NEW, ENERGETIC LEADERS TAKE REINS OF MUHAMMADIYAH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 010134

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL ID
SUBJECT: NEW, ENERGETIC LEADERS TAKE REINS OF MUHAMMADIYAH
YOUTH

Classified By: Political Officer Adam West for reason 1.4(D)


1. (SBU) Summary. The youth wing of Indonesia's second
largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, elected impressive
new leaders eager to expand the group's social outreach
efforts during a mid-July national congress. Muhammadiyah
Youth (PM) Chairman Muhammad Izzul Muslimin and Secretary
General Gunawan Hidayat outlined their group's activities
against Islamic extremism, political advocacy on
controversial topics such as the proposed anti-pornography
legislation, and educational and economic development
outreach. The new leadership tandem has an extensive history
of involvement in Muhammadiyah and other nongovernmental
organizations to on call as they lead one of Muhammadiyah's
most influential constituent organizations over the next four
years. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Muslimin and Hidayat met us on 25 July to discuss
their goals for PM, especially their interest in publicly
countering extremist ideology and maintaining PM's
non-partisan involvement in politics. Muslimin's election
marks him as a top-tier up-and-comer in Muhammadiyah as
former PM chairman occupy important positions in the
organization's hierarchy -- current Muhammadiyah chairman Din
Syamsuddin was PM chairman from 1989 to 1993 and outgoing PM
chairman Abdul Mu'ti now heads Muhammadiyah's vast
educational network. Winning more than 60 percent of the
vote in a crowded field of 15 candidates, Muslimin's victory
also indicates considerable support for him within PM.

Staking Out a Clear Role
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3. (C) Muslimin began the meeting by highlighting PM's
rejection of Islamic extremism and militancy, a stance he
often publicly shared in his previous position as PM
secretary general. Muslimin said that as part of

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Muhammadiyah's attempts to bring extremists back into the
mainstream, PM was engaging in dialogues with groups
spreading extremist ideology such as Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia
(HTI). (Note: PM and HTI are competing over some of the
same potential recruits on university campuses.) Unlike
dialogue efforts conducted by Syamsuddin, PM has not been
reaching out to groups that use violence, including the
Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). Muslimin's comments about the
threat presented by extremists' ideology and often violent
tactics suggests that he will continue making forward-leaning
public statements, such as his calls for stern legal action
against terrorists and condemnations of potential
Muhammadiyah members' involvement in terrorism.


4. (SBU) Both Muslimin and Hidayat were keen to emphasize
that Muhammadiyah writ large and PM as a constituent
organization do not ally themselves with particular political
parties, and often take independent stands on important
political issues. They told us, however, that many PM
members were active in a variety of political parties and
that PM often helped interested members become active in
non-partisan political advocacy. As an example of
Muhammadiyah's political work, they said Muhammadiyah had
submitted a proposal for the draft anti-pornography law
through a Muhammadiyah member on the special committee
writing the bill. Although PM has no official position on the
bill, Muslimin said that he was in favor of new
anti-pornography legislation but without the restrictive
conditions' imposed by some anti-pornography zealots.
Hidayat, for his part, steered clear of offering his thoughts
on the anti-pornography legislation debate.


5. (SBU) The new leaders also underscored their intention to
continue PM's traditional work of expanding educational
opportunities and fostering economic development. Citing
Muhammadiyah's history as an organization founded by
businessmen, Muslimin said PM would continue to develop
programs to teach small business management techniques and to
expand access to microfinance institutions. Muslimin and
Hidayat also said that PM puts a premium on training of
members to serve in its educational, religious, and economic
activities. Separately, former chairman Abdul Mu'ti told us
he was concerned that some of PM's outreach efforts, such as
disaster response, might suffer in the short-term as the new
leadership found its footing. (Note: Mu'ti said PM sent
members to Aceh after the December 2004 earthquake and
tsunami, worked extensively in earthquake relief in

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Yogyakarta, and sent volunteers to Pangandaran, West Java

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following this month's earthquake and tsunami.)

Biographical Notes
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6. (SBU) Izzul Muslimin rose in PM as one of its religious
education specialists and served as PM Secretary General from
2002 to 2006. He is also a former chairman of Muhammadiyah's
Junior Youth wing. Muslimin earned a degree in politics from
Gadjah Mada University in Muhammadiyah's heartland of
Yogyakarta after attending Muhammadiyah primary and secondary
schools. Both of his parents are active Muhammadiyah
members. Muslimin understands English, but prefers to use a
translator.


7. (SBU) Gunawan Hidayat is a former chairman of the
Muhammadiyah University Students Association in 2000 and

2001. He ran for the PM chairmanship as a representative
from East Java, but received only 3.7 percent of the vote.
Hidayat brings significant managerial expertise to the
organization having previously served as national coordinator
(2004-06) of the Peoples Voter Education Network, a
confederation of more than 30 mostly religious,
non-governmental organizations which conducted nation-wide
voter education campaigns and election monitoring in the 2004
national elections and has continued its work with subsequent
regional elections. He holds a master's degree in
engineering and has served as a lecturer in mechanical
engineering at Muhammadiyah University. He recently completed
a three month visit to Australia for English language
training and speaks very good, but heavily accented, English.
PASCOE