ENGAGING A KEY POLICE UNIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 003331 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR P, EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL, INL NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017 TAGS: PREL KJUS PTER PGOV ID SUBJECT: ENGAGING A KEY POLICE UNIT REF: A. JAKARTA 292 ¶B. 06 JAKARTA 3688 ¶C. 03 STATE 310662 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b-d). ¶1. (U) This is an Action Request -- Please see para 10. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: The INL-funded DOJ ICITAP (police training) program is ready to begin to work with the Mobile Brigade in use of force, disaster relief, and critical-incident response. Mobile Brigade is a critical component of the police and the integration of this force into training programs will enable it to acquire professional skills consistent with a democratic society. Mobile Brigade is integral to police capabilities in crowd control, counter-terrorism, and combating illegal logging. It is central to the protection of visiting dignitaries and diplomatic facilities and personnel, including Embassy Jakarta. Mission requests Department's approval to begin training. END SUMMARY. U.S. POLICY ¶3. (C) Since 2000, the Department has not offered ICITAP training or technical assistance to the Indonesia National Police Mobil Brigade (also known as "BRIMOB"). During that time, Mission has provided a wide range of training and assistance to the Indonesian National Police as a whole, in support of our efforts to build democratic governance. This training and assistance has focused on human rights, appropriate response to threats, use of force and civil disorder management. Mobile Brigade has been unable to participate in this valuable training, although it has received tactical training from DS/ATA. Mobile Brigade, Indonesia's elite police force, has repeatedly requested access to ICITAP assistance. It needs such assistance in order to fulfil its proper role as a professional force in a democratic society. A FORCE IN TRANSFORMATION ¶4. (C) Formerly a part of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), the INP was separated from the TNI as part of the post-Suharto reforms and established as an independent force. Mobile Brigade's institutional ties with the TNI were thereby completely severed. The chief of Mobile Brigade reports directly to National Police Chief Sutanto, who is appointed by and directly responsible to President Yudhoyono. Sutanto is a reformer who has the President's full support for his agenda. Mobile Brigade is under the command of a two-star commander, General Weenas, whose publicly stated goal is to transform Mobile Brigade into a professional force compatible with and supportive of the rule of law in a democratic society. Weenas has made significant changes in Mobile Brigade's operations, code of conduct and accountability. There have been some allegations of human-rights abuses, as Human Rights Watch has made regarding Mobile Brigade operations in the Papuan highlands, but it has been difficult for the INP to verify and resolve these cases without additional information. VITAL TO INDONESIA'S DEMOCRATIC ORDER ¶5. (C) Mobile Brigade consists of 9,000 personnel in the national district of Jakarta and 25,000 personnel in regional units. Regional units generally serve as back-up support for the provincial police. Although operationally subordinate to the respective provincial police chiefs, regional Mobile Brigade units remain directly under the command in Jakarta. In this regional capacity, one of their primary responsibilities is to manage public demonstrations or other potentially violent situations which are beyond the control of the regular police and to help restore order. In these operations, possession of professional skills regarding use of force and human rights is essential for their effective performance along democratic norms. ¶6. (C) Mobile Brigade also performs a number of other critical roles which are vital to the success of Indonesian democracy. Mobile Brigade conducts counter-terrorism JAKARTA 00003331 002 OF 003 operations, combats illegal logging and protects diplomatic personnel and facilities, including Embassy Jakarta. It also protects visiting dignitaries, as it did President Bush during his visits to Bali and to Bogor. ¶7. Mobile Brigade also forms the backbone of Indonesia's stabilization (peacekeeping) police forces abroad and constitutes the majority of Indonesian participants to the Center of Excellence for Stabilization Police Units (CoESPU) in Vicenza, Italy. Peacekeeping is a major component of Indonesia's security contributions abroad, one which the United States supports. THE TRAINING PROGRAMS ¶8. (SBU) Mission's INL-funded DOJ ICITAP Program plans to incorporate Mobile Brigade personnel into three major areas of training currently being offered to the Indonesian National Police (INP): ¶A. USE OF FORCE: Mission has assisted the INP in developing its Use of Force Policy and in revising the INP Ethics Code and Disciplinary Code, which National Police Chief Sutanto signed into force in October 2005. Subsequently, ICITAP assisted the INP in developing a Proportional Force Options Policy and training officers in human rights and non-lethal force options. These programs are essential training for all police forces in a democratic society. ¶B. STANDARD EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (SEMS): Mission has completed training of all regional police operational commanders in Sumatra in Standard Emergency Management Systems (SEMS),which includes an Incident Command System (ICS) facilitating coordination of disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. Mobile Brigade plays a central role for the police in these responses. Providing this training to Mobile Brigade units in Sumatra would improve the overall response capability of the police in these areas. ¶C. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ILLEGAL LOGGING PROJECT: ICITAP received limited funding to develop law enforcement and investigative capacity of the INP in collaboration with USAID, USG stakeholders and local NGO's. The primary law-enforcement focus would be the Marine Police and Criminal Investigative Division. Mobile Brigade has a central and tactical role in protection of critical habitat areas and forests throughout Indonesia. Mobile Brigade would also participate in strategy development and training, beginning in Riau. ¶D. OTHER POTENTIAL AREAS: Mobile Brigade has repeatedly requested assistance from the ICITAP program in a variety of areas, which Mission would consider as it drafts its programs for coming years. These include preparation for peacekeeping operations as stabilization police. Since invited early this year, Indonesia has sent regular contingents of mid- and senior-level officers to the Center of Excellence for Stabilization Police Units (CoESPU) in Vicenza, Italy, which is supported by U.S. assistance. The majority of the Indonesian trainees are drawn from Mobile Brigade. EXPECT VISIBLE, POSITIVE IMPACT ¶9. (C) Incorporating Mobile Brigade into our overall training strategy for the Indonesian National Police would strengthen the unit's professionalism and its accountability to democratic institutions and norms. As with any law enforcement organization, issues would inevitably arise. On balance, however, the inclusion of Mobile Brigade in U.S. programs to develop modern law-enforcement capacity and reform the INP would have an immediate and measurable positive impact. Other assistance partners, notably Australia and France, are, according to Mission contacts here, in the process of re-engaging with Mobile Brigade, with an initial focus on human rights training. This would reinforce the impact of U.S. efforts in this direction. ACTION REQUEST ¶10. (C) Mission requests Washington's concurrence for the inclusion of Mobile Brigade in ICITAP training and assistance JAKARTA 00003331 003 OF 003 to the Indonesian police. HUME