LEGISLATORS PRESS GOI FOR ACTION ON BURMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002693

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, INR/EAP
NSC FOR EPHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM UNSC ID BM
SUBJECT: LEGISLATORS PRESS GOI FOR ACTION ON BURMA

REF: A. JAKARTA 2681


B. JAKARTA 727

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


1. (C) Summary: Responding to Mission outreach, key
legislators have urged the Indonesian government to adopt a
leadership role regarding the situation in Burma. Theo
Sambuaga--Chair of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the DPR
(national legislature)--issued a public statement in which he
called on the GOI to put pressure on the regime. In a
separate move, the Chair of the DPR's Myanmar Caucus held a
press conference, urging President Yudhoyono to support
"urgent action" in the UN re Burma. The legislators'
statements ratchet up the pressure on the GOI to take a more
active posture. Pol/C also met with a key DPR staffer and
urged him to discuss the situation with Speaker Laksono. End
Summary.

Key Legislator Presses for Action
=================================

2. (C) As reviewed in Ref A, on September 21 Pol/C called on
Theo Sambuaga, Chair of the DPR's Foreign Affairs and Defense
Commission, and urged the Indonesian legislature to condemn
the regime's crackdown in Burma. Sambuaga took the points on
board and agreed to look into ways to convince the Indonesian
government to take a pro-active approach to the issue. On
September 23, the influential parliamentarian backed up his
pledge by issuing a public statement, which was carried in
local media, calling on the GOI to "take the initiative" in
applying pressure on the regime. Noting Indonesia's historic
effort in helping establish ASEAN, Sambuaga argued that
Indonesia could once again play a pivotal role in a crucial
regional undertaking. Indonesia should apply
government-to-government pressure and urge others in the
region to follow suit. ASEAN should put "joint pressure on
the Myanmarese regime" and "within the ASEAN Framework, a
warning could be made to Myanmar that it will not be invited
to the next ASEAN conference."


3. (U) In his statement, Sambuaga commented that the regime
"needs to be reminded of the commitment that it had made some
time ago to carry out a roadmap of democracy seriously and
consistently." As part of that commitment, Sambuaga demanded
that Burma release all political prisoners, including
"fighter for democracy" Aung San Suu Kyi, and immediately
hold free and fair elections. The GOI should also make use
of its leverage as a member of the UNSC -- "The Indonesian
government, through its diplomats, needs to be more proactive
in playing the role of a UNSC member in pressing the military
regime in Myanmar."

Myanmar Caucus Weighs In
========================

4. (C) After being urged by poloff to take public steps,
Djoko Susilo, a member of the DPR and Chair of its Myanmar
Caucus, expressed strong opposition to the Burmese regime in
his September 23 press conference. He also called for
President Yudhoyono to raise the visibility of the Burma
issue during the UN General Assembly. Speaking on behalf of
the 12-member multi-party Caucus, Susilo demanded that SBY
use his UNGA speech to call attention to the "emergency" in
Burma. Urging a more muscular UN approach, Susilo said "the
President should convince the assembly of the need for urgent
action to stop the current critical situation in Myanmar and
bring the military junta back to the discussion table with
the pro-democracy National League."

Pressing a Key Staffer
======================

5. (C) Pol/C met September 24 with key DPR staffer Arief
Budiman and urged him to discuss the situation with his boss,
Speaker Agung Laksono. Budiman was aware of the crackdown
and the large-scale demonstrations. He replied that he would
look into the matter.

Will GOI Listen?
================

6. (C) The legislators' statements ratchet up the pressure
on the GOI to take a more active approach. Sambuaga, in

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particular, is a heavyweight; as Vice-Chair of the
influential Golkar Party, he is well-connected and Jakarta
elites listen when he speaks. Whether the Palace or the
Department of Foreign Affairs really hear him and react is
questionable given that they are pretty locked in to the
ASEAN "consensus approach." The DPR is an emerging power on
foreign affairs issues, however, and will flex its muscles if
it feels it is being ignored by the executive branch.
HUME