Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MAPUTO228
2006-02-22 15:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Maputo
Cable title:
MOZAMBICAN NEWSPAPERS' REPRINTING OF DANISH
how-toVZCZCXRO5342 PP RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR DE RUEHTO #0228 0531559 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 221559Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5018 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS MAPUTO 000228
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S - HTREGER
DS/IP/AF
AF/EX
AF/PD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PHUM ASEC PREL MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBICAN NEWSPAPERS' REPRINTING OF DANISH
CARTOONS PROVOKES MUSLIM PROTEST
REF: MAPUTO 177
UNCLAS MAPUTO 000228
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S - HTREGER
DS/IP/AF
AF/EX
AF/PD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PHUM ASEC PREL MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBICAN NEWSPAPERS' REPRINTING OF DANISH
CARTOONS PROVOKES MUSLIM PROTEST
REF: MAPUTO 177
1. On Friday, February 17, the Mozambican independent weekly
newspaper "Savana" reprinted eight of the 12 Danish cartoons
that have sparked world furor. This provoked a demonstration
outside the paper's Maputo office that afternoon, involving
approximately 120 Muslims. For the past several weeks Muslim
leaders have been urging their followers not to resort to
violence, but some of the protesters did so - breaking flower
planters and destroying a guard booth on the street. Muslim
leaders managed to have the demonstrators disburse.
2. Government spokesperson Luis Covane, speaking on February
19, characterized the publication of the cartoons by Savanna
as "unreasonable," given worldwide Muslim sensitivity to the
issue. He underscored, however, the government's secular
principles, as well as its commitment to religious freedom.
Covane urged the Muslim community to behave in a way that
would promote national stability and unity.
3. On February 19 Savana editor-in-chief Fernando Conclaves
appeared on evening television and read a short apology. He
insisted that no offense was intended in the reprinting of
the cartoons, but that the decision was made to show
Mozambicans what exactly had caused the global uproar.
(Note: Some observers cynically believe that Savana made a
calculated decision based on simple economics - the paper has
been losing money for some time, and this would have been a
way to sell more copy. Others maintain that Savana may have
thought it would not be viewed as anti-Muslim since one of
its featured columnists is Islamic theologian and Islamic
Council leader Sheik Aminuddin Mohamed.)
4. According to the press, the Muslim community is now
organizing a general boycott of Savana and calling for
another demonstration outside the newspapers' office on
Saturday, February 25.
La Lime
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S - HTREGER
DS/IP/AF
AF/EX
AF/PD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PHUM ASEC PREL MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBICAN NEWSPAPERS' REPRINTING OF DANISH
CARTOONS PROVOKES MUSLIM PROTEST
REF: MAPUTO 177
1. On Friday, February 17, the Mozambican independent weekly
newspaper "Savana" reprinted eight of the 12 Danish cartoons
that have sparked world furor. This provoked a demonstration
outside the paper's Maputo office that afternoon, involving
approximately 120 Muslims. For the past several weeks Muslim
leaders have been urging their followers not to resort to
violence, but some of the protesters did so - breaking flower
planters and destroying a guard booth on the street. Muslim
leaders managed to have the demonstrators disburse.
2. Government spokesperson Luis Covane, speaking on February
19, characterized the publication of the cartoons by Savanna
as "unreasonable," given worldwide Muslim sensitivity to the
issue. He underscored, however, the government's secular
principles, as well as its commitment to religious freedom.
Covane urged the Muslim community to behave in a way that
would promote national stability and unity.
3. On February 19 Savana editor-in-chief Fernando Conclaves
appeared on evening television and read a short apology. He
insisted that no offense was intended in the reprinting of
the cartoons, but that the decision was made to show
Mozambicans what exactly had caused the global uproar.
(Note: Some observers cynically believe that Savana made a
calculated decision based on simple economics - the paper has
been losing money for some time, and this would have been a
way to sell more copy. Others maintain that Savana may have
thought it would not be viewed as anti-Muslim since one of
its featured columnists is Islamic theologian and Islamic
Council leader Sheik Aminuddin Mohamed.)
4. According to the press, the Muslim community is now
organizing a general boycott of Savana and calling for
another demonstration outside the newspapers' office on
Saturday, February 25.
La Lime