Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JAKARTA1711
2009-10-09 09:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO REPORTEDLY UNHAPPY OVER
how-toVZCZCXRO6483 OO RUEHDT RUEHPB DE RUEHJA #1711 2820940 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 090940Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3556 INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001711
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, DRL, PM
NSC FOR J.BADER AND D.WALTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR OVIP ID
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO REPORTEDLY UNHAPPY OVER
KOPASSUS ISSUE, POTUS VISIT POSTPONEMENT
REF: A. SEP. 16 OSIUS-MARCIEL E-MAIL
B. JAKARTA 1640
Classified By: A/DCM Michael C. Mullins, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001711
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, DRL, PM
NSC FOR J.BADER AND D.WALTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR OVIP ID
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO REPORTEDLY UNHAPPY OVER
KOPASSUS ISSUE, POTUS VISIT POSTPONEMENT
REF: A. SEP. 16 OSIUS-MARCIEL E-MAIL
B. JAKARTA 1640
Classified By: A/DCM Michael C. Mullins, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
1. (U) This is an Action Message. Please see paras 5 and 6.
2. (C) SUMMARY: President Yudhoyono (SBY) is reportedly
upset with the lack of progress on the Kopassus/Leahy vetting
issue and the postponement of the proposed POTUS visit. This
message requests that the Department consider a visit by
Kopasssus Commander MG Wibowo to Washington, and advise about
Mission's proposed op-ed and the possibility of a interview
by President Obama with the Indonesian media. END SUMMARY
3. (C) Presidential Spokesman Dino Djalal contacted A/DCM
October 9 to pass on what he described as President
Yudhoyono's frustration with the continued legal restrictions
on engagement between the U.S. military and the Indonesian
Army Special Forces (Kopassus). According to Djalal,
Yudhoyono takes the issue seriously to the extent that he
wonders how he can proceed with a Comprehensive Partnership
with the United States if the United States does not treat
Indonesia as a true partner.
4. (C) Separately, the tone of the media is sour concerning
the postponement of the proposed visit of President Obama to
Indonesia. Our contacts believe SBY is unhappy that the
President has time for Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing,
and Seoul, but not Jakarta. An influential Indonesian
contact advised Charge that sending a "consolation prize"
delegation to SBY's October 20 second-term inauguration would
be "exactly the wrong thing to do." (Note: Not all
interlocutors describe SBY as dismayed about the
postponement. One contact told Pol/C that SBY and FM
Wirajuda were disappointed but understood the reasons behind
the decision.)
ACTION REQUESTS
5. (C) Per ref a, at a September 15 briefing for DATT and
Dep. POL/C, Kopassus Commander Major General Wibowo described
the reforms and accountability steps Kopassus has made.
Mission found Wibowo to be candid and transparent and
requests Department consult with DOD and Hill contacts to
consider the utility of an early visit by MG Wibowo to
Washington. Given SBY's personal attention to this issue,
our ability to respond to his concerns as quickly as possible
is important.
6. (C) To help ease the disappointment of SBY and the
Indonesian public over the postponement of the President's
visit, we suggest a forward-leaning public diplomacy
strategy. Per ref b, Post requests clearance for the draft
op-ed we have sent to EAP and reiterate our suggestion that
an interview by President Obama with the Indonesian media, if
at all possible, would be very helpful in this regard.
OSIUS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, DRL, PM
NSC FOR J.BADER AND D.WALTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR OVIP ID
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO REPORTEDLY UNHAPPY OVER
KOPASSUS ISSUE, POTUS VISIT POSTPONEMENT
REF: A. SEP. 16 OSIUS-MARCIEL E-MAIL
B. JAKARTA 1640
Classified By: A/DCM Michael C. Mullins, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
1. (U) This is an Action Message. Please see paras 5 and 6.
2. (C) SUMMARY: President Yudhoyono (SBY) is reportedly
upset with the lack of progress on the Kopassus/Leahy vetting
issue and the postponement of the proposed POTUS visit. This
message requests that the Department consider a visit by
Kopasssus Commander MG Wibowo to Washington, and advise about
Mission's proposed op-ed and the possibility of a interview
by President Obama with the Indonesian media. END SUMMARY
3. (C) Presidential Spokesman Dino Djalal contacted A/DCM
October 9 to pass on what he described as President
Yudhoyono's frustration with the continued legal restrictions
on engagement between the U.S. military and the Indonesian
Army Special Forces (Kopassus). According to Djalal,
Yudhoyono takes the issue seriously to the extent that he
wonders how he can proceed with a Comprehensive Partnership
with the United States if the United States does not treat
Indonesia as a true partner.
4. (C) Separately, the tone of the media is sour concerning
the postponement of the proposed visit of President Obama to
Indonesia. Our contacts believe SBY is unhappy that the
President has time for Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing,
and Seoul, but not Jakarta. An influential Indonesian
contact advised Charge that sending a "consolation prize"
delegation to SBY's October 20 second-term inauguration would
be "exactly the wrong thing to do." (Note: Not all
interlocutors describe SBY as dismayed about the
postponement. One contact told Pol/C that SBY and FM
Wirajuda were disappointed but understood the reasons behind
the decision.)
ACTION REQUESTS
5. (C) Per ref a, at a September 15 briefing for DATT and
Dep. POL/C, Kopassus Commander Major General Wibowo described
the reforms and accountability steps Kopassus has made.
Mission found Wibowo to be candid and transparent and
requests Department consult with DOD and Hill contacts to
consider the utility of an early visit by MG Wibowo to
Washington. Given SBY's personal attention to this issue,
our ability to respond to his concerns as quickly as possible
is important.
6. (C) To help ease the disappointment of SBY and the
Indonesian public over the postponement of the President's
visit, we suggest a forward-leaning public diplomacy
strategy. Per ref b, Post requests clearance for the draft
op-ed we have sent to EAP and reiterate our suggestion that
an interview by President Obama with the Indonesian media, if
at all possible, would be very helpful in this regard.
OSIUS