INDONESIAN FONMIN TO ATTEND BURMA CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001022 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, EAP/MTS (COPE) NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID ID BM SUBJECT: INDONESIAN FONMIN TO ATTEND BURMA CONFERENCE REF: A. STATE 55244 ¶B. JAKARTA 1001 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Mission delivered ref A demarche to Indonesian government and ASEAN Secretariat officials on May ¶23. The GOI agreed that Burma must allow international assessment teams to reach people in need and promised to press the point during the May 25 UN-ASEAN conference in Rangoon. Foreign Minister Wirajuda will represent the GOI at the donor meeting. ASEAN Secretariat officials agreed that needs assessment was the top priority, but said that reconstruction should also be discussed at the conference. END SUMMARY. REITERATING USG POINTS ¶2. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Ade Sukendar, Deputy Director for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU),on May 23. Poloff underscored that the international community must maintain pressure on the Burmese regime to ensure that disaster assessment teams have access to the areas affected by the cyclone. It was premature to move to reconstruction while the recovery needs of many people remained unmet. Poloff also briefed Sukendar on USG relief efforts in Burma. FM TO REPRESENT GOI ¶3. (C) Sukendar noted that Foreign Minister Wirajuda would lead the Indonesian delegation to the conference. Indonesia agreed that Burma must cooperate with international relief efforts, especially needs assessment. He noted that during the May 19 ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in Singapore, ASEAN members pressed Burma on this point and the Burmese promised to comply. Poloff responded that the Burmese regime has a history of reneging on commitments to the international community. Therefore, the international community must continue to press the issue during the May 25 UN-ASEAN conference. Sukendar said Indonesia would continue to press the point. ¶4. (SBU) Poloff asked about Indonesian assistance to Burma. According to Sukendar, in addition to that flown in earlier (see reftel),an Indonesian disaster assessment team has been in Rangoon since May 21, but it has not yet been able to visit the worst-hit areas. ASEAN SECRETARIAT (MOSTLY) ON BOARD ¶5. (SBU) Econoff also presented ref A points to the ASEAN Secretariat's point-person on the issue, Dr. Anish Kumar Roy, Director of the Secretariat's Bureau of Resource Development. He said Secretary General Surin agreed with the USG position that a comprehensive needs assessment was the top priority. The Secretariat also agreed that the Burmese regime must allow international assessment teams into all areas. Secretariat officials were particularly concerned that Burma lacked the transportation infrastructure and equipment to ensure that relief got to those in need. This issue must be addressed during the conference. ¶6. (SBU) Contrary to the thrust of U.S. points, Roy also said that the Secretariat believed that it was appropriate to discuss reconstruction at the upcoming conference. This should not be the priority, however. HEFFERN