FM WIRAJUDA OUTLINES BILATERAL AND REGIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000060

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS
SECDEF FOR USAP/ISA/AP P.IPSEN
NSC FOR E.PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS MASS ID
SUBJECT: FM WIRAJUDA OUTLINES BILATERAL AND REGIONAL
PRIORITIES

Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a wide-ranging discussion with the
Ambassador, Foreign Minister Wirajuda discussed regional
developments and outlined bilateral priorities. Wirajuda
looked forward to increased security cooperation with the
United States as Indonesia made progress on human rights. He
worried about increasing Chinese "aggressiveness" in Asia and
agreed with the Ambassador that strong bilateral ties were
essential in order to be prepared for future developments.
Wirajuda reiterated Indonesia's commitment to promoting
democracy and human rights in ASEAN and described President
Yudhoyono's promotion of democratic reforms in Burma.
Wirajuda undertook to press the Indonesian navy to resolve
outstanding funding issues in order to preserve $20 million
in U.S. maritime security assistance under Section 1206
before the January 16 deadline. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) On January 9 Ambassador Hume and Foreign Minister
Wirajuda met for over an hour in a one-on-one discussion of
the bilateral relationship and regional issues. The
Ambassador welcomed the opportunity to have a frank,
wide-ranging discussion. Since arriving in Jakarta six
months ago, he had come to appreciate the depth of change in
Indonesia, particularly in the establishment of democratic
institutions. The reformed police force was respecting human
rights and effectively countering the risks of terrorism, as
shown by the management of the recent environment conference
in Bali. The new team of military commanders had a record of
commitment to human rights. Not all problems from the past
had been solved, but change was in the right direction.


3. (C) Referring to the Minister's press comment the previous
day on the conditioning of a portion of FMF funding on a
SecState report, the Ambassador commented that the increased
funding level in fact showed that Washington's perceptions of
conditions in Indonesia was slowly changing for the better.
It was important to resolve the issues from the past and move
on to build the kind of bilateral relationship that would
serve both sides well in the future. He then cited several
steps that the embassy was taking to resolve pending
commercial disputes, encourage greater interest by business
and NGOs in Indonesia, and draw attention to the positive
changes. The two sides could increase cooperation on a range
of issues, of which Burma was a good example. Although the
two governments might approach the Burma issue differently,
they shared the same democratic values and concern for
stability in the region. The Ambassador thanked Wirajuda for
the GOI's constructive role in the Middle East, including
Wirajuda's participation in the recent Annapolis Middle East
conference and GOI plans to reopen its Baghdad embassy.


4. (C) Foreign Minister Wirajuda spoke at length regarding
change in Indonesia, changing security relations in East
Asia, democracy and the development of ASEAN, and Burma.
Indonesia was in the process of fundamental change from an
authoritarian system to a democracy; much had been done, but
much remained to be done. Elections were now free and fair;
the police and military were trained to respect human rights
of the citizens; and power had been devolved from the center
to regional governments and municipalities. The FM had lived
in the United States for over five years and he admired the
values associated with American democracy, respect for human
rights, and the rule of law. Although Indonesians lived in
a different culture, in his view, they held the same values.
The changes in Indonesia reflected those values and should
form the basis for a stronger, closer bilateral relationship.
The Ambassador and the FM agreed that strong bilateral ties
were needed in order to be prepared for future developments
in the region.

ASEAN


5. (C) Wirajuda described the regional context. Ten years
ago, Malaysia had promoted the idea that discussions of
security issues should be limited to ASEAN members plus
China, Japan, and Korea. Indonesia had opposed this view,
arguing for the inclusion of India, Australia, and New

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Zealand. China's power and influence were rising, and the
more limited grouping risked being dominated by China. At
the current rate of growth, how great would China's power be
in ten years? China was "already assertive, in fact,
aggressive" in dealing with other countries in the region.
(During this phase of the conversation, Wirajuda did not
mention the U.S. security role in the region.)


6. (C) Wirajuda described his efforts to secure a prominent
position for human rights in the new ASEAN charter. He
stressed that, for Indonesia, democracy and respect for human
rights had to be an integral part of the new ASEAN, if it
were not to remain a weak organization. Initially, other
ASEAN members had objected, but gradually they had come
around. Many other ASEAN countries, especially the newer
members, had not had the same experiences and needed to be
prodded in the right direction. But Indonesia was a good
example of the truth that authoritarian systems could, and,
in his view, must change.


7. (C) Wirajuda then recalled discussions which he had had
with the Secretary during last year's APEC meeting. The FM
believed the countries in the region must take the lead on
human rights; the most productive role for countries such as
the United States, Australia, or Canada, was to support that
regional lead. Although he was not satisfied with the pace
of change, that was the best way ahead. If the United States
claimed the leadership role on these issues, progress would
in fact be more difficult.

BURMA


8. (C) Wirajuda said the situation in Burma was unacceptable
and had had a negative impact on the region. He thought the
issue had been poorly managed at the recent ASEAN summit in
November, when the Burmese Foreign Minister had said merely
that he would report the views of his counterparts to his
authorities at home. The Burmese government had since then
not delivered on any of its commitments. By itself, ASEAN as
an institution was too weak to promote change in Burma.


9. (C) Indonesia wanted to do better, and it was preparing
for the visit of the Burmese Prime Minister on January 14-15.
President Yudhoyono had corresponded with Than Shwe to urge
him to take steps to engage in domestic dialogue and to open
up to the international community. He assured the Ambassador
that the GOI would again use the visit to promote change.
Wirajuda said that China also had a critical role and that in
late January he would travel to Beijing to discuss Burma
again.


10. (C) Wirajuda said he expected any progress to be
incremental. Burma was far more militarized than Indonesia
had ever been; it had regional conflicts and risks of
separatism; and its economy was poor. If progress was to be
achieved, all of these aspects would have to be addressed in
one way or another.

1206 FUNDS


11. (C) At the end of the discussion, the Ambassador
mentioned the issue of Section 1206 maritime security
funding, explaining that unless the Embassy received a
commitment from the Indonesian Navy by COB January 16, the
$20 million of funding for the FY 2006 program would be
withdrawn. The Embassy needed a similar commitment for the FY
2007 program by January 27 or that money would be transferred
to another regional program. Wirajuda thanked the Ambassador
for this information and said he would follow up.

HEFFERN