UNGA: ADVANCING USG PRIORITIES WITH INDONESIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 001803 SIPDIS DEPT FOR D, P, EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, IO, IO/UNP NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD MARR ID BM IR SUBJECT: UNGA: ADVANCING USG PRIORITIES WITH INDONESIA JAKARTA 00001803 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Possible upcoming meetings for senior USG officials with FM Wirajuda or Secretary General Imron Cotan (the number-three official in the Department of Foreign Affairs) on the margins of the UN General Assembly are a key opportunity to advance USG priorities with Indonesia. We suggest that senior USG officials use any opportunities to press Indonesia on the need for democratic reform in Burma and on tackling Iran's nuclear program and abysmal human rights record. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY (Con'd): We further propose that we use bilateral meetings to review ways to deepen our bilateral defense cooperation and address problems in Indonesia's international cooperation on health issues. Finally, we suggest that USG officials press Indonesia on market access for U.S. beef and to implement the recommendations of the Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission on Truth and Friendship. END SUMMARY. BURMA ¶3. (C) BACKGROUND: Indonesian officials admit frustration with the lack of democratic reform in Burma. They argue that sanctions have failed to produce real change and admit that ASEAN's strategy of engagement has also not resulted in significant progress. Indonesian leaders--and President Yudhoyono in particular--believe that Indonesia's experience going from a military-dominated authoritarian government to a democracy gives Indonesia greater credibility with the Burmese generals. Yudhoyono has written to senior General Than Shwe to urge him to undertake reforms but the Burmese strongman has not responded substantively. ¶4. (SBU) TALKING POINTS: --As the largest democracy in East Asia and the leader of ASEAN, Indonesia has a critical role to play promoting democratic change in Burma. --We encourage Indonesia and its ASEAN partners to stand firm in demanding that Burma undertake democratic reforms. The regime must begin a dialogue with the opposition and with ethnic minority groups. IRAN ¶5. (C) BACKGROUND: Indonesia continues to take a cautious line on Iran. Domestic critics savaged the Yudhoyono administration for Indonesia's support of UNSCR 1747 on 
Iran's nuclear program early last year. As a result, the GOI subsequently abstained on UNSCR 1803 and will be even less inclined to take strong action on Iran in advance of the 2009 presidential and parliamentary elections. Indonesia is also likely to fall in line behind the Non-Aligned Movement consensus on any UNGA Third Committee resolution dealing with Iran's human rights record. ¶6. (SBU) TALKING POINTS: -- As a strong proponent of international nonproliferation norms, Indonesia should press Iran to meet its international obligations, end its nuclear weapons program and accept the P5 1 offer as the way forward. -- Indonesia is the largest democracy in the Muslim world and a country that overcame its own history of authoritarian rule. Because of this, Indonesia should take a stand and join many other countries in calling on the Iranian government to respect the human rights of its people. JAKARTA 00001803 002.2 OF 003 DEEPENING SECURITY COOPERATION ¶7. (SBU) BACKGROUND: The growing bilateral activities on security questions need more form. In June, the Indonesian government proposed a text for a Defense Cooperation Agreement, including provisions for periodic consultations. Indonesia has such an agreement with several other countries, including China, India and the Philippines. Embassy Jakarta recommended that the USG respond affirmatively to this proposal, with the condition that the text should be drafted in a non-binding way that avoids the need for parliamentary action in either capital. Such an agreement would help lock in the progress achieved in the past few years and lay down a roadmap for future collaboration. ¶8. (SBU) TALKING POINTS: -- Indonesia is an important security partner and we look forward to deepening our cooperation in this area. -- We are continuing to review the draft Defense Cooperation Agreement that Indonesia provided us in June. -- We look forward to further discussions on how to move forward in this important area. BILATERAL HEALTH COOPERATION ¶9. (C) BACKGROUND: The Indonesian government has refused to share human avian influenza disease samples with the WHO Influenza Surveillance Network since January 2007. This refusal threatens scientific cooperation that could prevent an influenza pandemic and increases the likelihood of more seasonal flu deaths in the U.S. (now at 40,000 annually) due to less effective flu vaccines. Indonesia has the highest number of avian influenza cases (137) and fatalities (112) in the world. Working through the Australia chair of the WHO Intergovernmental Meeting on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, the U.S. and Indonesia are making good progress on developing possible changes to the WHO Influenza Surveillance Network that would lead Indonesia to resume sample sharing. Any changes must be adopted at the October World Health Assembly in Geneva. ¶10. (SBU) TALKING POINTS: -- Indonesia has been a constructive partner in consultations with the U.S. and Australia in its capacity as chair of the Intergovernmental Meeting on Pandemic Influenza Preparednes. -- The U.S. and Indonesia must work together to win the support of other WHO Member States for proposed changes to the WHO Influenza Surveillance Network. We hope Indonesia will resume sharing samples after the October World Health Assembly. U.S. BEEF IMPORTS ¶11. (SBU) BACKGROUND: The Indonesian government continues to restrict imports of U.S. beef despite having promised full market access in January 2008. Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) officials explain that U.S. beef plants must be "halal certified" by a team of GOI officials via on-site inspection. They added that no trips can be scheduled until approval of the GOI's fiscal 2009 budget. USDA has offered to fund a halal certification trip in advance of 2009 in order to increase the number of eligible U.S. exporters. However, the GOI turned down the offer, describing it as "inappropriate." Without further inspections, only a small number of U.S. beef plants are eligible to export to Indonesia (and all are required to sell their product through a single GOI-designated broker). JAKARTA 00001803 003.2 OF 003 ¶12. (SBU) TALKING POINTS: --We urge Indonesia to honor its January 2008 commitment to full market access. The first step is to accept our invitation to travel to the U.S. to inspect and certify U.S. plants interested in exporting beef to Indonesia. --We encourage the GOI to establish a halal certification process that is open and transparent. INDONESIA-TIMOR-LESTE COMMISSION ON TRUTH AND FRIENDSHIP ¶13. (C) BACKGROUND: The bilateral Commission on Truth and Friendship (CTF) presented its report to the leaders of Indonesia and Timor-Leste in July. The report is highly critical of GOI security forces and holds the Indonesian military "institutionally responsible" for gross human rights violations committed in 1999. The report also found that groups which supported East Timor's independence were responsible for human rights violations. In a joint statement and other remarks, the leaders of both countries expressed remorse to the victims and underscored that the report was a key step in the reconciliation process. ¶14. (U) The report's key recommendations are: - Ensure accountability and institutional reform by providing human rights training to security force and strengthening investigative bodies; - Promote conflict resolution and provide psycho-social services for victims; - Resolve outstanding asset disputes and other economic issues; - Create a commission for disappeared persons; - Make recommendations for official acknowledgment and apology for the events of 1999; and - Promote educational and cultural exchanges, health cooperation and a shared respect for the rule of law and human rights. ¶15. (SBU) TALKING POINTS: --We welcome the joint effort to investigate and to determine the facts regarding events in East Timor, as contained in the public report of the Commission on Truth and Friendship. --Official acknowledgment by the governments of Indonesia and Timor-Leste of "institutional responsibility" for the gross human rights violations committed in East Timor represents a positive step toward establishing accountability for those violations. --The U.S. also welcomes both governments' commitment to implement institutional reforms. We encourage Indonesia and Timor-Leste to carry out the measures recommended by the Commission on Truth and Friendship and reaffirm our willingness to assist in these reforms. HUME