UPDATE ON SATELINDO BROADCASTING OF AL-MANAR TV

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001114 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/PD, EEB/CIP/TS, EEB/ESC/TFS, EAP/RPS, S/CT E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2018 TAGS: PTER PREL KPAO ECIP KTFN ID LE XC SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SATELINDO BROADCASTING OF AL-MANAR TV REF: (A) STATE 44312 (B) 00922 Classified By: Economic Officer Yvonne Gonzales for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Based on meetings with Indosat and Government of Indonesia (GOI) officials, they are not inclined to stop broadcasting Al-Manar in Indonesia without a legal basis. While Indosat responded positively towards our arguments, they said they would not cancel their contract with Al-Manar until the GOI determined that Al-Manar violated broadcasting regulation. However, the GOI says Al-Manar has not violated broadcasting regulation. The Embassy met with Indosat Deputy President Director Dr. Kaizad B. Heerjee and his staff, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology Director General of Posts and Telecommunications Basuki Yusuf Iskandar and his colleague at the Ministry Deputy Director General for International Affairs Ikhsan Baidirus and PT Asia Global Media Head of Programming Brad Cox. PDAS Gerald Feierstein S/CT also raised the issue with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director of International Security and Disarmament Desra Percaya. We did not get a requested meeting with Chairman of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (IBC) Sasa Djuarsa Sendjaja, but we did receive a letter from him. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) INDOSAT WANTS LEGAL COVER: Heerjee said Indosat did not want to be involved with a terrorist organization. However, he said Indosat faced financial penalty or a possible lawsuit if the company breaks its contract with Al-Manar without a GOI determination that Al-Manar is in violation of Indonesian law. Heerjee said, &I have to be fair commercially.8 He recommended formal communication from the USG stating the request to end broadcasting of Al-Manar as well as consequences that could be applied to Indosat as a New York Stock Exchange listed company. He said the communication could be addressed to Indosat, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology or the MFA. Heerjee said Indosat shared our concerns about keeping this issue out of the media. ¶3. (C) GOI FINDS NO FAULT WITH AL-MANAR: After repeated requests for a meeting, Sendjaja replied by letter. The text of the letter reads as follows: &I have received your facsimile message dated May 7th 2008 regarding Request for Appointment,. We deeply regret that due to the very tight schedule and many activities to run, we have not had any good opportunity to arrange any meeting or appointment on the day that you proposed. However, concerning the broadcasting of Al-Manar satellite television, I would like to give a brief explanation of how I view the broadcasting: ¶1. Based on the democratic spirit that inspires the realm of broadcasting, our country gives the rights to the people to access any information as well as to express ideas through satellites to and from around the world. Also, due to the Open Sky Policy that will enable greater choice for consumers, I find that Al-Manar television is one of the many other cable television stations to augment the choices for the audience throughout the world. ¶2. In the perspective of the content, I have observed and made an analysis and have come to the conclusion that we have no problem with what Al-Manar has broadcasted. ¶3. I have also consulted with the Directorate General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and he states that with regard to the rules and regulations, the Government of Indonesia cannot ban the access of any satellite television to the people. Besides, he also asserts that thus far he finds no problem with the television st