Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA528
2008-03-14 09:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:  

BURMA REFERENDUM -- U.S./INDONESIA ON THE SAME

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINS ID BM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4871
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHJA #0528 0740931
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 140931Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8337
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4824
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2179
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1668
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4472
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1672
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 2426
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0834
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000528 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS (COPE),IO, IO/UNP (WICKBERG)
NSC FOR E.PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS ID BM
SUBJECT: BURMA REFERENDUM -- U.S./INDONESIA ON THE SAME
WAVELENGTH

REF: A. STATE 26677

B. JAKARTA 455 AND PREVIOUS

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 000528

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS (COPE),IO, IO/UNP (WICKBERG)
NSC FOR E.PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS ID BM
SUBJECT: BURMA REFERENDUM -- U.S./INDONESIA ON THE SAME
WAVELENGTH

REF: A. STATE 26677

B. JAKARTA 455 AND PREVIOUS

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Pol/C reviewed Ref A points with a contact
at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) on March 14.
Pol/C stressed the importance of ASEAN and Indonesia pressing
the regime on its proposed referendum and election. DEPLU
said it shared U.S. concerns, noting that it had made these
points to the Burmese regime. In the meantime, UN S/E
Gambari met President Yudhoyono on the margins of the OIC
Summit. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) KEEP UP THE PRESSURE: Pol/C delivered reftel
demarche to Gudadi Sasongko, Deputy Director for East Asia
and Pacific Affairs at DEPLU, on March 14. He underscored
the need for Indonesia to continue to press the regime in
Burma to adhere to internationally recognized standards for
free and fair elections, highlighting the following key
points:

--The UN Security Council will need to take action against
the regime in response to its poor handling of Special Envoy
Gambari's visit earlier this month;
--The U.S. requests the GOI's thoughts on next steps
regarding the Gambari visit;
--The U.S. has serious concerns over the refusal of the
Burmese regime to allow opposition, religious, and ethnic
minority groups to participate in the political process; and,
--A constitutional referendum not viewed as free and fair
will only lead to greater instability in Burma.


3. (C) INDONESIA ON BOARD: Sasongko said the GOI fully
shared U.S. concerns re the Burma referendum, etc. He added
that President Yudhoyono had already delivered a similar
message in a letter to Burmese strongman Than Shwe but had
yet to receive a reply (see Ref B). The GOI planned to
continue to make these points and to support Gambari's
efforts.


4. (U) YUDHOYONO ENGAGED: President Yudhoyono met with UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UN Special Envoy on Burma,

SIPDIS
Ibrahim Gambari, on the margins the Organization of Islamic
Conference meeting in Dakar, Senegal, on March 13. Media
sources reported that Gambari briefed Yudhoyono on his recent
visit to Burma and his ideas re next steps.

HUME