CODEL PAYNE'S MEETING WITH MINISTER OF DEFENSE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001892 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV PHUM ID SUBJECT: CODEL PAYNE'S MEETING WITH MINISTER OF DEFENSE JUWONO REF: A. JAKARTA 1845 (CODEL MEETS SBY) ¶B. JAKARTA 1759 (CODEL SCENESETTER) JAKARTA 00001892 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. SUMMARY: Meeting in Jakarta on July 6, Congressmen Donald Payne (D-NJ),David Dreier (R-CA) and James Moran (D-VA) complimented Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono for Indonesia's remarkable democratic progress. The Congressmen voiced concern about the slow pace of military reform, lack of accountability for past abuses, restrictions on access to Papua, military business practices, and the recent killing of four civilians in East Java by Indonesian Marines. Minister Juwono cited Indonesia's low socio-economic status and, more specifically, a lack of funding as the root cause of the issues surrounding the Indonesian military. He expressed appreciation for the Congressmen's praise of President Yudhoyono's strong reform leadership, but agreed there was still a long way to go. Asked about China, Juwono said bilateral defense cooperation was limited to transport vessels. END SUMMARY. Military Reform ¶2. All three Congressmen praised Indonesia's reform progress and pledged continued U.S. support. Congressmen Payne and Moran noted that Juwono, as civilian head of the defense establishment and a Fulbright scholar, was the right face for Indonesia's military reform. Rep. Moran continued that when Americans think of Indonesia they often still see images of Sukarno and Suharto and they see Indonesia's military as abusive and undemocratic. Rep. Moran urged Juwono to place greater emphasis on the Navy and the Air Force, rather than the Army, which is perceived as an "occupying force." The American team asked about Juwono's plans to get the military out of its business practices. ¶3. The Minister said that, according to the Interagency Panel studying military businesses, the military's business interests have dropped from 1500 to seven. While, by 2009, the military will be out of profit-making businesses, Juwono admitted that the military still needed cooperatives to meet their resource needs. He concluded that the old days of "security for money" are over. Juwono complained that it is difficult for the newly established defense ministry as the current budget is only $3.5 billion and he needed at least $8 billion to conduct proper operations and maintenance. The overseas image of the Army as a violent occupation force is no longer true and certainly it is not a policy of the government. Maintaining an Air Force and Navy is expensive and, as Indonesia sits atop the Ring of Fire, Juwono maintains that the focus of the military is on Disaster Relief, which requires a heavy manpower presence. The Indonesian military is not so focused on meeting external threats, he said, but rather on internal disaster relief - a mission which helps it justify its funding. Accountability ¶4. Rep. Moran praised President SBY and Minister Juwono for their commitment to TNI reform, but wanted to raise several issues. He criticized Indonesia's lack of accountability for past abuses, citing East Timor, the recent killings in East Java, the Munir case and the continued promotion of officers with troubling human rights records. The Congressman concluded that Indonesia needed at least one high visibility human rights case against a military human rights abuser to help maintain support in Washington and the Congress for IMET and other security assistance for Indonesia. ¶5. Juwono replied that there have been cases of officers penalized for human rights abuses, both by receiving four year criminal sentences and having promotions significantly delayed. He agreed with Congressman Moran's assessment that Indonesia needed a high profile case, citing again the lack of funding to thoroughly investigate cases. Asked about possible FBI assistance, the Minister said the FBI was helpful in the Timika case, which involved American victims, but for local cases (like the East Java case) Indonesia must rely on its own resources. Juwono claimed there is not a lack of will by the Government of Indonesia, but rather Indonesia lacks the proper funding. Turning to East Timor, Juwono stated that President Xanana (Timor Leste) had agreed to reconciliation through the Truth and Friendship Committee, and scratched attempts to get full compensation from Indonesia. On Munir, Jowono was quick to point out that the JAKARTA 00001892 002.2 OF 002 agency rumored to be responsible (BIN) was not a military organization but rather a civilian intelligence agency. Papua ¶6. When asked about the situation in Papua, Juwono said Papua has been plagued by tribal wars and territorial disputes since it was a Dutch colony. A military and police presence there is important to maintain security. President SBY has made great progress improving the situations in distant places like Papua and Aceh by establishing dialogue and providing resources. Juwono - again focusing on socio-economics -- stated Indonesia is a poor country with wide income disparity, and if people do not have a stake in society they tend to turn to violence. He believes for democracy to sustain itself a country needs a per capita GDP of about $6000. For Indonesia with a GDP approaching $1500, social harmony remains a constant challenge, the Minister concluded. China ¶7. Asked about China, Juwono stated Indonesia and China share a "Strategic Partnership," adding that he would visit China in September. Elaborating further, Juwono said this bilateral cooperation was "nothing sinister" but rather was centered on transportation assets for sea and air, which the TNI needed for its disaster relief mission. ¶8. This cable has been cleared by CODEL Payne. HUME