Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA1410
2008-07-22 09:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
PREAH VIHEAR -- GOI PROPOSES CONTACT GROUP TO
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C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001410
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ID CB TH
SUBJECT: PREAH VIHEAR -- GOI PROPOSES CONTACT GROUP TO
RESOLVE DISPUTE OVER TEMPLE
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001410
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ID CB TH
SUBJECT: PREAH VIHEAR -- GOI PROPOSES CONTACT GROUP TO
RESOLVE DISPUTE OVER TEMPLE
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Indonesia has proposed the creation of an
Indonesian-led ASEAN Contact Group to resolve the dispute
between Cambodia and Thailand over the Preah Vihear temple.
Indonesian officials are not certain exactly how the Contact
Group will function nor whether other ASEAN members will
support it. GOI officials acknowledged that neither Cambodia
nor Thailand had accepted the contact group proposal. END
SUMMARY.
INDONESIA PROPOSES CONTACT GROUP
2. (C) The GOI wants ASEAN to assist in resolving the Preah
Vihear dispute. During a July 22 meeting with Ade Sukendar,
Deputy Director for Asian and Pacific Affairs at the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU),poloff raised press
reports to the effect that FM Wirajuda had proposed that
Indonesia lead an ASEAN effort to defuse tensions between
Cambodia and Thailand over the disputed Preah Vihear temple.
(Note: The Indonesian media reported that FM Wirajuda called
for the creation of a "Contact Group" of ASEAN members not
directly involved in the dispute. The group, which Indonesia
planned to chair, would try to broker a resolution of the
dispute.)
3. (C) Sukendar replied that Indonesia believed that ASEAN
had to take an active role in getting Cambodia and Thailand
to resolve the issue before tensions escalated further. GOI
officials acknowledged that neither Cambodia nor Thailand had
accepted the Contact Group proposal but Sukendar indicated
that Indonesia would continue efforts to build support for
the initiative within ASEAN.
4. (C) Sukendar also said Indonesia opposed Cambodia's
efforts to get the UNSC to take up the matter. Indonesia
believed that ASEAN has primary responsibility for resolving
the issue and that the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation
provided the framework for resolving disputes between
member-states.
DETAILS, PROSPECTS SKETCHY
5. (C) Indonesian officials have yet to work out details of
the proposed contact group, according to Sukendar. He told
poloff that the Indonesian proposal remained under discussion
among ASEAN officials currently meeting in Singapore.
Indonesia would continue to press the idea on its ASEAN
peers, but Sukendar acknowledged that no other ASEAN member
has fully endorsed the plan.
6. (C) Sukendar said Indonesia had floated the proposal
because Cambodian-Thai negotiations have so far failed to
defuse the situation. Indonesia and other ASEAN members
worried that the dispute could lead to violence if left
unresolved, he added.
A TEST FOR ASEAN, INDONESIA
7. (C) The dispute comes at a critical time for the ASEAN
Charter, which the GOI is about to submit to the legislature
(DPR) for approval. (Note: Mission will report more fully
on the Charter's prospects in Indonesia via septel.)
Indonesian academics and media commentators have questioned
whether ASEAN can pursue greater integration if it cannot
solve a dispute between its own members. An editorial in the
July 22 English language Jakarta Post urged Thailand to
voluntarily relinquish the ASEAN chair, which it is scheduled
to take up on July 28, unless the dispute is resolved by that
time. Commentators also called on Indonesia to lead ASEAN's
efforts on the issue.
HUME
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ID CB TH
SUBJECT: PREAH VIHEAR -- GOI PROPOSES CONTACT GROUP TO
RESOLVE DISPUTE OVER TEMPLE
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Indonesia has proposed the creation of an
Indonesian-led ASEAN Contact Group to resolve the dispute
between Cambodia and Thailand over the Preah Vihear temple.
Indonesian officials are not certain exactly how the Contact
Group will function nor whether other ASEAN members will
support it. GOI officials acknowledged that neither Cambodia
nor Thailand had accepted the contact group proposal. END
SUMMARY.
INDONESIA PROPOSES CONTACT GROUP
2. (C) The GOI wants ASEAN to assist in resolving the Preah
Vihear dispute. During a July 22 meeting with Ade Sukendar,
Deputy Director for Asian and Pacific Affairs at the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU),poloff raised press
reports to the effect that FM Wirajuda had proposed that
Indonesia lead an ASEAN effort to defuse tensions between
Cambodia and Thailand over the disputed Preah Vihear temple.
(Note: The Indonesian media reported that FM Wirajuda called
for the creation of a "Contact Group" of ASEAN members not
directly involved in the dispute. The group, which Indonesia
planned to chair, would try to broker a resolution of the
dispute.)
3. (C) Sukendar replied that Indonesia believed that ASEAN
had to take an active role in getting Cambodia and Thailand
to resolve the issue before tensions escalated further. GOI
officials acknowledged that neither Cambodia nor Thailand had
accepted the Contact Group proposal but Sukendar indicated
that Indonesia would continue efforts to build support for
the initiative within ASEAN.
4. (C) Sukendar also said Indonesia opposed Cambodia's
efforts to get the UNSC to take up the matter. Indonesia
believed that ASEAN has primary responsibility for resolving
the issue and that the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation
provided the framework for resolving disputes between
member-states.
DETAILS, PROSPECTS SKETCHY
5. (C) Indonesian officials have yet to work out details of
the proposed contact group, according to Sukendar. He told
poloff that the Indonesian proposal remained under discussion
among ASEAN officials currently meeting in Singapore.
Indonesia would continue to press the idea on its ASEAN
peers, but Sukendar acknowledged that no other ASEAN member
has fully endorsed the plan.
6. (C) Sukendar said Indonesia had floated the proposal
because Cambodian-Thai negotiations have so far failed to
defuse the situation. Indonesia and other ASEAN members
worried that the dispute could lead to violence if left
unresolved, he added.
A TEST FOR ASEAN, INDONESIA
7. (C) The dispute comes at a critical time for the ASEAN
Charter, which the GOI is about to submit to the legislature
(DPR) for approval. (Note: Mission will report more fully
on the Charter's prospects in Indonesia via septel.)
Indonesian academics and media commentators have questioned
whether ASEAN can pursue greater integration if it cannot
solve a dispute between its own members. An editorial in the
July 22 English language Jakarta Post urged Thailand to
voluntarily relinquish the ASEAN chair, which it is scheduled
to take up on July 28, unless the dispute is resolved by that
time. Commentators also called on Indonesia to lead ASEAN's
efforts on the issue.
HUME