HUMAN RIGHTS -- KEY COMMISSION WILLING TO HELP ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001048

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, EAP/MTS, DRL, DRL/AWH, PM
NSC FOR EPHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ID
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS -- KEY COMMISSION WILLING TO HELP ON
VETTING

REF: A. JAKARTA 1041

B. 07 JAKARTA 02442

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Keith Luse, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations
Committee Staff Member, met National Human Rights Commission
(Komnas HAM) Chair Ifdhal Kasim on May 27. Kasim said he
will consider a suggestion that Komnas HAM assist with the
vetting of Indonesian security personnel for USG training.
Kasim--who is on his way to Harvard to attend a human rights
course--said he supported U.S. training of Indonesian
security forces, including Special Forces (Kopassus). END
SUMMARY.

MEETING WITH KEY HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL


2. (C) National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Chair
Ifdhal Kasim--a human rights leader of high standing in
Indonesia who was appointed Chair in August 2007--met with
Senate staff member Keith Luse (U.S. Senate Foreign Relations
Committee Senior Professional Staff Member),DepPol/C, and
poloff on May 27. Asked by Luse whether Komnas HAM would be
willing to provide ideas on how Indonesian security forces
should be trained to the U.S. Congress, Kasim answered
enthusiastically that Komnas HAM would very much like to do
so. Kasim suggested that two areas of training that would be
useful would be how to deal with terrorism, human rights and
humanitarian law, particularly for younger soldiers in the
field. Luse noted that the U.S. Congress would be "very
impressed" with input regarding security force training from
Komnas HAM, and highly appreciative.


3. (C) Kasim remarked that Komnas HAM currently provides
human rights training to the TNI--including the Special
Forces--as does the International Committee for the Red
Cross. One of Kasim's initiatives has been to pursue a
dialogue with the TNI to establish good relations in order to
deal with specific cases relating both to past human rights
abuses and current land disputes which can lead to conflict.
(Note: As noted ref A, Komnas HAM has continued engagement
with the TNI, with some successes.)

ASSISTANCE RE VETTING


4. (C) DepPol/C asked Kasim whether Komnas HAM also would be
interested in helping the USG in vetting security force
members and units proposed for training for past human rights
abuses. He noted that the semi-autonomous government agency
Komnas HAM has a vast database and credibility for its
integrity and independence. Kasim expressed strong interest
in working with the USG to assist with Leahy vetting of
security forces, saying cooperation in this area would be
"very possible." Kasim said he was interested in having
greater ability to monitor the human rights records of those
security forces who received USG training, to ensure that
those trained have not committed gross violations of human
rights.


5. (C) DepPol/C also inquired whether Komnas HAM would be
interested in providing input for Congressionally-mandated
reports on human rights and reform, possibly by providing
reports they have already produced. Kasim said this also
might be possible. Regarding the Special Forces, Kasim noted
that Kopassus cooperated with some Komnas HAM investigations,
providing information and being generally supportive in some
cases involving their members.


6. (C) Noting misunderstanding by Indonesian Parliament
(DPR) members about Congressional statements regarding Papua
which has led to some acrimony in the DPR, Kasim suggested
more exchanges for Parliament members in order to clear up
misperceptions on both sides. Kasim explained that current
human rights issues related to Papua relate more to people

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being alarmed by the large number of security forces on the
ground in Papua rather than human rights abuses, and that the
TNI presence in Papua should be reduced. Luse asked Kasim to
provide three or four human rights issues that he thinks
Congress should raise with the GOI, and that he would see if
these issues can be raised quietly, perhaps in the form of a
letter from Congress to the GOI.

TRAVEL TO THE U.S.


7. (U) Kasim indicated he would depart for the U.S. on May
28 to attend a human rights course at Harvard University.
Luse invited Kasim to brief members of Congress the next time
he visits Washington.


8. (U) This message was approved by Keith Luse.

HEFFERN