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 JAKARTA 00002693 001.4 OF 002 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 JAKARTA 00002693 002.4 OF 002 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