INDONESIA RATIFIES SECURITY ACCORD WITH AUSTRALIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 003276

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR AS ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIA RATIFIES SECURITY ACCORD WITH AUSTRALIA

REF: JAKARTA 3245

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Indonesian House of Representatives
(DPR) has ratified a security accord with Australia commonly
referred to as the "Lombok Treaty." The treaty enhances
security cooperation and consultations between the two
countries on a range of issues, including defense technology,
law enforcement, and counter-terrorism, while recognizing
each country's territorial sovereignty. With Indonesians
looking forward to working with the new Rudd government, the
accord is a further sign of a maturing in
Indonesian-Australian relations. END SUMMARY.

RATIFYING THE TREATY


2. (C) Indonesia's national legislature, the DPR, has
ratified the Lombok Treaty. The "Framework for Security
Cooperation Agreement" was originally signed in November 2006
by the two governments' foreign ministers (on the Indonesian
island of Lombok). After a delay of several months (caused
more by scheduling than anything else),the DPR ratified the
treaty on November 27. The treaty will become law once
President Yudhoyono signs it and diplomatic notes are
exchanged by the two countries. According to Australian
Embassy Pol/C Justin Lee, the GOI wants to have the treaty
signed by Yudhoyono soon, but the change of government in
Australia makes the exact date for a formal "photo op"
ceremony unclear, although the formal signing could take
place during planned upcoming visits to Indonesia by Prime
Minister elect Kevin Rudd (see reftel).

FORMALIZING COOPERATION


3. (U) The accord formalizes cooperation and consultations
between Indonesia and Australia on a number of security
related issues. These include: defense technology; law
enforcement; transnational crime and counter-terrorism;
intelligence sharing; and maritime and aviation security.
The treaty also commits each country to not supporting or
participating in activities which threaten the other's
stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity. The accord
forbids either country to be used by groups advocating or
encouraging separatism.

INDONESIANS UPBEAT


4. (C) Indonesians seem upbeat about the accord. Theo
Sambuaga--the chief of the DPR's committee on foreign and
defense affairs which ratified the document--told Pol/C on
November 28 that he saw the agreement as positive due to its
recognition of Indonesian sovereignty -- "We all feel good
because Australia has formally acknowledged our territorial
integration, including in sensitive areas like Papua and
elsewhere. The treaty also requires Australia to prohibit
its territory from being used by separatist movements against
us." Dewi Fortuna Anwar, a top foreign policy analyst, told
Pol/C that the agreement further "smooths out"
Indonesian-Australian relations "so that they are less
impacted by day-to-day problems."

NEW ERA?


5. (C) With Indonesians looking forward to working with the
new Rudd government, the accord is a further sign of a
maturing in Indonesian-Australian relations. The overall
texture of relations--at least as seen by Indonesians--seems
to be in a positive frame right now. That said--and as
touched on by Dewi Fortuna Anwar--various matters that come
up whether it be Indonesian treatment of terrorists or
Australian comments about the situation in Papua, etc., do
tend to impact ties on a regular basis. The Lombok treaty
can clearly provide some further ballast to the relationship.
HUME