Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JAKARTA13578
2006-12-22 05:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:  

PDAS WARLICK'S MEETING WITH INDONESIAN DEFENSE

Tags:  PREL MARR MOPS ID 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2078
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #3578 3560522
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 220522Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2576
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0263
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1242
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 013578 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS ID
SUBJECT: PDAS WARLICK'S MEETING WITH INDONESIAN DEFENSE
OFFICIAL ON PEACEKEEPING

Classified By: Stanley J. Harsha, Acting Political Counselor, for reaso
ns 1.4 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 013578

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS ID
SUBJECT: PDAS WARLICK'S MEETING WITH INDONESIAN DEFENSE
OFFICIAL ON PEACEKEEPING

Classified By: Stanley J. Harsha, Acting Political Counselor, for reaso
ns 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) Summary: IO PDAS James Warlick discussed Indonesian
peacekeeping policy and options with Indonesian Director
General for Defense Strategy Dadi Susanto in Jakarta on
December 19. Susanto said the UNIFIL deployment to Lebanon
was Indonesia's first involving mechanized infantry.
Indonesia was not considering a further deployment but could
mobilize another battalion if necessary, logistical and
budgetary limitations permiting. GOI would review
Indonesia's UNIFIL participation if it lasted more than one
year. Indonesia was not anticipating other UN requests
during this time but would consider them, including for
observers, and could deploy police observers. Indonesia
would be willing to send peacekeepers to Iraq as part of a UN
operation, in line with President Yudhoyono's proposal at the
time of President Bush's visit. End summary.

UNIFIL DEPLOYMENT


2. (C) In their meeting at the Indonesian Department of
Defense, Susanto said Indonesia's participation in the UN and
UN peacekeeping efforts was rooted in the Indonesian
constitution, which encouraged Indonesia to participate
actively in world affairs. Indonesia had deployed many
peacekeeping contingents in the past half-century, but the
UNIFIL deployment was the first deployment of mechanized
infantry, though the majority of the force was
non-mechanized. This deployment was logistically more
complex. Indonesia did not expect to commit more
peacekeepers to Lebanon for the time being and would have to
review the UNIFIL deployment if it lasted beyond one year.
One further infantry battalion could be mobilized if
necessary, although logistical and budgetary limitations had
to be taken into account.

FURTHER RESOURCES


3. (C) Indonesia was not looking for additional UN PKO
opportunities at this time but would consider UN requests,
Susanto said. The UNIFIL deployment was a successful
precedent for such deployments in the future. Indonesia
might be able to send observers if it could not send troops,
and currently had about a dozen military observers in Darfur,
Sudan. Logistical limitations aside, Indonesia had
additional troops available for PKO and had considerable
experience in peacekeeping. The "territorial" structure of
Indonesia's military meant that it had few dedicated bases
from which to draw troops, which were scattered throughout
the country in small units embedded in local communities.
Warlick noted the UNSC was considering deploying peacekeepers
to Chad, across the border from Darfur.


4. (C) Susanto said Indonesia had also sent police
peacekeepers in the past -- to Namibia, for example -- and
could do so again. If the UN requested, Indonesia would
consider sending observers to other regions, such as Haiti.

IRAQ


5. (C) In the case of Iraq, Susanto stated, Indonesia would
consider sending peacekeepers provided they were part of a UN
operation. (Note: During the visit of President Bush to
Indonesia in November, Indonesian President Yudhoyono
proposed the creation of an international peacekeeping force
led by Islamic countries under the auspices of the UN as part
of a larger effort to pacify and rebuild Iraq.) Indonesia
had no specific interests at stake in Iraq, considered itself
neutral in the conflict even if it was predominantly Muslim,
and had good relations with both Saudi Arabia and Iran.
HEFFERN