RELIGIOUS FREEDOM -- CARDINAL EXPRESSES SOME

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001317

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EUR/WE, DRL, DRL/IRF
NSC FOR E.PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2018
TAGS: PREL KIRF SOCI ID VT
SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM -- CARDINAL EXPRESSES SOME
CONCERNS

REF: JAKARTA 1143

JAKARTA 00001317 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Cardinal Darmaatmadja, the senior Catholic
prelate in Indonesia, told Pol/C that he was "deeply
concerned" by the Indonesian government's recent decree
constraining the religious activities of an Islamic sect. He
said he was concerned that the religious freedom climate
could deteriorate somewhat in the lead-up to elections in
2009 as politicians tried to placate extremists. That said,
the Cardinal was optimistic about Indonesia in the longer
term, rejecting the notion of "creeping Islamization." He
said he had invited Pope Benedict XVI to visit Indonesia, but
there was no confirmation at this point. Bio-data on
Darmaatmadja is attached in para 8. END SUMMARY.

A LOW-KEY FIGURE


2. (C) On July 8, Pol/C met Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja,
Indonesia's senior Catholic prelate (and only cardinal). The
meeting took place at the national offices of the Catholic
Church next to the Cathedral of the Ascension of Saint Mary
in central Jakarta. (Note: Catholics in Indonesia
represent roughly 4 percent of the population with
Protestants representing another 5-6 percent. With many
wealthy Chinese Indonesian adherents, the Church has a
relatively prominent role in society.) The Cardinal was
dressed informally in a cotton batik shirt and carried a
wooden rosary in his hand. As is his style, he was very
low-key and soft-spoken in manner.

CONCERNS IN THE SHORT- TO MID-TERM


3. (C) Pol/C asked the Cardinal for his views regarding
religious freedom in Indonesia in light of the GOI's recent
decree regarding the Muslim Ahmadiyah sect. (Note: On June
9, the GOI--citing concerns about law and order--announced
that Ahmadiyah could not proselytize and conduct religious
activities that in any way deviated from Sunni orthodox
Islam--see reftel.) The Cardinal commented that he
personally opposed the decree and thought that Ahmadiyah
should be allowed to practice freely "as faith is a natural
right guaranteed to all by the (Indonesian) Constitution."
The government, however, had come under "immense pressure"
from Islamic groups to ban the group and had basically given
in to that demand short of actually declaring that the group
was illegal. The Catholic Church had not publicly complained
about the GOI's action, but had expressed its concerns in
private.


4. (C) Darmaatmadja said he was concerned that the religious
freedom climate in Indonesia could deteriorate somewhat in
the lead-up to the legislative and presidential elections in

2009. He worried that extremist Muslims would try to
pressure moderate Muslims and also non-Muslim religious
groups in various ways. It was possible, for example, that
extremists would demand that the GOI stop giving licenses for
the creation of new churches. As had happened in the case
of the Ahmadiyah, he worried that political leaders--focused
on the election--would try to placate extremist groups and
not work to defend religious freedoms. He had great respect
for President Yudhoyono, but the President was "operating per
the political calendar and that was just the way it was."

GENERALLY OPTIMISTIC


5. (C) All that said, the Cardinal was generally optimistic
about Indonesia in the longer term, rejecting the notion of
"creeping Islamization." While some Indonesian Muslims were
on the extreme edge and affected by radical thinking
emanating from the Middle East, the vast majority of Muslims
were moderate and overwhelmingly tolerant of differences. He
noted that Christians, Buddhists and Hindus essentially had

JAKARTA 00001317 002.2 OF 002


little problem practicing their faith. He said there was "no
prospect" of Indonesia ending its official secular status and
becoming an Islamic state -- "there is no support for such a
path."


6. (C) He commented that the Catholic Church maintained
close links with major Muslim groups Nahdhalatul Ulama and
Muhammadiyah, groups which he said "went out of their way to
extend the hand of friendship to other faiths." To underline
how well he thought religions got along, he pointed out the
window to Istiqlal Mosque, remarking that "they are good
neighbors." (Note: The mosque is the largest in Indonesia.
It was designed by an Indonesian Christian.)

POPE BENEDICT XVI


7. (C) Darmaatmadja related that he had invited Pope
Benedict to visit Indonesia as part of his upcoming travels
to Australia for World Youth Day. Unfortunately, such a
visit could not be worked into the Pope's schedule. The
Cardinal said he was still urging the Curia to plan for such
a visit and "to focus more attention on Catholics in the
developing world." There was no confirmation at this time
that a Papal visit might be arranged any time soon. (Note:
The last such visit to Indonesia was by Pope John Paul II in
1989.)

BIO-DATA


8. (SBU) Darmaatmadja, 73, was designated a cardinal in 1994
by Pope John Paul II. He has been a bishop since 1983
and--before he became a cardinal--had responsibility for
pastoral care of Catholics serving in the security forces.
He is from Central Java and is of Javanese ethnicity. He is
a member of the Jesuit order. He studied theology in
Indonesia and India. The Cardinal has a serious eye
condition related to his retinas and has been to Boston for
medical treatment.

HUME