SOUTH SUMATRA -- LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROHIBITS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001664 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL, DRL/AWH, DRL/IRF NSC FOR EPHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018 TAGS: PGOV KIRF KISL ID SUBJECT: SOUTH SUMATRA -- LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROHIBITS ACTIVITIES OF MINORITY SECT REF: JAKARTA 1134 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate Medan. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: The South Sumatra Governor's office announced a prohibition on Ahmadiyah activities on September ¶1. The decree apparently conforms with a June national decree which curtailed the minority Islamic sect's activities. Ahmadiyah members have claimed that police in Palembang, the South Sumatra capital city, instructed the sect to halt all activities on September 2. Ahmadis ignored the order. Political maneuvering in the South Sumatra governor's race--which includes currying favor with Muslim groups--seems to be resulting in increased public pressure on Ahmadiyah in the province. END SUMMARY. SOUTH SUMATRA DECREE ¶3. (SBU) On September 1, South Sumatra Ahmadiyah leadership received a copy of an official letter prohibiting Ahmadis from conducting practices "in the name of Islam" which are "incompatible with Islamic teachings." The letter, issued by acting South Sumatra Governor Mahyudin, also called on the local branches of the Ministries of Religious and Home Affairs, as well as the local Attorney General's Office, to implement the prohibition. Mahyudin said the edict was in line with the June national joint-ministerial decree prohibiting Ahmadiyah proselytizing and practices (see ref A for a summary of the June decree). ALL TALK, NO ACTION, SO FAR ¶4. (C) As a result of the letter, South Sumatra Ahmadi sources told POL FSN that they received a call the night of September 2 from the local police instructing them to halt all their activities, including a special evening prayer conducted during the fasting month. Syamsir Ali, an Ahmadi spokesperson, told poloff that the group planned to ignore the instruction. Local Islamic groups and government offices have not taken action against the South Sumatra Ahmadis so far. A few months ago, local government officials asked Palembang Ahmadis to remove a sign in front of the group's secretariat. At the time, Ahmadis reported to Consulate Medan that they felt no serious intimidation or threats. (Note: Ahmadis in West Sumatra removed their signs a few months ago as part of a compromise agreement with the Mayor of Padang, the capital. According to West Sumatra Ahmadis, taking down the signs was an effort to show good faith cooperation with the June decree and decrease the visibility of the group. They also agreed not to proselytize in West Sumatra.) AHMADIYAH RESPONDS ¶5. (C) Ahmadiyah spokesperson Syamsir Ali told POL FSN that he is working with the Jakarta Legal Aid group and Presidential Advisor Adnan Buyung Nasution to take legal action against the governor over the local decree. He maintained the decree is unconstitutional. Jakarta Legal Aid Director Asfinawati told POL FSN that under the regional autonomy law, which decentralized authority over numerous sectors to local governments, the central government maintains authority over religious affairs, so the governor should not have issued such an edict on religious issues. Ahmadiyah leaders plan to hold a national press conference on the matter on September 4. LOCAL POLITICS? ¶6. (C) Local media contacts downplayed the impact of the local South Sumatra edict. With no anti-Ahmadi actions (so far) and a hot political contest in the September 3 gubernatorial election, they take the anti-Ahmadiyah edict JAKARTA 00001664 002 OF 002 with a grain of salt. The acting governor, Mahyudin, was deputy under gubernatorial candidate Syahrial Oesman, whose candidacy is supported by Islamic parties PKS and PPP. The decree seems to be a last minute tactic in a tight election meant to energize Oesman's base and not an all-out attack on Ahmadiyah and their rights. Mission will continue to monitor the situation while urging the GOI to support religious freedom. HUME