SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT KHARIS SUHUD VISIT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M00005R001100020002-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 22, 2013
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: September 2, 1988
• Content Type: CABLE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/10: CIA-RDP90M00005R001100020002-1
88 0133201 SCP
PRIORITY
TOR:.021203Z SEP 88 JAKART 13450
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PP RUEAIIB
2NY CCCCC ZOC STATE ZZH
RPI7845
PP RUEHC
DE RUEHJA H3450/01 2460835
ZNY CCCCC,ZZH
P 0208302 SEP 88
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASDC PRIORITY 7385
RUEKJCS/SECOEF WASHDC PRIORTY
RUEADWW/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 7960
RUMJDN/AMCONSUL.MEDA 9729
RUMJHE/AMCONSUL SURABAYA 0843 "
RUHOQA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI '"
BT
C 0 ~ JAKARTA 13450
NSC FORKELLY'AND CHILDRESS ;
DOD/ISA FOR AS ARMITAGE
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR P-ARMACOST,.T-DERWINSKI, INM-
WROBLESKI
CINCPAC FOR FPA
E.0. 12356:DEC:OADR
TAGS: OVIP (SUHUD, KHARIS), PREL',:ID, US
.~ SUBJECT:.SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT KHARIS: SUHUD'VISIT
REF: STATE 282627 (NOTAL)
..
1 . (LOU.);_SUMMARY_?AND .ACTION REpUEST,._~;~INDONESIA'S'
:SPEAKEROF`:PARLIAMENT=WILL BE VISITING WASHINGTON
SEPT 17-22 AT THE. HEAD OF AN EIGHT-MEMBER OELEGATION
IN COMPARISON WITH HI5 PREDECESSORS, SPEAKER KHARIS
SUHUD HAS SHOWN HIMSELF TO BE AN ACTIVIST EADER
.INTERESTED IN IMPROVING BOTH THE IMAGE AND THE
INSTITUTIONAL ROLE OF THE PARLIAMENT. HIS PCOMING
VISIT; TO THE UNLTED .STATES, ,AT:.7HE ~INV;IATION.-OF.:~r
~HDUSE ..SPEAKER;'JIM~=WRIGHT'AND~ UNDER ASI-~FOUNDATION
AUBPICESr'IS ALREADY BEING COMMENTE ON.AS'A FURTHER
EXAMPLE OF THE NEW STATURE HE I BRINGING TO THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH. HIS DELEGATION".INCLUDES REPRE-
SENTATIVES FROM ALL FOUR FACTIONS IN PARLIAMENT,
AMONG.TFiEM, CHAIRMAN OF THE ARMED SERVICES AND ..FOREIGN
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE,, H..IMRON ROSYADI, AND THE HEAD-OF
-THE INDONESIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDI) PARLIAMENTARY
FACTION, MRS. FATIMAH ACHMAD. ,
2. (LOU) KHARIS SUHUD'S VISIT, AND~THE MEDIA. ATTENTION
IT WILL INEVITABLY ATTRACT HERE, GIVE S, US A CONVENIENT
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A SMALL CONTRIBUTION TO PLURALISTIC
INSTITUTION-BUILDING IN INDONESIA. PLANNING FOR THE
SPEAKER'S VISIT IS ALREADY QUITE ADVANCED, AND THE ASIA
FOUNDATION APPEARS TO HAVE ARRANGEMENTS WELL IN HAND.
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL WILL BE A MEETING WITH HOUSE
SPEAKER WRIGHT, AND OTHER ,CALLS ON THE HILL.,-SUCH AS
OCA
INCOMING
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/10: CIA-RDP90M00005R001100020002-1
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/10: CIA-RDP90M00005R001100020002-1
CONFIDEN~'IAL
88 0133201 SCP PAGE 002 NC 0133201
TOR: 0212032 SEP 88 JAKART 13450
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THE PLANNED MEETING WITH REP. SOLARZ. IN A CALL ON
KHARIS SUHUD LAST WEEK, SENATOR HOLLINGS ALSO INVITED
HIM TO VISIT THE SENATE. WE ARE PLEASED TO HEAR OF THE
CALLS AND ACTIVITIES ALREADY.-PLANNED FOR THE SPEAKER
AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND DOD. THE AMBASSADOR
BELIEVES THAT ANY MEETINGS WITH SEVENTH FLOOR OFFICIALS
IN STATE (PERHAPS UNDER SECRETARY ARMACOST AND/OR
DERWINSKI), HOWEVER BRIEF, WILL BE WELL WORTH THE
INVESTMENT. THIS WOULD ALSO BE TRUE OF A MEETING WITH
DOD/ISA AS-ARMITAGE BY THE SPEAKER AND HIS DELEGATION.
