Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA1792
2008-09-22 08:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
SOUTHERN THAILAND -- INDONESIA HOSTS NEGOTIATIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO8102 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #1792 2660822 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 220822Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0165 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5423 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 3071 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1320 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1290 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2260 RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 4005 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4931 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2522 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 3101 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 2986 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0962 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001792
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV ID TH
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN THAILAND -- INDONESIA HOSTS NEGOTIATIONS
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 001792
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV ID TH
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN THAILAND -- INDONESIA HOSTS NEGOTIATIONS
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOI hosted talks involving
representatives of the Thai government and southern rebel
groups, September 20-21. According to Indonesian contacts,
both sides underscored their commitment to resolve the
conflict peacefully and agreed to regular meetings under
Indonesian facilitation. Since taking office, President
Yudhoyono has asserted his willingness to try to help resolve
conflicts in the region and this effort was part of that
policy. END SUMMARY.
"PRODUCTIVE" TALKS
2. (SBU) Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla hosted talks
aimed at reaching a settlement to the conflict in southern
Thailand September 20-21 in Bogor, a city just south of
Jakarta. General Khwanchart Klahan, commander of the
Southern Border Provinces Peace Building Command, led the
Thai government delegation. The Pattani Malay Consultative
Congress, an umbrella organization of southern organizations,
represented southern groups.
3. (C) Amid some confusion (see below),Indonesian
interlocutors told us the talks were "productive." The Thai
government and southern rebels underscored their commitment
to resolving the conflict peacefully. According to these
contacts, both sides agreed on a broad framework that
involves meeting southerner's demands for economic
development and recognition of their distinctive cultural
identity while assuring Thailand's territorial integrity.
4. (C) Anies Baswedan, an Indonesian academic who
participated in the negotiations, told poloff that the main
goal of the first round had been to build trust between the
two sides. This first round of talks did not, however, lead
to agreement to take any specific actions, he stressed.
SOME CONFUSION
5. (C) Some press reports here quoted a Thai Foreign
Ministry spokesperson who denied that the RTG was involved in
any way with the negotiations. Tri Sukma (Nanu) Djandam, a
foreign affairs advisor in the President's Office, rejected
the denial. He told Pol/C on September 22 that the GOI had
coordinated the talks closely with Bangkok and that Thai
government representatives were present and full
participants.
NEXT STEPS
6. (C) Presidential Spokesman Dino Djalal announced to the
press that a second round of talks was slated for November
1-2 and a third round for mid-November, also in Bogor.
Baswedan told poloff that Indonesian mediators hope that by
the third round the parties would agree on some concrete
steps to reduce tensions in southern Thailand and to build
trust between local people and government security forces.
7. (C) Since taking office, President Yudhoyono has asserted
his willingness to try to help resolve conflicts in the
region and this effort was part of that policy. (Note: He
has tried to help out re Burma and has sent a series of
letters to regime strongman Than Shwe, but to no avail, thus
far.) Djandam of the President's Office told Pol/C that the
President was monitoring the talks closely while letting the
Vice President and the Department of Foreign Affairs take the
lead.
HUME
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV ID TH
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN THAILAND -- INDONESIA HOSTS NEGOTIATIONS
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOI hosted talks involving
representatives of the Thai government and southern rebel
groups, September 20-21. According to Indonesian contacts,
both sides underscored their commitment to resolve the
conflict peacefully and agreed to regular meetings under
Indonesian facilitation. Since taking office, President
Yudhoyono has asserted his willingness to try to help resolve
conflicts in the region and this effort was part of that
policy. END SUMMARY.
"PRODUCTIVE" TALKS
2. (SBU) Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla hosted talks
aimed at reaching a settlement to the conflict in southern
Thailand September 20-21 in Bogor, a city just south of
Jakarta. General Khwanchart Klahan, commander of the
Southern Border Provinces Peace Building Command, led the
Thai government delegation. The Pattani Malay Consultative
Congress, an umbrella organization of southern organizations,
represented southern groups.
3. (C) Amid some confusion (see below),Indonesian
interlocutors told us the talks were "productive." The Thai
government and southern rebels underscored their commitment
to resolving the conflict peacefully. According to these
contacts, both sides agreed on a broad framework that
involves meeting southerner's demands for economic
development and recognition of their distinctive cultural
identity while assuring Thailand's territorial integrity.
4. (C) Anies Baswedan, an Indonesian academic who
participated in the negotiations, told poloff that the main
goal of the first round had been to build trust between the
two sides. This first round of talks did not, however, lead
to agreement to take any specific actions, he stressed.
SOME CONFUSION
5. (C) Some press reports here quoted a Thai Foreign
Ministry spokesperson who denied that the RTG was involved in
any way with the negotiations. Tri Sukma (Nanu) Djandam, a
foreign affairs advisor in the President's Office, rejected
the denial. He told Pol/C on September 22 that the GOI had
coordinated the talks closely with Bangkok and that Thai
government representatives were present and full
participants.
NEXT STEPS
6. (C) Presidential Spokesman Dino Djalal announced to the
press that a second round of talks was slated for November
1-2 and a third round for mid-November, also in Bogor.
Baswedan told poloff that Indonesian mediators hope that by
the third round the parties would agree on some concrete
steps to reduce tensions in southern Thailand and to build
trust between local people and government security forces.
7. (C) Since taking office, President Yudhoyono has asserted
his willingness to try to help resolve conflicts in the
region and this effort was part of that policy. (Note: He
has tried to help out re Burma and has sent a series of
letters to regime strongman Than Shwe, but to no avail, thus
far.) Djandam of the President's Office told Pol/C that the
President was monitoring the talks closely while letting the
Vice President and the Department of Foreign Affairs take the
lead.
HUME