SUDAN: Reaction to Danish Cartoon Relatively

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000271

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PREL SOCI SCUL PGOV KISL DA NO US SU
SUBJECT: SUDAN: Reaction to Danish Cartoon Relatively
Mild

Ref: Khartoum 00264


1. Summary: Despite some violence in Darfur and a
Friday demonstration in Khartoum, the situation here has
remained relatively calm. The Norwegian Embassy received
a threat, but is being well protected by Sudanese forces.
There is some concern that Danish and Norwegian NGO's may
have to halt operations, at least temporarily. End
Summary.

Demonstrations Held in Khartoum on Feb. 3
--------------


2. Following the February 2 demonstration targeting the
Danish Refugee Council in Nyala, the Embassy issued a
warden notice advising American citizens in Sudan to
exercise caution especially during the period after
"Jama" prayers on February 3 (reftel). This warning was
issued based on indications of the likelihood of
demonstrations taking place in Khartoum after Friday
Mosque services.


3. Early Friday morning, Sudanese riot police were pre-
positioned throughout Khartoum -- at most diplomatic
missions, including the U.S. Embassy, as well as at the
United Nations and the offices of other prominent
international organizations. Throughout the morning and
mid-day, the streets of Khartoum remained relatively
quiet. After prayers, large numbers of individuals coming
from three Khartoum mosques converged on a city square
located behind the Presidential Palace. The Danish
cartoons were a topic of discussion at many local Mosques
by government-selected religious speakers, who encouraged
mosque attendees to participate in the scheduled
demonstration. The crowd was estimated to number between
2,500 to 3,000. The crowd marched from the square to the
nearby offices of the United Nations headquarters and
European Union, where they held a peaceful rally against
the cartoons. The protest included shouts of "Down with
the U.S." The protestors also presented written
complaints to representatives from the UN and EU. The
Embassy received reports Presidential Advisors Dr. Ahmed
Ali Al-Imam (religious affairs) and Dr. Ghazi Salahuddin
(political affairs) addressed the crowd. There were no
reports of violence.

More Details Emerge on Darfur Incident
--------------


4. On February 2, approximately 50 to 70 youth organized
a demonstration at the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and
Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) compounds in Nyala, South
Darfur. The crowd, primarily boys from a local private
school, threw stones at the DRC compound and destroyed
the guard hut, then moved to the NCA compound, where they
damaged an NCA vehicle, vandalized two motorbikes, and
injured one staff member.


5. Demonstrations continued over the ensuing days,
during which time protestors presented DRC with a letter
requesting that DRC leave South Darfur, which was not of
an aggressive or threatening tone. DRC complied with the
request; however, it is not yet clear whether DRC's
departure is a temporary security precaution or a
permanent withdrawal from South Darfur. NCA continues to
work in Nyala, but is keep a low profile and is remaining
on high alert.


6. On February 4, a USAID partner reported hearing from
the Sudanese government immigration department that the
government was canceling the "stay" visas for all Danish
and Norwegian NGOs staff. Local press reports that Dutch
and French NGOs may face the same treatment, and that
several NGOs might be expelled from Sudan for "poor
performance."

Norwegian Embassy Protection, Press Release
--------------


7. The Norwegian embassy received a threatening letter
on February 3; police have provided ample protection. On
February 6, local English press printed a press release
from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
highlighting the importance of respect for religion. The
release referred to the publication of derogatory
material as "unfortunate and deplorable," but also
observed that freedom of expression is a constitutional

KHARTOUM 00000271 002 OF 002


right and a mainstay of Norwegian society. (Note:
Denmark does not have a diplomatic mission in Sudan. End
note.)

Press Reaction
--------------


8. The Sudanese Arabic-language press carried reports of
the demonstrations in Khartoum, which included burning of
the Danish and Norwegian flags. One (Al-Hayat, Feb. 5)
noted a demand from the Muslim Scholars Association for
the expulsion of the ambassadors of Denmark, Norway,
Spain, France, and Germany as well as a boycott of their
goods. The new pro-Northern separatist daily Al Intibaha
also reported the demonstration in Nyala ("Demonstrators
in Darfur burn Vehicles of Norwegian and Swedish NGOs,"
Feb. 4). An editorial in the same edition - "We all will
die for you, Prophet Mohammed!" - saw the insulting
caricature as "a declaration of war on all Muslims,"
regardless of Danish government apologies.


9. Other editorials have supported a boycott of Danish
goods, as in the pro-government dailies Sudan Vision
(Feb. 5 and 6),Alwatan (Feb. 5),and Al-Rai Al-Aam ("The
Freedom of Insult," Feb. 4). However, Sudan Vision also
joined the other two (pro-Southern) English-language
dailies in publishing, on Feb. 6, the text of a Norwegian
official statement that, while characterizing the impact
of the cartoons as "unfortunate and deplorable,"
maintained that freedom of expression also entails
"tolerance" for different points of view.

Government Reaction
--------------


10. According to the government Sudan News Agency, the
National Congress Party renewed on February 2 a call for
a boycott of Danish and Norwegian products and expressed
hopes that government officials in the Muslim world would
cut off diplomatic ties with any country that "humiliates
Islam or Muslims." Also on Febraury 3, Foreign Minister
Lam Akol, in a BBC interview in London, condemned the
publication of the cartoons, stating that such behavior
is not helpful to the dialogue between civilizations and
cultures.
HUME