Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JAKARTA3097
2007-11-07 10:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
INDONESIA -- GREAT WHITE FLEET COMMEMORATION
how-toVZCZCXRO0183 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #3097 3111052 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 071052Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6952 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1512 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1076 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1981 RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 3536 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 003097
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS. EAP/PD (MCLOUGHLIN),ISN
SECDEF FOR AP/ISA (TOOLAN, IPSEN)
JOINT STAFF FOR CLEMMONS
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR KPEO MASS MPOS ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIA -- GREAT WHITE FLEET COMMEMORATION
REF: STATE 152754
Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, reasons 1.4(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 003097
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS. EAP/PD (MCLOUGHLIN),ISN
SECDEF FOR AP/ISA (TOOLAN, IPSEN)
JOINT STAFF FOR CLEMMONS
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR KPEO MASS MPOS ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIA -- GREAT WHITE FLEET COMMEMORATION
REF: STATE 152754
Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) While understanding fully the historic importance of
its mission and President Theodore Roosevelt's visionary
role, Post recommends against a commemorative visit of the
Great White Fleet to Indonesia for several reasons. First,
Indonesia's colonial past and its policy of non-alignment
since independence create a political environment which would
not generate the level of positive resonance appropriate for
a commemorative mission. To be sure, our bilateral
relationship with Indonesia is excellent and cooperation is
growing, including in defense and other areas, but it is not
sufficiently robust at this point for a celebratory event of
this nature.
2. (C) We also note that the Great White Fleet, from what we
understand, did not visit the then Dutch East Indies. Thus,
there is no historical resonance in Indonesia regarding the
Fleet and its important mission which may be present in other
locales.
3. (C) Finally, the Indonesian military (TNI) recently has
discouraged humanitarian-relief and community-outreach events
on the margins of U.S. ship visits. They have made clear,
for example, that they do not want the U.S. hospital ship
Mercy to visit. It is not yet clear whether this attitude
will persist, particularly in light of the appointment of a
new Indonesian Navy Chief on November 8, but it does appear
to reflect TNI sensitivity over its own limited ability to
provide assistance to its own population, particularly when
TNI capabilities compare unfavorably with those of visiting
forces. A visit by the Great White Fleet would be unwelcome
we believe and possibly misunderstood in light of these
sensitivities.
4. (C) In short, Post hopes that the commemorative tour is
highly successful, but cannot recommend a stop or stops in
Indonesia at this time.
HUME
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS. EAP/PD (MCLOUGHLIN),ISN
SECDEF FOR AP/ISA (TOOLAN, IPSEN)
JOINT STAFF FOR CLEMMONS
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR KPEO MASS MPOS ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIA -- GREAT WHITE FLEET COMMEMORATION
REF: STATE 152754
Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) While understanding fully the historic importance of
its mission and President Theodore Roosevelt's visionary
role, Post recommends against a commemorative visit of the
Great White Fleet to Indonesia for several reasons. First,
Indonesia's colonial past and its policy of non-alignment
since independence create a political environment which would
not generate the level of positive resonance appropriate for
a commemorative mission. To be sure, our bilateral
relationship with Indonesia is excellent and cooperation is
growing, including in defense and other areas, but it is not
sufficiently robust at this point for a celebratory event of
this nature.
2. (C) We also note that the Great White Fleet, from what we
understand, did not visit the then Dutch East Indies. Thus,
there is no historical resonance in Indonesia regarding the
Fleet and its important mission which may be present in other
locales.
3. (C) Finally, the Indonesian military (TNI) recently has
discouraged humanitarian-relief and community-outreach events
on the margins of U.S. ship visits. They have made clear,
for example, that they do not want the U.S. hospital ship
Mercy to visit. It is not yet clear whether this attitude
will persist, particularly in light of the appointment of a
new Indonesian Navy Chief on November 8, but it does appear
to reflect TNI sensitivity over its own limited ability to
provide assistance to its own population, particularly when
TNI capabilities compare unfavorably with those of visiting
forces. A visit by the Great White Fleet would be unwelcome
we believe and possibly misunderstood in light of these
sensitivities.
4. (C) In short, Post hopes that the commemorative tour is
highly successful, but cannot recommend a stop or stops in
Indonesia at this time.
HUME