BURMA -- USG-FUNDED PANEL DISCUSSIONS SET TO BEGIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002091 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, EAP/PD (K.STOLTZ),DRL (G.PAZ), EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, G (K.CURRIE) NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID KDEM BM ID SUBJECT: BURMA -- USG-FUNDED PANEL DISCUSSIONS SET TO BEGIN SOON REF: A. JAKARTA 1663 ¶B. JAKARTA 1143 ¶C. JAKARTA 1017 ¶D. JAKARTA 481 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate General Surabaya. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: A USG-funded "road show" meant to raise public awareness about the human rights situation in Burma will kick off in early December, traveling to three major Indonesian universities. The program of panel discussions and a NDI-sponsored photo exhibit is a spin-off from Mission's successful conference on Burma in March 2008. A key Indonesian legislator will be the keynote speaker at all events. The road show, the third Burma-related outreach event that Mission has been involved in this year, hopefully will help stimulate further awareness and action among the Indonesian public. END SUMMARY. BURMA "ROAD SHOW" ¶3. (SBU) The USG-funded Burma "road show" is slated to begin soon. Indonesians involved in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus will stage a program of panel discussions and a photo exhibit at three major university campuses in December and January (ref A). The project is funded with $6,300 from the USG's Public Diplomacy Small Democracy Grant program. The road show will travel to the following three universities spanning the length of Java: -- The University of Parayangan in Bandung, West Java; -- The University of Diponegoro in Semarang, Central Java; and, -- The University of Brawijaya in Malang, East Java. ¶4. (SBU) Djoko Susilo, a leading member of the Indonesian parliament (DPR) Myanmar Caucus and outspoken defender of human rights and democracy in Burma and elsewhere in the world, will lead the panel discussions at the three events, along with prominent scholars. Mission has been working closely with Susilo on the project. ¶5. (SBU) As part of the road show, the National Democracy Institute (NDI) is providing a 25-panel photo exhibit depicting the democratic movement in Burma from 1988 to September 2007, including photos taken from the September 2007 uprising. A movie on the Burma democracy movement will also be screened as part of the program. The exhibit will remain on campus and open to the public for three days following each event. ¶6. (SBU) The British Embassy is sponsoring other seminars being held at three other universities: the University of Indonesia in Jakarta; University of Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta; and, Airlangga University in Surabaya. Two of these events have already taken place with large and engaged audiences and widespread publicity. SPIN OFF FROM SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE ¶7. (SBU) Susilo attended much of the two-day EAP/PD-funded Burma conference sponsored by the Mission in March (Ref D). He told DepPol/C that the conference inspired him to be more active on the Burma issue. He also took part in a May visit by Burmese exiles sponsored by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) (Ref C). JAKARTA 00002091 002 OF 002 ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER ¶8. (C) Many Indonesians remain very concerned about the situation in Burma. This was shown in Parliament's recent action re the ASEAN Charter. While Parliament ratified the Charter, it also issued "guidance" requesting that the GOI look into ways to strengthen ASEAN's human rights mechanisms. Legislators like Susilo were at the forefront of this effort. The road show, the third Burma-related outreach event that Mission has been involved in this year, hopefully will help stimulate further awareness and action among the Indonesian public. HUME