BURMA -- JAKARTA PLANS REGIONAL CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000269

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/PD, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS (COPE),EAP/RSP
NSC FOR EPHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID ID BM
SUBJECT: BURMA -- JAKARTA PLANS REGIONAL CONFERENCE

REF: A. 07 JAKARTA 3420

B. 07 JAKARTA 2855

Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Indonesian civil society will host a
USG-funded regional conference March 6-7 on Burma. The exact
agenda is still being developed, but the conference will
focus on such topics as HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, and the
economic repercussions of the crisis, as well as regional and
international reactions. Organizers hope that prominent
speakers from several Southeast Asian countries will help
generate publicity, stimulate activism and spur participants
to develop a concrete "Plan of Action." USG engagement will
be low-key. END SUMMARY.

CONFERENCE ON BURMA


2. (SBU) A large coalition of major Indonesian civil society
organizations will host a March 6-7 conference focused on
Burma. The conference--which will be held in Jakarta--will be
entitled "The Role of ASEAN Civil Society in Supporting Human
Rights and Democracy in Burma." Some 15 to 20 regional and
international experts have been invited to participate along
with Indonesian civil society luminaries--about 50 in total.
Regional and international media will be invited. The
conference was organized on short notice--planning began only
in mid-January--due to the urgency of getting the Burma issue
back on the front pages and to push ASEAN as a whole to be
more engaged on the issue.


3. (SBU) The conference will highlight the current human
rights situation in Burma. It will also focus on the concrete
transnational ramifications that directly impact ASEAN and
other nations, such as HIV/AIDS, migration and economic
stability. The idea is to publicize that the Burmese regime's
brutal behavior is not only national in scope (which is
shocking enough),but also has serious regional ramifications
which demand an effective regional and international response.


4. (C) Indonesia--as one of ASEAN's most influential nations
and a country with strong democratic credentials--is well
positioned to play a larger role on Burma. Members of the
ASEAN Parliamentary Caucus on Myanmar have been invited to
participate in the conference, along with other Indonesian
parliamentarians who have been outspoken on Burma. Senior
GOI officials have been invited to participate, too. We hope
that the conference will nudge the Indonesian government to
become even more engaged on Burma.

NEXT STEPS


5. (SBU) Conference organizers want the conference to
conclude with a declaration and a "Plan of Action,"
highlighting ways that NGOs can collaborate to promote
democracy in Burma. The conference also will recommend
concrete ways that regional civil society can support Burma,
and help it to make a smooth transition to democracy and
build up institutional capacity. Following the conference,
organizers will produce a package of conference materials
which will be disseminated in other ASEAN countries.

USG ROLE


6. (C) The conference resulted from Mission meetings with
Indonesian civil society. These meetings were focused on
Burma and were held in response to the regime's bloody
crackdown last year (see reftels). After hearing from the
NGOs and their interest in such a conference, Mission
recommended that the USG help sponsor it and EAP/PD agreed to
fund it. Mission has worked closely with several other posts
in the region--including Rangoon--in helping shape the
conference. While acknowledging our role, the USG plans to
keep a low profile, letting regional civil society take the
lead.

HEFFERN