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