Cablegate: Engaging Indonesia On Afghan Police

VZCZCXRO5265
OO RUEHDBU RUEHDT RUEHPB RUEHPW RUEHSL
DE RUEHJA #1697/01 2811020
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081020Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3534
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001697

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR S/SRAP, EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP,
SCA, SCA/A

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS MASS ID AF
SUBJECT: Engaging Indonesia on Afghan Police
Training

REF: Jakarta 1352

1. (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified;
please handle accordingly. Please see Action Request
in paragraph 6.

2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Senior Indonesian officials have
responded positively to our proposal that Indonesia
help train the Afghan National Police (ANP). In
addition to helping bolster the security situation in
Afghanistan, doing so will further strengthen U.S.-
Indonesia relations, and enhance Indonesia?s global
leadership role. This message outlines initial steps
to transform Indonesia?s inchoate interest into
concrete steps forward. END SUMMARY.

INDONESIA WILLING

3. (SBU) Indonesian officials have responded
positively to our suggestion that Indonesia provide
assistance to the Afghan National Police (see
reftel). Doing so would strengthen U.S.-Indonesia
security ties and enhance the overall bilateral
relationship. It would help the GOI build law
enforcement and counterterrorism contacts in a
critical region. And it would bolster Indonesia?s
claim to leadership in Muslim world and among
developing countries.

WHAT INDONESIA CAN OFFER

4. (SBU) Indonesian training can benefit
Afghanistan. Bringing ANP officers to Indonesia will
familiarize them with the workings of a developing
Muslim-majority democracy. It will also acquaint
them with Indonesia?s ongoing--and successful--
process of police and military reform. The
Indonesian National Police (INP) can offer valuable
training in basic policing skills, police-civilian
relations, local or intra-communal conflict
resolution, and other areas where the INP already has
an established record. The exact training proposed
would depend on specific ANP needs.

5. (SBU) Initially, we recommend that all training
would be done in Indonesia, possibly at the Jakarta
Center for Law-enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) in
Semarang, Central Java. As that training succeeds,
and Indonesian police build stronger relationships
with their Afghan counterparts, we would encourage
the GOI to conduct some training in Afghanistan. A
first step in this direction could be to send INP
mentors to Afghanistan on a short-term basis to
follow up on training conducted in Indonesia.

MOVING FORWARD

6. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: To move forward, Mission
requests Department assistance in three key areas?
assessing Afghan needs, identifying funding and
making initial contacts:

--AFGHAN NEEDS: To further engage the INP on this
matter Mission requests that the Department provide
information regarding Afghan law enforcement training
needs. Key questions include:

-What are the key training needs of the ANP?

-What level and number of ANP officers are to be
trained?

-What level of education and professional
training do the ANP trainees already possess?

-What level of proficiency should be achieved at
the conclusion of the training?

-How long would the GOA need to select
candidates for training?

--FUNDING: Any Indonesian support would require USG
support. Mission requests that the Department
forward information regarding what funding might be

JAKARTA 00001697 002 OF 002

available.

--INITIAL CONTACT: Mission will work to identify
appropriate INP and USG officials who will travel to
Afghanistan in the near-term for initial
consultations with Afghan counterparts. We request
that the Department, in cooperation with Embassy
Kabul, work with us to facilitate this vist.

END ACTION REQUEST.

OSIUS

© Scoop Media