A/S HILL DISCUSSES ECONOMY, HUMAN RIGHTS, SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001583 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2012 TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON UNSC LE BM IR KN ID SUBJECT: A/S HILL DISCUSSES ECONOMY, HUMAN RIGHTS, SECURITY COUNCIL ISSUES WITH PARLIAMENTARIAN Classified By: Charge d'Affaires John A. Heffern, Reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. A/S Hill met on May 29 with parliamentarian Theo L. Sambuaga, chair of the committee responsible for foreign affairs. A/S Hill urged continued progress in improving Indonesia's investment climate and increasing transparency, which he said is crucial to U.S.-Indonesian relations. On the mil-mil relationship, A/S Hill called on the GOI to be sensitive to "legacy" human rights issues and to ensure procedures are in place to deal with alleged abuses. ¶2. (C) A/S Hill and Sambuaga briefly discussed a range of UNSC issues, including Lebanon, Burma and North Korea. On Kosovo, Sambuaga said that the DPR is currently debating the Ahtisaari proposal, noting that some fear that granting Kosovo independence would embolden other separatist movements, especially in Papua. Finally, Sambuaga spoke about the strong negative reaction to Indonesia's vote in support of sanctions on Iran. He predicted that after the upcoming interpellation, parliament will accept the government's explanation of its vote. End Summary. Indonesian Economy -------------- ¶3. (C) A/S Hill met on May 29 with Theo L. Sambuaga, a member of Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) and chairman of Commission I, the DPR committee responsible for foreign affairs. He stressed that continued economic progress in Indonesia, and especially improving the investment climate and increasing transparency, will be critical to U.S.-Indonesian relations and to boosting Indonesia's image in the region. Sambuaga agreed, saying that good governance and anti-corruption reforms are crucial. He said that the DPR was finalizing debate on a draft freedom of information act, which would allow the general public greater ability to monitor public servants' activities. Sambuaga also pointed to the number of Indonesians who continue to live under the poverty line and the high levels of unemployment as areas of particular concern to him. The Military and Human Rights -------------- ¶4. (C) A/S Hill told Sambuaga that he had had a good discussion with the Minister of Defense, saying that the U.S. considers the mil-mil relationship to be open and normal. The U.S. would like to do more, A/S Hill added, provided that the ministry is sensitive to "legacy" human rights issues such as East Timor. He praised the armed forces (TNI) for including a human rights module in its training, but cautioned that small missteps could lead to big problems. What is most important, A/S Hill stressed, is to have processes and procedures in place to deal with alleged abuses. Sambuaga concurred, and said that as the committee with military oversight responsibility, his commission actively investigated all reported human rights violations. According to Sambuaga, abuses are no longer systematically committed by the military, as they were during the Suharto regime, but are instead individual cases. Kosovo -------------- ¶5. (C) A/S Hill acknowledged Indonesia's concern that accepting Ahtisaari's Kosovo plan would set a precedent leading other breakaway provinces to push for independence. But, he noted, the Kosovo case is very unique for historical reasons. Sambuaga said that the DPR is currently discussing the Kosovo situation, adding that while he is personally supportive of independence, others do fear that granting Kosovo independence would embolden other separatist movements, notably in Papua. Iran -------------- ¶6. (C) Turning to Iran, Sambuaga explained that the public reaction to Indonesia's vote supporting UNSC 1747 was very strong, including from members of parliament. This reaction was not to the substance of the resolution, he said, but was due to the feeling that Iran, as a small, developing, Muslim country, had been treated unfairly by the Security Council. Some opponents of Indonesia's vote believe that Indonesia should be defending small countries on the Security Council, and others saw the vote as a betrayal of the JAKARTA 00001583 002 OF 002 Iranian-Indonesian relationship. He observed that Middle East issues are very sensitive here, and so the perception that the UNSC is not being even-handed by sanctioning Iran but allowing Israel to have nuclear weapons has a good deal of traction. ¶7. (C) Substantively, however, Sambuaga said that the discussion should really be about Iran's obligations under the NPT. In the DPR, he claimed, most parliamentarians could support a resolution imposing sanctions to force Iran to uphold its NPT obligations, but politically they would like to exact their pound of flesh first by interpellating the president. After the interpellation, he predicted, parliament will accept the government's explanation of its vote. Burma -------------- ¶8. (C) Sambuaga told A/S Hill that Commission I criticized the government for abstaining on the UNSC Burma vote, and said that they are pressuring the government to take a strong position in favor of democracy and human rights in Burma. Sambuaga asked for A/S Hill's assessment of China's role, which A/S Hill characterized as unhelpful and primary driven by China's desire for Burmese natural resources. Lebanon -------------- ¶9. (C) A/S Hill told Sambuaga that many regional states, including Egypt, are supportive of the Lebanon tribunal plan, although Qatar is not. Sambuaga inquired about South Africa's position, and said that the DPR would discuss the tribunal during a regularly scheduled meeting with Foreign Minister Wirajuda on June 25. North Korea -------------- ¶10. (C) A/S Hill briefed Sambuaga on the current situation with North Korea, noting that even if North Korea's frozen assets are released and IAEA inspectors shut down North Korea's reactors, the international community must continue to push for transparency. HEFFERN