Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JAKARTA1803
2009-10-29 10:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
UN CONVENTION ON DEFAMATION OF RELIGION --
how-toVZCZCXRO3303 OO RUEHDT RUEHPB DE RUEHJA #1803 3021051 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 291051Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3686 INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 8020 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1123 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001803
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, IO, IO/HR
(A.OSTERMEIER)
NSC FOR D.WALTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2019
TAGS: PREL KISL UN ID
SUBJECT: UN CONVENTION ON DEFAMATION OF RELIGION --
ENGAGING INDONESIA
REF: A. STATE 111466
B. EAP/MTS JAKARTA EMAIL OCTOBER 29
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001803
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, IO, IO/HR
(A.OSTERMEIER)
NSC FOR D.WALTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2019
TAGS: PREL KISL UN ID
SUBJECT: UN CONVENTION ON DEFAMATION OF RELIGION --
ENGAGING INDONESIA
REF: A. STATE 111466
B. EAP/MTS JAKARTA EMAIL OCTOBER 29
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Mission has engaged Department of Foreign
Affairs interlocutors regarding the draft UN convention on
religion. We underscored that the convention could entail
legal obligations that would justify censorship and other
limits on freedom of expression. We also encouraged
Indonesia to consider the alternative Action Plan that the
United States has proposed. While our interlocutors promised
to continue consultations in Geneva, they noted that
Indonesia traditionally joined the OIC consensus on such
matters. END SUMMARY
DELIVERING USG POINTS
2. (C) POLOFF delivered Ref A demarche regarding the draft
convention on religion under consideration in the UN Human
Rights Council (UN HRC) to Diana Sutikno, Deputy Director for
Human Rights at the Department of Foreign Affairs on October
29. He also shared the USG draft Action Plan contained in Ref
B. POLOFF underscored that the draft convention would justify
censorship and other restrictions on freedom of expression.
PROPOSING AN ALTERNATIVE
3. (C) POLOFF explained that the USG was concerned about
matters such as discrimination and bias-inspired violence.
The United States and other like-minded countries had
proposed a draft Plan of Action outlining positive steps that
governments could take to address those issues. He urged
Indonesia to support that effort.
INDONESIA UNLIKELY TO BUDGE
4. (C) Sutikno took our message on board. She repeated
Indonesia's support of the USG's decision to reengage with
the UN HRC and said GOI officials looked forward to further
consultations on this matter in Geneva. However, she noted
that Indonesia traditionally joined the OIC consensus on such
matters.
HUME
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, IO, IO/HR
(A.OSTERMEIER)
NSC FOR D.WALTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2019
TAGS: PREL KISL UN ID
SUBJECT: UN CONVENTION ON DEFAMATION OF RELIGION --
ENGAGING INDONESIA
REF: A. STATE 111466
B. EAP/MTS JAKARTA EMAIL OCTOBER 29
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Mission has engaged Department of Foreign
Affairs interlocutors regarding the draft UN convention on
religion. We underscored that the convention could entail
legal obligations that would justify censorship and other
limits on freedom of expression. We also encouraged
Indonesia to consider the alternative Action Plan that the
United States has proposed. While our interlocutors promised
to continue consultations in Geneva, they noted that
Indonesia traditionally joined the OIC consensus on such
matters. END SUMMARY
DELIVERING USG POINTS
2. (C) POLOFF delivered Ref A demarche regarding the draft
convention on religion under consideration in the UN Human
Rights Council (UN HRC) to Diana Sutikno, Deputy Director for
Human Rights at the Department of Foreign Affairs on October
29. He also shared the USG draft Action Plan contained in Ref
B. POLOFF underscored that the draft convention would justify
censorship and other restrictions on freedom of expression.
PROPOSING AN ALTERNATIVE
3. (C) POLOFF explained that the USG was concerned about
matters such as discrimination and bias-inspired violence.
The United States and other like-minded countries had
proposed a draft Plan of Action outlining positive steps that
governments could take to address those issues. He urged
Indonesia to support that effort.
INDONESIA UNLIKELY TO BUDGE
4. (C) Sutikno took our message on board. She repeated
Indonesia's support of the USG's decision to reengage with
the UN HRC and said GOI officials looked forward to further
consultations on this matter in Geneva. However, she noted
that Indonesia traditionally joined the OIC consensus on such
matters.
HUME