Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JAKARTA11143
2006-09-08 12:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:  

EVASIVE RESPONSE ON SRI LANKA CONTACT GROUP

Tags:  MARR PHUM PINS PREL PTER CE ID 
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O 081233Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9731
INFO RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO IMMEDIATE 0900
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR IMMEDIATE 2101
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0533
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)

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