RELIGIOUS LEADERS MEET IN BOGOR TO BRIDGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 JAKARTA 000993 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2012 TAGS: PREL PHUM KISL PGOV IZ ID SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS LEADERS MEET IN BOGOR TO BRIDGE SUNNI-SHIA DIVIDE REF: A. JAKARTA 725 - INDONESIA RESPONDS TO PAKISTAN'S MIDEAST PEACE PLAN ¶B. JAKARTA 972 - HEAT STILL ON PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO FOLLOWING IRAN VOTE Classified By: Charge d'Affaires John A. Heffern, Reasons 1.4(b) and (d ) ¶1. (C) Summary. Sunni and Shi'a religious and political figures from the Muslim world met in Bogor on April 3-4 to bridge the Sunni-Shi'a sectarian divide, especially in Iraq. Despite high expectations, only eight Muslim countries sent representatives; aside from the Pakistani Minister of Religion, all were relatively low-level clerics and politicians. The Iraqi Charge d'Affaires, who represented Iraq, said that he received the Iraqi invitations only six days before the event, far too late for any Iraqi representatives to arrange travel. `QQ[QQQVQptroops, to be replaced by Arab/Muslim troops under UN/OIC auspices. ¶2. (C) Summary, cont. Our contacts tell us that the Government of Indonesia scrubbed the draft text and removed "very harsh" language slamming the U.S., which reflected the overall tenor of the discussion. The final declaration was a more sober and diplomatic document of record than the more critical draft version. The Indonesians also did not consult with the other conferees before issuing the declaration. Our contacts' assessment of the conference's efficacy was generally negative, with the Iraqi Charge deriding it as "propaganda" carried out by the Indonesians in an effort to "outbid the Arabs." Although the GOI participated throughout, the declaration was a non-governmental statement that has no force of policy. Indeed, while Foreign Minister Wirajuda told the media that Muslim peacekeeping troops should ensure that there is no vacuum in Iraq after an eventual U.S. withdrawal, he cautioned that "with regard to the proposal about Indonesia sending peacekeeping troops, it needs further talks." End Summary. ¶3. (U) Sunni and Shi'a religious and political figures from the Muslim world met in Bogor on April 3-4 in an attempt to bridge the Sunni-Shi'a sectarian divide, especially in Iraq. As Presidential Spokesman Dino Patti Djalal remarked in advance of the conference, "We hope to be able to give political encouragement in Iraq." President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) opened the conference, which was moderated by Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and Hasyim Muzadi, the chairman of Indonesia's largest mass Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU),by declaring that "most of Iraq's problems could be overcome by a soft power approach. Hard power will not solve the problem at its roots because it is a war of the heart and mind that cannot be won with weapons and bombs." In his view, religious leaders could play an important role in fostering a more peaceful, harmonious Iraq. ¶4. (C) Despite the high expectations and the grand build up (ref A),NU's International Relations Committee Chairman Rozy Munir told us that only eight Muslim countries sent representatives: Malaysia, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Munir conceded that the participants were not the "number one figures" who had been invited, although he said that some of the heavy hitters like Iran's Ayatollah Tashkiri and Syria's grand mufti sent messages that were read to the conferees. Unlike NU Chairman Muzadi, who alleged that many confirmed participants cancelled after Indonesia voted in favor of the most recent Iran UNSCR (ref B),Munir suggested that the more likely cause of the low turnout was nearly concurrent ulama conferences in Cairo and Tehran. Munir also noted that there were only a handful of Shi'a at the gathering. ¶5. (C) Iraqi Charge d'Affaires Falih Abdul Qadir, who represented his country at the conference, confirmed that no prominent clergy attended and said that the only non-Indonesian politician of note was the Pakistani Minister of Religion. According to Abdul Qadir, the Iranian delegate was an Iraqi who was exiled to Iran during Saddam Hussein's rule. He added that even Iran's ambassador did not show up for the opening ceremony, an absence that was noted and created some discomfort. In explaining the absence of Iraqi representatives at a conference specifically devoted to JAKARTA 00000993 002 OF 005 fostering peace in Iraq, Abdul Qadir said that he received the Iraqi invitations only six days before the event, far too late for any Iraqi representatives to arrange travel. The Bogor Declaration: GOI Scrubs the Final Text -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) The centerpiece of the conference was the issuance of the "Bogor Declaration," which enumerated a series of recommendations for future action (full text in para 10). In measured language, the declaration asserts the "urgent need to strengthen the (Muslim community's) unity to adopt caution and vigilance against all attempts to sow division among them, break their ranks, or incite sedition, strife, and hate to corrupt their divine spiritual bonds with each other." It avers that the "Iraqi conflict cannot be solved by military means," and thus requires a "political solution that includes national reconciliation, withdrawal of occupying forces, and reconstruction and rehabilitation." Stressing that differences between Sunnis and Shi'a "are merely differences of opinion and interpretation and are not essential differences of faith," the declaration includes the following key recommendations: -- that all factions stop the violence immediately; -- that all Iraqi political and religious leaders come