MINISTRY OF LAW SECRETARY GENERAL DISCUSSES NEED FOR HUMAN

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000017 DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL, DRL/AWH, INL FOR CARLON, ROESS DOJ/OPDAT FOR ALEXANDRE, BERMAN, JOHNSON DOJ/OIA FOR ROBINSON MANILA FOR COURTNEY SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KCRM KJUS PHUM ID SUBJECT: MINISTRY OF LAW SECRETARY GENERAL DISCUSSES NEED FOR HUMAN RIGHTS COOPERATION ¶1. (SBU) On December 31, 2008, the Deputy Chief of Mission met with Abdul Bari Azed, Secretary General of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. Azed described the various justice sector bills that his Ministry was responsible for drafting, including the corruption and judicial commission bills. He noted that with elections coming up in Indonesia, it would be difficult to make sure all of these bills passed in 2009. Azed also raised the issue of extradition, and the DOJ/OPDAT Resident Legal Advisor (RLA) explained that negotiations regarding a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) had already begun and that there was already good assistance in deportation proceedings. The RLA further described assistance DOJ was currently providing to the Ministry in the area of criminal procedure code drafting and mutual legal assistance. ¶3. (SBU) Azed specifically identified human rights as one area he hoped to work more closely with the U.S. in the future. He noted that, per a presidential decree, Indonesia was establishing a series of local task forces involving more than four hundred officials nationwide to combat human rights violations. He hoped that the U.S. might be able to provide technical assistance in this area through some combination of training to the police, public outreach, and U.S. exchanges and short term fellowships. ¶4. (SBU) Azed's request for assistance in the area of human rights is a welcome opportunity to continue to help Indonesia evolve into a democratic state that respects human rights. HEFFERN