IN POSITIVE STEP, MILITARY PROMISES TO WORK WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000207 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, EAP/MTS, DRL/AWH NSC FOR EPHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM ID SUBJECT: IN POSITIVE STEP, MILITARY PROMISES TO WORK WITH KEY HUMAN RIGHTS AGENCY REF: 07 JAKARTA 2787 JAKARTA 00000207 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The national human rights commission (Komnas HAM) and the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) recently met to discuss ways to work together. In the course of the meeting, the new TNI Commander promised cooperation and invited the Commission to craft a program of human rights training. In the meantime, the Commission has promised publicly to continue to investigate abuses that occurred during the Suharto timeframe despite the death of the former president. The meeting between the TNI and the Commission was positive, and is the sort of engagement that needs to continue. END SUMMARY. A KEY MEETING ¶2. (SBU) There has been a positive new development on the human rights front. Komnas HAM Commission Chair Ifdhal Kasim met January 25 with TNI Commander (Panglima) Djoko Santoso as part of the independent watchdog agency's efforts to gain greater cooperation in human rights investigations. In the past, Kasim told poloff, Komnas HAM investigations often met a wall of sorts when they tried to get information from the TNI on alleged human rights abuses. ¶3. (SBU) This meeting, however, was constructive. It resulted in several areas of cooperation. More generally, the new Panglima declared that the TNI would ask soldiers to cooperate with investigations into past human rights abuses. On two specific issues, Komnas HAM contacts confirmed to Pol FSN that the Panglima agreed to cooperation with the Commission on the following investigations: -- The 1989 killings of over 200 villagers in Talangsari village, Lampung Province, Sumatra. The Lampung regional military commander at the time was then Col. Hendropriyono, who later retired from the military and served as chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN). (Note: Following the January 25 meeting with the TNI, Commission sources announced to the media that soldiers may soon be called in for questioning for past abuses. The Talangsari case was at the top of the list and--based on the Panglima's assurances--the Commission was confident that the TNI would support the inquiry.) -- May 2007 shootings in Pasuruan, East Java, in which marines shot and killed four persons and injured others during a land dispute clash. (Note: Major Husni Sukarwo was relieved of his command and 13 marines were arrested, questioned, and released to their units for their roles in the incident. The investigation into what exactly happened continues.) ¶4. (SBU) The Commission and the TNI also outlined ways to work together to resolve land disputes involving military holdings. Komnas HAM agreed to facilitate dialogue between the military and local communities to help settle such disputes. For its part, according to Komnas HAM, the Panglima said the land disputes would ultimately be resolved when TNI pulled out of business and other enterprises completely. (Note: Land disputes involving the military and local citizenry are an ongoing problem, and often arise when communities have had long-term use of areas the military re-claims.) HUMAN RIGHTS TRAINING ¶5. (C) There was also a request for training. The same sources confirmed that Santoso invited Komnas HAM to facilitate human rights training courses for military officers. Although the parameters of the training have not yet been set, training by Komnas HAM would complement ongoing training by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other organizations that is given to all branches of the military. A key aspect of the training is how to deal with civilians in conflict. Rully Sandra, an ICRC representative, told poloff that ICRC's courses instruct JAKARTA 00000207 002.2 OF 002 soldiers in international humanitarian law and "internal security operations," i.e., how to coordinate with local law enforcement to help control unruly crowds in effective, non-violent ways. SUHARTO'S DEATH NOT AN ISSUE ¶6. (C) The recent death of former president Suharto raised some questions about the Commission's role. Quickly rebutting claims that the death would impact its work (under the theory that Suharto's death somehow extinguished claims), the Commission underscored that the scope of its investigations was not impacted and that it would continue to look into cases that took place during the 1965-1998 timeframe of Suharto's rule. In addition to the Talangsari case mentioned above, other Suharto-era cases under review by the Commisison include the imprisonment on Buru Island of political activists from 1969 to 1979, and state action in armed conflicts in Aceh and Papua. A POSITIVE STEP ¶7. (C) The meeting between the TNI and the Commission was positive. The new Panglima made a very favorable impression as someone who wants to turn over a new leaf and make more progress on the human rights front. (Note: The Ambassador had a good give-and-take with the Panglima during a January 31 meeting -- see septel.) This sort of engagement needs to continue. In particular, the Panglima's request for human rights training was important and the Commission needs to move quickly on that. Mission will work with the Commission on possible ways we can assist it, including by working to make sure that the Commission's efforts leverage the ICRC's program. HUME