Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06USUNNEWYORK2053
2006-10-30 18:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:
SINGAPORE PURPLE IN UN OVER INDONESIA
how-toVZCZCXRO4277 RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUCNDT #2053 3031815 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 301815Z OCT 06 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0591 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 002053
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, OES/IET, OES/ETC
AID FOR ANE/TS MELNYK
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TPHY TBIO KTIA ID SN UNGA
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE PURPLE IN UN OVER INDONESIA
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZE
REF: JAKARTA 12731
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 002053
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, OES/IET, OES/ETC
AID FOR ANE/TS MELNYK
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TPHY TBIO KTIA ID SN UNGA
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE PURPLE IN UN OVER INDONESIA
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZE
REF: JAKARTA 12731
1. (U) The perennial problem of South Asian haze fed by
illegal timber clearing in Indonesia (reftel) spilled into
normally docile UN Second Committee debates on October 25-26
during plenary discussions on sustainable development.
Singapore devoted nearly the entirety of its October 25
statement to applauding President Yudhoyono's intentions to
combat the scourge, but he lambasted Indonesian citizens'
flouting of environmental laws. Singapore's pointed
statement also condemned political factions in Indonesia who
seek to hold action on the haze as a bargaining chip against
other ASEAN states, seemingly ignorant of the fact that
Indonesian citizens pay the highest price for the ecological
disaster.
2. (U) Indonesia used its right of reply on October 26 to
angrily catalogue the efforts Indonesia has undertaken to
combat haze, to list its own grievances against Singapore
(including harboring fugitive corrupt officials and offering
no anti-haze assistance),and to condemn Singapore for
interfering in Indonesia's domestic affairs and airing this
dirty laundry outside of bilateral or ASEAN channels.
Singapore used its own right of reply, in far calmer fashion,
to compliment Indonesia's efforts and stated intentions,
while also noting Singapore and other neighbors' great
frustration that a decade of dialogue on the problem has
produced so little result.
3. (SBU) Comment: Reverting to the right of reply is rather
infrequent in the pacific-minded UN Second Committee, and
usually focuses on thematic issues rather than on specific
countries. Georgia-Russian sparring over the latter's
punitive expulsion of guest workers was a recent exception,
hopefully not signaling a new trend. Singapore delegate told
USUN Econoff that his delegation gave Indonesia fair warning
over the statement, providing them an advance copy. He
claimed Singapore faced the prospect of Indonesian
indignation with equanimity.
BOLTON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, OES/IET, OES/ETC
AID FOR ANE/TS MELNYK
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TPHY TBIO KTIA ID SN UNGA
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE PURPLE IN UN OVER INDONESIA
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZE
REF: JAKARTA 12731
1. (U) The perennial problem of South Asian haze fed by
illegal timber clearing in Indonesia (reftel) spilled into
normally docile UN Second Committee debates on October 25-26
during plenary discussions on sustainable development.
Singapore devoted nearly the entirety of its October 25
statement to applauding President Yudhoyono's intentions to
combat the scourge, but he lambasted Indonesian citizens'
flouting of environmental laws. Singapore's pointed
statement also condemned political factions in Indonesia who
seek to hold action on the haze as a bargaining chip against
other ASEAN states, seemingly ignorant of the fact that
Indonesian citizens pay the highest price for the ecological
disaster.
2. (U) Indonesia used its right of reply on October 26 to
angrily catalogue the efforts Indonesia has undertaken to
combat haze, to list its own grievances against Singapore
(including harboring fugitive corrupt officials and offering
no anti-haze assistance),and to condemn Singapore for
interfering in Indonesia's domestic affairs and airing this
dirty laundry outside of bilateral or ASEAN channels.
Singapore used its own right of reply, in far calmer fashion,
to compliment Indonesia's efforts and stated intentions,
while also noting Singapore and other neighbors' great
frustration that a decade of dialogue on the problem has
produced so little result.
3. (SBU) Comment: Reverting to the right of reply is rather
infrequent in the pacific-minded UN Second Committee, and
usually focuses on thematic issues rather than on specific
countries. Georgia-Russian sparring over the latter's
punitive expulsion of guest workers was a recent exception,
hopefully not signaling a new trend. Singapore delegate told
USUN Econoff that his delegation gave Indonesia fair warning
over the statement, providing them an advance copy. He
claimed Singapore faced the prospect of Indonesian
indignation with equanimity.
BOLTON