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

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