together to devise a comprehensive reconciliation plan; -- that all Arab and Muslim countries, especially those border Iraq, support the reconciliation plan; -- that conferees push for the withdrawal of coalition troops, which will be replaced by Arab/Muslim troops under UN and OIC auspices; -- that "all killings, violence and terrors that emanate from any parties in Iraq" be condemned as "a clear violation of the Islamic principles," with "strict sanctions for the perpetrators;" -- that the Government of Iraq provide peace and security for its people, but that "peace-loving parties" also provide support for the government; -- that inter- and intra-faith dialogues commence to "promote understanding and mutual respect between religions" and "protect and maintain the unity of Islam;" -- that OIC, Arab League and United Nations take a more active role in providing humanitarian, reconstruction and development assistance for Iraq. ¶7. (C) However, NU's Munir told us, the final text did not reflect the tenor of the discussion or the language of the original draft, which had been composed by a team led by Hasyim Muzadi. That version, which Munir characterized as "very harsh," slammed the U.S. directly and repeatedly. According to Munir, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs team, under Middle East Special Envoy Alwi Shihab's supervision, scrubbed the draft text and removed the offending passages. The final version was also circulated in English, which irritated the Arabophone conferees, many of whom could not speak English. Iraqi Charge Abdul Qadir confirmed that the Indonesians did not consult other participants (except the Malaysians) about the draft text's language. Instead, he recounted, the declaration was pushed through so that it would be finished by the conference's end, and was read out at the closing ceremony replete with corrections. One Shi'a delegate, Abdul Qadir said, threatened to walk out in disgust over the lack of consultations. Overall Negative Assessment of the Conference -------------- ¶8. (C) Munir tried to put a positive spin on the conference, but his effort was half-hearted. To soften expectations, he framed it as the latest in a series of international conferences undertaken within the Muslim world to solve the Middle East's problems, citing previous gatherings in Mecca, Amman and Qatar. The Iraqi Charge d'Affaires, by contrast, pulled no punches. He derided the conference as "propaganda" carried out by the Indonesians in an effort to "outbid the Arabs." According to Abdul Qadir, "none of the participants believed the conference was a success," and he quoted a Malaysian as saying the event was a "news media bubble." Indonesia organized the conference only to deflect domestic criticism of its support for UNSCR 1747, Abdul Qadir added. JAKARTA 00000993 003 OF 005 (Note. The conference was organized long before the Iran vote. End Note.) Abdul Qadir, who describes himself as a Sunni secularist, said he bluntly asked all the participants at the conference, "Are we discussing Iraq or are we discussing politics?" He told us that nothing happened during the first day of the conference, leaving only about six hours on the second day to resolve all of Iraq's issues. Abdul Qadir also noted that the speeches by the Foreign Minister and the President contained nothing controversial or new, merely outlining Indonesia's "triple-track" proposal, implying that they did not directly criticize the U.S. ¶9. (C) Although the GOI participated throughout, the declaration was a non-governmental statement that has no force of policy (although the GOI apparently intervened to ensure that it was not inflammatory and counterproductive). Indeed, while Foreign Minister Wirajuda told the media that Muslim peacekeeping troops should ensure that there is no vacuum in Iraq after an eventual U.S. withdrawal, he cautioned that "with regard to the proposal about Indonesia sending peacekeeping troops, it needs further talks." ¶10. (U) Begin Text of Declaration (Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official translation). THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF ISLAMIC LEADERS FOR RECONCILIATION IN IRAQ BOGOR DECLARATION Bismillahirahmanirrahim, In the name of Allah the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful, Alhamdulilahirabbil 'alamin... Praise and Glory be to Almighty and May His Peace and Blessings be Upon His Prophet Mohamed and all his Kin and Companions We, the participants of the International Conference of Islamic Leaders for Reconciliation in Iraq, having met at the Presidential Palace, Bogor, Indonesia from 3 - 4 April 2007, are determined to realize total reconciliation among the Iraqi Muslim nation by promoting Islam as Rahmatan lil Alamin. Bearing in mind the noble values and principles of Islam which stems from the noble Qur,an and the prophetic Sunnah bequeath a clear conduct of a way of life in all its aspects; Believing that the Islamic norms and teachings oblige all the Ummah to deem peace (silm or salam),justice and equality ( adalah and musawah),freedom (hurriyah),tolerance (tasamuh),balance (tawazun),and consultation (shura) as fundamental principles of Islam as Rahmatan lil Alamin; Acknowledging that diversity is a blessing (rahmah) for the Ummah to bear conscience to respect each other,s beliefs and sanctities for the benefit of the Ummah,s unity; Acknowledging also the urgent need to strengthen the Ummah,s unity (ukhuwah Islamiyah) to adopt caution and vigilance against all attempts to sow division among them, break their ranks, or incite sedition, strife, and hate to corrupt their divine spiritual bonds with each other; Noting with concern the festering conflict in Iraq that goes unabated where bloodshed is widespread, and aggression on assets and property is a daily occurrence; Expressing regret