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