GOI SAYS ITS FORCES ARE READY TO DEPLOY TO LEBANON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 010493 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR P,EUR,NEA,PM,IO,EAP E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2016 TAGS: MARR MOPS PFLP PREL ID LE SUBJECT: GOI SAYS ITS FORCES ARE READY TO DEPLOY TO LEBANON REF: A. JAKARTA 10366 INDONESIAN PEACEKEEPING PREPARATIONS FOR LEBANON ¶B. STATE 134133 SOLICITING CONTRIBUTIONS UNIFIL ¶C. USUN 01545 UNIFIL FORCE GENERATION UPDATE ¶D. STATE 132517 SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON LEBANON ¶E. STATE 124162 FORCE GENERATION MEETING Classified By: Amb. B. Lynn Pascoe for reasons 1.4(b and d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Presidential adviser Dino Djalal told the Ambassador August 23 that Indonesian forces are "ready" to deploy to Lebanon at any time; there remains some confusion in the public arena about what exactly their role would be. Ambassador emphasized to Djalal the need for GOI statements to be even-handed and emphasize the positive contribution that Indonesian forces can make in reestablishing peace in the region. According to a military planner, the forces, expected to number from 850 to 990 troops, are in training to make sure they meet United Nations standards, with the final deployment number dependent upon discussions with UN officials. Government statements in public have emphasized the need for a clear mandate, expressed reluctance about disarming Hezbollah, and downplayed Israel's ability to block Indonesia's participation in the peacekeeping force. President Yudhoyono's son, Lieutenant Agus Harimurti, will reportedly be a member of the Indonesian contingent. End Summary ¶2. (C) Presidential Advisor Dino Djalal confirmed to the Ambassador Aug. 23 that Indonesia stands ready to send forces to Lebanon at any time. At the military planning level, DAO has been told the same. Noting some of the discordant notes in the press, the Ambassador told Djalal that it would be important to ensure that GOI statements about the eventual deployment have a positive even-handed tone emphasizing what the UN force could achieve to restore peace. Djalal said he understood and would try to ensure a positive tone. Apparently the number of personnel to be deployed remains in flux. It remains unclear to us what specific logistic plans are in place to move not only the force but its equipment. The Indonesians have heard that the UN would want a battalion of 850. Current Indonesian plans are to send such a battalion supplemented by 140 more engineering personnel for a total of 990. The final number and composition will depend on discussions with UN officials. In the meantime, planners have told us the Indonesians are undergoing unspecified training to meet "UN standards." ¶3. (SBU) The GOI's decision to send peacekeeping troops to oversee the ceasefire in Lebanon has generated a certain debate in the Indonesian press, the most contentious being the possibility of Indonesian troops participating in the disarmament of Hezbollah. Observers have noted that such a step, although not specifically mentioned in the UN resolution, is nonetheless required if the ceasefire is to hold. Several members of Parliament have made clear their objection to any Indonesian involvement in such an activity. Defense Minister Sudarsono did a tap dance around the issue, stating that "what matters is to make UNIFIL and the Lebanese military the only ones with arms, not Israeli troops or Hezbollah," but then adding flatly that "we don't want to be assigned to disarm Hezbollah." That job, he suggested, could be carried out by the Lebanese military alone. FM Wirajuda observed that it was "crucial" that participating countries receive detailed descriptions of their roles so that Indonesia could avoid any missions that are "politically not in accordance with our interests." The GOI downplayed Israeli statements objecting to the participation of nations such as Indonesia that do not have formal relations with Israel in the peacekeeping force. Both Ministers said that any Indonesian presence in Lebanon would exist as authorized by the UN, would not be in Israel, and that the existence of formal diplomatic relations has never been used as a criteria for participation in past peacekeeping missions. ¶4. (C) Even less clear is how the GOI intends to handle the role of President Yudhoyono's son, Agus Harimurti, in the operation. A press report that Harimurti, a Lieutenant in JAKARTA 00010493 002 OF 002 the 305th Infantry Battalion of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad),would be traveling with a special security detail was criticized by observers who felt that his participation would divert attention and resources from the primary peacekeeping mission. A final unresolved issue is how the force will be paid for. Sudarsono stated that $40 million had been allocated to pay for the initial two months of deployment, and he expressed confidence that the UN would take over the funding at that point and fully reimburse all expenses incurred. PASCOE