POLICE CLASH WITH DEMONSTRATORS IN EASTERN

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002349 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, S/CT, CA, INL (BOULDIN) DOJ FOR CTS THORNTON, AAG SWARTZ, ICITAP (TREVILLIAN/BARR) FBI FOR SETUI/SSA ROTH, DS/IP/EAP NCTC WASHDC E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS ASEC CASC ID SUBJECT: POLICE CLASH WITH DEMONSTRATORS IN EASTERN INDONESIA Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak for reasons 1.4 (b)(d). ¶1. (U) This is a joint Surabaya - Jakarta message. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: Police in North Maluku August 21-22 clashed with thousands of protesters angered that a local hereditary ruler was excluded as a candidate in upcoming gubernatorial elections. Nine protesters were injured by rubber bullets in police attempts to control the crowd. The situation appears calm for now, although an M.P. from the region told Pol/C that turbulence could flare again when formal campaigning begins. While there was violence, the police appear to have used appropriate non-lethal methods to manage the crowd. We have no reports of AmCits affected by the violence. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (U) RIOT IN EASTERN INDONESIA: Thousands of supporters of the Sultan of Ternate Mudaffar Suah, a traditional leader in North Maluku, ran amok, August 21-22. (Note: North Maluku is located approximately 1900 kilometers northeast of Surabaya.) They were angered by the verification result of the North Maluku Election Commission (KPUD) that excluded the Sultan from running in upcoming gubernatorial elections. The Sultan's supporters occupied the North Maluku KPUD office and police dispersed protesters with a water cannon. Protesters then took to the streets again on August 22, cutting down the trees at several main roads in the North Maluku capital of Ternate and blockading the main road heading to the airport. The airport and city were paralyzed for a time. ¶4. (C) Protesters then clashed with police who tried to control the crowds. Nine protesters were injured by rubber bullets, two seriously, a source at the Sultan's office told Congen Surabaya. The two persons in critical condition are now recovering. The situation has returned to normal, the head of South Halmahera regional area told Congen. ¶5. (C) SULTAN DISCLAIMS ROLE: The Sultan was unaware beforehand that the protest would occur and protesters acted on their own, according to a contact in the Sultan's office. In fact, police contacts claimed, the Sultan helped calm the situation by issuing a statement to his supporters asking them to respect the KPUD decision and not take to the streets. ¶6. (SBU) DISQUALIFICATION: KPUD disqualified the Sultan and his running mate Rusdi Hanafi because they had not crossed the minimum threshold of support needed to be a candidate. The sudden announcement of this determination by KPUD triggered the rioting. ¶7. (SBU) Rahmi Husen, chairman of KPUD, said the Commission followed correct procedures in excluding the Sultan from running. He argued that protesters should have blamed the political parties that withdrew their support from the Sultan rather than KPUD. Husen said this incident would not disturb the gubernatorial elections slated for October 25. ¶8. (C) POLICE RESTRAINT: The situation is calm for now. An M.P. from the region told Pol/C, however, that there could be a another spike in tension when formal campaigning begins. The whole incident is indicative of Indonesia's growing pains as a young democracy. Most positive, however, was the police response which showed restraint in the face of a large and threatening crowd. Although there was violence, it was kept to a minimum. In the past, such a confrontation might have led to deaths and a concomitant deepening of tensions. HUME