Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA1948
2008-10-22 06:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
ASEAN CHARTER RATIFIED BY INDONESIAN PARLIAMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO1196 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHTRO DE RUEHJA #1948 2960655 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 220655Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0384 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 5518 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 3186 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1359 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2345 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 5035 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2632 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 3184 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 3040 RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH 1214 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0973 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001948
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEAN ID BM
SUBJECT: ASEAN CHARTER RATIFIED BY INDONESIAN PARLIAMENT
REF: JAKARTA 1893 AND PREVIOUS
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 001948
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEAN ID BM
SUBJECT: ASEAN CHARTER RATIFIED BY INDONESIAN PARLIAMENT
REF: JAKARTA 1893 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Indonesian Parliament ratified the
ASEAN Charter on October 21. The move was expected and came
after the committee dealing with foreign affairs recommended
that Parliament in full plenary pass the Charter. We
understand that the legislation contains non-binding "policy
directives" related to human rights proposed by members
concerned with the Burma situation. According to our
contacts, the Charter is slated to be signed by President
Yudhoyono next month. END SUMMARY.
CHARTER RATIFIED
2. (U) On October 21, the Indonesian Parliament (locally
known by the acronym "DPR") ratified the ASEAN Charter. The
legislation passed with unanimous support in the 550-seat
body. The ratification of the Charter was expected, coming
as it did after the October 8 decision by Commission I (the
committee dealing with international and security affairs) to
support it (see ref a). The ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta
welcomed the DPR's action.
NON-BINDING LANGUAGE
3. (C) As reviewed more thoroughly in ref a, we understand
that the legislation contains non-binding "policy directives"
related to human rights. This language was placed in the
legislation by a handful of legislators who are extremely
concerned by the actions of the Burmese regime, and who have
repeatedly urged ASEAN and Indonesia to be active on the
matter.
4. (C) The directives, inter alia, request that the
Indonesian government work to ensure that ASEAN establishes
the proposed human rights body as soon as possible and that
it conform to "international standards." In addition, ASEAN
should work to ensure that member-states comply with the
Charter's provisions or face possible sanctions. DPR members
to whom we have spoken admit that they cannot require that
the GOI take such steps. They asserted, however, that they
will press the government to press these issues hard.
5. (C) GOI contacts say they take the DPR's language
seriously, but note that ASEAN is a consensus organization
and the GOI cannot always get its way. Foreign Minister
Wirajuda told Parliament on October 21 that the GOI was
committed to try to improve the Charter via amendments down
the road. Re Burma, he added: "Once the Charter is formed,
we will see how serious Myanmar is in making its roadmap to
democracy. We will see if it keeps to its promises."
NEXT STEPS
6. (U) President Yudhoyono is scheduled to sign the
legislation in November. At that time, the legislation will
be officially published (the exact text is not yet
available). ASEAN leaders are slated to launch the Charter
on an official basis during their December Summit in Bangkok.
HUME
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEAN ID BM
SUBJECT: ASEAN CHARTER RATIFIED BY INDONESIAN PARLIAMENT
REF: JAKARTA 1893 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Indonesian Parliament ratified the
ASEAN Charter on October 21. The move was expected and came
after the committee dealing with foreign affairs recommended
that Parliament in full plenary pass the Charter. We
understand that the legislation contains non-binding "policy
directives" related to human rights proposed by members
concerned with the Burma situation. According to our
contacts, the Charter is slated to be signed by President
Yudhoyono next month. END SUMMARY.
CHARTER RATIFIED
2. (U) On October 21, the Indonesian Parliament (locally
known by the acronym "DPR") ratified the ASEAN Charter. The
legislation passed with unanimous support in the 550-seat
body. The ratification of the Charter was expected, coming
as it did after the October 8 decision by Commission I (the
committee dealing with international and security affairs) to
support it (see ref a). The ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta
welcomed the DPR's action.
NON-BINDING LANGUAGE
3. (C) As reviewed more thoroughly in ref a, we understand
that the legislation contains non-binding "policy directives"
related to human rights. This language was placed in the
legislation by a handful of legislators who are extremely
concerned by the actions of the Burmese regime, and who have
repeatedly urged ASEAN and Indonesia to be active on the
matter.
4. (C) The directives, inter alia, request that the
Indonesian government work to ensure that ASEAN establishes
the proposed human rights body as soon as possible and that
it conform to "international standards." In addition, ASEAN
should work to ensure that member-states comply with the
Charter's provisions or face possible sanctions. DPR members
to whom we have spoken admit that they cannot require that
the GOI take such steps. They asserted, however, that they
will press the government to press these issues hard.
5. (C) GOI contacts say they take the DPR's language
seriously, but note that ASEAN is a consensus organization
and the GOI cannot always get its way. Foreign Minister
Wirajuda told Parliament on October 21 that the GOI was
committed to try to improve the Charter via amendments down
the road. Re Burma, he added: "Once the Charter is formed,
we will see how serious Myanmar is in making its roadmap to
democracy. We will see if it keeps to its promises."
NEXT STEPS
6. (U) President Yudhoyono is scheduled to sign the
legislation in November. At that time, the legislation will
be officially published (the exact text is not yet
available). ASEAN leaders are slated to launch the Charter
on an official basis during their December Summit in Bangkok.
HUME