TIMOR-LESTE: RAMOS-HORTA COMMENTS SPARK GOI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000784 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV ID TT SUBJECT: TIMOR-LESTE: RAMOS-HORTA COMMENTS SPARK GOI CONCERN REF: A. DILI 113 ¶B. JAKARTA 702 ¶C. JAKARTA 672 JAKARTA 00000784 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (U) This message was coordinated with ConGen Surabaya. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: GOI officials have demanded clarification of President Ramos-Horta's reported assertion of Indonesian links in the February turmoil in Dili. The GOI is also investigating the claim. In other Timor-Leste-related news, former militia leader Eurico Guterres has announced that he plans to travel to Dili for meetings, but Timor-Leste Embassy contacts say there is no plan for that. PM Gusmao plans to visit Jakarta April 29-30 for a range of bilateral meetings. The GOI prides itself on its declared commitment to reconciliation with Timor-Leste and was clearly embarrassed by the comments attributed to Ramos-Horta. END SUMMARY. ALLEGATION AND RESPONSE ¶3. (SBU) Media reports that Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta accused "elements in Indonesia" of complicity in the February 11 shooting that almost claimed his life have stirred controversy here. The comments, which received front-page coverage in Indonesian papers on April 17-18, charged that slain rebel soldier Alfredo Reinado had received financial support and fake travel documents from unspecified elements in Indonesia. Ramos-Horta reportedly did not accuse the Indonesian government directly of any sort of involvement. ¶4. (C) In responding to the reports, Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) spokesperson Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo struck a cautious note. He said the GOI would not react to media reports but would instead seek official clarification of the comments. Meanwhile, police officials told Legatt that President Yudhoyono took the matter seriously. Sources say Yudhoyono met Indonesia National Police (INP) Chief Sutanto and other senior INP officials and ordered them to investigate any Indonesians or other individuals within Indonesian territory who might have been involved in the February incident. Sutanto requested that Criminal Investigation Division Chief Gories Mere and other senior INP officers travel to Dili for consultations with East Timorese prosecutors, according to police contacts. Indonesian police are currently pursuing investigations in Kupang, the capital of West Timor, and in Jakarta, according to contacts. ¶5. (C) The reported remarks sparked concern from other quarters. Djoko Susilo, a key legislator on foreign affairs, said that Ramos-Horta's comments could harm Indonesia-Timor-Leste relations and derail the ongoing bilateral Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF). (Note: The CTF has completed its report and will soon submit it to the two governments. The report will find both pro-Indonesian and pro-independence militias responsible for gross human rights violations in 1999. Ref C.) Susilo demanded that Ramos-Horta specify exactly whom he deemed responsible for the attack. GUTERRES ON THE MOVE ¶6. (C) In other Timor-Leste-related news, Eurico Guterres, the recently released former leader of a pro-Indonesia Timorese militia, announced recently that he would travel to Dili on April 28 for a "reconciliation meeting" with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. (Note: The Indonesian Supreme Court overturned Guterres' conviction for crimes committed during the 1999 violence in Timor-Leste. He was released from jail on April 7. Ref B.) Timor-Leste DCM Roberto Soares told poloff there were no plans for such a meeting. Soares asserted that, in the past, this was the sort of meeting that Gusmao might have agreed to, but now that he was Prime Minister, Gusmao was more circumspect about such meetings. JAKARTA 00000784 002.2 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) Guterres also announced that he would run for parliament (DPR) from East Nusa Tenggara, the province that encompasses West Timor, in the 2009 General Election. According to contacts, Guterres maintain some popularity in West Timor. GUSMAO COMING TO TOWN ¶8. (SBU) Timor-Leste Embassy contacts also provided a preview of Prime Minister Gusmao's planned April 29-30 visit to Jakarta. The notional program includes a meeting with President Yudhoyono and discussions with Indonesian legislators. Gusmao reportedly will also meet Indonesian defense officials regarding possible mil-mil cooperation, and plans to sign several MOUs on trade and health cooperation. He will hold a roundtable with Indonesian business leaders to promote trade and investment, deliver a public speech and meet with the Timorese community in Jakarta. GOI CONCERNS ¶9. (C) The GOI prides itself on its declared commitment to reconciliation with Timor-Leste. It has on many occasions underscored its desire to see East Timor succeed while underlining its non-interference policy. The comments attributed to Ramos-Horta clearly struck a sensitive spot, hence the GOI's reported steps to investigate exactly what might or might not have transpired. That said, there is at this time no evidence linking the GOI to attempts to undermine the Dili government. HUME