INDONESIA REACTS TO BOMB BLASTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001230 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, S/CT, DS NSC FOR J. BADER E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL PTER ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA REACTS TO BOMB BLASTS REF: A. JAKARTA 1216 ¶B. JAKARTA 1211 Classified By: DCM Ted Osius, reasons 1.4 (b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: President Yudhoyono's public speculation that the July 17 bombings of two luxury hotels could be an attempt to sabotage his new, second administration and destabilize the country met with sharp criticism. Opposition parties claimed he was trying to intimidate them due to their allegations of election fraud. However, despite the initial stumble, Yudhoyono seems back on track and showing strong leadership in the face of the recent terrorist attack. The diplomatic community is united in maintaining the current alert level and continuing to encourage foreigners to visit Indonesia. The Indonesian public has condemned the attacks and a town in East Java refused to allow a hardline cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir, to deliver a fiery sermon. END SUMMARY. YUDHOYONO STUMBLES IN POST-ATTACK REMARKS ¶2. (SBU) President Yudhoyono's initial reaction to the bombings met with criticism. In his press conference after the blasts, Yudhoyono indicated the attacks might be politically motivated, an attempt to sabotage his re-election and destabilize the country. He said intelligence reports revealed a plot against the Election Commission and him personally by forces attempting to cause an "Iranian-style revolution." In a comment widely interpreted as a reference to opposition vice presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, Yudhoyono mentioned the mastermind behind the bombings as a "Dracula" spreading death in the country. ¶3. (SBU) The opposition reacted strongly to Yudhoyono's claims and called them an attempt to politicize the attacks and intimidate opponents from trying to uncover alleged electoral violations. (Note: Since Yudhoyono's July 8 unofficial re-election victory, the losing candidates have filed complaints with the Elections Oversight Commission.) Some NGOs also accused Yudhoyono of causing unnecessary widespread anxiety and called for a public apology. REGAINING HIS FOOTING ¶4. (SBU) Some analysts considered that Yudhoyono's subsequent remarks showed firm leadership and a strong commitment to taking swift action to deploy all possible state agencies to investigate the attacks and ramp up security. In follow-up statements on July 21, Yudhoyono tried for a more reassuring tone, saying that the bombings should not be related to other issues. He also declared that his government could guarantee security in the country. REACTION IN THE DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY ¶5. (C) Officials from fifteen other diplomatic missions told us they would respond to the July 17 attacks in a calm and measured way during a July 22 meeting at the DCM's residence. Despite the death of both Australian and New Zealand nationals, those missions said that they would not raise their travel alert level for Indonesia. The Singaporean, Dutch and South Korean Embassies, all of which had citizens injured in the attacks, did not plan to raise their alert level. The British Embassy recommended against raising the alert level for Indonesia but thought that London would likely decide to do so anyway. (Note: Media reports that Australia and Singapore had raised their alert levels were incorrect, although Australia did update its travel warning. If the UK Government does raise its alert level, it will be the only one that we can confirm has done so.) All missions agreed that they would remind their nationals to vary their routines, remain vigilant of their surroundings, and practice other prudent security precautions. All missions said they would continue to encourage official visitors to Indonesia, and none planned to draw down their personnel or otherwise reduce their normal operations. ¶6. (C) Australian and New Zealand Embassy officials told us they received excellent GOI cooperation in identifying victims and remains. Both countries had offered law enforcement assistance to Indonesia and found the GOI generally receptive. However, they noted that Indonesian security officials wanted any foreign assistance to remain low profile. For domestic political reasons, the GOI wanted JAKARTA 00001230 002 OF 002 to be seen leading the investigation. Australian and New Zealand law enforcement officials were content to support the Indonesian effort in the background. LOCALS TURN DOWN SERMON BY HARDLINE CLERIC ¶7. (U) In the meantime, residents in Malang, East Java, refused to allow the infamous hardline cleric Abu Bakar Bashir to give a sermon on the day of the Ascension of Muhammad on July 20. Bashir is the former spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the founder of the radical Ngruki Islamic boarding school. (Note: Many suspected JI members, including the Bali bombers are Ngruki alumni. End Note.) The local village leader told us the residents turned down Bashir as they were afraid that Bashir's provocative speech would create conflict in the community. Instead, several locals displayed banners in the town which read, "Refuse the presence of Abu Bakar Bashir." In an earlier sermon, Bashir denied accusations that he and his students were involved in the twin bombings and blamed the Central Intelligence Agency for attempting to limit the spread of Islamic teaching. (Note: Bashir has never publicly acknowledged the existence of JI.) HUME