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OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
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O 160511Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000085 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, H 
NSC FOR E. PHU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIAN MP'S TO VISIT U.S. 
 
REF: A. JAKARTA 2137 
     ¶B. JAKARTA 2320 
 
JAKARTA 00000085  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U) This message contains an Action Request -- Please see 
Para 5. 
 
¶2.  (U) SUMMARY: Indonesian Speaker of the House Laksono has 
asked Mission to forward letters to U.S. Representatives 
Price and Dreier announcing an upcoming trip to Washington, 
D.C., by eight Members of Parliament (DPR).  An original copy 
of the letter was sent to the Representatives' offices and a 
scanned copy was sent to EAP/MTS and the House Democratic 
Assistance Commission's (HDAC) Staff Director.  The planned 
visit is an example of the Indonesian Parliament's increased 
focus on reform and cooperative engagement with HDAC.  Action 
Request is contained in para 5.  END SUMMARY. 
 
VISIT TO WASHINGTON BY MP'S 
 
¶3.  (U) The Indonesian Parliament is sponsoring and funding a 
visit to the U.S.  Speaker Agung Laksono of the Indonesian 
Parliament (DPR) has sent similar letters to Congressman 
Price and Congressman Dreier congratulating them on their 
re-election efforts (see text of letter in para 7).  In the 
letter, he describes the DPR's reform efforts and its 
commitment to continue working closely with the U.S. House of 
Representatives as stated in their Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU). 
 
¶4.  (U) Laksono outlined the agenda for the delegation 
traveling to the U.S. on January 26-28 and thanked the 
Congressmen for their leadership provided through the House 
Democratic Assistance Commission (HDAC).  This trip will be 
the third such trip financed by the DPR as part of its 
parliamentary reform efforts.  HDAC Staff Director John Lis 
has put together their Washington program in conjunction with 
Democratic Reform Support Program (DRSP) staff. 
 
ACTION REQUEST 
 
¶5.  (U) Mission requests that Department help arrange for 
suitable, high-level interlocutors for the Indonesian 
delegation.  As noted, HDAC is helping arrange its Washington 
schedule.  END ACTION REQUEST. 
 
THE DELEGATION 
 
¶6.  (U) The delegation will be comprised of the following 
Members of Parliament (two staff members will also 
accompany): 
 
-- Sayuti Asyathri, National Mandate Party (PAN) 
-- Azhar Romli, Golkar Party 
-- Tyas Indyah Iskandar, Golkar Party 
-- Fransiscus Xaverius Soekarno, Democratic Party (PD) 
-- Fahri Hamzah, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) 
-- Hajriyanto Y. Thohari, Golkar Party 
-- Zainal Arifin, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle 
(PDI-P) 
-- Nursanita Nasution, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) 
 
SPEAKER'S LETTER 
 
¶7.  (U) The text of Speaker Laksono's letter to the 
Representatives follows: 
 
Begin text: 
 
Jakarta, January 13, 2009 
 
The Honorable David Price 
The Honorable David Dreier 
House Democratic Assistance Commission 
 
JAKARTA 00000085  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
U.S. House of Representatives 
Washington, D.C. 
 
Dear Congressman Price and Congressman Dreier, 
 
Congratulations to your successful re-election campaigns.  As 
you are all aware, Indonesian voters are now in the process 
of deciding who they would like to represent them for the 
next Parliamentarians Session as well. 
 
As you are aware, the Indonesian Parliament is fully 
committed to enhancing its functions on legislation, 
conducting oversight and developing our national budget by 
doing so in an open and accountable manner.  My colleagues 
and I view activities under the auspices of the Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) between our two parliaments as an 
important means by which we can achieve our goals. 
 
In line with the MOU, I would like to inform you that the 
Special Committee on Institutional Composition and Status of 
the Indonesian House of Representatives, People's 
Consultative Assembly, Regional Representatives Council and 
Regional Legislative Assembly, is sending its delegation to 
the United States to study specific Congressional 
Institutions and practices.  This Committee is in the final 
stages of developing legislation that requires broad reforms 
for our parliamentary institutions and practices.  The 
Committee has studied the practices of other parliaments and 
has last minute questions concerning some of the these from 
the U.S. experience.  The Leadership and members of the 
Committee are interested in having specific discussions about 
the operation of your Congressional Budget Office, 
Congressional Research Office, Office of the Legislative 
Council, development of your operating budget and internal 
administration of the House itself. 
 
The delegation consists of 11 (eleven) Members, including the 
Head of the delegation, and 2 (two) secretaries.  We are in 
the process of soliciting assistance from our Embassy in 
Washington as well.  We hope they will provide interpretation 
services as well.  We suggest the meeting dates be conducted 
from January 26th, 27th and possibly 28th.  I recognize this 
period is an especially busy time in Washington but I hope 
your schedules can accommodate this delegation. 
 
We appreciate the leadership of both of you have provided 
through the HDAC and look forward to meeting you again. 
 
Yours Sincerely, 
 
/S/ 
 
H.R. Agung Laksono 
 
End text. 
 
HEFFERN