Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA281
2008-02-11 10:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:  

EAST TIMOR -- INDONESIA MONITORING SITUATION

Tags:  PGOV PREL IP TT 
pdf how-to read a cable
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OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #0281 0421036
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 111036Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7961
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 1989
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI IMMEDIATE 0929
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE 2316
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY PRIORITY 3664
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1511
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000281 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/ANZ, EAP/RSP
NSC FOR E.PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL IP TT
SUBJECT: EAST TIMOR -- INDONESIA MONITORING SITUATION
CLOSELY

REF: DILI EMAIL UPDATES 02/11/08

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000281

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/ANZ, EAP/RSP
NSC FOR E.PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL IP TT
SUBJECT: EAST TIMOR -- INDONESIA MONITORING SITUATION
CLOSELY

REF: DILI EMAIL UPDATES 02/11/08

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


1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate General
Surabaya.


2. (C) SUMMARY -- In the aftermath of the February 11 attack
on President Ramos-Horta, Indonesia is monitoring the
situation in East Timor with concern. GOI officials have
confirmed that Indonesia views the situation as an internal
Timor Leste matter. Contacts in the Indonesian province of
West Timor report that all seems to be calm along the border
with East Timor. Worried about any instability, we expect
that Indonesia will continue to monitor the situation
closely, and to be very cautious and constructive in any
statements it issues. END SUMMARY.


3. (C) MONITORING EVENTS -- The attack on President
Ramos-Horta in Dili and other violence in East Timor is being
monitored carefully by the Indonesian government. GOI
contacts tell us they have been reviewing the fast-breaking
situation based on reports from the Indonesian Embassy in
Dili. The GOI plans to issue a public statement, but has not
yet done so, though one may be issued late today. According
to contacts in the Directorate of East Asian Affairs of the
Department of Foreign Affairs, GOI officials have been
meeting during the day to discuss the situation.


4. (C) NO INTERFERENCE -- Trini Gunarti, Deputy Director for
North American Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs,
told Pol/C that Indonesia's policy of "non-interference" in
Timor Leste's affairs would dictate its response. LTG (ret)
Agus Widjojo, who is an official adviser of President
Yudhoyono and a Commissioner on the Indonesia-East Timor
Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF),echoed this
sentiment in a conversation with Regional Stability Unit
Chief. He said he had every expectation that Indonesia would
view the attack as "a purely internal affair" of Timor Leste
and would not interfere in any way.


5. (C) Wisber Loeis, who is also an Indonesian Commissioner
on the CTF and seems well-informed re East Timor, told
Dep/Pol/C that the attack had come despite Ramos-Horta's
efforts to find a peaceful solution to the differences with
Major Alfredo Reinado (who apparently was behind the
violence). He also commented that he understood Horta had
been attacked during his daily physical fitness regimen and
had been without his security guards. Loeis suggested that
the attack had been an act of "desperation" by Reinado
loyalists in the face of a steady stream of Reinado followers
who had defected and made their peace with the government.
He noted that the government had begun to take a firmer line
on Reinado after he had rebuffed several of the GOTL's
good-faith efforts.


6. (C) QUIET ON THE BORDER -- So far, there appears to be no
unusual activity on the border between East Timor and the
Indonesian province of West Timor. Gregorious Mau Bili, Vice
Regency Chief of Belu, which is located near West Timor's
north coast, told ConGen Surabaya that the border was
operating normally, albeit with heightened security
awareness. There were no reports of refugees or other
abnormal activities from the East Timor side. Haris Oetan of
CIS Timor, an NGO in West Timor, told ConGen Surabaya that
NGOs in the region were nevertheless preparing for a possible
influx of refugees.


7. (C) INDONESIAN CONCERNS -- Worried about any instability
in a neighboring state and possible impact along the border,
we expect that Indonesia will continue to monitor the
situation closely. We expect that the GOI will want to be
very cautious and constructive in any statements it issues,
not wanting to entangle itself in East Timor's affairs.
HEFFERN