PAPUA -- NEW POLICE CHIEF IN RESTIVE PROVINCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000983 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/ANP, DRL, DRL/AWH NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2018 TAGS: PGOV PINS KJUS ID SUBJECT: PAPUA -- NEW POLICE CHIEF IN RESTIVE PROVINCE OUTLINES PRIORITIES REF: JAKARTA 957 AND PREVIOUS JAKARTA 00000983 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The newly appointed police chief for Papua Province in eastern Indonesia underscored his commitment to building a well-trained force that respects human rights. He promised to consult broadly with Papuans and said he looked forward to consultations with the USG on community policing. Poloff underscored the importance of transparency and the need to ensure access to Papua for foreign visitors, including diplomats, NGOs and journalists. As noted during recent Mission visit, Papua is a restive region and in need of good policing. END SUMMARY. ONWARD TO JAYAPURA ¶2. (SBU) Poloff and DOJ/ICITAP Chief met May 15 with Irjen FX Bagus Ekodanto, the newly appointed police chief (Kapolda) for Papua Province. Ekodanto, who will assume his duties in Jayapura--the provincial capital--on May 21, previously served as a deputy Kapolda in Jakarta. ¶3. (C) Ekodanto said his top priority was education and training for the police. It was important that officers understood the customs and culture of Papua's many different ethnic groups. This would help reduce incidents that could result from misunderstandings. He noted, for example, that without such training the police might regard Papuans carrying traditional weapons, such as bows and arrows, as a threat when they in fact there was no hostile intent. ¶4. (C) Ekodanto reiterated the Indonesian National Police's (INP) commitment to human rights training for police officers. He also underscored his commitment to building a disciplined, professional force in Papua through human rights, management and other state-of-the-art training. CONSULTATION AND COMMUNITY POLICING ¶5. (C) Ekodanto commented that he was committed to consultations with key Papuan stakeholders, though he emphasized that his responsibility was law-enforcement, not politics. That said, he would consult regularly with key Papuan leaders, including provincial government officials, local legislators, traditional and religious leaders, tribal and clan elders, and NGOs. This, he hoped, would build stronger relations between Papuans and the police and help overcome a legacy of mutual suspicion. ¶6. (C) Implementation of community policing strategies was key to improving police performance in Papua, Ekodanto said. ICITAP Chief agreed, and stressed that community policing must be tailored to specific local conditions. A one-size-fits-all approach would not be effective. He added that the USG had extensive experience in this area and was keen to cooperate with the INP. Ekodanto said he welcomed USG expertise and assistance re community policing, and invited Mission to further consultations on the matter. UNDERSCORING THE NEED FOR ACCESS ¶7. (C) Poloff underscored the importance of facilitating visits by foreign nationals, such as diplomatic, IO, NGO and media personnel to Papua. The perception that Papua was closed only increased suspicion that undesirable things were happening in the region. He also urged Ekodanto to be more transparent regarding police actions and more proactive responding to allegations of human rights violations or other police misconduct. ¶8. (C) Ekodanto agreed that openness was important and promised to share information about police activity with the JAKARTA 00000983 002.2 OF 002 Mission. He welcomed diplomatic and other visits to Papua and promised to assist as appropriate. He cautioned, however, that many Indonesians remained suspicious of diplomatic and NGO interest in Papua. He urged that those wishing to visit Papua also be transparent about their intentions. Emboffs stressed that the USG had no ulterior motives re Papua, and noted Mission's regular discussions with the GOI on the situation there and elsewhere in Indonesia. IT'LL BE A CHALLENGE ¶9. (C) Ekodanto will face significant challenges in his new assignment. As noted during recent Mission visit (see reftel),Papua is a restive region and many Papuans harbor a deep distrust of the police and a long memory of past human rights violations by the security forces. Human rights contacts have told us that it will be a long time before Papuans overcome their fear and mistrust of the police (reftel). Ekodanto, to his credit, seems to understand the complex situation and to be committed to proceeding firmly but cautiously, and in cooperation with Papuans. HEFFERN