BURMA -- U.S. BEGINS FLYING TENTS FROM INDONESIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001111 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, EAP/MTS (COPE) NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2018 TAGS: PREL EAID ID BM SUBJECT: BURMA -- U.S. BEGINS FLYING TENTS FROM INDONESIA TO THAILAND REF: JAKARTA 1095 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate Medan. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: U.S. military aircraft have begun transporting relief supplies from Indonesia to Thailand for onward transfer to Burma. The Indonesian military (TNI) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) have provided key support to this operation. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) U.S. military aircraft have begun transporting UNICEF tents stored in Medan, North Sumatra, to Thailand for onward transfer to Burma. (Note: The tents had been stored in Sumatra in case of an emergency in that region.) The first flight--a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130 carrying 12 tents--departed for Medan late on Thursday, June 5. Two more USMC KC-130 flights arrived Friday, June 6, and will depart Medan later that day. ¶4. (SBU) Mission expects the operation to be completed early next week. The operation will move a total of 75 large tents, which will be reconfigured in Thailand and then sent to Burma. USDAO personnel from Jakarta are in Medan to support the operation in coordination with the Consulate. Mission is also working on a public relations strategy to publicize the USG effort. ¶5. (C) The GOI has provided key support for this effort. Indonesian authorities issued expedited flight clearances in two days--far faster than their usual processing time. (Note: DAO and POL pressed TNI and DEPLU contacts to move this matter forward as quickly as possible.) The TNI Air Force base commander in Medan has provided important logistical support to the operation and has not waited for an okay from headquarters to do so. HEFFERN