BURMA -- SHAPING POST-CYCLONE ASSISTANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001244 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV ID BM SUBJECT: BURMA -- SHAPING POST-CYCLONE ASSISTANCE REF: A. STATE 68527 ¶B. JAKARTA 1111 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Mission reviewed USG points re shaping post-cyclone assistance in Burma with contacts in the Presidential Palace and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU). Tri Sukma Djandam of the Office of the President told Pol/C that the GOI wanted to make sure that the international community continued to work together on the assistance effort. He noted that internal GOI efforts to develop options on how the region could deal with the Burma problem had been delayed by the cyclone and aftermath. The GOI, he said, looked forward to a possible visit by UN S/E Gambari to the region in July and hoped a stop in Jakarta could be arranged. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) PRESSING POINTS: On June 26, Pol/C reviewed Ref A points re shaping post-cyclone assistance in Burma with Djandam of the President's Office of International Affairs and Deputy Director (Asia) Kusumo Prasodo of DEPLU. Pol/C underscored the importance of international unity in positively influencing the Burmese regime's handling of relief efforts. The international community needed to continue to insist on access, transparency and accountability in this next phase of the relief effort. ¶3. (C) GOI RESPONSE: Djandam underlined that the GOI agreed on the continuing importance of the international community working together on assistance issues. Indonesia felt positive about the UN-ASEAN team which assessed humanitarian assistance needs in the areas affected by Cyclone Nargis between June 9 and 20. Working via ASEAN and bilaterally, Indonesia was committed to continuing to work with the Burmese government on ways that helped those affected by the disaster. He added that the GOI was happy that it had been able to work recently with the U.S. military on transporting UNICEF relief supplies (tents) from Medan, Sumatra, to Thailand and then onwards to Burma (see Ref B). ¶4. (C) INDONESIAN NEXT STEPS: Asked by Pol/C, Djandam noted that internal GOI efforts to develop options on how the region could deal with the Burma problem had been delayed by the cyclone and its aftermath. DEPLU had been preparing a paper on the situation, but this process had been overtaken by events. Nonetheless, President Yudhoyono remained deeply concerned by the situation in Burma and would continue to make it a priority. ¶5. (C) The GOI, Djandam added, looked forward to a possible visit by UN Special Envoy Gambari to the region in July and hoped a stop in Jakarta could be arranged. Pol/C emphasized that it was vital that governments not lose sight of the fact that the underlying problem in Burma was political and related directly to the regime's intractability. It was important that Indonesia and ASEAN continue to review ways to influence change in Burma. HUME