VZCZCXRO6087
OO RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHJA #0578/01 0910808
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 010808Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1993
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 000578 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, DRL; NSC FOR 
E.PHU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL ID
SUBJECT: ACEH -- POLICE ACTION AND DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS 
LOWER ELECTION FEVER 
 
REF: A. JAKARTA 459 
     ¶B. JAKARTA 392 
     ¶C. JAKARTA 337 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: DCM John A. Heffern, reasons 1.4(b+d). 
 
¶1.  (U) This message coordinated with Consulate Medan. 
 
¶2.  (C) SUMMARY:  Mission has increased its profile in Aceh 
Province in recent weeks, thus clearly expressing our support 
for fair and peaceful legislative elections on April 9.  The 
Ambassador has visited twice since February alone.  Our 
diplomats have repeatedly visited election hotspots across 
the province since mid-March.  In addition, two teams of 
roving USG-funded Carter Center international observers are 
in the province.  Political-related harassment and violence 
continues to simmer but police are cracking down on 
troublemakers, instilling increased confidence in the GOI's 
commitment to free and fair elections in the region.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
SPECIAL FOCUS:  ACEH 
 
¶3.  (C) One key focus area for the U.S. is Aceh during this 
election timeframe in Indonesia,  (Note:  National 
legislative elections take place on April 9; presidential 
elections take place in July.)  Simmering tensions between 
former members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and 
anti-separatist militias and some GOI officials--combined 
with the stress of a high stake political campaign--have many 
Achenese on edge.  Adding to the pressure is the fact that in 
Aceh, unlike the rest of country, six local parties are also 
competing for legislative seats at the district and 
provincial levels, in addition to the 38 national parties. 
(Note:  Per the 2005 Helsinki peace accord, the GOI allowed 
locally registered political parties.) 
 
¶4.  (C) Among the local parties, the ex-GAM Aceh Party (PA) 
dominates in most parts of the province.  Some elements of 
the GOI suspect that PA harbors separatist ambitions in 
violation of the peace accord.  Dozens of mostly 
political-related incidents occurred from December through 
March, a level not seen since the peace agreement was signed. 
 These incidents included grenade explosions, arson, and 
other attacks against political parties, ex-militia 
organizations and security forces. 
 
HEIGHTENED DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN A VOLATILE REGION 
 
¶5. (C) Ambassador Hume has visited Aceh twice in 2009 alone, 
and six times in the past two years.  In early February, he 
discussed security and elections issues with Governor 
Irwandi, at which time the Governor requested U.S. election 
observers and asked the Ambassador to raise the security 
concerns with President Yudhoyono, which the Ambassador did 
soon after that meeting (per Ref C).  The Ambassador returned 
to Aceh in early March, touching on these same issues with 
Governor Irwandi again.  He also met with the new Aceh 
provincial Police Chief Adityawarman to convey our concerns 
about the peace process and to describe the Mission's plans 
to send additional personnel to Aceh in the run up to the 
legislative elections (Ref A).  Adityawarman pledged his full 
support for our election observation efforts, and has held 
true to that promise. 
 
¶6. (C) In the past several weeks, U.S. diplomats have 
traveled the entire province, making repeated visits to the 
more volatile areas.  At every location, we have met with 
police chiefs, local elections officials, political leaders, 
party leaders, ex-GAM leaders, ex-militia leaders, 
journalists, civil society, and ordinary citizens.  Our 
purpose has been twofold:  to observe the election 
temperature and to deliver messages for everyone to remain 
calm.  In addition, two teams of USG-funded Carter Center 
observers are traveling to key areas, with a third team to 
arrive closer to elections.  To date, the U.S. has mounted 
the only significant such effort in Aceh, although we are 
coordinating with other Missions which will send diplomats 
during election week. 
 
¶7.  (C) In our meetings with PA and ex-GAM, we have delivered 
a clear message that the USG wants PA to operate within the 
MOU and reemphasize its commitment to national unity.  We 
emphasized that the USG will not support separatism, and that 
provocative campaigning which promotes a separatist agenda 
 
JAKARTA 00000578  002 OF 003 
 
 
poses a danger to peace by antagonizing the GOI and former 
militias.  Finally, we also urged PA and ex-GAM to not 
retaliate against violence and intimidation, but rather to 
take a deep breath, allow the GOI to enforce the laws, and to 
trust the international community to closely observe.  If the 
peace is broken, it would take time to recover, we 
emphasized. 
 
