MANADO--ALL BROTHERS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SURABAYA 000043 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, INR/EAP,DRL/PHD, INL, S/CT, EB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM KISL KCOR ID SUBJECT: MANADO--ALL BROTHERS REF: A. JAKARTA 2598 ¶B. JAKARTA 2597 SURABAYA 00000043 001.2 OF 002 The Message is Sensitive but Unclassified. Please Protect Accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: North Sulawesi has long maintained a reputation for tolerance and calm, despite being surrounded areas best known for ethnic and religious conflicts. During a September 25-27 visit to Manado, Surabaya Principal Officer discussed with local leaders, academicians, and the media North Sulawesi's enviably ability to avoid the conflicts that have plagued neighboring regions over the years. All credited the local philosophy "Torang Samua Basudara" (we are all brothers and sisters) as the foundation for respect and tolerance among different ethnic and religious groups. The long-standing Interfaith Cooperation Forum has allowed political and religious leaders to calm any tensions and address perceived imbalances before they have the opportunity to undermine this philosophy. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The majority of North Sulawesi's 2.189 citizens are protestant (69%); 19% are Muslim, 8% Catholic, 3% Buddhist, and 1% Hindu. Before the majority-Muslim province of Gorontalo was broken off from North Sulawesi in December 2000 by a decision by the Indonesian parliament (DPR),the religious breakdown was 60% Christian and 40% Muslim. Within the Manado city limits, the religious breakdown is 53.5% protestant, and 29% Muslim. Local residents take great pride in the province's overarching philosophy "Torang Samua Basudara" (we are all brothers). They credit this spirit of brotherhood without reference to religious or ethnic background for North Sulawesi's ability to avoid the ethnic and religious conflicts that have affected the province's neighbors. Horizontal Conflicts Need Dialogue -------------- ¶3. (SBU) North Sulawesi's governor S.H. Sarundajang has a lot of experience with ethnic and religious conflict having served as the acting governor in North Maluku and Maluku during their recent conflicts. In his view, these conflicts and those in neighboring Central Sulawesi were based on economic and social problems rather than religious differences. Unlike conflicts in Aceh and Papua, which he called "vertical" conflicts for independence, these "horizontal" conflicts could only be resolved through dialogue amongst local groups. North Sulawesi, which had established a Badan Kerja Sama Antar Ummat Beragama (Interfaith Cooperation Forum) in 1968, never faced similar conflicts because the needed dialogue was always ongoing. Interfaith Cooperation Forum -------------- ¶4. (SBU) According to Rev. Jeffry Saisab, Chairman of the Interfaith Cooperation Forum Manado, and Rev. Nico Gara, the former Secretary of the Synod "Gereja Masehi Injili Minahasa" the Interfaith Cooperation Forum was established by the Muslim Mayor of Manado, Raub Mo'o, in an effort to quell violence between Christian and Muslim communities following a joke about the Prophet Mohammad made by a Chinese tailor. When angry Muslims attacked Chinese shops and temples, the nearby Christian church was damaged, triggering anger by the Christian community. To avoid further conflict, local religious and public leaders proposed establishment of the Forum to the Manado government. ¶5. (SBU) Today, the Interfaith Forum has executive members in every village and neighborhood in North Sulawesi. Kiai Fauzi Nurani, chairman of the North Sulawesi Ulama Council, and Anwar Panawar, Chairman of North Sulawesi Muhammadiyah, credited the Interfaith Cooperation Forum with calming local residents during conflicts in neighboring area. As a result, the people of Manado perceived these conflicts as useless on rejected overtures from outside provocateurs to join the conflicts. They noted that Muslim youth guard churches during Christian celebrations, while Christian youths similarly guard mosques during Lebaran. They added that there had been no such cooperation in conflict areas such as Ambon, Ternate, or Poso. ¶6. (SBU) Suhendra Boroma, Chief Editor of the Manado Post, highlighted the role of the media in preventing conflicts. As an example, he said that the Manado Post makes an effort to cover both sides of disputes and report positive remarks from religious leaders who were trying to stop conflicts from SURABAYA 00000043 002.2 OF 002 spreading into the province. A Welcoming Society -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Rev. Jeffry added that the local Chinese community has not suffered from the ethnically motivated violence that has occurred in other areas. He explained that the local Minahasa and Chinese communities enjoyed similar cultures, eat similar foods, and had similar facial features. Rev. Jeffry added that the openness of Minahasa culture welcomed both Chinese immigrants and Arab traders, absorbing both communities into the local population. Mantiri, from the University of Manado, noted that strong social and cultural organizations, accommodated the interests or all ethnicities and religions, strengthening local communities. ¶8. (SBU) BIO Note: North Sulawesi Governor Sinyo Harry Sarundajang was born on January 16, 1945 in Kawangkoan, Minahasa, North Sulawesi. Elected governor in April 2005 after beating the incumbent, Sarundajang is a career bureaucrat who served as the Mayor of Bitung in North Sulawesi from 1986 until ¶2000. In March 2000, he was appointed to the Expert Staff on Strategic Affairs in the Ministry of Home Affairs. In February 2001, he was selected as head of the Inspectorate General of the Home Affairs Ministry. The central government appointed him as acting Governor of North Maluku on March 23, 2003. In November of the same year, he was appointed acting governor of Maluku. Both Muslims and Christians praised Sarundajang for his efforts to end the conflicts and to organize successful elections for new governors in both provinces. Sarundajang has surrounded himself with a team of English-speaking experts from local universities and businesses who advise him on specific issues, in particular his plans to host a World Ocean Conference in May ¶2009. Educated at Sam Ratulangi University (1968),the University of Manado (1968),and the University of 17 August in Jakarta (1970),Sarundajang has taken courses at the UK's Birmingham University (1994),the University of Pittsburg (1995),and UCLA (1996). An enthusiastic country music singer, Governor Sarundajang looks for opportunities to engage visitors and local officials in performances. MCCLELLAND