HOUSE DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE COMMISSION VISITS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 001152

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, H
NSC FOR J. CARTIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM ID
SUBJECT: HOUSE DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE COMMISSION VISITS
JAKARTA

REF: JAKARTA 01092 AND PREVIOUS


1. (U) SUMMARY: Congressman David Price led the House
Democracy Assistance Commission's (HDAC) fourth visit to
Jakarta from June 30-July 2. The 23 person delegation
included five other members, spouses and staff. While in
Jakarta, HDAC held meetings on parliamentary reform, foreign
policy, and defense. They also trained Indonesian Parliament
(DPR) staff and members and met newly elected DPR Members.
END SUMMARY.

HDAC PRICE CODEL VISITS JAKARTA


2. (U) HDAC is a bi-partisan commission of 20 members
formed in 2005 to promote global democracy. It now supports
parliamentary reform and capacity building in 14 (originally
5) newly democratic countries. The six members on this visit
included: David Price (D-N.C.); Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.); Jim
McDermott (D-Wash.); Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.); Bob Etheridge
(D-N.C.); and Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.). The Members' program
addressed parliamentary reform, foreign policy, and defense.
Staff training focused on research, staff development,
legislative drafting, and constituent services.

MEETING WITH THE SPEAKER


3. (U) Speaker Laksono declared that this is a perfect
time, with President Obama in office, to strengthen
U.S.-Indonesian ties. He expressed his appreciation for
HDAC's return visits. Another Indonesian member of
Parliament thanked the U.S. for our assistance in the
aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.


4. (U) U.S. attention to Papuan issues was also at the top
of the agenda. Laksono criticized language on Papua that was
recently proposed in Congressional legislation which he felt
impinged on Indonesia's sovereignty. He thanked Congress for
removing the language. Representative Price acknowledged
Indonesia's sovereignty, and added that its democratic
development enabled it to address challenges in Aceh and to
make changes in the military that could help Indonesia more
effectively govern Papua.


5. (U) Both sides supported strengthening Indonesia's
democratic institutions. Laksono discussed priorities in the
final months of this parliament's term. These include:
pending legislation on the structure and role of legislative
bodies and the State Secrets bill, as well as finalization of
the State budget, potential accession to the International
Criminal Court, and completing an investigation into possible
irregularities which may have occurred during the April
legislative elections.


PARLIAMENTARY REFORM


6. (U) HDAC has been intensely engaged in parliamentary
reform efforts in the DPR since 2006. A group of
parliamentarians from various reform committees briefed HDAC
on the progress to date and ongoing efforts. In particular,
the group focused on the bill on the structure and role of
legislative bodies, which is at a crucial point in
deliberations and is anticipated to pass shortly. If passed,
the bill would strengthen the role of the DPR (vis a vis the
Executive Branch) and give members oversight over their own
budget and staff. (Note: Currently the Executive Branch,
through the office of the Secretary General, controls the
parliamentary budget.) Another goal is to allow for
Parliament to participate in the selection of the Secretary
General, currently an appointed position.


7. (U) The parliamentarians also hope to improve the
ethics and participation of members. They would like more
public access to information. They stated that increased
resources aimed at improving member-constituent interaction
and accountability are also essential. They suggested that
establishing local offices for members to directly interact
with their constituents would be one way to increase member
responsiveness. They noted that there may be a move toward a
district system such as in the U.S. which would strengthen
the new focus on member-constituent relationships.

MEETING NEW MPS


8. (U) The Ambassador hosted a coffee which offered the
delegation an opportunity to engage with newly elected

JAKARTA 00001152 002 OF 003


members of Parliament who have not yet taken their seats.
Ambassador Hume, Representative Price, Representative
McDermott, and senior reformist parliamentarian Marzuki
Darusman gave remarks on their hopes for continued U.S.
Indonesian cooperation and the wish to engage the new DPR in
reform efforts. With over 60% turnover in Parliament, there
is a sense of change and an opportunity for the Mission to
engage these new MPs to advance U.S. priorities.

DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY


9. (U) The delegation also held discussions regarding
defense and foreign policy. On July 1, the Members of
Congress met with Minister Juwono Sudarsono at the Defense
Ministry. Representatives of the Indonesian military
services joined Sudarsono for the discussion. Representative
Price noted the purpose of the delegation's visit,
highlighting the importance of building links between
legislatures, assisting partners in improving governance
capabilities, and helping upgrade relations between the U.S.
and other countries. Sudarsono welcomed such interaction,
commenting that the Indonesian military deeply appreciated
training opportunities provided by the U.S. These
opportunities had helped the military become a more modern,
reform-minded force. Sudarsono added that Indonesia
considered the U.S. role in Asia and the Pacific to be
crucial to peace. The U.S. played a "balancing role" which
continued to be vital in Northeast and Southeast Asia.


10. (U) Sudarsono added that the Indonesian military
continued to transform itself into a more professional force.
In the 1950s and stretching into the 1990s, the military had
been highly engaged in governing the country as a form of
"guided democracy." With the advent of democracy in 1998,
the military was now working under civilian management and
trying to divest itself of businesses and other outside
investments. It still had many steps to take, but much
progress had been made. That said, because Indonesia was a
poor country, the military--under the direction of the
government--would remain engaged in trying to assist in
building national infrastructure, including health
facilities and schools. A high priority was also given to
disaster response given that much of the country straddled
"the ring of fire."


11. (U) In a separate meeting with parliamentarians,
Representative Price noted Indonesia's military reform
efforts and said that the U.S. Congress was committed to
supporting the United States' military relationship with
Indonesia. He underscored the importance of legislative
oversight of defense matters and sought Indonesian views on
the subject. Foreign affairs and Defense Committee
Vice-Chairman Yusron Ihza said the DPR was committed to
oversight of Indonesian defense and foreign policy. This
function, he said, was critical to safeguarding Indonesia's
democracy. Several parliamentarians hailed the lifting of
Congressional restrictions on assistance to the Indonesian
military and said that U.S. support was critical to building
a professional and accountable military.


12. (U) Several parliamentarians explained that the DPR was
pressing the GOI to make democracy and human rights a more
central part of its foreign policy. Many members entered
politics after having been pro-democracy activists during
Indonesia's authoritarian past. Promoting democracy remained
important to them. Djoko Susilo said that Burma was a matter
of the highest concern. DPR members would continue to press
the GOI to take a tougher line pressing the Burmese regime to
reform. Representative Price noted that smart power
strategies like the HDAC were an effective way to promote
democracy and encouraged the DPR to explore similar
initiatives.

HEALTH ISSUES


13. (U) Representative McDermott expressed interest in how
the Congress could help advance health cooperation. Mission
provided a one page fact sheet, sent also to EAP/MTS.
Mission also briefed the doctor accompanying the delegation.

HDAC INVOLVEMENT REAPS DIVIDENDS


14. (U) HDAC's continued engagement with the Indonesian
Parliament over the past four years has encouraged Indonesian
democratic initiatives. Results of HDAC's efforts include
the structural reform legislation currently under review.

JAKARTA 00001152 003 OF 003


More importantly, Indonesian parliamentarians have gone from
asking why reforms are needed to asking how to enact them.
The Indonesian commitment to parliamentary reform was evident
in the strong turnout for all events and keen engagement in
staff training. Continuing to engage with the many new
parliamentarians will be key in facilitating further
democratic reform.


15. (U) This message was approved by CODEL Price.
HUME