C-D18-00223: INDONESIA REACTS CALMLY TO RELEASE

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000655 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DS/IP/EAP, DS/ATA, CA/OCS NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC ID SUBJECT: C-D18-00223: INDONESIA REACTS CALMLY TO RELEASE OF ANTI-ISLAMIC VIDEO REF: A. JAKARTA 459 ¶B. STATE 20822 ¶1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate General Surabaya and Consulate Medan. It is Sensitive but Unclassified. SIPDIS ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Indonesians are beginning to react to the release of the Dutch M.P.'s anti-Islamic video. President Yudhoyono condemned the film and said the GOI had "banned" it, while one Minister said he had requested YouTube to take steps to prevent its broadcast. There have been some small rallies in Jakarta, but the situation has been peaceful, with government and religious authorities stressing the need for a "mature" reaction. Mission does not plan to issue a Warden Message or Security Notice at this time. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) GOI BANS VIDEO: Indonesians are beginning to react to the release of the anti-Islamic video produced by Dutch parliamentarian Gert Wilders. On March 31, Indonesian President Yudhoyono held a press conference (mainly dealing with other issues) where he stated that the GOI had "banned" the showing of the video, which is called "Fitna." Yudhoyono also barred Wilders from entering Indonesia in any capacity. ¶4. (SBU) Meanwhile, there are media reports that the Minister of Communications sent a letter to YouTube demanding that broadcasts of any "anti-Muslim videos" (including "Fitna") within Indonesia be blocked by April 4. The Minister basically seemed to be threatening to make YouTube unavailable to Internet subscribers in Indonesia if YouTube's management did not take certain steps. Indonesian parliamentarians and religious authorities have also denounced the video. That said, virtually everyone in positions of authority, including Muslim religious leaders, have called for a calm and a "mature" reaction. ¶5. (SBU) SMALL RALLIES: There have been some small rallies, including in front of the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta. The rallies were led by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI),two hard-line groups. The demonstrators demanded that the Dutch Ambassador be recalled to the Netherlands and intimated that they might harass Dutch citizens living in Indonesia. The protesters also threw a few eggs and bottled water at the Dutch Embassy, but no arrests or injuries were reported. Dutch Embassy security officer Peter Nuyten told RSO that approximately 250 Indonesian National Police (INP) were maintaining tight security around the premises. That security presence, so far, has heavily outnumbered the number of rally-goers. ¶6. (SBU) NO WARDEN MESSAGE AT THIS TIME: There have not been rallies held outside USG interests as of this point. There are reports that a rally may occur in the vicinity of Consulate General Surabaya, however. Embassy Jakarta, Consulate General Surabaya and Consulate Medan have not received threats against employees or facilities, or received any reports of threats directed against Americans. Mission has decided that a Warden Message is unnecessary at this time. If the situation shows signs of turbulence, Mission will consider further action to warn citizens and staff. So far, however, the reaction in Indonesia is a restrained one. HUME