BALI BOMBERS -- FOLLOWING EXECUTIONS, INDONESIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002076 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, CA/OCS, S/CT, CA, DS INL FOR BARCLAY/ROESS/BUHLER/CARLON DOJ FOR CRIM AAG SWARTZ, DOJ/OPDAT FOR LEHMANN/ALEXANDRE/BERMAN DOJ/CTS FOR MULLANEY, ST HILAIRE FBI FOR ETTUI/SSA ROTH NCTC WASHDC NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2018 TAGS: PGOV PTER ASEC CASC ID SUBJECT: BALI BOMBERS -- FOLLOWING EXECUTIONS, INDONESIA CONTINUES TO BE LARGELY CALM REF: A. OPS CENTER - JAKARTA (J.NOVAK) 11-09-2009 ¶B. JAKARTA 2068 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: DCM John A. Heffern, reasons 1.4 (b+d). ¶1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate General Surabaya. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: The situation in Indonesia appears calm with life going on as usual following the November 9 execution of three terrorists for their role in the 2002 Bali bombings. The only tense period, thus far, was when the bodies were delivered to families on November 9. Amid raucous scenes, police kept their cool and the crowds dispersed. There were no serious injuries, damage or arrests. With mainstream religious leaders and others condemning the terrorists, the vast majority of Indonesians seem totally unmoved by hard-liner threats and denunciations. END SUMMARY. SOME TENSIONS AT BURIAL SITES ¶3. (SBU) The three Bali bombers--Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Ali Gufron (a.k.a. "Muklas")--were buried on November 9 following their execution earlier that day (reftel). A crowd of approximately 500 people clashed with police in Tenggulun in East Java when the bodies of Amrozi and Ali Gufron were returned there for burial. However, the incident did not result in any serious injuries or damage. ¶4. (C) Serang (the hometown of executed terrorist Imam Samudra) appeared calm following the executions, according to POL FSN who visited on November 9. (Note: Serang is located in a religiously conservative area of Banten Province, just west of Jakarta.) When the body was delivered to the family, there was some jostling with the police in a scene similar to what happened in East Java. Our FSN, who was in public areas throughout the day, reported that he did not detect any anger among the people there. Students from the local pesantren (Islamic boarding school),where he stayed overnight, said they did not expect any disturbances in the town, noting that they did not consider the three terrorists as "martyrs." HARDLINERS ANGRY ¶5. (SBU) Hardliners, a small but vocal group in Indonesia, condemned the executions. Radical cleric (and terrorist Jemmah Islamiyah co-founder) Abu Bakar Bashir told followers that the bombers were "martyrs" who had died defending their faith. He called on other Muslims to follow their example. (Note: There are various reports that the three terrorists had authorized the release of statements following their deaths. The statements, as reported in the press, contain various threats against "infidels." These reported threats were similar, in fact, to those which they routinely issued while alive.) ¶6. (U) Various human rights-focused Indonesians also condemned the executions, citing their longstanding opposition to capital punishment. TERRORISTS CONDEMNED JAKARTA 00002076 002 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) Indonesia's mainstream Muslim leaders rejected Bashir's views. Umar Shihab, a key figure in the influential Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and a respected conservative on religious matters, said the three bombers were not martyrs but "murderers." ¶8. (SBU) Government officials also spoke out against extremism in the wake of the executions. Communication and Information Minister Muhammad Nuh said the executions were necessary "to uphold the law" and demonstrated Indonesia's commitment to combating violent extremism. Lukman Hakim Saiffudin, Chairman of the United Development Party (PPP)--a conservative (but not radical) Islamic party that is part of President Yudhoyono's ruling coalition--also condemned the bombers. He said the execution was an emphatic statement that Indonesia would not tolerate violence in the name of religion. GOI MONITORS SITUATION ¶9. (C) GOI officials continue to watch the situation closely. Expressing confidence, GOI Counter Terrorism Coordination Desk Director Ansyaad Mbai told poloff on November 10 that calls for retaliation in the wake of the executions would not materialize--at least not any time soon. He said militants always use retaliation as a rationale for attacks, but it would be difficult for them to strike now under heightened security. Australian Embassy officials told us they had not heard of any planned demonstrations in support of the bombers (88 Australian nationals died in the Bali bombings) They were, however, continuing to monitor the situation closely. The regional police chief in East Java told ConGen Surabaya he had not seen nor did he expect disruptions relating to the executions. Based on various first-hand reports, the situation in Bali is calm and peaceful. ¶10. (SBU) Between 5-9 November 2008, the Indonesian National Police received a total of nine bomb threats directed against either the U.S. or Australian Embassies related to the executions. In each of the threats, local guard personnel and Indonesian National Police (INP) authorities conducted thorough searches of the interior and exterior of the U.S. Embassy compound. There continues to be an increased INP presence at the U.S. Embassy where operations remain normal. SO FAR, SO GOOD ¶11. (C) The Indonesian government was clearly worried about a potential backlash following the executions, but that has yet to materialize. With mainstream religious leaders and others condemning the terrorists, the vast majority of Indonesians seem totally unmoved by hard-liner threats and denunciations. Essentially, hardliners are operating in a sharply limited political space which the GOI is closely monitoring. That said, hardliners, though a small minority, are active and still could take to the streets, potentially committing violent acts. HUME