BURMA -- URGING THE GOI TO PRESS FOR AUNG SAN SUU

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000813 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS(L.SCHEIBE),EAP/RSP NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV ID BM SUBJECT: BURMA -- URGING THE GOI TO PRESS FOR AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S RELEASE REF: STATE 33547 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Mission has urged the GOI to press the Burmese authorities to release Aung San Suu Kyi from detention. Contacts underscored that Indonesia had pressed the Burmese regime to do this on multiple occasions, adding that they would look for ways to raise it again before the end of May (the date by which the Burmese authorities seem set to renew her detention for another year). END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Per reftel, Mission urged the Indonesian government to press the Burmese authorities to release Aung San Suu Kyi from detention. In May 8 discussions with Presidential Palace and Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) contacts, Pol/C and poloff underscored that the detention was completely unjust and, even under the Burmese system, unlawful. We underscored that Rangoon's decision to release Aung San Suu Kyi would be greeted as a positive signal of change by the international community. We urged Indonesia, as an influential Southeast Asian neighbor of Burma's, to again urge the regime to release the detained political leader. ¶3. (SBU) Pol/C noted that the USG was reviewing its Burma policy with a renewed focus on how best to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law in Burma. ¶4. (C) Our contacts told us that the GOI was committed to pressing Burma on this. Astari Daenuwy, an international affairs advisor to the President, told Pol/C that President Yudhoyono believed unequivocally that Aung San Suu Kyi should be released and that he considered her to be "one of the notable leaders of Southeast Asia." Indonesia had raised the matter with the Myanmar authorities on multiple occasions, but to no avail. The GOI would look to find a way this month to do so again. Daenuwy added that the GOI would appreciate a briefing on the USG policy review when it was concluded. ¶5. (U) Poloff made similar points to Cicilia Rusdiharini of DEPLU's Americas Desk. HUME