AUNG SAN SUU KYI -- INDONESIA STRONGLY CONDEMNS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001335

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS (L. SCHEIBE),EAP/RSP
NSC FOR J.BADER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2019
TAGS: PREL KDEM ID BM
SUBJECT: AUNG SAN SUU KYI -- INDONESIA STRONGLY CONDEMNS
CONVICTION

REF: A. STATE 83598

B. JAKARTA 1290 AND PREVIOUS

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOI on August 11 immediately condemned
the Burmese government's conviction of Aung San Suu Kyi. The
Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) spokesman stated, in
part, that Indonesia is "strongly disappointed with the
verdict handed down...the verdict leads to suspicions that
the coming elections will (be) far from credible." Mission
also reviewed ref a points with the GOI, urging a strong,
unified message from ASEAN re Burma's actions. Legislators
and civil society have also sharply condemned ASSK's
conviction. The straightforward condemnations heard in the
past 24 hours indicate that the Burmese regime has further
undermined its ties with Indonesia. END SUMMARY.

GOI CONDEMNS BURMESE REGIME

2, (U) The GOI on August 11 strongly condemned the Burmese
government's conviction and sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi.
DEPLU Spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah went in front of the media
late August 11 and stated:

"The government of Indonesia is strongly disappointed with
the verdict handed down to Aung San Suu Kyi. The length of
the sentence was apparently aimed at preventing Suu Kyi from
taking part in next year's elections. The verdict leads to
suspicions that the coming election will not be inclusive and
far from credible. The verdict is also bizarre in that the
police officer guarding her (ASSK's) house, who should be
considered the one most responsible for the incident, didn't
undergo legal process."

MAKING USG POINTS


3. (C) Mission has underscored ref A points with GOI
contacts. Pol/C, first, thanked Indonesia for its prompt
condemnation of the Burmese regime's latest actions, noting
the clear commonalties between the USG and Indonesian
response. He emphasized USG support for the Malaysian
Foreign Minister's call for an "urgent meeting" of ASEAN
Foreign Ministers, noting that it is vital that Burma hear a
strong, unified message from ASEAN about the damaging effects
of its actions.


4. (C) Astari Daenuwy, an international affairs assistant to
the President, told Pol/C that the GOI was "carefully
considering" the Malaysian proposal. Indonesia was "sorely
disappointed" with the Burmese regime's actions and would
continue to press the regime for change. That said, the GOI
was "discouraged" because "Burma was willfully separating
itself from the rest of ASEAN in a way that hurt regional
cooperation and weakened the body." Pol/C noted the
Secretary's recent remarks in Phuket, stressing that the USG
was open to expanding its relations with the regime if the
authorities release ASSK. Pol/C noted that it would be
positive if other ASEAN countries press the Burmese on these
points in hopes of persuading the regime to change direction.


LEGISLATORS AND CIVIL SOCIETY SPEAK OUT


5. (U) Other Indonesians are also speaking out publicly--and
sharply. Theo Sambuaga, the head of the national
legislature's Commission I dealing with foreign policy,
called the charges "trumped up," adding that the situation
was "damaging ASEAN." Marzuki Daruzaman, another well-known
Member of Parliament, stated that the regime's actions do
"not adhere to human rights from any perspective." Rafendi
Djamin, the coordinator for Indonesia's Human Rights Watch
Group, asserted that "Burma has violated the ASEAN Charter"
and ASEAN should not trust Burma regarding planned elections
in 2010.

INDONESIA SHIFTS TO ANOTHER GEAR


6. (C) While sometimes slow to react on regional and
international issues or doing so in terms that are Javanese
in their opacity, Indonesia's response to the Burmese
regime's latest action was immediate and sharp. The rapidity
and tenor of the responses indicates that the regime has
further undermined its already distant relationship with
Indonesia. Indonesians, simply put, place zero faith that
the elections planned for next year will accord with

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international standards. In addition, Indonesians are united
that ASSK is being treated in a totally unjust manner. Given
all of this, we expect the GOI to be more active in regional
and international circles on ways to increase the costs to
Burma of its intransigence.

HUME