are products of American teachers of decades ago, and we are trying to pass on to our young people here what Americans taught us, even as we teach the true meaning of our Faith. We tell them to support the good and reject the bad., We welcome Americans here. You bring only good things. Manila gives us nothing, and is fully corrupt." Comment: A Neglected Outpost Welcomes US Attention -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Sulu is one of the Philippines' poorest provinces. USAID projects there have already made some headway in addressing some of the area's basic needs, and have established a strong popular welcome for more such US assistance. Through our development assistance projects, we have come to know many local leaders who have made a choice in favor of peace and stability. US military support to improve AFP civil affairs programs could help move relations between government and people toward normalcy in this conflict-affected area. At the national level, to a man and woman, all Cabinet-level leaders involved in Mindanao peace, security, and development issues have welcomed the prospect of greater US assistance and visibility in Jolo, explicitly including a careful JSOTF-P assessment of community civil affairs needs as related to the security situation. ¶8. (SBU) Brigadier General Fridovich did not have the opportunity to clear this message. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/ Ricciardone