VZCZCXRO5774
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHJA #0452/01 0651007
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 051007Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8230
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 2396
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2127
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1649
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1631
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4794
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 1363
RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 0617
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 2478
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000452 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/PD (FOR LNEIGHBORS/GMCLOUGHLIN) 
IIP/C, IIP/P, IIP/EAP (DAVENDASORA), EAP/MTS, 
EAP/MLS (COPE), EAP/RSP, G (CURRIE) 
NSC FOR EPHU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL EAID BM ID
SUBJECT: BURMA -- USG-SPONSORED CIVIL SOCIETY CONFERENCE IN 
JAKARTA 
 
REF: JAKARTA 120 AND PREVIOUS 
 
JAKARTA 00000452  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified -- Please 
handle accordingly. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  An intensive USG-sponsored conference on 
"The Role of ASEAN Civil Society in Supporting Human Rights 
and Democracy in Burma" will take place in Jakarta March 6-7. 
 Over 20 regional experts will participate.  The conference 
will focus on how the Burmese situation is a threat to the 
region, and speakers will address such topics as human 
rights, the need for a democratic transition, as well as 
human trafficking and economic stability.  Organized by 
Indonesian civil society with EAP/PD funding, the conference 
will conclude with a declaration.  We already understand that 
the Canadian government and NDI plan follow up events.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
CIVIL SOCIETY CONFERENCE 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Regional civil society leaders and scholars will 
gather in Indonesia March 6-7 for a conference on how Burma's 
current situation impacts on the security, health, and 
prosperity of the region.  The conference is being funded by 
EAP/PD with assistance from the National Democratic Institute 
(NDI).  It is being organized by a coalition of Indonesian 
activists.  Opened by Indonesia's most prominent human rights 
lawyer, Rafendi Djamin, chair of Human Rights Working Group, 
the conference will lead off with a keynote address by 
Indonesian Parliamentarian Djoko Susilo, the head of the 
ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC).  A Burmese 
monk who left Burma after the September uprising, U Awbata, 
is traveling to the conference from Sri Lanka and will make 
opening inspirational remarks. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The first session on "The Current Problem in Burma" 
will be facilitated by Galuh Wandita, director of the 
International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), in 
Jakarta.  Nyo Ohn Myint of the Asia Pacific People's 
Partnership on Burma (APPPB) will talk about the background 
of the present situation and noted scholar Win Min of Chiang 
Mai University will talk on current issues. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) There will also be a session on "Burma as a 
Regional Problem."  Speakers include: 
 
-- Debbie Stothard, Coordinator with Altsean-Burma (an NGO 
focused on regional Burmese matters) and authority on Burma 
transnational issues, speaking about regional security; 
-- Duncan McArthur with the Thailand Burma Border Coalition, 
who has worked in the border region since 1995, speaking on 
migration, refugees, and human trafficking; 
-- Dr. Voravit Suwanvanichkij of John Hopkins University, an 
expert on the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious 
diseases resulting from the Burmese situation, speaking on 
drugs and disease; 
-- Zaw Oo from American University and policy advisor to the 
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, speaking 
on regional economic impacts; and, 
-- Wong Aung, global coordinator for the Shwe Gas Movement, 
speaking on capital investment and the role of economic 
sanctions. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Turning to international responses to the Burma 
crisis, speakers include:  Egoy Bans of the Free Burma 
Coalition; U.S. Embassy Political Counselor Joseph L. Novak 
reviewing the U.S. reaction; Roshan Jason, director of the 
AIPMC in Malaysia; and, Patrick Burgess, of ICTJ Asia.  The 
topic of "Civil Society Responses and Options for Future 
Action" will be reviewed by several regional and Indonesia 
civil society activists from human rights groups, the media 
and labor unions. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) On day two, conference participants will break into 
 
JAKARTA 00000452  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
working groups to recommend strategies on how to bring about 
democracy in Burma and how to support that transition.  A 
declaration and recommended follow-up actions will be 
announced at the closing session, followed by a press 
conference. 
 
MEDIA 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The media is invited to attend the opening session 
and the reading of the final declaration, and is welcome to 
cover all plenary sessions.  PAS is videotaping the main 
events throughout the conference and plans to produce a short 
documentary on DVD for regional distribution, as well as to 
provide broadcast quality video for TV stations which are 
interested but could not attend.  Attendees will all be given 
background material on issues to be covered at the 
conference, including the President's February 25 statement 
on Burma and other U.S. policy articles. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) While the USG role in the conference will be low 
key, the DCM will be holding a dinner for organizers and 
participants, Pol/C will present the U.S. policy viewpoint at 
one session, and our sponsorship will be recognized on logos 
on conference materials.  Mission  is working with IIP to 
produce articles on the conference.  PAS also will send 
photos of the conference to IIP and to other Posts in the 
region with captions. 
 
NEXT STEPS 
 
¶10.  (SBU) As mentioned, participants will issue a 
declaration which will also review follow-up activities.  We 
already understand that the Canadian government plans to 
convene a conference in late March in Quebec City focused on 
Burma (this conference is, in part, directly modeled on the 
Jakarta conference).  NDI also is planning upcoming 
Burma-related events in the East Asian region. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) Overall, participants in the conference--many of 
whom were recruited with help from other Missions in the 
region--told us that holding the event in Indonesia is 
significant because of its influence in the region and the 
fact that it recently moved to democracy from an 
authoritarian set-up.  We hope that the conference will 
resonate regionwide, helping stimulate civil society/citizen 
activism on the situation and the need for a change in the 
Burmese status quo. 
HUME