ASIA FOUNDATION ACCUSED OF SUPPORTING HERESY IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 011472

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2011
TAGS: PTER PREL ASEC CASC KISL ID
SUBJECT: ASIA FOUNDATION ACCUSED OF SUPPORTING HERESY IN
INDONESIA

REF: OPEN SOURCE CENTER TRANSLATION SEP20060913071002

Classified By: Political Officer Catherine E. Sweet, Reason 1.4(d)


1. (C) Summary. A hard-line Indonesian Islamist magazine,
Hidayatullah, has published a screed accusing The Asia
Foundation (TAF) of supporting organizations and individuals
who defame Islam. It also asserts that Indonesia's two
largest Muslim mass organizations, Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) and
Muhammadiyah are "in the pocket of" TAF. According to Asia
Foundation staff, the article reflects a fight within the
Hidayatullah organization, triggered when the hard-line
leadership learned that a more progressive faction approached
TAF for help in modernizing the curriculum for Hidayatullah's
Islamic boarding schools. Still, TAF is very concerned about
the article's possible repercussions, and is strategizing
with its friends in NU and Muhammadiyah, as well as the
Islamist Justice and Prosperity Party, as to how best to
respond. We have offered TAF assistance in reviewing its
security practices since the virulent tone of the article
might incite someone inclined to violence to take action.
End Summary.

Allegations of Supporting Heretics
--------------


2. (SBU) A hard-line Indonesian Islamist magazine,
Hidayatullah, has published a screed in its September issue
attacking The Asia Foundation (TAF) (reftel). The article
begins with a list of statements that many Muslims would find
offensive: among others, that the Qur'an is not the word of
God, Islam is not the one true religion, and Islamic law is
not God-given but instead is a collection of regulations
taken from Arab customs and influenced by Roman and Persian
law. (Note. Many of these points are common in
historiographical discussions of the context in which Islam
emerged. End note.) Alongside this list is a Qur'anic
quotation often cited by extremists who reject all
interaction with non-believers (kafir),and which may been
seen as a call to violence: "O believers, take not My enemy
and your enemy for friends, offering them love, though they
have disbelieved in the truth that has come to you, expelling
the Messenger and you because you believe in God your Lord.
If you go forth to struggle (carry out jihad) in My way and
seek My good pleasure, secretly loving them, I know very well
what you conceal and what you publish; and whosoever of you
does that, has gone astray from the right way"
(Al-Mumtahanah, 60:1).


3. (SBU) The piece then launches into an attack on The Asia
Foundation, asserting that TAF has financed Muslim activists
and experts in Indonesia who have insulted Islam. Although
it implies that these individuals have made statements or
issued publications including the abovementioned heresies,
the article cites no specific references. It continues by
alleging that TAF is a CIA front organization and just one of
many "missionary" groups the US is bankrolling to "change the
face of Islam" as part of the war on terrorism. The author's
venom is not limited to American organizations, but claims
that Indonesia's two largest Muslim mass organizations,
Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah (which are known for
their relatively moderate practices) are "in the pocket of"
TAF.

Misplaced Anger
--------------


4. (C) According to Asia Foundation Assistant Country
Director Robin Bush, the Asia Foundation has never made or
published any commentary on the history or nature of Islam as
alleged in the article. In their view, this diatribe is not
so much directed at TAF but rather reflects an ongoing
internal fight between progressives and hard-liners within
Hidayatullah. As an organization, Hidayatullah is focused
primarily on proselytizing (dakwah) and education, running a
number of Islamic boarding schools, or pesantren, throughout
Indonesia. Its eponymous magazine has the second largest
readership in the Islamist community after the inflammatory
Sabili (which also published a derogatory piece about TAF two
years ago),and the fourth largest readership of all
Indonesian magazines.


5. (C) Bush notes that a group of younger members approached
TAF for help in modernizing Hidayatullah's curriculum.
However, when the organization's extremely conservative
leadership learned of the proposal, they forced the
modernizers to withdraw their funding request. Indeed, there
seems to be an oblique reference to this in the article
itself. The author mocks an unnamed organization that is

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targeted by TAF as "fundamentalist" and "anti-American" but
is "willing to accept financial assistance from TAF," heaping
scorn for taking money from a foundation that funds groups
which allegedly insult the prophet Muhammad, the Qur'an and
Islam.


6. (C) Regardless of its genesis, TAF is very concerned
about the article's possible repercussions. According to the
TAF leadership, this piece is much more emotional and
provocative than other negative press that TAF has received
in the past. Moreover, Bush notes a change for the worse in
the political climate since the Sabili article appeared two
years ago, and worries that someone who is inclined toward
violence might see this as an invitation to harm TAF staff.
TAF head Douglas Ramage spoke to the Ambassador, the RSO and
other personnel about the article's possible security
ramifications, and RSO personnel have discussed with TAF
possible ways to increase their security posture. RSO will
also review TAF security procedures, have a senior Embassy
local guard review security procedures with TAF guards, and
provide a counter surveillance and attack recognition class
for TAF personnel. In addition, when the RSO office is fully
staffed, TAF drivers will be afforded the opportunity to
participate in hands-on anti-terrorist driving training
provided by RSO. Ramage told the Charge September 15 that he
had called on Ansyad M'Bai, head of the counterterrorism desk
at the Coordinating Ministry for Security, Political and
Legal Affairs. M'Bai told Ramage he would alert security
personnel and foreign embassies that provide assistance to
the Indonesians to be alert for possible threats to TAF.


7. (C) TAF is also strategizing with its friends in NU and
Muhammadiyah as to how best to respond, since they are also
maligned by the piece. In a September 14 meeting,
Muhammadiyah chair Din Syamsuddin (who termed the article
"vulgar") called his counterpart in Hidayatullah to demand an
explanation. NU and Muhammadiyah are considering making
some sort of statement, and will approach Hidayatullah's
membership to make their displeasure known. Bush reports
that TAF's contacts in the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS),an
Islamist political party that is part of the governing
coalition, have also reached out to them and offered support.
Finally, TAF's Country Director told us that the liberal
Hidayatullah faction that sought TAF funding is contemplating
writing a rejoinder, although they do not think the magazine
will publish it.
HEFFERN