Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JAKARTA2893
2007-10-12 06:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
DEFENSE COOPERATION -- INDONESIAN NAVY CHIEF
how-toVZCZCXRO7676 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #2893/01 2850608 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 120608Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6675 INFO RUENAAA/CNO WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1373 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1384 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0959 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1877 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002893
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOD FOR DSCA
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, S/CT, EAP/MLS
INR FOR CHARLIE ZENZIE, HEIDI PANETTA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2017
TAGS: PREL PHSA MASS MARR ID
SUBJECT: DEFENSE COOPERATION -- INDONESIAN NAVY CHIEF
EXPRESSES CONCERNS ABOUT COASTAL RADARS
REF: JAKARTA 2725
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002893
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOD FOR DSCA
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, S/CT, EAP/MLS
INR FOR CHARLIE ZENZIE, HEIDI PANETTA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2017
TAGS: PREL PHSA MASS MARR ID
SUBJECT: DEFENSE COOPERATION -- INDONESIAN NAVY CHIEF
EXPRESSES CONCERNS ABOUT COASTAL RADARS
REF: JAKARTA 2725
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (U) This is an Action Request -- Please see para 7.
2. (C) SUMMARY: CDA recently discussed the proposed USG 1206
program placement of coastal radars in the Sulawesi Sea area
with Hashim Jalal, an influential Indonesian expert on the
Law of the Sea. Jalal explained that the top Indonesian
naval commander, ADM Soebijanto, has serious reservations
about the program. Soebijanto will shortly be traveling to
the U.S. for a U.S. Navy symposium; Mission requests that he
receive a full briefing on the program. END SUMMARY.
3. (C) NAVY CONCERNS: CDA recently discussed eight coastal
radars the USG hopes to fund under the 1206 program in
FY-2007 with Hashim Jalal, a former high-level diplomat,
expert on the Law of the Sea, and adviser to the Indonesian
Navy Chief. Jalal explained that Admiral Slamet Soebijanto,
Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy, has serious concerns
about the placement of the proposed radars. (Note:
Soebijanto is pleased with the Malacca Straits aspect of the
program, favorably mentioning in a recent speech USG
assistance in developing that regional system.)
4. (C) According to Jalal, ADM Soebijanto has four primary
concerns: 1) the land-based radars have a limited range (25
nautical miles); 2) there are only eight radars to cover 400
miles of coastline, so there will be large gaps in coverage;
3) the possibility that the USG might be able to use the
coastal radars to gather intelligence against Indonesia; and,
4) the USG's record as an "unreliable arms supplier" because
of legislative restrictions on military assistance to the
Indonesian military (TNI).
5. (C) Re the last point, ADM Soebijanto mentioned his
reservations about USG reliability to supply spare parts for
the radars to Mission's Naval Attache on October 1. ADM
Soebijanto cited three examples in the past of what he
claimed was unreliable support from the USG: 1) the
Indonesian Navy,s purchase of German-built diesel submarines
with a U.S. system onboard. The Indonesian Navy has not been
able to acquire replacement parts for that system; 2) the
purchase of Corvette-class patrol boats from the Netherlands
with U.S. systems onboard and not being able to acquire
replacement parts for them; and 3) earlier this year, ADM
Soebijanto said he met with U.S. Naval contacts and requested
patrol boats instead of the planned Sulawesi land-based
radars. ADM Soebijanto stated he was informed that the U.S.
Congress had reservations about the sale to the Indonesian
Navy of such boats. In Soebijanto's view, all of this proves
that there is still a de facto embargo on U.S. cooperation
with the Indonesian military.
6. (C) PROBLEMS WITH COOPERATION: The Office of the Defense
Attache and Office of Defense Cooperation frequently
encounter resentment within the TNI due to the previous USG
policy of restricting sales of military equipment, data and
spare parts. The USG restrictions are usually cited by
senior TNI officers as the reason for the TNI's low
readiness. The Indonesian Navy is generally the most
difficult military branch with which to coordinate assistance
due to its suspicion of the West, especially the U.S.
Compare this with the attitude of the Indonesian Air Force
(reftel).
7. (C) ACTION REQUEST: ADM Soebijanto is scheduled to travel
to the U.S. October 15-19 to attend the International Sea
Power Symposium in Newport, Rhode Island. Mission is aware
that a meeting has been arranged between the U.S. Chief of
Naval Operations (CNO) ADM Roughead and ADM Soebijanto during
the symposium. Mission suggests CNO reassure ADM Soebijanto
of U.S. support for the TNI, specifically addressing the
capabilities of the radar system and the support the USG will
provide for the systems in the Sulawesi Sea area in trying to
JAKARTA 00002893 002 OF 002
assuage Soebijanto's concerns. Mission also suggests USPACOM
Commander, ADM Keating, meet with ADM Soebijanto during ADM
Keating,s scheduled visit to Indonesia in November. END
ACTION REQUEST.
