RISING OR FALLING? DIFFERING ACCOUNTS OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002280 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL/AWH, DRL/IRF NSC FOR E. PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2018 TAGS: PGOV KIRF KISL ID SUBJECT: RISING OR FALLING? DIFFERING ACCOUNTS OF RELIGIOUS-BASED EXTREMISM IN INDONESIA JAKARTA 00002280 001.4 OF 002 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons (1.4 b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: A moderate Islamic-oriented public policy institute has reported a slight increase in religious freedom-related incidents, including violence, taking place in Indonesia in 2008. The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM),however, has reported a decrease in the number of reported incidents of religious violence. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY (Con'd): The discrepancy in the two estimates (both from respected organizations) seems to be a product of different reporting methods. Observers agree that the GOI has cracked down on religious extremists since a serious incident of religious-based violence in Jakarta in June. END SUMMARY. WAHID INSTITUTE REPORT ¶3. (U) The Wahid Institute, a moderate Islamic-oriented think-tank, rolled out its 2008 annual report on pluralism in Indonesia on December 10. The report states that acts of religious intolerance marginally increased from 197 cases in 2007 to 232 cases in 2008. ¶4. (U) The report--which uses a broad interpretation of what constitutes intolerance--breaks down the types of incidents as follows: -- 50 cases of "deviance"--which includes legal actions taken against various religious sects; -- 55 cases of religious-based violence; -- 28 new religiously-nuanced regulations; -- 21 conflicts over houses of worship; -- 20 violations of religious freedom of thought and expression; -- 28 "interfaith incidents;" -- 14 religious edicts (fatwas); and, -- 16 violations regarding "morality and pornography" claims. ¶5. (U) According to the report, 30 percent of the incidents were committed by state authorities which are defined as local administrations, police, legislators, courts and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. In the meantime, 60 percent were committed by citizens. SEVERAL FACTORS AT WORK ¶6. (C) The Wahid Institute--which is respected for its work promoting pluralism--sees several factors at work. Executive Director Ahmad Suaedy told us he attributes the uptick in cases to the government submitting to pressure from certain groups using religion for their own purposes. Particularly in the lead up to next year's national elections, political parties are more likely to follow populist currents and succumb to social pressures, especially from Muslim groups, he said. However, he didn't believe that intolerance was widespread in Indonesia by any means. ¶7. (C) Of particular concern, Suaedy said, is the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI),a group with semi-official status which has become more important in recent years. A 2007 law involving MUI's role in overseeing Islamic (Sharia) banking turned the Islamic organization into a semi-governmental body, he claimed. The law also served to increase MUI's influence and allow an avenue for it to influence policy-making within the government, Suaedy said. As noted above, the report cited 50 cases of violence sparked by MUI fatwas which branded certain minority Islamic sects (such as the Ahmadiyah group) as "deviant." Extreme groups often use these fatwas to justify violence against minority groups. JAKARTA 00002280 002.4 OF 002 HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP HAS DIFFERENT VIEW ¶8. (SBU) A key Indonesian human rights group has a different take. Komnas HAM Chair Ifdal Kasim agreed that there was a problem with religious-based violence in Indonesia. That said, he told us that reports compiled by his organization indicated that the number of religious-related cases filed with his office declined in 2008. Komnas HAM recorded 72 such cases this year, involving religiously-linked abuse of civil rights, political rights, land disputes, police brutality and government-sanctioned violence. The majority of religious freedom violations were committed against the minority Islamic sect Ahmadiyah, he said. PROGRESS MADE SINCE JUNE ¶9. (C) The discrepancy in the Wahid Institute's and Komnas HAM's estimates seems to be a product of different reporting methods. The Wahid Institute captures a wide list of potential violations. Komnas HAM, however, reports on those cases that have actually been filed with the Human Rights Commission. All that said, there was a statistical similarity: the Wahid Institute reported 55 cases of religious-based violence and Komnas HAM reported 72. ¶10. (C) One item that both group's agree on is that the GOI has done a better job countering such violence since a June 1 attack on a peaceful religious tolerance rally in Jakarta. Following the arrest and sentencing of two of the perpetrators involved in the planning and execution of the attack, acts of religious violence and intolerance decreased steeply, according to contacts. The GOI also enacted new anti-ethnic and racial discrimination legislation this year. ¶11. (C) There are concerns that the elections in 2009 could spark violence, including of the religious sort. Extremists might try to take advantage of the process and pressure minorities for political gain, for example. The GOI says it is aware of these concerns and will work to curb any effort to foment communalism. HUME