BURMA -- ENGAGING INDONESIA IN ADVANCE OF THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001779

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP
NSC FOR D.WALTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2019
TAGS: PREL KDEM ASEAN ID BM
SUBJECT: BURMA -- ENGAGING INDONESIA IN ADVANCE OF THE
ASEAN SUMMIT

REF: A. STATE 108210

B. JAKARTA 1628 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Dep/Pol/C Darcy Zotter, reasons 1.4 (b+d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: We encouraged Indonesia to press the
Burmese authorities to launch a credible dialogue with the
democratic opposition and ethnic minority groups, per Ref A
instructions. GOI interlocutors reiterated their praise for
the United States' new policy on Burma and agreed that the
Burmese government should reciprocate with some positive
actions. However, they stopped short of promising any
specific Indonesian actions at the upcoming ASEAN Summit.
Mission will continue to engage key Indonesians on Burma and
plans a Burma outreach event on October 28. END SUMMARY.

UNDERSCORING U.S. CONCERNS


2. (SBU) Using Ref A points poloff engaged officials at the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) regarding the need for
progress on reform in Burma. He outlined the United States'
long-term commitment to engaging the Burmese authorities. He
explained that this approach created a window of opportunity
for the Burmese regime to make meaningful progress on reform.
A critical step would be for the GOB to begin a genuine
dialogue with the democratic opposition and with leaders of
ethnic minority groups. Poloff urged Indonesia to raise the
matter at the October 23-25 ASEAN Summit.

INDONESIA BROADLY SYMPATHETIC


3. (C) Indonesian officials praised our approach to Burma
but stopped short of promising any specific action. George
Lantu, Deputy Director for Legal and Human Rights at the
Department of Foreign Affairs' (DEPLU) Directorate of ASEAN
Political and Security Cooperation, told poloff on October 22
that Indonesia supported the United States' new approach. He
agreed that Burma should reciprocate with some positive steps
toward reform. He explained that Indonesian officials had
made no decisions about what they might say about the matter
during the upcoming ASEAN Summit. Senior GOI officials,
including new FM Natelegawa, who took office on October 23,
were still discussing the matter. (Note: Mission will
report more fully on Natelegawa septel.)

CONTINUING TO RAISE BURMA


4. (SBU) Mission continues to engage Indonesian stakeholders
on Burma. So far, we have sponsored a range of conferences,
roundtable discussions, meetings and other events with key
Indonesian officials, foreign policy experts and Burma
activists. As part of that effort, we plan to host a
discussion of the United States new Burma policy on October

28.

HUME