U.N. DECOLONIZATION CONFERENCE WRAPS UP IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000993

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, IO/UNP, NEA
NSC FOR E. PHU
USUN FOR KIRK MCBRIDE, JEFF JONES

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNAUS MO ID
SUBJECT: U.N. DECOLONIZATION CONFERENCE WRAPS UP IN
INDONESIA

Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Mission attended the United Nations Special
Committee on Decolonization conference in Bandung, Indonesia,
May 14-16. As observers, Pol/C and Pol FSN did not
participate in the debates, which included criticism of the
USG in relation to Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Probably the fiercest argument broke out between the Morocco
and Polisario representatives, with the two sides debating a
section of the draft final statement. Indonesia's U.N.
PermRep Natalegawa--the host--appreciated U.S. attendance at
the event. END SUMMARY.

CONFERENCE IN BANDUNG


2. (U) Pol/C and Pol FSN attended the May 14-16 United
Nations Special Committee on Decolonization conference in
Bandung, Indonesia. Per instructions and as observers, Pol/C
and Pol FSN did not participate in the debates. The
conference took place, in part, at the Museum of the 1955
African-Asian conference, an important site for Indonesians
who remain proud of that seminal "Non-Aligned Movement"
conference.


3. (U) Indonesia's UN PermRep Marty Natalegawa kicked off
the conference with brief remarks, highlighting the
importance of the Decolonization Committee. Natalegawa urged
improved cooperation with Administering Powers. On this
point, he noted the following: "One small but very much
appreciated indicator of progress is the presence of all the
Administering Powers at this year's meeting."
Natalegawa--while noting that decolonization was a political
process--urged that the international community also focus on
such matters as development when it reviews issues involving
Non-Self-Governing Territories.

CRITICISM OF THE U.S.


4. (C) The USG came in for its share of criticism. In
sessions on the situation in the Pacific and the Caribbean,
NGO and academic representatives presented the following
papers:

-- Hope Alvarez Cristobal reviewed a paper entitled
"Priorities and Concerns of Civil Society Relating to Guam's
Political Status." This paper harshly criticized the USG
military footprint in Guam, among other matters;

-- Tregenza A. Roach reviewed a paper entitled "A
Constitution for the U.S. Virgin Islands." This paper
reviewed the U.S. Virgin Islands' Constitutional process and
U.S. Federal Law; and,

-- Though he could not attend in person, Tufele Li'amatua
presented a paper on the situation of American Samoa.

(Note: Mission is faxing these papers to EAP/MTS.)

MOROCCO/POLISARIO


5. (C) The most heated period of the conference involved
Morocco and the Polisario. The two sides heatedly debated a
section of the draft final document referring to West Sahara.
Morocco essentially argued that the Polisario had no
business acting as if it represented the people of the
Western Sahara. In the meantime, the Polisario's
representative argued that Morocco was doing nothing to work
in good faith to settle the dispute. In the end, the
conference's draft final statement contained a paragraph on
the situation, which both sides said they essentially
rejected, but which would be discussed further in New York.

JAKARTA 00000993 002 OF 002



DRAFT FINAL STATEMENT


6. (SBU) At the end of the conference, participants agreed
to a draft final statement. This draft statement will be
reviewed for possible ratification in New York. (Note: As
observers, USG representatives took no part in the
deliberations related to this draft statement.) Two paras
(15, 40) of this document deal effectively with Guam by
expressing concern about "the serious health and
environmental hazards" related to "military installations"
and referring to "the extensive military build-up" in Guam.
(Note: Mission is faxing this draft final statement to
EAP/MTS.)

GOI GETS WHAT IT WANTS


7. (C) PermRep Natalegawa--as Chair of the Committee--seemed
very happy with the conference. He personally thanked Pol/C
for USG attendance, noting that he had discussed the matter
of U.S. attendance recently with Ambassador Khalilzad. The
Indonesians at no point seemed to take positions on anything,
preferring to be seen as honest brokers. This type of "Group
of 77," NAM-like activity remains very important to
Indonesian foreign policy-makers--especially those in the
Department of Foreign Affairs. Moreover, the opportunity to
focus on decolonization at the site of the 1955
conference--which focused on the same matter--was clearly
meaningful to the GOI participants.

HEFFERN