BURMA -- FM WIRAJUDA MEETS GAMBARI; SBY RECEIVES

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002929 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS (COPE),IO, IO/UNP (WICKBERG) NSC FOR EPHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ID BM SUBJECT: BURMA -- FM WIRAJUDA MEETS GAMBARI; SBY RECEIVES LETTER FROM THAN SHWE REF: A. JAKARTA 2917 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. RANGOON 1033 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY -- Visiting UN Special Envoy Gambari discussed the situation in Burma with Indonesian FM Wirajuda on October 18 and is slated to meet with President Yudhoyono later today. In a brief press conference, Gambari suggested incentives could help lead the Burmese leadership toward change. Gambari and Wirajuda also reportedly discussed a possible approach modeled on the Six Party Talks with North Korea. GOI officials confirmed that President Yudhoyono has been exchanging letters with General Than Shwe. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) GAMBARI IN JAKARTA -- Gambari discussed the situation in Burma with FM Wirajuda in Jakarta, October 18. At a joint press conference after the meeting, Gambari suggested incentives might be offered to Burma's military junta in exchange for democratic reforms, adding that punishment of the regime by itself would not be effective. He also publicly called on China as a friend of Burma to "continue to do more" to push the Burmese regime toward reform. ¶3. (C) In a discussion with poloff, Director for East Asian Affairs Yuri Thamrin at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) provided further details of FM Wirajuda's meeting with Gambari. According to Thamrin, Gambari reviewed his discussions in capitals so far and emphasized his desire to go to Burma earlier than initially planned. Wirajuda expressed support for Gambari's mission and explained Indonesia's position on Burma. (Note: Wirajuda--as he has before--suggested in remarks to the press on October 17 that the junta should be allowed to share power with civilian leaders for five years, after which the country could hold a democratic vote.) ¶4. (C) The two also discussed possible international structures, including models like the Six Party Talks regarding North Korea, which might be created to move the regime toward change. One possibility was a "constitutional review commission." They also noted that solutions to the impasse should not be seen purely in terms of democracy and human rights, but also in the context of the regime's psychological sensitivity and the country's legitimate interests in security and national unity. Thamrin noted Indonesia had been coordinating with China's leaders as well to facilitate the Gambari mission to Burma and had sent the Chinese government a letter to this effect. (Note: The Ambassador is scheduled to meet with Gambari late on October 19.) ¶5. (C) EXCHANGE WITH REGIME -- Presidential Adviser Dino Djalal announced publicly on October 17 that President Yudhoyono had received a letter from Burmese regime leader General Than Shwe promising to continue working with Gambari and vowing to keep "the roadmap to democracy" on track. Thamrin confirmed that the Than Shwe letter to Yudhoyono had been a response to the president's earlier letter urging the regime to work with Gambari and to exercise restraint. HUME