Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JAKARTA5853
2006-05-09 10:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
UNHCR TO ADJUDICATE BURMESE CASES
how-toVZCZCXRO8216 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #5853 1291052 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 091052Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3940 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 9420 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 3187 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0801 RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 005853
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV KJUS CVIS EAD ID BM
SUBJECT: UNHCR TO ADJUDICATE BURMESE CASES
REF: JAKARTA 05484
Classified By: Political Officer Lissa McAtee, reason 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 005853
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV KJUS CVIS EAD ID BM
SUBJECT: UNHCR TO ADJUDICATE BURMESE CASES
REF: JAKARTA 05484
Classified By: Political Officer Lissa McAtee, reason 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Shinji Kubo, Head of Protective Services at the
United Nations High Commission for Refugees told us that
UNHCR struck a confidential "gentlemen's agreement" on May 9
with the Immigration office in Jakarta and the head of
Immigration in Aceh, to transfer the 77 Burmese refugees
currently being held in Sabang, Aceh to Medan (reftel).
UNHCR will assist with the logistics of the transfer, which
Kubo estimated would take several days. Once the transfer is
complete, the government of Indonesia (GOI) will give UNCHR
the opportunity to interview and adjudicate the claims of the
refugees in Medan.
2. (C) The refugees have yet to make a claim for asylum and
thus far have only expressed their desire to go to Malaysia;
however, language barriers and lack of awareness of their
options may be reasons for this. Kubo has previously
intimated to us (reftel) that the Burmese would qualify for
asylum should they apply for it. However, if they do not
apply for asylum, or do not qualify for some reason, UNHCR
will turn them back over to the GOI. Based on past record,
refugees turned over to the GOI typically linger in
detention, disappear into the general population, or receive
funding from their respective embassy to return to their home
country.
3. (C) Kubo emphasized the political pressure that the
government of Indonesia (GOI) is under regarding this case
(reftel) and asked that UNHCR's agreement with the GOI be
kept under wraps. He also lobbied us for financial
assistance in feeding the 77 refugees while they are in
detention in Medan. Kubo said that they have twice as many
people to feed as their budget allows for and International
Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Australian Embassy
have already denied UNHCR assistance. He warned that if
UNHCR, with the help of "key countries", cannot financially
support the refugees, the GOI may be more inclined in future
similar cases to opt for deportation.
4. (SBU) We raised this Burmese case with the Foreign
Ministry on May 2. Johnny Sinaga, desk officer at thQ
Department for Human Rights, Social and Cultural Affairs,
assured us that the GOI viewed this as a humanitarian, not a
political, issue and the views/findings of UNHCR would be
considered. While the Foreign Ministry views were not
authoritative, we did not receive any indication that
Indonesia might forcibly return the 77 to Burma.
5. (C) Please advise on how to reply to Kubo's request for
financial assistance.
PASCOE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV KJUS CVIS EAD ID BM
SUBJECT: UNHCR TO ADJUDICATE BURMESE CASES
REF: JAKARTA 05484
Classified By: Political Officer Lissa McAtee, reason 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Shinji Kubo, Head of Protective Services at the
United Nations High Commission for Refugees told us that
UNHCR struck a confidential "gentlemen's agreement" on May 9
with the Immigration office in Jakarta and the head of
Immigration in Aceh, to transfer the 77 Burmese refugees
currently being held in Sabang, Aceh to Medan (reftel).
UNHCR will assist with the logistics of the transfer, which
Kubo estimated would take several days. Once the transfer is
complete, the government of Indonesia (GOI) will give UNCHR
the opportunity to interview and adjudicate the claims of the
refugees in Medan.
2. (C) The refugees have yet to make a claim for asylum and
thus far have only expressed their desire to go to Malaysia;
however, language barriers and lack of awareness of their
options may be reasons for this. Kubo has previously
intimated to us (reftel) that the Burmese would qualify for
asylum should they apply for it. However, if they do not
apply for asylum, or do not qualify for some reason, UNHCR
will turn them back over to the GOI. Based on past record,
refugees turned over to the GOI typically linger in
detention, disappear into the general population, or receive
funding from their respective embassy to return to their home
country.
3. (C) Kubo emphasized the political pressure that the
government of Indonesia (GOI) is under regarding this case
(reftel) and asked that UNHCR's agreement with the GOI be
kept under wraps. He also lobbied us for financial
assistance in feeding the 77 refugees while they are in
detention in Medan. Kubo said that they have twice as many
people to feed as their budget allows for and International
Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Australian Embassy
have already denied UNHCR assistance. He warned that if
UNHCR, with the help of "key countries", cannot financially
support the refugees, the GOI may be more inclined in future
similar cases to opt for deportation.
4. (SBU) We raised this Burmese case with the Foreign
Ministry on May 2. Johnny Sinaga, desk officer at thQ
Department for Human Rights, Social and Cultural Affairs,
assured us that the GOI viewed this as a humanitarian, not a
political, issue and the views/findings of UNHCR would be
considered. While the Foreign Ministry views were not
authoritative, we did not receive any indication that
Indonesia might forcibly return the 77 to Burma.
5. (C) Please advise on how to reply to Kubo's request for
financial assistance.
PASCOE