Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA83
2008-01-15 10:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:  

NAVY CHIEF AGREES TO SULAWESI SEA RADAR PROGRAM

Tags:  PREL MASS PTER EWWT ID 
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VZCZCXRO2273
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #0083/01 0151046
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 151046Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7641
INFO RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1868
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1405
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 2233
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000083 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, S/CT, T, PM, PM/PPA, ISN,
ISN/CPI
SECDEF FOR USDP/ISA/AP CLAD/TOOLAN/WALTON/IPSEN
JOINT STAFF J5 FOR WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2018
TAGS: PREL MASS PTER EWWT ID
SUBJECT: NAVY CHIEF AGREES TO SULAWESI SEA RADAR PROGRAM


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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000083

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, S/CT, T, PM, PM/PPA, ISN,
ISN/CPI
SECDEF FOR USDP/ISA/AP CLAD/TOOLAN/WALTON/IPSEN
JOINT STAFF J5 FOR WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2018
TAGS: PREL MASS PTER EWWT ID
SUBJECT: NAVY CHIEF AGREES TO SULAWESI SEA RADAR PROGRAM


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


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with Ambassador Hume, new
Indonesian Navy Chief Admiral Sumardjono pledged to resolve
outstanding difficulties regarding the emplacement of
surveillance radars in the Malacca Strait with U.S. security
assistance under Section 1206, and accepted the U.S. plan for
emplacement of surveillance radars in the Sulawesi Sea.
These overall agreements meet fiscal implementation
requirements, breaking a major deadlock which had threatened
to torpedo two promising maritime security assistance
initiatives and constrain future cooperation. Sumardjono's
appointment (November 2007) appears to have eased our access
to an organization which traditionally has been difficult to
engage. END SUMMARY.

FUNDING DEADLINES


2. (C) Noting this was his initial call on Sumardjono,
Ambassador said the United States appreciated the importance
and uniqueness of Indonesia's strategic position on
international waterways. In addition to being one of only a
few countries located between two oceans, Indonesia had
international maritime traffic traveling through it as well.
Those waterways had become increasingly important over the
past two centuries. The United States wanted to cooperate
with Indonesia toward shared objectives. Enormous changes
had occurred in Indonesia over the past decade. The United
States' relationship with Indonesia had undergone a similar
transformation during the same period. Both countries should
put the past behind them and look toward the future.


3. (C) Ambassador expressed the hope that outstanding
technical issues on cooperation in the Malacca Strait could
be resolved quickly, as legislative deadlines required
closure by January 16. Embassy was prepared to discuss
further its program strategy for the Sulawesi Sea area, but
had to send an answer to Washington by the end of January.

The United States would be as flexible as possible and would
like to share information that it had on activities of
concern in the Sulawesi Sea.

INDONESIA ACCEPTS SULAWESI SEA FOCUS


4. (C) Sumardjono said FM Wirajuda had called the previous
week and asked the Indonesian Navy to do what it could to
accommodate the U.S. request. There were two aspects to
consider: protecting international waterways, and combatting
terrorism. Indonesia's natural emphasis was on the former,
but wanted to support both objectives. Sumardjono said he
had instructed his staff to meet with Embassy's Office of
Defense Cooperation during the week to iron out technical
difficulties the radars in the Malacca Strait. The problem,
which was largely one of funding, had been reported to the
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security
Affairs. In the Malacca Strait, all but three of the ten
tower sites had been identified. Sumardjono noted that the
limited range of the radars would leave some gaps in
coverage. Ambassador explained that this was due to limits
in the program budget. In regard to the Sulawesi Sea,
Indonesia preferred to secure the Makassar Strait first, as
the Embassy was aware, but was willing to accept the United
States' focus on the triborder areas near the southern
Philippines and eastern Malaysia.


5. (C) Ambassador thanked Sumardjono for this announcement
and Indonesia's willingness to accommodate U.S. parameters on
this program. The Embassy would work together with the
Indonesian Navy and would do everything possible to
facilitate the successful completion of the program. Both
countries had a strong interest in ensuring cooperation in
regional maritime security. Sumardjono said Indonesia would
need assistance with operation and maintenance of the radars,
and the Ambassador said he had every expectation this should
be forthcoming.

SUMARDJONO SIGNALS CLOSER COOPERATION


6. (C) The Ambassador's meeting with Admiral Sumardjono was

JAKARTA 00000083 002 OF 002


clearly facilitated by Ambassador's discussion with FM
Wirajuda on January 9, to which Sumardjono referred in the
January 14 discussion. That said, Sumardjono, who was named
Navy Chief in November 2007, was engaged and responsive
throughout the meeting. Despite the references to the call
from Wirajuda, he seemed to be fully on board with the
undertaking to resolve technical issues on the Malacca Strait
and to accept the U.S. concept of the Sulawesi Sea program.
Indonesia's stated priority on international commercial
navigation makes the Malacca Strait program the more
attractive of the two for Indonesia. Sumardjono's
willingness to accept and support U.S. counterterrorism
priorities in the more remote Sulawesi Sea is a major gesture
of goodwill, one we would like to repay in kind. We take this
positive outcome as an indication that Sumardjono is prepared
to work constructively with Embassy and with United States
Pacific Command (USPACOM) to advance shared maritime security
objectives in the region. Sumardjono's appointment appears
to have eased our access to the Indonesian Navy, an
organization which traditionally has been the most difficult
of the services to engage.

HUME