LASTLY, A CALL AT THE NSC WOULD LEND CONSIDERABLE
PRESTIGE TO THE VISIT. END SUMMARY.
BACKGROUND ON THE VISIT
3. (LOU) SPEAKER KHARIS SUHUD WILL LEAD AN EIGHT-
MEMBER DELEGATION FROM INDONESIA'S PARLIAMENT (DPR)
TO THE UNITED STATES SEPT 10-28. THE DPR SPEAKER
HAS BEEN INVITED TO THE UNITED STATES BY THE ASIA
FOUNDATION, WHICH IS BEARING THE EXPENSES OF THE
TRIP. THE ASIA FOUNDATION HAS BEEN TALKING WITH
KHARIS SUHUD SINCE LAST SPRING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY
OF A VISIT, YET, OWING TO UNCERTAINTIES OVER TIMING
AND APPROVAL FROM PRESIDENT SOEHARTO, DETAILS ONLY
RECENTLY STARTED TO FIRM UP.
4. (LOU) WE UNDERSTAND A PERSONAL INVITATION FROM
HOUSE SPEAKER JIM WRIGHT WAS IMPORTANT IN WINNING
PALACE APPROVAL; INDONESIA REGARDS VISITS SUCH AS
THIS AS IMPORTANT POLITICAL GESTURES, IF NOT STATE-
MENTS. IN ADDITION TO WASHINGTON, KHARIS SUHUD'S
ITINERARY WILL TAKE HIM TO SAN FRANCISCO, SACRAMENTO,
FT. LEAVENWORTH (KANSAS), AND NEW YORK. ENROUTE, THE
DPR SPEAKER PLANS TO TAKE HIS GROUP TO BANGKOK, WHERE
HE WAS AMBASSADOR 1975-78, IN RESPONSE TO A LONG-
STANDING INVITATION FROM THE THAI PARLIAMENT.
--------------------------------------
BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON KHARIS SUHUD
--------------------------------------
C O N F I DENT I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 JAKARTA 13450
NSC FOR K LLY AND CHILRESS
DOD/ISA FOR AS ARMITAGE
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR P-ARMACOST,"T-OERWINSKI, INM-
WROBLESKI
CINCPAC FOR FPA
E.O. 12356:DECL:OADR
TAGS: OVIP (SUHUD, KHARIS), PREL, ID, US
SUBJECT: SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT KHARIS SUHUD VISIT
5. (U) MOHAMAD KHARIS SUHUD, 63, WAS ELECTED SPEAKER
OF INDONESIA'S 500-MEMBER PARLIAMENT (DPR) IN OCTOBER
1987. HE WAS VICE SPEAKER OF THE DPR FOR FIVE YEARS
PRIOR TO THAT. A RETIRED ARMY LIEUTENANT GENERAL,
KHARIS SUHUD ENTERED THE DPR IN 1980 AS A MEMBER OF
THE ARMED FORCES FACTION (ABRI); HE LED THE ARMED
FORCES FACTION IN PARLIAMENT 1982-87.
6. (U) KHARIS SUHUD WAS BORN IN MADIUN (EAST JAVA)
ON APRIL 10, 1925. HE FOUGHT IN THE REVOLUTIONARY
INDONESIAN ARMY DURING THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE.
