THE POLITICS OF RAMADAN IN INDONESIA -- THE GOOD,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002903

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV SOCI KISL PTER ID
SUBJECT: THE POLITICS OF RAMADAN IN INDONESIA -- THE GOOD,
THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

REF: JAKARTA 2892

Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (B)(D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: October 13 marked the Muslim holiday of Idul
Fitri--the end of Ramadan--and the Indonesian political
spectrum celebrated in its inimitable fashion. On the
positive side, they held multiple ceremonies to give money to
the poor. On the negative side, a number of
politicos--including VP Kalla--paid homage to former
president Suharto at a reception. And finally--veering hard
toward the reprehensible--GOI officials admitted that they
had feted convicted terrorists at a Ramadan ceremony. Pol/C
underscored to GOI contacts the wholly inappropriate nature
of the idea of inviting terrorists-to-tea. While Idul Fitri
sparks genuine religious soul-searching, it also seems to
provide occasion for wildly misplaced compassion. END
SUMMARY.

THE GOOD - MONEY FOR THE POOR


2. (U) President Yudhoyono, Vice President Kalla, and
newly-elected Jakarta governor Fauzi Bowo were among the many
political heavy-hitters to celebrate the Muslim holy day of
Idul Fitri by giving away envelopes full of cash to destitute
Indonesians. On October 13-14, long lines of indigent
Indonesians formed throughout Jakarta, including in front of
the President's palace, the Vice President's home, the
governor's official residence, and the homes of other
prominent Indonesian politicians.


3. (SBU) The chaotic scene in front of Governor Fauzi Bowo's
official central Jakarta residence on October 14 was
representative of the charity events. Poloff noted huge
lines of people in front of Governor Bowo's home as early as
7 A.M.--and according to media reports--an estimated 3500
people came for the scheduled two-hour gift distribution
period. Governor Bowo distributed envelopes with 50,000
Indonesian rupiah (approximately $5.50) and a food parcel to
the visitors, apparently using his own money to finance the
traditional charitable giving. Many Indonesians left the
proceedings empty handed, however, when the gates to his home
closed promptly after two hours.

THE BAD - KISSING SUHARTO'S RING


4. (SBU) In the meantime, a veritable "Who's Who list" of
Indonesian political celebrities visited the residence of
former President Suharto on October 13-14 to pay their
respects. Suharto, who has thus far managed to evade a
corruption conviction thanks largely to alleged medical
concerns, nevertheless summoned the strength to welcome a
steady stream of visitors. The English-language "Jakarta
Post" ran a picture of the beaming former dictator--who
looked quite healthy--greeting Vice President Kalla on
October 14.


5. (U) According to press reports, in addition to the Vice
President, the many visitors to Suharto's central Jakarta
home included: Army Chief of Staff Djoko Santoso; Governor
Bowo; Minister of Industry Fahmi Idris; Indonesian Democratic
Party - Struggle (PDI-P) parliamentary faction Chairman
Tjahyo Kumolo; legislator Yuddy Chrisnandi; Constitutional
Court President Jimly Asshiddiqie; and Religious Affairs
Minister Maftuh Basun. A host of old order era politicians
and influential businessmen also made the pilgrimage to
Suharto's residence.

THE UGLY - FETING TERRORISTS


6. (SBU) The most controversial Indonesian twist on the
Ramadan tradition of charity and forgiveness involved a
decision by the Indonesian National Police (INP) to invite
terror convicts and hard-line Muslim extremist prisoners to
an Idul Fitr Iftaar ("buka puasa" or breaking the fast)

JAKARTA 00002903 002 OF 002


gathering. According to media reports, the chief of the
INP's Special anti-terror unit, Brigadier General Suryadarma,
invited 20 convicted terrorists and religious hard-liners to
the gathering at his official residence in late September.
The Indonesian government has admitted that convicted Bali
bombers Mubarok and Ali Imron were among those in attendance.



7. (C) In comments to the media on October 14, Suryadarma
defended his decision to dine with the convicted terrorists.
He said it was part of the INP's long-term strategy to co-opt
extremists as informers and preachers of moderation.
According to Suryadarma, the INP had already registered great
anti-terror successes with the strategy, and the gathering
should be looked at in the larger context of the government's
battle against terror. Pol/C underscored to GOI contacts the
wholly inappropriate nature of the idea of inviting
terrorists-to-tea. (Note: In a positive note: As reviewed
in reftel, the Indonesian government did not apply its
remissions policy to any convicted terrorists as part of its
annual Idul Fitri tradition of trimming the sentences of all
Muslim prisoners. The GOI will instead review the files of
convicted terrorists individually during the next several
weeks to see whether they might receive remissions of
sentence.)

WILDLY MISPLACED COMPASSION


8. (C) While Idul Fitri sparks genuine religious
soul-searching, it also seems to provide occasion for wildly
misplaced compassion. Some Indonesians--and this has been
going on for some years--think it is just fine, for example,
to honor Suharto during this timeframe despite the corruption
and autocratic nature of his rule. As for the INP's decision
to invite convicted terrorists to an official event, some
Indonesians think that that--in the name of the power of
forgiveness--makes sense, too. That is mind-boggling, but
somehow an accepted strain of Idul Fitri thinking in
Indonesia.
HUME