RESTRICTED
FM JAKARTA
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 419
OF 140504Z
AUGUST 92
RESTRICTED
(72
124576
НКС
175/1
MDLIAN 5322
см
INFO ROUTINE ASEAN POSTS, TOKYO, WASHINGTON, BONN
INFO ROUTINE CANBERRA, OSLO, THE HAGUE, PARIS, OTTAWA INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, MODUK, MODUK NAVY, BRASILIA, ODA
61
YOUR TEL NO 206 TO KUALA LUMPUR: PIRACY
SUMMARY
1. A REGIONAL SEMINAR IN JAKARTA MIGHT BE COUNTER PRODUCTIVE AT THIS STAGE, AND SHOULD BE KEPT IN RESERVE. BETTER TO CONCENTRATE ON COLLECTING ACCURATE STATISTICS, AND ON MORE SELF PROTECTIVE MEASURES BY THE SHIPS.
DETAIL
2. SUGGESTING A REGIONAL SEMINAR IN JAKARTA AT THIS STAGE MIGHT PROVE COUNTER PRODUCTIVE. THE PUBLIC FOCUS ON PIRACY AND DISCREET PRESSURE FROM REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STATES HAS BROUGHT THE INDONESIANS QUITE A WAY IN A FEW MONTHS. THE INDONESIAN NAVY HAVE PUBLICALLY ACCEPTED THAT IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTROL PIRACY. THE INDONESIANS ARE NOW MAKING SERIOUS EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM IN COOPERATION WITH THEIR NEIGHBOURS, AND WITHOUT OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE. THEY HAVE INCREASED PATROLS AND ARRESTS AND IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS AND REACHED AGREEMENT ON BILATERAL COOPERATION WITH SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA COUR TEL NO 22094OZ JUNE TO MOD, SINGAPORE TEL NO 221, KUALA LUMPUR TEL NO 398). THE INDONESIANS ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE SET THEIR FACE AGAINST IMO'S PROPOSAL FOR A REGIONAL PIRACY CENTRE. PROPOSAL FOR A REGIONAL SEMINAR IN JAKARTA AT THIS STAGE WOULD LOOK TO THE INDONESIANS LIKE DENIGRATION OF THEIR EFFORTS AND FURTHER EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE AND BE RESENTED. IT WOULD BE BETTER TO GIVE THE INDONESIANS A FEW MONTHS TO PROVE WHETHER THEIR EFFORTS ARE BEING EFFECTIVE OR NOT (WE NOTE THAT IMO MEMBER STATES ARE DUE TO BE ASKED TO REPORT ON MEASURES TAKEN AT THE DECEMBER MSC SESSION) WHETHER SUCCESS OR NOT. IT MIGHT THEREFORE BE BEST TO RETAIN THE IDEA OF REGIONAL SEMINARS IN THE IMO CIRCULAR ONLY AS A POSSIBLITY FOR THE FUTURE IF CURRENT MEASURS DO NOT PROVE EFFECTIVE. THIS WOULD HELP KEEP PRESSURE ON THE INDONESIANS.