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/10: CIA-RDP90M00005R001100020002-1
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/10: CIA-RDP90M00005R001100020002-1
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TOR: 0212032 SEP 88? JAKART 13450
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HE IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE. UNITED STATES FROM
HIS MILITARY TRAINING THERE (U.S. ARMY. LIAISON;:SCHOOL,
HAWAII,' 1.959;"U.S: ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL~STAFF
COLLEGE, FT .. LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, 1962; U.S. ARMY
INTELLIGENCE SCHOOL, FT. HOLABIRD, MARYLAND, 1962)
AND FROM HIS ASSIGNMENT AS DEFENSE ATTACHE IN-
WASHINGTON 1966=70. HE VdAS LAST~IN THE UNITED STATES
IN 1973. FiE SERVED AS COMMANDER OF THE INDONESIAN
COMPONENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION~FOR
SUPERVISION AND CONTROL (ICCS) IN VIETNAM. HE WAS
INDONESIAN AMBASSADOR ,TO THAILAND. 1975-78. THE
SPEAKER HAS AN EXCELLENT .COMMAND OF THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE.
7. (~C) WITHOUT PRESIDENT SOEHARTO'S"BLESSING, KHARIS -
SUHUD WOULD NOT HAVE-BEEN ELECTED SPEAKER LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM SOME SOURCES,THAT.SOEHARTO GAVE
KHARIS SUHUD-A MANDATE AT THE TIME OF HIS SELECTION TO
IMPROVE THE IMAGE OF THE DPR BY INVIGORATING ITS
INSTITUTIONAL ROLE. DESPITE THE .PREDOMINANT INFLUENCE
OF THE'PRESIDENCY OVER.THE DPR, IT IS WRONG T0,
CHARACTERIZE IT AS A "RUBBER STAMP" FOR THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH. ALREADY. TWICE THIS YEAR THE DPR HAS-CHALLENGED
IMPORTANT DRAFT.LAWS SUBMITTED .TO IT BY THE EXECUTIVE
(TWO'MILITARY BIL'L5~IN FEBRUARY AND ,4 NEW DRAFT LAW
ON EDUCATION). IT IS UNLIKELY KHARIS SUHUD HAD ANY-
THING`TO DO WITH THE GENESIS OF THESE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES,
BUT HE IS PART OF THE PROCESS: INDONESIAN POLITICAL
OBSERVERS FROM THE MEDIA, THINK TANKS, AS WELL AS DPR '"
MEMBERS,..ARE UNUSUALLY UNIFORM IN THEIR COMMENTS ABOUT
THE GOOD JOB KHARIS SUHUD IS DOING.AT THE DPR. AS
BACKGROUND FOR HIS .POSSIBLE WASHINGTON MEETINGS, HOWEVER,
WE WISH `TO MAKE CLEAR THAT WHILE KHARIS SUHUD IS AN
ABLE AND INTELLIGENT MAN, HE.IS NO INTELLECTUAL. THOSE
WHO MEET. WITH HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME :MAY FIND HIM
CIRCUMSPECT AND SOMEWHAT RELUCTANT TO .BE DRAWN OUT.
OTHER DELEGATION MEMBERS.
8. (U) IN ADDITION TO TH. SPEAKER, .THE EIGHT-MEMBER
DELEGATION-WILL INCLUDE MRS. KHARIS SUHUD, SRI SUKARISH;
REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE FOUR PARLIAMENTARY
FACTIONS; AND TWO-STAFF MEMBERS OF THE DPR: THE
FACTIONAL REPRESENTATIVES INCLUDE: H. IMRON ROSYADI
OF THE UNITED DEVELOPMENT PARTY (PPP); TADJUDDIN NOER
SAID OF THE GOVERNMENT POLITICAL ORGANIZATION (GOLKAR);
..MRS. FATIMAH ACHMAD OF THE INDONESIAN DEMOCRATIC"PARTY
. (PDI) .
-;.AND AIR VICE MARSHAL MOHAMAD OIRAN OF THE ARMED
FORCES FACTION (ABRI.). IMRON ROSYADI ALSO HAPPENS TO
BE CHAIRMAN OF THE PARLIAMENT'S ARMED SERVICES AND
FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (KOMISI I), WHILE MRS.
FATIMAH ACHMAD IS THE HEAD OF THE-PDI FACTION IN
..'PARLIAMENT.. -THE TWO STAFF MEMBERS ARE THE.DPR'S
ARCHITECT; HILMI SYATRIA, AND THE HEAD OF THE DPR'S
LIBRARY AND RESEARCH SERVICE, MRS. AURORA C. SIMAND-
JUNTAK.
