AMBASSADOR CALLS ON FORMER JAKARTA GOVERNOR AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000912 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, INP/EAP, INR/B NSC FOR EPHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2018 TAGS: PGOV KDEM KISL ID SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON FORMER JAKARTA GOVERNOR AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE REF: A. JAKARTA 801 ¶B. (07) JAKARTA 3107 ¶C. (O7) JAKARTA 2156 Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, reasons 1.4(b,d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. The Ambassador visited ex-Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso in his office on May 6, where they discussed issues related to the 2009 elections and Sutiyoso's philosophy on countering radicalism. Sutiyoso used the courtesy call to promote his presidential aspirations, inviting the media for a photo-op with the Ambassador in front of a campaign portrait. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) As part of his on-going efforts to meet with prospective presidential candidates, the Ambassador met with former Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso on May 6. Asked about the Islamic-oriented Prosperous Justice Party's (PKS) recent electoral successes in West Java and North Sumatra (ref A), the two-term Governor (1997-2007) said he learned how to deal with PKS because it controlled the Jakarta legislature during his time in office. He claimed he prevented PKS from passing any "strange" conservative Islamic laws, such as segregation of sexes on the beach. Sutiyoso credited himself with holding together the coalition of the Democratic Party (PD), the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Golkar, which allowed his then Vice Governor Fauzi Bowo to defeat PKS in the August gubernatorial 2007 elections (ref C). Had the coalition split, PKS would have won, he said. WOULD CONSIDER RUNNING WITH PKS ¶3. (C) Despite Sutiyoso's suspicions about PKS, he added that he would consider a PKS offer to run as their presidential candidate if offered, so that he could have some control over the party. (Sutiyoso is not yet affiliated with any party.) While Sutiyoso has been actively campaigning since declaring his candidacy in October 2008, recent polling indicated that his popularity remains at the bottom of likely candidates, garnering less than two percent of public support (ref B). Political analysts say he is not even popular in Jakarta. ¶4. (C) Asked about the problem of rising prices of basic commodities and poverty, Sutiyoso said the problem is one of funds not flowing to the regions from the central government despite decentralization, and the lack of local capacity to absorb funds. He also cited the need for more labor intensive investment and monopoly of commodities which keeps prices high. The proposed rise in fuel prices will add to the people's tenuous situation and will result in widespread civil unrest, he said, citing sources at the grassroots level. ¶5. (C) Sutiyoso stressed the need to be tough on fighting terrorism and that as a former Special Forces Commander, he understands this need. Another bomb attack in Bali or Jakarta would devastate the Indonesian economy, he said. Despite the arrest of many terrorists, many more students at Islamic boarding schools have been brainwashed, and more outreach is needed to these schools, the former Jakarta Regional Military Commander said. REGRETS ATTACKS ON AHMADIYAH ¶6. (C) Sutiyoso regretted calls to ban the Islamic sect Ahmadiyah, explaining that with democracy, many extreme sects are emerging which are difficult to control. He boasted about how when he served in Solo, Central Java in 1980 he protected ethnic Chinese from attacks by members of the radical pesantren Ngruki (founded by Abu Bakar Bashir). ¶7. (U) The visit attracted media attention and was covered in several newspapers on May 7. HUME