Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA914
2008-05-08 09:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:  

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO CYCLONE NARGIS: ASEAN

Tags:  PREL EAID ASEAN BM ID 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8398
OO RUEHDT RUEHPB RUEHTRO
DE RUEHJA #0914 1290953
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 080953Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8949
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2461
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1935
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 2619
RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000914 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, IO, G, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS (COPE),EAP/RSP
NSC FOR E.PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2018
TAGS: PREL EAID ASEAN BM ID
SUBJECT: HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO CYCLONE NARGIS: ASEAN
AND INDONESIAN ACTIONS

REF: SECSTATE 48651

Classified By: A/Pol/C Stanley Harsha for reasons 1.4(b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000914

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, IO, G, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS (COPE),EAP/RSP
NSC FOR E.PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2018
TAGS: PREL EAID ASEAN BM ID
SUBJECT: HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO CYCLONE NARGIS: ASEAN
AND INDONESIAN ACTIONS

REF: SECSTATE 48651

Classified By: A/Pol/C Stanley Harsha for reasons 1.4(b,d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Visiting EAP PDAS Scott Marciel discussed
reftel issues with ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan and
with Indonesian presidential adviser Dino Djalal on May 8 in
Jakarta. Surin said he was fully occupied with the relief
issues, urged the continued stockpiling of supplies in
Bangkok to attract media attention, and said the World Bank
had proposed the creation of a relief consortium with ASEAN
and the United Nations. Djalal said President Yudhoyono had
sent a letter urging Burma to follow Indonesia's example
following the 2004 tsunami. END SUMMARY.

YUDHOYONO LETTER TO THAN SHWE


2. (C) In the discussion with Djalal, Marciel said that,
given the gravity of the humanitarian crisis facing Burma in
the wake of Cyclone Nargis, USG was setting side its
political concerns in order to offer humanitarian assistance.
The United States was asking the regime to permit relief
effort to begin and was less concerned with any specific U.S.
role than with the willingness of the regime to allow the
international community to act. The United States hoped that
Indonesia would use its ties to Rangoon to persuade the
regime to grant visas and to do so quickly, particularly as
casualty figures were mounting rapidly. Indonesia should
point to its positive experience with international relief in
Aceh. Marciel added that, under the circumstances, it would
be inappropriate for the regime to proceed with the planned
referendum on May 10. USG hoped Indonesia would underscore
this point.


3. (C) Djalal said President Yudhoyono had sent a letter to
Burmese leader General Than Shwe urging the regime to do what
Indonesia had done in Aceh. Burma needed to "open the box"
and do so quickly, as Indonesia had. Yudhoyono had stressed
his belief that the experience would be a positive one.

CONTINUE STOCKPILING SUPPLIES IN BANGKOK


4. (SBU) In the meeting with SG Surin, Marciel urged Surin
to use whatever influence he had with the Burmese leadership
to open a way for international disaster relief to enter the
country.


5. (SBU) Surin said he agreed fully with this emphasis and
that he currently was focused almost exclusively on
facilitating relief. Surin urged that the international
community continue to deposit as much food and other aid as
possible at the Bangkok airport in order to increase media
attention. Intense media scrutiny and huge, visible
stockpiles would make it difficult for the Burmese government
to refuse access for goods and relief teams. He also
encouraged governments and relief organizations to think
creatively about ways to get aid flowing to the people in
need.


6. (SBU) Surin also said the World Bank had approached him
about forming a three-way consortium with ASEAN and the
United Nations to provide disaster relief. He found the idea
intriguing and suggested USG speak directly with World Bank
headquarters in Washington regarding the status of their
effort.


7. (U) The discussion with Surin was communicated
immediately to Department's Operations Center.

HUME