C 0 N F"I DBE N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 JAKARTA 13450
NSC FOR KELLY AND CHILDRESS
DOD/I SA FOR AS ARMITAGE
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR P-ARMACOST, T-DERWINSKI, INM-
WROBLESKI
~nno~ o n~~~~ ~ n ~
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/10: CIA-RDP90M00005R001100020002-1
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/10: CIA-RDP90M00005R001100020002-1
CONFIDENTIAL
88 0133201 ,SCP. PAGE 004 NC 0133201
TOR: 0212032 SEP 88 JAKART 13450
E:O. 12356:DECL:OADR ??.y
TAGS: OVIP (SUHUD, KHARIS)', PREL,. ID, US
SUBJECT: SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT KHARIS SUHUD VISIT
? , .,
WASHINGTON PROGRAM & SUGGESTIONS
9. (LOU) WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE WASHINGTON ARRANGE-
MENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO DATE BY THE ASIA
FOUNDATION AND THE ASSISTANCE WHICH THE DEPARTMENTS
HAS THUS FAR PROVIDED.. REFTEL. WHICH PROVIDES THE .
LATEST DETAILS ON. THE SCHEDULE,?ARRIVED IN TIME FOR.~??
THE AMBASSADOR'S~AUGUST 30 MEETING WITH THE SPEAKER.
OUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS BELOW GROW IN PART OUT ?~?
OF THAT MEETING AND ARE MEANT TO ASSIST THE DEPART-
MENT AND THE ASIA FOUNDATION IN FINALIZING.THE~~.
WASHINGTON PROGRAM.
CONGRESSIONAL VISITS. WE UNDERSTAND THE ASIA
FOUNDATION HAS. FIRM, COMMITMENTS FOR CALLS ON
HOUSE SPEAKER WRIGHT AND ON REP. SOLARZ,
ALTHOUGH THE TIMES.. ARE UNCONFIRMED,. MOST
IMPORTANT OF ALL WILL BE THE.MEETING WITH ,;;~
SPEAKER WRIGHT.; IT~,WAS AFTER-ALL HIS?PERSONAL
INVITATION. TO KHARIS SUHUD~WHICH HELPED-, _
PRESIDENT;SOEHARTO~-DECIDE IN FAVOR OF THE ,-
TRIP. A MEETING.WITH REP. SOLARZ IS IDEAL.
GIVEN .THE UNCERTAINTIES~OF~CONGRESSIONAL .
WORK SCHEDULES, WE BELIEI/E IT WOULD BE BEST
'TO'LINE~UP SEVERAL OTHER HILL 'APPOINTMENTS,
IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATB.THE INEVITABLE
CANCELLATIONS. WE RECOMMEND IN PARTICULAR:.
0""REP. DON BONKER (D-WA), WHO WAS. HERE IN - .,
JAN. 1987 AT THE HEAD OF.A TRADE MISSION;
_ ? . .. ,
0 REP:. BILL FRENZEL (R-MN),y WHO WAS HERE IN
BOTH JAN.. 1987 AND JAN. 1988;. ,
0 REP. CHARGES B., RANGEL (0-NY),~ WHO WAS HERE.
IN JAN. 1988 AT THE HEAD OF A NAR_COTICS_
FACT-FINDING DELEGATION; AND/OR,-. .
0 REP."MATTHEW`MCHUGH (D-NY).~A MEMBER OF THE
_ HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FOREIGN OPERATIONS
' SUBCOMMITTEE, WHO HAS?PREVIOUSLY: EXPRESSED
" :INTEREST IN INDONESIA TO THE AMBASSADOR.
IN.ADOITION, DURING AN AUGUST 25 CALL ON?~
KHARIS SUHUD, SENATOR HOLLINGS PROMISED TO.~?,.
,FOLLOW UP WITH SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM Y
STENNIS AND FOREIGN RELATIONS CHAIRMAN PELL
' 70 ARRANGE FOR SENATE=SIDE MEETINGS.
