VZCZCXRO7588
RR RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #0126/01 0220921
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220921Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7703
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
INFO RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J07/CATMED/CAT//
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 8296
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1899
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1075
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7717
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000126
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, G/AIAG AND OES
USAID FOR ANE/CLEMENTS AND GH/CARROLL
DEPT ALSO PASS TO HHS/WSTEIGER/ABHAT/MSTLOUIS AND HHS/NIH
GENEVA FOR WHO/HOHMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO AMED CASC EAGR AMGT PGOV ID
SUBJECT: BAKRIE DESCRIBES GATES FOUNDATION AGENDA
REF: Jakarta 68
1.(SBU) Summary. Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal
Bakrie told the Ambassador on January 21 that a five-member
delegation planned to visit the Gates Foundation in Seattle on
February 5 to discuss health concerns and Indonesia's interest in
expanding access to computers. Bakrie noted that the Indonesian
delegation would make presentations to the Foundation's Global
Health Program on HIV/AIDS and avian influenza and may also discuss
tuberculosis. The Ambassador described growing concerns about
Indonesia's handling of avian influenza, noting that the Foundation
may be more receptive to other health collaboration. Bakrie
expressed interest in joining the delegation if the Foundation could
change the date. End Summary.
Proposed Visit to Gates Foundation
----------------------------------
2. (SBU) The Ambassador requested a meeting with Bakrie after
learning of his proposed February 5 visit to the Gates Foundation
through a Microsoft contact. Bakrie told the Ambassador that the
Indonesia government had exchanged letters with Dr. Tadataka Yamada,
President of Global Health Program, and planned to send a
five-member delegation to visit the Foundation on February 5.
Bakrie explained that Indonesia is seeking programmatic support from
both Microsoft and the Gates Foundation on computer and health
concerns.
Increasing Access to Computers
------------------------------
3. (SBU) Bakrie hopes that Microsoft can help Indonesia expand
access to computers in schools and throughout the country.
Indonesia currently has one computer for every 1,000 people. With a
goal of providing one computer for every 20 people, Indonesia will
seek Microsoft assistance in providing software for one million
computers. Bakrie also hopes Microsoft will use its contacts to
help persuade other information technology companies to provide
hardware. The Ambassador noted that Nicholas Negroponte leads One
Laptop per Child and offered to help make contact.
Health Challenges of AI, HIV/AIDS, and Tuberculosis
--------------------------------------------- ------
4. (SBU) Bakrie described Indonesia's planned presentations to the
Foundation on both avian influenza and HIV/AIDS. The Ambassador
noted that Indonesia and the Gates Foundation could benefit from a
friendly but frank discussion of health issues. The Ambassador
cautioned that the Gates Foundation may not be receptive to proposed
collaboration on AI, noting growing international concerns about
Indonesia's continued refusal to share samples while its avian
influenza fatality rate is increasing and cases continue to occur in
Tangerang, the district adjacent to the international airport.
Bakrie noted that sample sharing would need to be worked out in
accordance with Geneva talks and dismissed the severity of the AI
problem, stating that tuberculosis is really the bigger crisis that
continues to be ignored. The Ambassador encouraged Bakrie to raise
tuberculosis concerns with the Foundation.
Delegation Members
------------------
5. (SBU) Bakrie expressed interest in joining the GOI delegation if
the Foundation could change the date. Current members of the
delegation include:
-- Dr. Nafsiah Mboi, Secretary to the National AIDS Commission
-- Dr. Broto Wasisto, Head of the Ministry of Health Committee on
Drug Control
-- Tantri Yuliandini, National AIDS Resource Center Coordinator
-- Bayu Krisnamurthi, Executive Secretary, National Committee on
Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Preparedness
JAKARTA 00000126 002 OF 002
-- Dr. Heru Setijanto, Secretary, National Committee on Avian
Influenza Control and Pandemic Preparedness.
HUME