Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA1022
2008-05-23 09:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
INDONESIAN FONMIN TO ATTEND BURMA CONFERENCE
how-toVZCZCXRO1753 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHTRO DE RUEHJA #1022 1440904 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 230904Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9090 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 5072 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2546 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0978 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1871 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 4620 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2012 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 2676 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0894 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 2690 RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH 0823 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
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).
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
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