US embassy cable - 96JAKARTA7841

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 007841 
 
DEPARTMENT: S/CT FOR REAP 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  10/28/16 
TAGS:  PTER, ID 
SUBJECT:  ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT:  INDONESIA 
 
REF:  STATE 223177 
 
1.  (U) CLASSIFIED BY POL COUNSELOR ED MCWILLIAMS; 
REASON 1.5(D) 
 
2.  (U) THE FOLLOWING FORMAT IS DERIVED FROM REFTEL AND 
RESPONDS TO PARAGRAPHING SET OUT IN PARA 3 REFTEL. 
 
A:  HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECUTIONS INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL 
TERRORISM: 
 
THE GOI FACED A SERIOUS HOSTAGE TAKING IN IRIAN JAYA 
DURING 1996 WHICH INVOLVED THE KIDNAPPING OF THIRD 
COUNTRY AND INDONESIAN NATIONALS (NGO PERSONNEL, NONE 
DIPLOMATIC).  NO U.S. CITIZENS WERE INVOLVED. THE GOI 
WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE ICRC AND OTHERS TO SECURE THE 
HOSTAGES' RELEASE THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS.  WHEN THIS 
NEGOTIATED OUTCOME FAILED, GOI MILITARY WERE BROUGHT IN 
TO RESCUE THE HOSTAGES.  ALL BUT TWO VICTIMS WERE 
RESCUED:  TWO OF THE INDONESIAN HOSTAGES WERE KILLED BY 
THEIR ABDUCTORS.  THE GOI HAS PURSUED THE KIDNAPPERS BUT 
HAS NOT CAPTURED ANY FOR PROSECUTION.  (SEE EXTENSIVE 
REPORTING ON THIS SUBJECT). 
 
THE GOI FACED A SIMILAR MASS KIDNAPPING CASE AGAIN IN 
IRIAN JAYA IN AUGUST WHICH INVOLVED ONLY INDONESIAN 
CITIZENS.  THE GOI TREATED THE MATTER AS A MILITARY 
PROBLEM AND PURSUED THE CAPTORS, COMPELLING THEM 
EVENTUALLY TO RELEASE ALL BUT TWO OF THE VICTIMS (THESE 
TWO REPORTEDLY HAVING BEEN TORTURED AND KILLED BY THEIR 
ABDUCTORS).  GOI MILITARY FORCES HAVE PURSUED THE 
KIDNAPPERS BUT HAVE NOT CAPTURED ANY FOR PROSECUTION. 
SEE POST REPORTING ON THIS SUBJECT. 
 
B.  GOI RESPONSE TO USG REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE IN 
TERRORIST CASES: 
 
THE GOI RESPONDED QUICKLY AND WITH FULL SUPPORT OVER A 
WEEKEND TO ASSIST IN GATHERING AND REVIEWING EVIDENCE IN 
ITS POSSESSION IN THE SHIROSAKI CASE.  THE RAPID GOI 
RESPONSE PROVIDED A BASIS FOR U.S. ACTION TO BRING THE 
SUSPECT TO THE U.S.   THE GOI IS CONTINUING TO WORK WITH 
THE USG ON THIS CASE. 
 
C.  IMPEDIMENTS TO HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECUTION AND/OR 
EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS: 
 
THERE IS NO EXTRADITION TREATY BETWEEN THE U.S. AND 
INDONESIA; HOWEVER, INDONESIA HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE TO 
U.S. REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE. 
 
D.  RESPONSE OTHER THAN PROSECUTION: 
 
SEE RESPONSE, PARA B. 
 
E.  MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN IN 1996: 
 
THE GOI HAS MAINTAINED ACTIVE MILITARY PURSUIT OF REBELS 
IN IRIAN JAYA WHO HAVE EMPLOYED TERRORIST TACTICS 
AGAINST INNOCENT CIVILIANS. 
 
F.  HOST GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM: 
 
THE GOI MAINTAINS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ALL STATES 
WHICH APPEAR ON THE "TERRORISM LIST."  ALL OF THESE 
STATES MAINTAIN EMBASSIES IN INDONESIA. 
 
G. HOST GOVERNMENT STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF A TERRORIST- 
SUPPORTING COUNTRY ON A TERRORISM ISSUE: 
 
NONE 
 
H. SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN GOI ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM: 
 
NONE 
 
I.  U.S. REQUESTS FOR COOPERATION: 
 
THE U.S. SOUGHT THE COOPERATION OF THE GOI ON THE 
SHIROSAKI CASE, SPECIFICALLY ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE IN 
DETERMINING OVER A WEEKEND WHAT EVIDENCE WAS HELD BY THE 
GOI IN THE NINE YEAR OLD INCIDENT AND WHETHER THE GOI 
WOULD BE PREPARED TO ALLOW THE UNITED STATES USE OF THE 
EVIDENCE IT HAD IN A U.S. COURT.  THE GOI RESPONSE WAS 
ENTIRELY POSITIVE. 
 
J.  GOI COOPERATION OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS WITH U.S. 
REQUESTS: 
 
EMBASSY FILES ONLY EXTEND BACK TO 1995.  GOI AUTHORITIES 
HAVE CONSISTENTLY PLAYED AN EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE 
ROLE IN PREVENTING ACTS OF TERRORISM AGAINST U.S. 
CITIZENS. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
K.  GOI COOPERATION IN RESPONSE TO U.S. REQUESTS: 
 
SEE PARA B. 
 
 
ROY