INDONESIAN POLICE CHIEF SUTANTO PRESSES REFORMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 JAKARTA 009575 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, S/CT, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/CC DOJ FOR CTS THORNTON, AAG SWARTZ FBI FOR ETTIU/SSA ROTH E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2016 TAGS: PTER PGOV EFIN ASEC KCRM KHLS KPAO PINS KJUS KISL, AS, ID SUBJECT: INDONESIAN POLICE CHIEF SUTANTO PRESSES REFORMS AND BILATERAL COOPERATION Classified By: Classified by Political Officer David R. Willis, reason 1.4 (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Indonesian National Police (INP) Chief General Sutanto told the Ambassador July 25 that U.S. assistance was helping to keep the INP out front in Indonesia's democratization process. In a lunch meeting at the Residence, Sutanto said his top priority was creating a high quality, moral police force focused on INP's missions. He acknowledged the need for the INP to improve its skills and performance, and suggested an initiative to create a new generation of INP officers by training select INP cadets at U.S. police academies. He spoke candidly on the Munir case, saying he was convinced the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) was involved, though the INP still lacked conclusive evidence. As in past meetings, Sutanto impressed us as a supportive and cooperative interlocutor who is committed to developing a professional and capable police force. He is looking forward to his October trip to the United States and we encourage Washington's full support. End Summary. Placing Police at Forefront of Democratization -------------- - ¶2. (C) The Ambassador and Indonesian National Police (INP) Chief General Sutanto held a lunch meeting at the Residence on July 25. Also present from the INP were CID Chief Commissioner General Makbul Padmanegara, Deputy CID Chief Major General Gories Mere, and CT Detachment 88 Chief Brigadier General Bekto Suprapto. The Ambassador was accompanied by staff from RSO, RA, ICITAP, FBI, and POL. ¶3. (C) Speaking through an interpreter, General Sutanto thanked the Ambassador for U.S. assistance, noting that his appreciation "goes beyond words." He told us U.S. programs were helping him put the INP out front in Indonesia's democratization process, and develop the INP into a well-trained, well-equipped, and moral police force. Praising current cooperation levels, the Ambassador said his duty was to help Indonesia's democracy succeed, and added the U.S. would continue to assist in the INP's long term plans. ¶4. (C) Sutanto said the INP remained focused on three broad missions: (1) defending the people's security, (2) upholding the law, and (3) serving the people. Another priority, he said, is to improve INP cooperation with the Attorney General's office and the judiciary. Sutanto shared his vision of a new generation of INP officers with significant overseas experience and English language ability. He encouraged us to consider a program to routinely send around 20 INP cadets to study for a period of time at U.S. police academies. The Ambassador agreed it was an interesting initiative. Embassy officers explained a current program to attract a limited number of foreign candidates to the National FBI Academy, and an upcoming ICITAP program to revise the INP academy curriculum. ¶5. (C) Sutanto admitted that his push to increase INP discipline had made him unpopular among some in the police, but that strict expectations were necessary. Improved living conditions, he asserted, are needed to make long term improvements in police morale and field performance, but the INP's budget remains seriously insufficient. Sutanto described a small INP program to provide housing and favorable mortgage-loan financing for INP officers to improve their living conditions. Although nearly 60% of the INP's budget goes toward police welfare, Sutanto said much more needs to be done to improve conditions enough to make INP officers less susceptible to corruption. ¶6. (C) Hoping in part to improve the INP's public image, Sutanto said he has encouraged his officers to more vigilantly investigate street crimes and to not be so quick to release the criminals (called preman) from police custody. This includes members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and other groups that lack an understanding and respect for the laws, he said. He added that he hoped increased police sensitivity to human rights and improved crowd control skills would also boost the INP's public image. Although he said JAKARTA 00009575 002 OF 004 there are no nationwide criminal gangs in Indonesia, some groups with political ties have deviated into criminal activity. As examples, Sutanto pointed to two groups in North Sumatra, the Pancasila Youth (Pemuda Pancasila, PP), and its rival, the Functional Youth Group (Ikatan Pemuda Karya, IPK). Sutanto said the INP closely monitors these groups and has significantly curbed their activities and influence. ¶7. (C) Sutanto described illegal logging as a major problem requiring broad international support to combat. He said the countries involved in the business and transport of the illegal lumber and goods need to be encouraged to reject them. The Ambassador assured Sutanto that Washington that there is strong pressure in the U.S. against purchasing such products. A reputable U.S. paper company that practices sustainable forestry techniques, the Ambassador said, had refrained from investing in Indonesia because of illegal logging and the risk of a boycott of "Made in Indonesia" wood products. Sutanto said he hopes the GOI will impose stricter laws to make investment more attractive. Looking for Changes in Terrorist Tactics -------------- ¶8. (C) Sutanto observed that the conflicts in Poso, Maluku, and Papua had entered a period of calm, and he said he had placed INP officers in these areas committed to the INP's missions. His investigators were now looking closely at non-explosive related terrorist training, concerned that terrorists might turn to other tactics, such as bio-terrorism. The Ambassador agreed that the bio-terrorism threat was a concern, and noted we were working with health authorities to ensure strict security measures at Indonesia's current and future biosafety level (BSL) III laboratories. The Ambassador mentioned our talks with the GOI on the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI),and emphasized the need to cooperate closely to ensure WMD materials are not shipped to or through Indonesia. He added that the U.S. is willing to provide the GOI with detectors and other equipment to protect against such dangerous traffic. ¶9. (C) Ties between Indonesian