Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM264
2006-02-02 15:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

ANTI-DANISH REFUGEE COUNCIL PROTEST SUGGESTS

Tags:  PGOV PREL KCRM SOCI PTER DA NO US SU 
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VZCZCXRO2086
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #0264 0331555
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 021555Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1276
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 0001
UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000264 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR S/ES, AF/FO, AF/RSA, AND AF/SPG
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM SOCI PTER DA NO US SU
SUBJECT: ANTI-DANISH REFUGEE COUNCIL PROTEST SUGGESTS
GOVERNMENT PROVOCATION


UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000264

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR S/ES, AF/FO, AF/RSA, AND AF/SPG
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM SOCI PTER DA NO US SU
SUBJECT: ANTI-DANISH REFUGEE COUNCIL PROTEST SUGGESTS
GOVERNMENT PROVOCATION



1. (SBU) On February 2, an angry crowd of approximately 100
students surrounded the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and
Agencies Coordinating Together (ACT)/CARITAS (which houses
Norwegian NGOs) compounds in Nyala, South Darfur, and stoned
several vehicles at 10:00 in the morning. The NGO staff were
able to find shelter in nearby offices of the UN and/or NGOs;
none was injured. The protest is linked to the recent
controversy over the publication by a Danish publication of
cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed in a derogatory
manner. Following the event, the UN broadcast a message
advising all NGOs to remain inside their compounds due to
tensions in town. USAID notes that all Darfur Field Office
personnel are accounted for and safe.


2. (SBU) The UN Field Security Coordination Office in
Khartoum issued a security advisory on the afternoon of
February 2 directing staff to minimize non-essential
movement, maintain radio contact, avoid the city center and
demonstrations, and carry UN identification cards at all
times. The office also noted that additional demonstrations
are expected following Friday prayers.


3. (SBU) According to the February 2 edition of Arabic
language daily newspaper Al-Watan, an organization called
"Forum Defending Prophet Mohamed" has asked Muslims to
participate in a February 3 "mosques demonstration" to
denounce Norwegian and Danish publications depicting the
Prophet disparagingly. The demonstrations are to be followed
by a march to the UN offices; the protesters are asked to
call for the expulsion of Norwegian and Danish organizations
from Sudan.


4. (SBU) On January 31, according the government Sudan News
Agency (SUNA) stated that President Bashir had instructed the
Ministry of Defense to reject a request to visit Sudan by the
Danish Minister of Defense due to the derogatory cartoons.
He affirmed that no Danish officials would be permitted to
visit Sudan until the Danish government issued an apology to
the Islamic world. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
reportedly urged Sudanese companies to cease dealings and
financial transactions immediately with Danish companies in
protest. The article concluded by mentioning that there is
no diplomatic representation between Denmark and Sudan.


5. (SBU) This incident hearkens to the January 17 anti-West
protest rally in El Fasher, wherein reportedly 2,000 youths
demonstrated in front of the African Union Mission in Sudan
(AMIS) compound. The North Darfur governor addressed the
crowd, denouncing efforts to deploy international forces in
Darfur. The occasion included the burning of U.S. and UN
flags.


6. (SBU) Comment: The Danish cartoon incident has provided
the opportunity for anti-Western protest in Darfur, at a time
of heightened Sudanese sensitivities with regard to their
sovereignty: blaming the West (U.S.) for Sudan's
non-accession to the AU presidency; Kofi Annan's statements
about needing much more robust peacekeeping (read
"internationalization") in Darfur; and the beginning of
serious planning for AMIS-UN rehatting. The recent incident
in Darfur against the Danish NGO was no doubt instigated by
the government. We will remain vigilant to any increase in
violence, and will issue a warden notice, considering the
possibility of inflammatory statements from the mosques on
Friday.
HUME