Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA2158
2008-11-24 11:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:  

INDONESIA: KEEPING MOMENTUM GOING AFTER THE CTF

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM ID TT 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002158 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, DRL, DRL/AWH
NSC FOR EPHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ID TT
SUBJECT: INDONESIA: KEEPING MOMENTUM GOING AFTER THE CTF

REF: A. A. JAKARTA 1937

B. B. JAKARTA 1924

JAKARTA 00002158 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: DepPol/C Stanley Harsha, reasons 1.4(b+d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002158

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, DRL, DRL/AWH
NSC FOR EPHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ID TT
SUBJECT: INDONESIA: KEEPING MOMENTUM GOING AFTER THE CTF

REF: A. A. JAKARTA 1937

B. B. JAKARTA 1924

JAKARTA 00002158 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: DepPol/C Stanley Harsha, reasons 1.4(b+d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Human rights groups and Indonesian government
officials have expressed willingness to publicize and
implement recommendations of the Timor-Leste/Indonesia
Commission on Truth and Friendship (CTF) report regarding the
gross human rights violations which took place following the
1999 referendum. New opportunities exist for the USG to
support these efforts. Other countries also want to
collaborate in promoting the CTF reforms. Mission will
request support for these initiatives as soon as we receive
specific project initiatives.

POSSIBLE INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE


2. (C) Poloff met November 18 with Lazro Simbolon, Deputy
Director of Human Rights, Indonesian Department of Foreign
Affairs, in charge of disseminating the report. So far,
distribution of the report has been limited to a few
government ministries, media, and universities (ref A).
Lazro said the Indonesian government is currently focused on
the global financial crisis and publicizing the report is no
longer taking precedence. Lazro welcomed third party
assistance and funding, particularly from the USG, to move
forward with the report's recommendations. Although the
report was sent to the national Parliament, it has yet to
come up for discussion.

NGOS COULD TAKE THE LEAD


3. (C) Several NGOs have begun disseminating the report. Tri
Agus, a respected Timor-Leste human rights advocate active in
Indonesia, told poloff the Indonesian government's progress
in publicly disseminating the report has been slow and
suggested NGOs could take up the slack. With the upcoming
national elections in spring 2009, Agus said he expects no
further progress from the Indonesian government in the near
future. Asmara Nababa, a human rights researcher, told poloff
most Indonesians do not fully understand the 1999 events in
Timor-Leste and blamed nationalists and former military
leaders for resisting government efforts in further

publicizing the report. Noting the lack of progress, she said
NGOs should begin holding public seminars on the report.
According to Nababa, this is the only way to break the
culture of impunity within the security sector and reinforce
human rights within the military establishment. Another
local NGO, KONTRAS, plans to hold a public discussion about
the report in early December.


4. (SBU) CTF recommendations bearing on Indonesia include:

-- a human rights training program with emphasis on the
obligation of the military to remain neutral in political
controversies and elections; and,

-- enhanced authority for institutions charged with
investigation and prosecutions for human rights violations
allegedly committed by members of security forces, among
other very specific suggestions to promote reform.


5. (C) An influential member of Parliament and supporter of
CTF recommendations, Marzuki Darusman, told DepPol/C that it
is important to widely publicize the report in the next few
months to generate public support for reform. He suggested
that Komnas HAM should take the lead, as a semi-autonomous
government agency respected for advocating human rights. The
Ministry of Law and Human Rights has also told us it would
widely disseminate the report if it had the funding to do so.


MULTI-LATERAL SUPPORT

JAKARTA 00002158 002.2 OF 002




6. (C) New Zealand, Australian and Swiss diplomats have told
us they would like to collaborate with other Missions and
Indonesian NGOs to promote the CTF report. We agreed that
multi-lateral support would demonstrate international
backing for the CTF and that we should collaborate in finding
ways and resources to help Indonesia on the CTF.



7. (C) Since the release of the report, Indonesia has agreed
to assist in the development of Timor-Leste civil society.
The Indonesian government will train officials of the
Timor-Leste Ministry of Foreign Affairs in diplomatic
tradecraft in Jakarta. The Indonesian government agreed to
ease visa and residency permit regulations for all
Timor-Leste students studying in Indonesia. These students
will be charged local tuition fees, significantly easing
their educational costs. Also, the GOI is allowing 9,000
Timor-Leste students whose visas have expired to continue
their studies. Talks on other bilateral initiatives have
also taken place, GOI sources told us.


8. (C) Mission will continue to support methods of promoting
the CTF in Indonesia, and will explore ways that we can
assist with funding and training. For the immediate future,
funds will be needed to help publish and disseminate the
report. Mission will propose funding for specific
initiatives as soon as these are formulated.
HUME