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