CONTINUED PROTESTS AGAINST DANISH AND EUROPEAN

UNCLAS DHAKA 000721 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/NEA-SCA, DS/DSS/CC, DS/IP/ITA, SA/PB, S/CT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PTER BG SUBJECT: CONTINUED PROTESTS AGAINST DANISH AND EUROPEAN EMBASSIES OVER PUBLICIZED CARTOONS REF: (A) STATE 20453 (B) STATE 18503 (C) DHAKA 717 ¶1. (U) According to police sources, several Islamic groups have planned to organize a protest around the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on Monday, February 13, 2006 at 1600 hours followed by a march towards the National parliament. The protests have been called because of the cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad's that has been recently published in news magazine of throughout Denmark, Italy, and France. Groups that have scheduled to participate in the march include the Islamic Constitutional Movements, Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Movements, Jamat e Ulama Islam, National Committee for Stopping Aggression, Khelafat Majlish, Nejame Islami, Islamic United Movements, Kaumi Education Board, International Khatme Nabuyat Bangladesh, Amra Dhaka Bashi, Islamic Law Implementations Committee, Islamic Chatra Majlish, and Ahle Hadis. ¶2. (U) The demonstration will originate from the downtown Dhaka Baitul Mukarram Mosque (approximately 8 KM from the Diplomatic Enclave where the US Embassy and emboff residences are located). Although the march is not planned to go towards the Diplomatic Enclave, Dhaka Metropolitan Police have taken special security measures to protect the diplomatic enclave during the planned march and have stated that they will not allow any processions or demonstrators around the diplomatic enclave. Several thousand people are slated to participate in the planned demonstration and police are expecting violent clashes in the downtown areas affected by the march. ¶3. (SBU) There have been other smaller demonstrations in downtown Dhaka since the announcement of the publishing of the cartoon and one large demonstration this past Friday (reftel C). During the demonstration this past Friday, 40,000 people were in attendance. Several groups began to march from the downtown area and even broke through the initial police line. However, police had several other lines on the march route and via the use of batons, water cannons, and riot control agents, were able to stop the protestors from marching toward the Danish Embassy (located in the diplomatic enclave). During this march, police had an unprecedented number of personnel and equipment on standby throughout the diplomatic enclave should the demonstrators have managed to pass all forward police lines. On 02/08/06 the Minister of Home Affairs assured the Charge D' Affaires that the police would not allow the demonstrators to penetrate the diplomatic enclave. ¶4. (SBU) RSO Actions: As mentioned in reftel C, the RSO has worked with the Danish Embassy on security preparedness and is in contact with Danish officials should they need help from the RSO. ¶5. (SBU) RSO, in addition to Consular, has issued a security notice advising post personnel to avoid the affected areas of downtown due to the protests. While police have traditionally been able keep protesters from marching into the diplomatic enclave, RSO assets will monitor and advise RSO and Post 1 should the protesters manage to make their way towards the enclave area. ¶6. (U) Point of contact is Regional Security Office Dhaka, 8802-885-5500 X2228. CHAMMAS