AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON CHAIRMAN OF INDONESIA'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002468 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, EAP/MLS, EAP/PD NSC FOR EPHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL PINR ID SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON CHAIRMAN OF INDONESIA'S LARGEST MUSLIM GROUP REF: A. JAKARTA 02228 ¶B. JAKARTA 01051 JAKARTA 00002468 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: During Ambassador Hume's September 5 courtesy call on Hasyim Muzadi, Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest mass-Muslim organization, Muzadi spoke candidly about his concern over U.S. foreign policy. He also emphasized NU's efforts to promote mainstream Islam. The Ambassador responded that partners could cooperate closely while differing on some issues, and he stressed the many goals the U.S. shares with NU, especially in the field of education. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On September 5, Ambassador Hume visited the headquarters of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU),Indonesia's largest mass-Muslim organization with an estimated 35 million members, to meet with NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi. Muzadi detailed his group's efforts to contain religious extremism, referring to "transnational ideology," transplanted from the Middle East, as his main concern. Muzadi repeatedly referred to Hizbut Tahrir and the Muslim Brotherhood as examples of transnational ideology. (Note: In Indonesia, the Muslim Brotherhood is primarily active through the Islamist Prosperous Justice Party, "PKS.") Muzadi also stressed NU's cooperation with leaders from other religions. NU seeks a more religious society, but viewed sharia (Islamic law) as an individual choice, not something for the state to impose, Muzadi explained. ¶3. (SBU) Muzadi noted NU's efforts to bring together the international Muslim community through the International Conference of Islamic Scholars, which includes representatives from 57 countries and observers from the Holy See and World Council of Churches. He stressed that the conference differed from the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) because it involved individuals, not states. Muzadi also has raised NU's international status, pointing out, for example, that the South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia had aske\ the group to help mediate with the Taliban over the South Korean hostages recently released in Afghanistan (Ref A). NU is encouraged that their voice was heard, but the credit must go to Seoul, Muzadi said. ¶4. (SBU) Muzadi noted that following September 11, 2001, NU strongly supported the USG in its fight against terrorism, but he argued that Iraq was a different matter. He hoped that U.S. policymakers were not confused by this stance, and told the Ambassador that "NU is not opposed to the U.S., just current U.S. foreign policy." The Ambassador noted that on most issues, NU and the USG saw eye to eye. He regretted disagreement on such an important issue but said disagreement should not negatively impact broader cooperation. ¶5. (C) Muzadi stressed his perception that relations between the U.S. and NU could be improved even further. He compared U.S. assistance programs to those of the United Kingdom and Australia, saying that the U.S. should go through NU headquarters (i.e. Muzadi himself) to provide aid for NU branches, so as to "be in accord with NU desires." Muzadi separately proposed that Americans could be sent to teach English classes at NU schools, detailing NU's focus on education, particularly in business and management fields. The Ambassador noted that education was also a priority for the USG, but reminded Muzadi of the USG's transparent process for determining aid recipients. ¶6. (U) While there were no journalists at the meeting, Muzadi clearly briefed the press afterwards and put his "spin" on the conversation. Tempo newspaper reported on cooperation in the field of education but quoted Muzadi as saying "NU will attack all of George Bush,s foreign policies." Leading national daily Kompas focused on Muzadi's comments on efforts to reduce radicalism in Indonesia, also mentioning NU's opposition to U.S. Middle East policy. JAKARTA 00002468 002.2 OF 002 HUME