INDONESIA/COUNTER-NARCOTICS -- TWO NEW AGREEMENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002269 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, INL SINGAPORE FOR DEA/ICE NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA/COUNTER-NARCOTICS -- TWO NEW AGREEMENTS REF: JIATF-W MESSAGE DTG 140254Z NOV 08 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOI has entered into two new agreements focused on counter-narcotics and combating transnational crime. The first agreement involves the Indonesian National Narcotics Board (BNN) and the Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). The other involves BNN and the Indonesian Navy. Our Indonesian contacts tell us that they are confident that the agreements--one regional and one intra-governmental--will enhance the GOI's capability to counter drug trafficking and other criminal activities. END SUMMARY. AGREEMENT WITH PHILIPPINE COUNTERPART ¶2. (SBU) Two new agreements should increase the GOI's capabilities in the counter-narcotics area. An October 31 memorandum of understanding involving the BNN and the Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency was the first formal agreement between Indonesian and Philippine law enforcement organizations. The MOU facilitates sharing of counter-narcotics information through the two countries' U.S.-supported national interagency fusion centers (IFCs), with plans to later include regional out-stations. BNN has told us that it would eventually like there to be joint operations involving the two countries and their law enforcement organizations. IMPROVING INTRA-GOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION ¶3. (SBU) The November 21 agreement between BNN and the Indonesian Navy is also important. The intra-governmental MOU establishes an Indonesian framework for conducting interagency counter-narcotics operations. Per the MOU, which is the first involving the BNN and the Indonesian military, the Indonesian Navy would provide security and transportation for BNN and inter-agency partners in maritime operations. ¶4. (C) Despite the agreement, the long-standing institutional rivalry between the Indonesian military and the police remains an issue. That said, the BNN and the Navy are now working to cement elements of their cooperation. On December 2, for example, BNN hosted a basic intelligence training session for 35 junior and mid-level military police officers from the Indonesian Navy. Some Indonesian Army and Air Force personnel also participated in the training. BNN is also currently developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to institutionalize elements of cooperation on maritime operations with the Navy. In the meantime, the USG is looking into requests by BNN for maritime training support. AN ORGANIZATION ON THE UPSWING ¶5. (C) BNN is steadily becoming a more effective organization, making gains in the areas of information collection and operations. This, thanks to sound leadership and also international assistance, including that from the U.S. USG support, in particular, is key, as it directly improves BNN's capacity to track narcotics-related and other transnational crimes. ¶6. (C) The MOU's signed in recent weeks--one with the PDEA and the other with the Indonesian Navy--should enhance the BNN's capacity to gather counter-narcotics information and to carry out interagency operations. Even with the conclusion of the MOU with the Navy, however, GOI interagency coordination writ large needs further work and the BNN leadership knows that. HUME