INDONESIAN MEDIA REACTION TO ISPS DEMARCHE

UNCLAS JAKARTA 002479 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS AND EB/TRA/AN SINGAPORE FOR COAST GUARD-LT CDR PURGANAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD ID SUBJECT: INDONESIAN MEDIA REACTION TO ISPS DEMARCHE REF: A) JAKARTA 2363 B) JAKARTA 2383 ¶1. (U) The Government of Indonesia's (GOI) initial effort to explain the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code and a possible Port Security Advisory (PSA) (ref A) met with negative response from the media and Parliament. Director General of Sea Transportation (DG) H. Harijogi, met with the Indonesian Ship Owners Association (INSA) on September 3 to inform them of the ISPS Demarche and potential PSA. Initial media response quoted the Chairman of INSA, Oentoro Suryo, as saying, "The US Coast Guard will ask the International Maritime Organization to ban Indonesian ships from using International Seaports and Lanes," and that the U.S. is calling for a general boycott of Indonesian Seaports. His interview appeared in three large Indonesian dailies. Member of Parliament Yoseph Hadi stated the threat of a U.S. ports boycott is potentially more damaging than the European Union blacklist of Indonesian airlines on June 26 and he wondered if, "This is a campaign to tarnish Indonesia's image". ¶2. (U) In response to the INSA Chairman's statements, the Ministry of Transportation called a press conference on September 5 to clarify the ISPS/PSA issue. Another DGST official, Director Djony Algemar said that Indonesia will reduce the number of international seaports from 141 to 25 and named the five facilities previously visited by the Coast Guard that are not ISPS compliant (ref A). Transportation Minister Jusman stated that a failure to reorganize (implement ISPS) within the 90-day time period will not lead to an automatic boycott, but the U.S. will tighten security controls on ships leaving from non-ISPS compliant ports. Director General Harijogi also said that, "The U.S. Coast Guard has the right to inspect the harbors of U.S. trading partners to see if they meet ISPS standards". ¶3. (U) Several observers also commented on Indonesia's past and future role in port security. Member of Parliament Nai Soy said that, "The boycott threat was due to the fact that Indonesia often ignores regulations in the ISPS code". An editorial in Media Indonesia stated the need for greater engagement by the government to correct deficiencies: "Truly this nation will be crushed by the era if we must wait for foreigners to speak before making efforts for improvement". Media coverage after the DGST press conference more accurately reflects the ISPS Demarche and the current situation. We will continue to monitor press reports as we get closer to the end of the 90 days before a PSA (November 22). Hume