that these violence emanate from provocation of sensitivities or sectarian, ethnic, geographical or linguistic, therefore undertaking the urgent need for all Muslims to adopt caution and vigilance against all attempts to sow division among them, break their ranks, or incite sedition, strife, and hate to corrupt their divine spiritual bonds with each other; Believing that the Iraqi conflict cannot be solved by military means, and in this regard underlining the urgent need to find a framework of political solution that includes national reconciliation, withdrawal of occupying forces, and reconstruction and rehabilitation; Recalling efforts to promote respect of each other,s beliefs and sanctities, the importance of peace conflict resolution, intra and inter faith dialogue, the role of religious leaders in peace-building, conflict transformation and peace education through the convening of the following meetings; the International Conference of Islamic Scholars in Jakarta, JAKARTA 00000993 004 OF 005 23-25 February 2004; the International Dialogue on Interfaith Cooperation held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on 6-7 December 2004; the International Islamic Conference in Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on 4-6 July 2005; East Asia Religious Leaders Forum (EARLF),Jakarta, 11-13 February 2006;; the World Peace Forum (WPF),Jakarta, 14-16 August 2006; the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Declaration adopted on 19 October 2006; and the Doha Conference for Dialogue of Islamic Schools of Thought in February 2007; Commending the President, Government and the people of the Republic of Indonesia, the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama, and Muhammadiyah for hosting the International Conference of Islamic Leaders for Reconciliation in Iraq; We hereby declare as follows: ¶1. Urge all Muslims, who profess their faith by bearing witness that there is no God but Allah and that Mohammad is His Prophet, to uphold these fundamental principles, which applies equally to the Shiites and Sunnis as a common ground that any difference of faith are merely differences of opinion and interpretation and are not essential differences of faith or on the substance of the Pillars of Islam; ¶2. Reaffirm the independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Iraq and in realizing and consecrating the free will of the Iraqi people in contributing to their military, economic, and political capabilities are rights that cannot be deprived of; ¶3. Call on religious Leaders and all parties in Iraq as a matter of urgency an immediate meeting to put in place plans and programmes on a comprehensive reconciliation in Iraq, and agree on concrete actions for the successful implementation of the reconciliation; ¶4. Call on all Arab and Moslem countries, particularly neighboring countries of Iraq to provide support, as appropriate, for the success of the reconciliation; ¶5. Agree to exert means to expedite the withdrawal of foreign occupying forces from Iraq to be gradually replaced by Arab and Moslem forces under the supervision of the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Conference after a comprehensive plan have been formulated; ¶6. Request the Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Conference to immediately implement those proposals with relevant parties of the international community; ¶7. Condemn all killings, violence and terrors that emanate from any parties in Iraq and reaffirm that those acts are a clear violation of the Islamic principles and oblige the strict sanctions for the perpetrators; ¶8. Call on the Government of Iraq to play an effective role to ensure the provision of security and peace for all the Iraqi people and that each peace-loving parties render necessary support to the Government of Iraq; ¶9. Reaffirm the commitment of all Ulama and Islamic leaders toward the implementation of a genuine complete and comprehensive national reconciliation in Iraq as a reflection of the noble principle of Islam as Rahmatan lil Alamiin. ¶10. Urge all factions in Iraq to immediately stop violence that perpetuates bloodsheds among Iraqis; ¶11. Call on all media not to disseminate any disinformation that would result in instability, ethnic rivalries and border conflicts in Iraq; ¶12. Encourage constructive dialogue to promote understanding and mutual respect between religions; ¶13. Encourage dialogue and understanding among Islamic schools of thought, to protect and maintain the unity of Islam; ¶14. Urge the international community to play an active role in reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq after its wider destruction; ¶15. Call upon OIC to initiate its efforts, including efforts for the provision of humanitarian and development assistance in Iraq; JAKARTA 00000993 005 OF 005 ¶16. Suggest the League of Arab States to continue its effort to bring peace to reality in Iraq; ¶17. Call upon in particular the United Nations, OIC, and the League of Arab States to implement efforts for capacity building in economic and social development, and democratic and judicial institution in Iraq; ¶18. Request the Government of Indonesia, Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama, and Muhammadiyah to disseminate the Bogor Declaration of the International Conference of Islamic Leaders for Reconciliation in Iraq to relevant countries, dialogue partners, international and regional organisations, such as the United Nations, OIC and League of Arab States; ¶19. Agree to actively disseminate the result of the International Conference of Islamic Leaders for Reconciliation in Iraq to all members of the Arab society and elsewhere as appropriate, by sending a fact finding missions comprising of Islamic leaders from Indonesia and other countries. Bogor, 4 April 2007 End Text of Declaration. HEFFERN