Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CALCUTTA101
2006-03-01 13:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:
WEST BENGAL LEFTISTS PROTEST PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO
how-toVZCZCXRO3351 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHCI #0101 0601326 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 011326Z MAR 06 FM AMCONSUL CALCUTTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0819 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 0764 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI IMMEDIATE 0295 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI IMMEDIATE 0295 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0123 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0011 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0172 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0177 RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0098 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 0065 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0067 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 0051 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 1002
UNCLAS CALCUTTA 000101
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC CVIS PREL KRIM OVIP IN
SUBJECT: WEST BENGAL LEFTISTS PROTEST PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO
INDIA
UNCLAS CALCUTTA 000101
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC CVIS PREL KRIM OVIP IN
SUBJECT: WEST BENGAL LEFTISTS PROTEST PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO
INDIA
1. (SBU) On March 1, demonstrators from the youth wings of the
Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM),the Democratic Youth
Federation of India (DYFI) and the Students Federation of India
(SFI),protested the impending arrival of President Bush to
India in front of the American Center in Calcutta. The protest
lasted from approximately 2:00-300 PM. The estimated 10,0000
DYFI and SFI members were peaceful, but burned effigies of
President Bush and made anti-American statements. Calcutta
police coverage was good and no incidents were reported.
Consulate Calcutta closed the American Center at 1:00 PM in
anticipation of the demonstrations and in consultation with
AmEmbassy New Delhi. However, the Consulate offices located
several blocks from the American Center remained opened and
provided all consular services without interruption.
2. (SBU) Post contacts indicate today's event was a
curtain-raiser for the CPM's March 2 protests, which they expect
to be much larger, with possibly 20,000 to 30,000 demonstrators
and senior party officials participating. Other groups such as
the Socialist Unity Center of India (SUCI) and the Jamaat ul
Ulema Hind (a Congress Party -backed Muslim organization) have
planned rallies in the next two days, although at different
venues away from the American Center. Post is planning to close
the American Center again on March 2 at approximately 3:00 PM,
prior to the CPM demonstration but will continue regular
consular and American Citizen services.
JARDINE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC CVIS PREL KRIM OVIP IN
SUBJECT: WEST BENGAL LEFTISTS PROTEST PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO
INDIA
1. (SBU) On March 1, demonstrators from the youth wings of the
Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM),the Democratic Youth
Federation of India (DYFI) and the Students Federation of India
(SFI),protested the impending arrival of President Bush to
India in front of the American Center in Calcutta. The protest
lasted from approximately 2:00-300 PM. The estimated 10,0000
DYFI and SFI members were peaceful, but burned effigies of
President Bush and made anti-American statements. Calcutta
police coverage was good and no incidents were reported.
Consulate Calcutta closed the American Center at 1:00 PM in
anticipation of the demonstrations and in consultation with
AmEmbassy New Delhi. However, the Consulate offices located
several blocks from the American Center remained opened and
provided all consular services without interruption.
2. (SBU) Post contacts indicate today's event was a
curtain-raiser for the CPM's March 2 protests, which they expect
to be much larger, with possibly 20,000 to 30,000 demonstrators
and senior party officials participating. Other groups such as
the Socialist Unity Center of India (SUCI) and the Jamaat ul
Ulema Hind (a Congress Party -backed Muslim organization) have
planned rallies in the next two days, although at different
venues away from the American Center. Post is planning to close
the American Center again on March 2 at approximately 3:00 PM,
prior to the CPM demonstration but will continue regular
consular and American Citizen services.
JARDINE