¶8.  (C) For the most part, PA leaders assured us that they 
are not promoting separatism, although some of the more 
militant leaders suggested this is still their ultimate goal. 
 PA is strong along the east and west coasts, particularly in 
areas dominated by ethnic Acehnese.  PA is expected to poll 
strongly in these areas.  Other political parties in PA 
strongholds, including the other local Acehnese parties, 
complain of PA intimidation.  PA has threatened other party 
leaders and falsely implied in campaign literature that PA is 
the only party which was part of the Helsinki MOU.  PA has 
widely violated pacts to limit the size of campaign parades. 
PA also is suspected of being behind some of the political 
violence. 
 
¶9.  (C) In meetings with government officials and former 
militia, we conveyed concern that rising political violence 
threatens peace.  Along the west coast, the distrust and 
animosity that government officials harbor towards the 
powerful PA was palpable in most meetings.  PA was generally 
blamed for the political violence.  In other areas, 
particularly in Central Aceh District, ground zero in the 
conflict between ex-GAM and former militia members, the 
police chief and local officials worry more about violent 
acts fomented by former militias and security forces rather 
than PA, which is in a vulnerable position. 
 
¶10.  (C) Former militias and elements of the Indonesian army 
(TNI) are suspected to be behind some attacks on PA, 
including grenade attacks, arson, intimidation of PA 
supporters and destruction of PA banners.  In our meetings, 
police and GOI officials confirmed that they believe there 
are strong links between the military and militias. 
 
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS:  GROUND ZERO 
 
¶11.  (C) The Central Highlands region is a tinderbox for 
potential conflict.  Politics in this area has traditionally 
been dominated by the Gayo and Javanese ethnic groups, which 
distinguish themselves from the littoral Achenese.  Gayo 
leaders advocate the creation of separate provinces in the 
interior which would diminish the power of ex-GAM Acehnese. 
For the most part, these groups resent the warfare and 
economic destruction which the GAM movement brought to the 
highlands.  The highland also has not benefited from massive 
flows of tsunami assistance.  Further, former GAM and militia 
elites have snatched the post-conflict assistance, with 
little benefit trickling down to the rank-and-file, leading 
to general unease.  Ex-militia leaders are pouring gasoline 
on the situation by circulating anti-PA propaganda, warning 
Gayo and Javanese that PA wants to push them out of the 
province. 
 
¶12.  (C) However, several steps by the GOI in recent weeks 
have reduced the election fever.  Everyone we spoke with said 
a speech in Aceh by President Yudhoyono, cautioning all sides 
to keep the peace, helped greatly.  In addition, both sides 
of the conflict said the new provincial police chief assigned 
to Aceh six weeks ago has begun to bring about law and order. 
 A number of people keeping arms have been arrested, military 
personnel who took down PA banners in one city were dismissed 
following a police investigation, and PA has been disciplined 
for its actions by elections authorities.  Also promising, 
two suspects in recent grenade attacks were arrested by 
national police and are being held in Jakarta.  The suspects 
are possibly TNI, one reliable civilian source told us, 
sourcing a senior police contact. 
 
USG PRESENCE APPRECIATED 
 
¶13.  (C) Some GOI officials and members of security forces 
have been wary of the USG diplomatic presence in Aceh. 
Officials, reportedly intelligence agents, have tailed us, 
occasionally questioning our intentions and disrupting our 
meetings.  However, the GOI mostly has been supportive and 
police have allowed us to roam freely.  Our effort was in 
large part at the bequest of Governor Irwandy in a meeting 
with the Ambassador.  Former Finnish president Martti 
 
JAKARTA 00000578  003 OF 003 
 
 
Ahtisaari also requested international observers when he met 
the Ambassador in February.  Civil society said our presence 
has helped keep the province calm while local leaders said 
the effort made them feel more secure and less likely to 
retaliate.  Our heightened presence in Aceh will continue 
until late April. 
HUME