ON THE STREETS AND VIA SOCIAL NETWORKING, CIVIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001862 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, EAP/PD, INL NSC FOR D.WALTON MCC FOR ISMAIL E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2019 TAGS: PGOV KCOR KPAO ID SUBJECT: ON THE STREETS AND VIA SOCIAL NETWORKING, CIVIL SOCIETY PRESSES ANTI-CORRUPTION FIGHT REF: JAKARTA 1845 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of Jakarta to demand GOI support of the Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) and an end to graft. This was the latest of a number of civil-society-sponsored rallies across the country. Social networking has played a key role: over a million people have joined a Facebook site to show their support for anti-corruption efforts and there are active conversations taking place on Twitter as well. The massive outpouring has placed pressure on the government to keep its anti-corruption commitments. END SUMMARY. CIVIL SOCIETY TAKES TO THE STREETS ¶2. (SBU) Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Jakarta on November 8 to demand that the GOI press forward with its anti-corruption efforts. An estimated 3,000 people participated in the rally. The protest, which was held in central Jakarta, was festive and peaceful, and police did not intervene. A popular Indonesian musical group performed and various activists took to the stage to give speeches. The November 8 rally was the latest of a number of similar demonstrations held across the country in the past two weeks. ¶3. (SBU) The protesters specifically called for the dismissal of extortion and abuse of power charges lodged by the Indonesian National Police (INP) against two suspended KPK deputies. The two, Chandra Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto, were suspended by the KPK after the police arrested them on October 29 for making statements to the press and allegedly interfering with a corruption-related investigation (see reftel for further background). Police released the two after wiretapping tapes obtained by the KPK were handed over to the Constitutional Court and later broadcast to an enthralled public. The tapes carried conversations apparently detailing a plan by law enforcement officials to frame the two deputies. Fallout from the tapes included the establishment of a fact-finding team by the President and the subsequent resignations of top law enforcement officials. SOCIAL NETWORKING PLAYS KEY ROLE ¶4. (SBU) Social networking is also playing a role. In the past several weeks, a number of websites and blogs have popped up focused on garnering support for the KPK and the anti-corruption effort. The largest cyber protest is that of a Facebook page named "Gerakan 1.000.000 Facebookers Dukung Chandra Hamzah and Bibit Samad Riyanto" (Movement of 1,000,000 Facebookers to support Chandra Hamzah and Bibit Samad Riyanto). The page was established on October 29, 2009, and the organizers sought to draw one million supporters for the two KPK deputies. To date 1,186,232 Facebook users have joined the site. In the space of two hours on November 9, over 10,000 people joined the site. In addition to Facebook, there are active conversations taking place on Twitter as well. HOLDING THE GOI'S FEET TO THE FIRE ¶5. (C) Many Indonesians believe that the police, the Attorney General's Office and members of parliament are actively working to undermine the KPK's success in investigating and charging corrupt officials. Since its establishment in 2002, the KPK has successfully prosecuted over 80 corruption cases, some involving powerful legislators and other public officials plus businessmen and bankers. The GOI's official policy is to support the anti-corruption efforts strongly, but it has at times seemed slow on the uptake, sparking concern among liberal activists about the degree of its commitment. The massive outpouring has played a role in holding the government's feet to the fire, helping ensure for example the release of the two deputies from jail and the President's formation of the fact-finding committee. HUME