INDONESIA AND BURMA: PRESSING THE CASE AGAINST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002799

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS (COPE),EAP/RSP, DRL,
IO
NSC FOR EPHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PHUM ID BM
SUBJECT: INDONESIA AND BURMA: PRESSING THE CASE AGAINST
THE REGIME

REF: A. JAKARTA 2784 AND PREVIOUS

B. RANGOON 954 AND PREVIOUS

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


1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate Surabaya.


2. (C) SUMMARY: Charge took our views on Burma directly to
the Indonesian public in a television interview. Indonesian
legislators, media and civil society continue to focus on
Burma and to press the GOI for action. END SUMMARY


3. (SBU) CHARGE INTERVIEW: In an October 3 interview on
Jakarta's Metro TV, the Charge stressed that the
international community must keep up the pressure for a
genuine transition to democracy in Burma. Although the
violence has subsided, Burma's underlying problems remain
acute. The Charge explained that the United States was
working with a broad range of partners around the world,
including Indonesia, to help the Burmese people in their
struggle for democracy.


4. (SBU) MEDIA/CIVIL SOCIETY: In the meantime, Indonesian
media and civil society continued to excoriate the regime and
to call for ASEAN action. In a front-page October 3
editorial, the independent daily Media Indonesia demanded
stronger ASEAN action, saying that the regional organization
had a responsibility to force change without bloodshed in
Burma.


5. (SBU) The October 3 edition of the leading Surabaya daily
Jawa Pos carried a commentary by Rev. Andika Hadinata calling
for Indonesian religious leaders of all faiths to stand with
the courageous monks of Burma. Religious leaders, he argued,
were a "moral force" who could not be silent in the face of
government repression.


6. (SBU) Student activists and religious groups in Surabaya
formed a new coalition called Surabaya People Solidarity for
Burma. Approximately 200 members of the coalition
demonstrated in front of the East Java governor's office
calling for stronger ASEAN action on October 2.


7. (C) LEGISLATORS ENGAGED: As part of Mission's regular
dialogue with the Indonesian Legislature (DPR),Pol/C
reviewed the Burma situation with DPR Myanmar Caucus Chair
Joko Susilo in an October 3 meeting. Susilo agreed with
Pol/C that Burma is a threat to regional peace and security
and that the issue belongs in the UNSC, as well as other
fora. Susilo said he continued to press this position on the
Presidential Palace and the Department of Foreign Affairs
(DEPLU). Susilo has also attempted to build Indonesian
opposition to the regime by stressing its oppression of
Muslim minorities.


8. (C) Pol/C also discussed Burma with Arif Budiman, a key
staffer to DPR Speaker Agung Laksono, on October 3. Budiman
responded that Speaker Laksono, who was currently in Geneva
for a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU),
remained focused on Burma. The Speaker planned to discuss
the possibility of the IPU issuing a statement of support for
the democratic opposition in Burma.


9. (C) DIP UPDATE: Pol/C discussed Burma with UK Pol/C Piers
Cazalet, providing an overview of USG efforts to engage the
GOI, the DPR and Indonesian media and civil society. Cazalet
responded that the UK government was working with many of the
same contacts to urge Indonesia to take a stronger stand.
The EU Troika will meet DEPLU officials on October 4 to press
Indonesia for strong ASEAN action.


10. (C) In an October 3 discussion with Pol/C, Chinese Pol/C
Gong Xun repeated Beijing's well-known position on the issue.
China regarded the situation in Burma as a purely internal
matter and did not regard the issue as falling within the
mandate of the UNSC. He noted, however, that the Chinese
government had repeatedly urged the regime in Burma to show
restraint.

JAKARTA 00002799 002 OF 002


HEFFERN