AFGHANISTAN -- INDONESIA TO HELP WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000839 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, SCA, SCA/A NSC FOR E. PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2019 TAGS: PGOV PTER PDEM ID AF SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN -- INDONESIA TO HELP WITH COUNTERTERRORISM AND DEMOCRACY REF: JAKARTA 564 ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Indonesian government is seeking ways to boost counterterrorism and democracy in Afghanistan. The GOI, working with Canada, is exploring CT training for the Afghan police. Indonesia will also host a major electoral training session for Afghan officials in cooperation with U.S. organizations. These initiatives may suggest that Indonesia is ready to offer more assistance to Afghanistan, so long as it can do so in a low-key manner. END SUMMARY. CT COOPERATION ¶2. (SBU) In a Canadian government-sponsored initiative, a senior Afghan National Security Council official recently visited Indonesia to explore the possibility of counterterrorism, law enforcement and related training for Afghan police officials. Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) Director for International Security and Disarmament Affairs Desra Percaya said Indonesia has the experience and resources to support Afghanistan's security sector development. ¶3. (SBU) Indonesian and Afghan government officials agreed to pursue a pilot course for approximately 15 Afghan police officers. The course would be taught later this year at the internationally-supported Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) in Semarang, Central Java. Indonesian and Afghan police would undergo a training course together, with interpretation for the Afghan participants. According to Percaya, the instruction will be based in part on the lessons Indonesia has learned combating terrorism at home. Mission will explore ways we might contribute to this effort. DEMOCRACY BUILDING ¶4. (SBU) National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Jakarta plans to hold a regional workshop for domestic election monitors soon, with Afghan democracy activists invited to participate. The workshop, funded the National Endowment for Democracy (NED),will showcase Indonesia as a role model for developing democracies throughout the region. Indonesia's expertise in parallel vote tabulations, demonstrated in its successful April 9 legislative election, gives Jakarta a particular asset in this regard. MORE TO COME? ¶5. (C) Domestic political sensitivities, especially among Muslim groups, have largely prevented Indonesia from playing a more active role on Afghanistan. Despite this, Indonesian officials have quietly voiced their support for the Afghan government, especially following the recent U.S. review of policy in the region, and underscored their desire to be helpful (see reftel). These low key programs focused on coutnerterrorism and democracy--areas where Indonesians are proud of their own sucess--could herald an up-tick in Indonesian interest in supporting Afghanistan. HUME