SENIOR INDONESIAN MP WORKS TO HIGHLIGHT PLIGHT OF

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000893 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, EAP/PD, DRL; NSC FOR EPHU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KDEM ID BM XC SUBJECT: SENIOR INDONESIAN MP WORKS TO HIGHLIGHT PLIGHT OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI REF: A. JAKARTA 698 ¶B. JAKARTA 446 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified; Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (U) This is an Action Request--see paragraph 7. ¶3. (SBU) SUMMARY: A leading member of the Myanmar Caucus of the Indonesian Parliament is planning a series of media roundtable discussions meant to raise local and regional awareness of Aung San Suu Kyi's plight. The programs would also serve as a follow-up to the highly effective USG-funded "Burma Road Show" events held at Indonesian universities in recent months. The organizer has requested modest USG support. We think that the plans are highly congruent with U.S. policy efforts re Burma and should be supported if at all possible. END SUMMARY. HIGHLIGHTING THE SITUATION IN BURMA ¶4. (SBU) A senior Indonesian Member of Parliament is working to stimulate interest in the situation in Burma. Djoko Susilo, a passionate Myanmar caucus member and outspoken defender of human rights and democracy in Burma, has asked for USG support to carry out a series of four roundtable discussions on Burma democracy and human rights. The discussions would be timed for around Suu Kyi's June 19 birthday. Susilo hopes the programs will help create widespread Indonesian and regional support to increase pressure on the regime to release Suu Kyi and institute democratic reforms. The programs would be held under the auspices of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC). ¶5. (SBU) The program would target major media in Indonesia's two most important cities, the national capital of Jakarta and the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya. The four discussions would be exclusively for two major television stations and two newspapers in each city. These media would provide lengthy, in-depth analysis of the Burma situation reaching tens of millions of Indonesians. A HISTORY OF EFFECTIVE ENGAGEMENT ¶6. (SBU) Susilo also recently organized a series of USG-funded discussions at elite Indonesian universities, the "Burma Road Show" (ref B). The Road Show was effective in terms of raising awareness on Burma and underscoring that Indonesia--as an ASEAN neighbor--can play a key role in fostering change there. The three events--plus Mission's conference on Burma held early last year--have helped place a spotlight on the Burmese regime and its denial of democratic/human rights to its citizens. The GOI has been active in pressing Burma on human rights issues, (ref A), including a recent statement by Foreign Minister Wirajuda pressing for Suu Kyi's immediate release. ACTION REQUEST ¶7. (SBU) By leveraging regional support, we think that Susilo's plans are highly congruent with U.S. policy efforts re Burma and should be supported if at all possible. Susilo has requested USD 9,000 for the four events to cover honorarium for speakers, venue rental and logistical costs. Mission would like EAP to consider this modest request. A more detailed project proposal and budget will be forwarded separately. END ACTION REQUEST. HUME