WEST KALIMANTAN: UNDERSCORING THE VITALITY OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002732

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, INR/EAP, DRL, EAP/PD
NSC FOR E. PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS KPAO ID
SUBJECT: WEST KALIMANTAN: UNDERSCORING THE VITALITY OF
U.S.-INDONESIA RELATIONS

REF: A. JAKARTA 01560


B. 06 JAKARTA 12334

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Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (B)(D).


1. (C) Summary: Pol/C spoke September 26 at a university in
West Kalimantan on Borneo island, emphasizing the need for
Indonesia to play an enhanced role supporting democracy and
human rights, especially in Burma. West Kalimantan--a vast
area with a fractious, multi-ethnic population--was focused
on its first ever direct gubernatorial election. With the
incumbent--a Muslim--favored to win, unrest is reportedly
developing among members of the aboriginal Dayak group, which
believes one of its own should hold the position. Pol/C
underlined the need for restraint and for communities to
avoid at all costs the sort of internecine violence that has
afflicted the area in the past. End Summary.

>> U.S.-Indonesia Cooperation


2. (U) Pol/C spoke September 26 at Tanjung Pura University
in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, making the following key
points:

-- Pol/C emphasized the dynamism of U.S.-Indonesia relations,
stressing that the two countries need to continue to think
strategically about the relationship. Two key areas that
need special focus are reform and the area of "connections,"
e.g., the links between the two countries and the wider world.

-- Re reform, there is little doubt that Indonesia has become
a successful democracy, moving away from authoritarian rule.
More progress needs to be made in the areas of governance and
rule of law. Accountability was vital--individuals need to
be brought to justice if they are corrupt or commit human
rights violations.

-- Finally, in the area of connections, Indonesia is a leader
in Asia and the world, serving on the UN Security Council
from 2007-08. Indonesia needs to do the right thing
regarding the Iranian nuclear program. Moreover, as East
Asia's largest democracy, it needs to play an enhanced role
supporting democracy and human rights, especially in Burma
where the regime is dealing brutally with all opposition.


3. (U) The approximately 75 faculty and students in
attendance peppered Pol/C with various questions and
comments. U.S. policy in Iraq came under criticism, as did
policy regarding Iran. One student wanted to know whether
the USG really supported Indonesia's territorial integrity;
Pol/C underlined that we did. A faculty member noted
President Bush,s announcement of further sanctions on the
Myanmar regime, wondering what more could be done. Pol/C
stressed that it was particularly important at this time that
ASEAN states speak up in united fashion and condemn the
regime.

>> A Lively Race for Governor


4. (C) Pol/C and Pol FSN visited Pontianak, September 25-26.
Pontianak, a city of some 700,000 people, is the capital of
West Kalimantan, a vast province lying astride the Equator
with an ethnically-mixed population of roughly 4.5 million.
(Note: The population is about 40 percent Christian/animist
Dayak, 40 percent Muslim Malay, and 20 percent made up of
various groups, including a wealthy Chinese business class.)
The region was abuzz over its first ever direct gubernatorial
election slated to take place on November 15.


5. (C) Incumbent governor, Usman Jafar, a Muslim of Malay
descent, is favored to win. Jafar leads the so-called
"Harmony Coalition," which has received the endorsement of
several parties, including Golkar and the Islamic United
Development Party (PPP). Contacts reported that Jafar was
relatively popular, having sponsored a number of economic
development projects. Cornelius Kimha, a Christian Dayak, is
said to be running a very strong second; his candidacy is
endorsed by the Indonesian Democratic Struggle Party (PDI-P).


>> Dayak Unrest?

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6. (C) Contacts reported that there is growing unrest among
some Dayaks, who believe that one of their own should hold
the governor position. Father William Chang, a Catholic
priest and human rights activist, told Pol/C that if the
election is not &clean and fair8 and Kimha is seen as being
cheated out of a win then "some hard-line Dayaks might take
matters into their own hands.8


7. (C) A.R. Mecer, a Dayak who is running for vice-governor
on a ticket considered lagging behind the two front-runners,
told Pol/C that he did not think there would be violence
&under any situation.8 He allowed, however, that there
was &some unrest8 developing among Dayaks "who felt stuck
in poverty." Pol/C emphasized the need for restraint and for
communities to avoid at all costs the sort of internecine
violence that has afflicted the area in the past. (Note: In
various incidents, the most recent in 2001, Dayak mobs killed
hundreds of settlers from Madura island. In the late 1960s,
Dayak groups also attacked members of the Chinese community,
killing hundreds.)
HEFFERN