and Middle East terror groups also concerned te INP, Sutanto said, and he encouraged Washingto to pass the INP any relevvant leads regarding such links. The Ambassador assured Sutanto that we wuld keep Indonesia informed on these matters and pplauded GOI success in preventing Indonesian jihadists from joining the corps of terrorists in Iraq, and elsewhere in the Middle East. ¶10. (C) Sutanto said his investigators remain focused on Central Java in their search for Noordin Top and oher members of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). The INP aso maintains s"urveihl ce on many key figures, icludi(ng Abu Bakar Baasyir, despite public comments to the contrary. These are discreet efforts that are not discussed publicly. Bekto Suprapto said evidence still indicates that terrorists use routes through Kalimantan to reach East Malaysia and the Southern Philippines. He reported that the INP has arrested suspects in West Kalimantan who worked for JI-linked terrorist Umar Patek to shuttle money and operatives to Patek in the Philippines. (Note: The date and details of the arrest(s) are not currently available.) ¶11. (C) Sutanto frankly stated that other parts of the GOI are neither as committed as the INP to CT nor share his concerns. Sutanto said he is particularly worried by the risks posed by terrorists released from prison, and is seeking financial support to reintegrate extremists into society and to keep the ex-cons from returning to their past terrorist activity. He said he has discussed these issues with lawmakers, who have agreed to recommend changes to the CT laws. (Note: We do not currently have information on the nature of these possible changes to the CT laws.) Initial 'reintegration' funding would require an est. $30,000 for relocation, training, and a small 1-2 month stipend for a select number of the estimated 200 terrorists released after their prison sentences. As a sign of INP commitment to this concept, the INP is currently using the CID budget to pay public school enrollment fees for the children of several former and current prisoners. On a related issue, Sutanto JAKARTA 00009575 003 OF 004 expressed strong support for the removal of former JI leader and current police consultant, Nasir Abas, from the U.S. and UN terrorist lists, and asked about the status of Nasir's appeal. ¶12. (C) On regional CT cooperation, Sutanto told us the INP regularly engaged Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, and said both Mere and Suprapto were in close contact with their counterparts. For example, Sutanto said Malaysia previously gave the INP information on Umar Patek that led to an INP request to the Philippines to act on the tip. He also said the INP had given Singapore at least two terrorist suspects, adding that the GOI was seeking quid pro quo assistance from Singapore in several corruption cases. Improving Police Capabilities -------------- ¶13. (C) Indonesia relies heavily on Detachment 88 to handle terrorism, narcotics, and other key criminal cases, Sutanto told us. He said he has instructed the INP's regional commanders to keep these officers focused on top issues, and not to use them on unrelated cases. As a possible move to relieve overtaxed CT investigators, Mere said he plans to form a new 120 person taskforce, like Detachment 88, to focus on transnational crime. He said he hoped to use U.S. Defense Department assistance to develop the force. ¶14. (C) Bekto Suprapto said he was pleased by the recent approval of U.S. funding for a dedicated administrative and dormitory facility for the CT units working out of Jakarta. He hoped future funding could add a shooting range to the facility. Also, his CRT units looked forward to November exercises with U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) forces. He asked that we consider future boat interdiction training in the Malacca Strait involving U.S. Navy SEAL units and INP Crisis Response Teams (CRTs) from Medan and Riau. He also invited assistance in combating terrorist transit through Kalimantan. (Note: On August 11, ATA completes training for CRT nine, which includes a 12-man unit for East Kalimantan.) ¶15. (C) Sutanto said INP intelligence capabilities remained limited, on both terrorism and financial/economic issues. He admitted that 'grandstanding' among INP units on joint CT operations had previously hurt the CT effort, and that the INP needs to develop a unified intelligence apparatus. We told Sutanto that relevant intelligence collection and analysis training for INP units could be arranged for either here in Indonesia or in the United States. Sutanto encouraged us to work with BIK to develop the needed capabilities. (Note: The Director of INP's intelligence arm (BIK),Inspector General Zamris Anwar, had previously accepted the invitation to attend the lunch meeting, but cancelled at the last minute.) Serious About the Munir Case -------------- ¶16. (C) In a private sidebar following the meeting, the Ambassador enquired about the Munir case. Sutanto assured the Ambassador that the INP is serious about the investigation and believed it to be an important case for the country, and an important feather in INP's cap. With surprising candor, Sutanto said he was convinced that the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) was involved in the murder, but still lacked conclusive evidence. Sutanto said current BIN Chief Syamsir Siregar is sympathetic and cooperating with the INP, although other 'old school' BIN officials are not. Washington Trip -------------- ¶17. (C) Sutanto said he is looking forward to his October trip to the United States and is anxious to meet with senior U.S. officials from the FBI, CIA, State, Justice, DHS, and DEA. The Ambassador and Embassy officers told Sutanto that they will try to facilitate his trip and meetings in Washington as much as possible. (Note: Sutanto will attend the International Association of Chiefs of Police meeting in Boston on October 14-18, and afterwards will visit Washington for meetings. Sutanto might be accompanied by Mere and JAKARTA 00009575 004 OF 004 Colonel Petrus Golose.) Comment -------------- ¶18. (C) As in our previous meetings with the Police Chief, the atmospherics were very positive and both General Sutanto and the other senior INP officials present appeared intent on displaying their willingness to cooperate closely with the United States. Sutanto continues to send all the right signals regarding bilateral cooperation. We remain impressed by his commitment to the bilateral relationship, and his sincerity in developing a quality and professional police force. We encourage Washington to fully support General Sutanto's October visit. PASCOE