EVASIVE RESPONSE ON SRI LANKA CONTACT GROUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 011143 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA AND EAP E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2016 TAGS: MARR PHUM PINS PREL PTER CE ID SUBJECT: EVASIVE RESPONSE ON SRI LANKA CONTACT GROUP PROPOSAL REF: STATE 140812 Classified By: PolCouns Marc Desjardins, reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) We called on Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) Director for South and Central Asia Mohamad Asruchin and his assistant Winanto Adi on August 31 to deliver reftel information about the proposed dates of the first meeting of the planned Sri Lanka Contact Group. Asruchin responded that his office had never received a response from DEPLU's interdepartmental and interagency clearance process, which was the one stipulated for multilateral affairs such as this. He explained that his desk was not opposed to the proposal but had authority to take the lead only on bilateral Indonesian-Sri Lankan issues. He said the Sri Lankan government had also urged the GOI to participate in the group. A non-response, he clarified, did not necessarily mean a negative response. He noted, however, as a possible reason for the non-response that, to his knowledge, Indonesia had no precedent for participation in a group such as the proposed one. Further, Indonesia might want to see first how the group performed before making a decision on participation. He welcomed further information on the group's work in the future. He said Indonesia had in the past responded bilaterally to Sri Lankan requests to block specific arms shipments on Indonesian territory. ¶2. (C) Following up on Asruchin's suggestion, we raised the matter as well with Hasan Kleib, Director for International Security and Disarmament Affairs, on September 8. Kleib was visibly surprised when told we had been referred to him on this issue. He had never heard of the contact group proposal before. We briefed him based on reftel contents. He said he would look into the issue, but said he could not give any reply without learning more from us and from within his own ministry. He requested a non-paper from us on the matter. ¶3. (C) Recommended Action: If the Department wishes to pursue this issue further with the Indonesians, we request a non-paper that we could provide Kleib at the earliest opportunity. Although he has only been introduced to the issue, he is more likely to follow-up than Asruchin, who has no visible intention to move his internal clearance process forward. Kleib is travelling to Moscow Sept. 11, but an assistant is prepared to receive it for his return a few days later. If acceptable to the Department, besides describing the group as it is now conceived, we suggest that the non-paper welcome Indonesian initial attendance as an observer, should it so desire, as opposed to in any way suggesting that they must be a "member" of the Contact Group. Experience on other issues suggests that requiring "membership" will prolong internal DEPLU discussions. DEPLU officials shy away from approaching problems from a new perspective and tend to focus on legalistic minutia. While we are far from guaranteeing Indonesian participation, having a representative welcomed to attend on a noncommittal basis may help persuade the GOI to show up. PASCOE