Cablegate: Indonesian Media Reaction to Isps Demarche

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RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #2479 2530051
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 100051Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6127
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0765
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4290
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1137
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4180
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS JAKARTA 002479

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS AND EB/TRA/AN
SINGAPORE FOR COAST GUARD-LT CDR PURGANAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIAN MEDIA REACTION TO ISPS DEMARCHE

REF: A) JAKARTA 2363 B) JAKARTA 2383

1. (U) The Government of Indonesia's (GOI) initial effort to explain
the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code and a possible
Port Security Advisory (PSA) (ref A) met with negative response from
the media and Parliament. Director General of Sea Transportation
(DG) H. Harijogi, met with the Indonesian Ship Owners Association
(INSA) on September 3 to inform them of the ISPS Demarche and
potential PSA. Initial media response quoted the Chairman of INSA,
Oentoro Suryo, as saying, "The US Coast Guard will ask the
International Maritime Organization to ban Indonesian ships from
using International Seaports and Lanes," and that the U.S. is
calling for a general boycott of Indonesian Seaports. His interview
appeared in three large Indonesian dailies. Member of Parliament
Yoseph Hadi stated the threat of a U.S. ports boycott is potentially
more damaging than the European Union blacklist of Indonesian
airlines on June 26 and he wondered if, "This is a campaign to
tarnish Indonesia's image".

2. (U) In response to the INSA Chairman's statements, the Ministry
of Transportation called a press conference on September 5 to
clarify the ISPS/PSA issue. Another DGST official, Director Djony
Algemar said that Indonesia will reduce the number of international
seaports from 141 to 25 and named the five facilities previously
visited by the Coast Guard that are not ISPS compliant (ref A).
Transportation Minister Jusman stated that a failure to reorganize
(implement ISPS) within the 90-day time period will not lead to an
automatic boycott, but the U.S. will tighten security controls on
ships leaving from non-ISPS compliant ports. Director General
Harijogi also said that, "The U.S. Coast Guard has the right to
inspect the harbors of U.S. trading partners to see if they meet
ISPS standards".

3. (U) Several observers also commented on Indonesia's past and
future role in port security. Member of Parliament Nai Soy said
that, "The boycott threat was due to the fact that Indonesia often
ignores regulations in the ISPS code". An editorial in Media
Indonesia stated the need for greater engagement by the government
to correct deficiencies: "Truly this nation will be crushed by the
era if we must wait for foreigners to speak before making efforts
for improvement". Media coverage after the DGST press conference
more accurately reflects the ISPS Demarche and the current
situation. We will continue to monitor press reports as we get
closer to the end of the 90 days before a PSA (November 22).

Hume

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