,~... ,
B:",`?DEPARTMENT CALLS... .THE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
,,':PROPOSED BY AS SIGUR `(REFTEL)?IS AN EXCELLENT.
' IDEA. IN. VIEW OF THE FACT DEPUTY SECRETARY: ~,
WHITEHEAD-..WILL NOT BE'ABLE TO RECEIVE KHARIS .
SUHUD, THE AMBASSADOR BELIEVES UNDER SECRETARY
ARMACOST OR UNDER SECRETARY DERWINSKI MIGHT
BE GOOD ALTERNATIVES. TYING INTO THE CODEL
RANGEL VISIT LAST JANUARY, A CALL ON INM,AS
WROBLESKI OR DAS DION IS AN ADDITIONAL
POSSIBILITY.
- C. DOD CALLS. THE SCHEDULED, APPOINTMENT WITH
C~NF~IDEIVTI~IL
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C~IVFlDE~l~'IAL
88 0133201 SCP PAGE 005 NC 0133201
TOR: 02,12032'SEP 88 JAKART 13450
- ~ DASD/ISA KARL JACKSON ON SEPT 22 IS EXCELLENT.
- THE AMBASSADOR BELIEVES AS ARMITAGE MbGHT
- ALSO BE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING THEM.
- D. NSC. IN THE AMBASSADOR'S VIEW, A CALL AT THE
- NSC, WHILE DIFFICULT TO ARRANGE, WOULD LEND
- CONSIDERABLE PRESTIGE TO THE VISIT. THIS
- CABLE HAS BEEN SLUGGED FOR JIM KELLY AND
C O N F i DENT I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 JAKARTA 13450
NSC FOR KELLY AND CHILDRESS
DOD/ISA FOR AS ARMITAGE
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR P-ARMACOST, T-DERWINSKI, INM-
WROBLESKI
CINCPAC FOR FPA
E..O. 12356:DECL:OADR
TAGS: OVIP (SUHUD, KHARIS), PREL, ID, US
SUBJECT:.SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT KHARIS SUHUD VISIT
- DICK CHILDRESS FOR THEIR ATTENTION.
COMMENT ?
10. (LOU) GIVEN KHARIS SUHUD'S BACKGROUND AND GROWING .
STATURE, WE BELIEVE HIS VISIT PROVIDES US WITH A
CONVENIENT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A SMALL CONTRIBUTION
TO PLURALISTIC INSTITUTION-BUILDING IN INDONESIA. OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS IN PARA 9 ABOVE ARE GIVEN WITH THIS
IN MIND. ALTHOUGH ARRANGED (AND FUNDED) BY THE ASIA
FOUNDATION, WE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE SPEAKER
AT NO TIME-FEEL THAT HE IS ON ANYTHiNG.OTHER THAN AN
"OFFICIAL VISIT.". FOR THIS~REASON, WE PARTICULARLY
WANT THE?MEETING WITH HOUSE SPEAKER WRIGHT TO
MATERIALIZE AND ENCOURAGE. THE. DEPARTMENT TO LEND THE
ASIA FOUNDATION WHATEVER ASSISTANCE IT CAN TO ARRANGE
IT.
11. (LOU) FOR EAP/IMBS. AS FAR AS WE UNDERSTAND, .THE
FOUR PARLIAMENTARY FACTION MEMBERS PLAN TO ARRIVE IN
WASHINGTON ON SEPT 15, DIRECT FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH THE ASIA FOUNDATION'S
SCHEDULE, YOU MAY WISH TO PROPOSE SOME DEPARTMENT
VISITS (P.ERHAPS TO INCLUDE A CALL ON DAS.LAMBERTSON)
ON FRIDAY, SEPT 16. IMRON ROSYADI AND MRS. FATIMAH
ACHMAD ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTTNG MEMBERS OF THE
GROUP. IF IT CAN BE ARRANGED, WE KNOW ROSYADI WDULD
ENJOY AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS WITH DEPARTMENT OFFICERS
ON THE IRAN-IRAQ SITUATION AND PROSPECTS FOR A SETTLE-
MENT IN AFGHANISTAN.
WDLFOWITZ
END OF MESSAGE
~~J~~~~~i~~~ ~~
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/10: CIA-RDP90M00005R001100020002-1