CARTOON CONTROVERSY; NORDIC DIPLOMATS COMMENT;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000221 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, DS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2009 TAGS: ASEC KISL MO PGOV PREL SUBJECT: CARTOON CONTROVERSY; NORDIC DIPLOMATS COMMENT; MORE DEMONSTRATIONS PLANNED REF: A. RABAT 201 ¶B. STATE Classified By: POL/C Timothy Lenderking for Reasons 1.4. (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) During a February 8 office call to discuss the aborted Nordic mission to Western Sahara (septel),Swedish and Norwegian Embassy First Secretaries Jonas Wendel and Lena Richter Strand told Polcouns that reaction so far against Nordic countries in Morocco in response to the cartoon controversy had been limited and restrained. Richter Strand said the Norwegian Embassy had received a number of emails expressing dismay with the cartoons, but the emails, all in English and not necessarily from Moroccans, were non-threatening, and the embassy was not unduly concerned. Nevertheless, she reported that additional Moroccan police are stationed outside the Norwegian Embassy in Rabat. RSO learned of a bomb threat to the Swedish Embassy, however, later on February 8; the Swedish Embassy evacuated, but no bomb or suspicious item was found. ¶2. (SBU) The diplomats reported that approximately 800-900 demonstrators showed up at an announced sit-in at the Danish Honorary Consulate in Casablanca the evening of February 7. (Note: There is no Danish Embassy in Morocco. The Danish Ambassador to Morocco resides in Lisbon. Sweden and Norway assist Denmark with various diplomatic duties in Morocco End Note). The demonstration was peaceful. Richter Strand noted that the honorary consulate, staffed by a Moroccan businessman, is housed in an office building near the port in Casablanca, but is not in an area convenient to the public. That may have helped keep the numbers at the demonstration down, she thought. Wendel understood that the honorary consul had removed the Danish flag down from the front of the office over the February 4 weekend, but he believed the flag had since been re-hoisted. Press reports indicate the sit-in was led by the youth wing of the Islamist Party of Justice and Development. ¶3. (C) Moroccan security sources told Casa RSO that only 30-40 people showed up at the Casablanca demonstration, which they said was unauthorized. The police dispersed the demonstrators, who left peacefully. ¶4. (C) