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FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6517
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1286
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0888
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1832
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002770 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, S/CT, DS/ICI/RFJ, DS/IP/EAP, DRL, 
EAP/MLS, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/CC, DS/IP/SC, DRL 
INR FOR CHARLIE ZENZIE, HEIDI PANETTA 
DOJ FOR CTS THORNTON, DAG SWARTZ 
DOJ/OPDAT FOR LEHMANN/ALEXANDRE/ BERMAN, DOJ/CTS FOR 
MULLANEY, ST.HILAIRE 
FBI FOR ITOSI/SSA SOLOMON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2017 
TAGS: PGOV PINS ASEC PHUM ID
SUBJECT: TWILIGHT OF THE MORAL VIGILANTES? -- ATTACKS BY 
HARD-LINERS DURING RAMADAN TAPER OFF 
 
REF: JAKARTA 2241 
 
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4(b,d). 
 
¶1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulates Medan and 
Surabaya. 
 
¶2. (C) SUMMARY -- Despite a serious flare-up recently near 
Jakarta, incidents of hard-line Muslim vigilante groups 
"sweeping," e.g., closing down entertainment establishments 
during the fasting month of Ramadan, have dropped 
significantly this year.  Effective police and community 
action seem to be the reasons.  Ramadan ends in mid-October, 
so extremists--who are still a presence--have time for 
mayhem.   Mission issued a Warden Message prior to Ramadan 
warning U.S. citizens to be cautious.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. (SBU) DECLINE IN SWEEPING -- Widespread vigilantism, or 
"sweeping," by extreme Muslim groups witnessed during the 
2005 Ramadan season curtailed in 2006, and has dropped 
significantly again in 2007, human rights and other sources 
told poloff.  Activity by the notorious Ramadan vigilante 
group, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), has dropped 
dramatically, for example.  Sources said this is due to: 
more local regulations restricting entertainment 
establishments' hours of operations during Ramadan; better 
police enforcement of these regulations; and better police 
prevention against vigilantism. 
 
¶4. (SBU) BOGOR HIJINKS EXCEPTED -- The one highly notable 
exception was a September 30 rampage by FPI and the Islamic 
Defenders Force (LPI) who marched in Bogor (a city near 
Jakarta) carrying sticks and vandalizing hotels, cafes and 
nightclubs that remained open, the media reported.  The 
groups were reportedly looking for prostitutes and their 
customers.  A cafe and a hotel were reportedly badly damaged 
but no one injured.  The local police chief stated that "the 
police will not tolerate any further attacks on private 
businesses," adding that police would be "tough on citizens 
who damage private property." 
 
¶5. (SBU) POLICE TAKE A STAND -- According to various sources, 
the Bogor incident was the first serious act of Ramadan 
vigilantism in 2007.  Numerous other attempts by FPI to close 
down business establishments have all been thwarted by 
police, according to media reports, including the following: 
 
-- In Jakarta's Gunung Sahari neighborhood on September 29, 
police clashed with FPI members attempting to raid 
restaurants and nightclubs, arresting two FPI members. 
-- At Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on September 29, police 
prevented FPI from confronting a group of intoxicated youth, 
defusing a stand-off. 
-- In Palu, South Sulawesi, on September 28, police used 
persuasion to stop more than a hundred members of the Islamic 
Followers Alliance from attacking nightclubs. 
-- In Depok (outskirts of Jakarta) on September 9, police 
stopped FPI from raiding nightclubs by meeting with FPI 
leaders and instructing them to stay off the streets. 
 
¶6. (U) Local police have also acted decisively in shutting 
down establishments that violated local Ramadan ordinances. 
On September 18, in Pekanbaru, Riau, North Sumatra, police 
supported by military elements closed street food stalls and 
coffee shops operating against an order by the mayor, 
prohibiting restauants and amusement centers from operating 
during the Ramadan daylight hours.  Some business owners were 
arrested and sentenced to three months in jail or pay a USD 
55 fine.  In Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on September 17, 
authorities shut down food stalls and detained vendors. 
 
¶7. (C) THERE IS STILL TIME -- Ramadan ends in mid-October, so 
extremists still have time for mayhem.  Groups like FPI still 
have members who remain willing to take to the streets. 
(Note:  FPI supporters in August, for example, held a 
 
JAKARTA 00002770  002 OF 002 
 
 
threatening demonstration that drove Miss Universe out of 
Bandung -- see reftel.)  Their activities are under 
significantly more constraints than they were even two years 
ago, however, when they acted almost with impunity.  Clearly, 
when you get arrested for a little bit of bullying and 
smashing, it is just not as fun as it once was.  Mission 
issued a Warden Message prior to Ramadan warning U.S. 
citizens to be cautious. 
 
HEFFERN