Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JAKARTA2264
2007-08-20 10:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:  

INDONESIA AGREES TO ASSIST THAILAND REGARDING

Tags:  PREL PGOV MARR ID TH 
pdf how-to read a cable
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 201014Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5832
INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK IMMEDIATE 8086
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1019
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1660
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0677
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4222
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002264 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, EAP/MLS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ID TH
SUBJECT: INDONESIA AGREES TO ASSIST THAILAND REGARDING
ETHNIC VIOLENCE IN SOUTH

REF: JAKARTA-BANGKOK 8/14 EMAIL

Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak for reasons 1.4 (b)(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002264

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, EAP/MLS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ID TH
SUBJECT: INDONESIA AGREES TO ASSIST THAILAND REGARDING
ETHNIC VIOLENCE IN SOUTH

REF: JAKARTA-BANGKOK 8/14 EMAIL

Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak for reasons 1.4 (b)(d).


1. (C) Summary: Contacts have confirmed that the Thai
government has sought GOI assistance regarding the conflict
in southern Thailand. Thai military chief Gen. Sonthi
Boonyaratglin raised the matter during his August 8 visit to
Jakarta. Leveraging its experience in ending ethnic
conflict, gained through the Aceh peace accord, Indonesia has
agreed to assist Thailand by providing information and
advice. End Summary.


2. (C) Indonesian and Thai officials in Jakarta have
confirmed press reports that Thai Commander-in-Chief General
Sonthi Boonyaratglin approached the GOI, during a low-profile
August 8 visit to Indonesia, to help find a solution to
violence in Muslim-majority provinces in southern Thailand.
Sonthi made the request during separate meetings with
President Yudhoyono, Vice President Kalla and Indonesian
Commander-in-Chief Air Marshal Djoko Suyanto. Yuri Thamrin,
Director for East Asian Affairs at the Indonesian Department
of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU),portrayed Sonthi's request as a
follow-up to previous discussions, including that of Thai
King Bhumibol in June with Indonesian Muhammadiyah Chairman
Din Syamsuddin. Muhammadiyah leaders separately confirmed to
Pol/C that 63 Thai Muslims from the south had met recently
with Indonesian counterparts in Yogyakarta on the subject of
peaceful coexistence of religions. (Note: Muhammadiyah is a
mainstream Indonesian Muslim group with an estimated 30
million members.)


3. (C) Thai Political Counselor Katavetin stressed that the
Thai request was simply that Indonesia provide information
and advice as to how Thailand could resolve the insurgency in
a peaceful manner. The request had been made only to
Indonesia, and not to other Southeast Asian neighbors, and
was motivated by a belief that Indonesia's success in ending
the GAM (Independent Aceh Movement) insurgency in Aceh might
offer some lessons for ending the insurgency in Thailand.
The request was a sign of the good working relationship
between the two militaries. Katavetin added that the Thai
government had no evidence to confirm rumors, reported in
previous weeks in the Indonesian press, that Thai rebels were
receiving training and assistance from Indonesian groups and
stressed this was not a factor in the request.


4. (C) Dadi Susanto, Director for Defense Strategy at the
Indonesian Department of Defense (DEPHAN),confirmed the
character of General Sonthi's request. TNI contacts
separately confirmed agreement had been reached to facilitate
a direct exchange of information between the Thai military
command in southern Thailand and the Indonesian military's
regional command in northern Sumatra (which includes Aceh),
with an eye to monitoring possible movements of militants
between southern Thailand and northern Sumatra.


5. (C) Given Indonesia's desire to play a constructive role
in resolving conflicts within the Islamic world, it is not
surprising that the Thai request has received a positive
response from the Indonesian government. President Yudhoyono
and Vice President Kalla take great pride in their respective
roles in effecting a peaceful resolution of the conflict in
Aceh. Although the assistance request surfaced in connection
with a military-to-military exchange, the previous
discussions that Din Syamsuddin and other Indonesian Islamic
leaders have had with the Thai leadership suggest that the
emerging strategy, as it relates to Indonesia, has both civil
and military components.
HUME