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