HEFFERN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOD FOR DSCA
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, S/CT, EAP/MLS
INR FOR CHARLIE ZENZIE, HEIDI PANETTA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2017
TAGS: PREL PHSA MASS MARR ID
SUBJECT: DEFENSE COOPERATION -- INDONESIAN NAVY CHIEF
EXPRESSES CONCERNS ABOUT COASTAL RADARS
REF: JAKARTA 2725
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (U) This is an Action Request -- Please see para 7.
2. (C) SUMMARY: CDA recently discussed the proposed USG 1206
program placement of coastal radars in the Sulawesi Sea area
with Hashim Jalal, an influential Indonesian expert on the
Law of the Sea. Jalal explained that the top Indonesian
naval commander, ADM Soebijanto, has serious reservations
about the program. Soebijanto will shortly be traveling to
the U.S. for a U.S. Navy symposium; Mission requests that he
receive a full briefing on the program. END SUMMARY.
3. (C) NAVY CONCERNS: CDA recently discussed eight coastal
radars the USG hopes to fund under the 1206 program in
FY-2007 with Hashim Jalal, a former high-level diplomat,
expert on the Law of the Sea, and adviser to the Indonesian
Navy Chief. Jalal explained that Admiral Slamet Soebijanto,
Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy, has serious concerns
about the placement of the proposed radars. (Note:
Soebijanto is pleased with the Malacca Straits aspect of the
program, favorably mentioning in a recent speech USG
assistance in developing that regional system.)
4. (C) According to Jalal, ADM Soebijanto has four primary
concerns: 1) the land-based radars have a limited range (25
nautical miles); 2) there are only eight radars to cover 400
miles of coastline, so there will be large gaps in coverage;
3) the possibility that the USG might be able to use the
coastal radars to gather intelligence against Indonesia; and,
4) the USG's record as an "unreliable arms supplier" because
of legislative restrictions on military assistance to the
Indonesian military (TNI).
5. (C) Re the last point, ADM Soebijanto mentioned his
reservations about USG reliability to supply spare parts for
the radars to Mission's Naval Attache on October 1. ADM
Soebijanto cited three examples in the past of what he
claimed was unreliable support from the USG: 1) the
Indonesian Navy,s purchase of German-built diesel submarines
with a U.S. system onboard. The Indonesian Navy has not been
able to acquire replacement parts for that system; 2) the
purchase of Corvette-class patrol boats from the Netherlands
with U.S. systems onboard and not being able to acquire
replacement parts for them; and 3) earlier this year, ADM
Soebijanto said he met with U.S. Naval contacts and requested
patrol boats instead of the planned Sulawesi land-based
radars. ADM Soebijanto stated he was informed that the U.S.
Congress had reservations about the sale to the Indonesian
Navy of such boats. In Soebijanto's view, all of this proves
that there is still a de facto embargo on U.S. cooperation
with the Indonesian military.
6. (C) PROBLEMS WITH COOPERATION: The Office of the Defense
Attache and Office of Defense Cooperation frequently
encounter resentment within the TNI due to the previous USG
policy of restricting sales of military equipment, data and
spare parts. The USG restrictions are usually cited by
senior TNI officers as the reason for the TNI's low
readiness. The Indonesian Navy is generally the most
difficult military branch with which to coordinate assistance
due to its suspicion of the West, especially the U.S.
Compare this with the attitude of the Indonesian Air Force
(reftel).
7. (C) ACTION REQUEST: ADM Soebijanto is scheduled to travel
to the U.S. October 15-19 to attend the International Sea
Power Symposium in Newport, Rhode Island. Mission is aware
that a meeting has been arranged between the U.S. Chief of
Naval Operations (CNO) ADM Roughead and ADM Soebijanto during
the symposium. Mission suggests CNO reassure ADM Soebijanto
of U.S. support for the TNI, specifically addressing the
capabilities of the radar system and the support the USG will
provide for the systems in the Sulawesi Sea area in trying to
JAKARTA 00002893 002 OF 002
assuage Soebijanto's concerns. Mission also suggests USPACOM
Commander, ADM Keating, meet with ADM Soebijanto during ADM
Keating,s scheduled visit to Indonesia in November. END
ACTION REQUEST.
HEFFERN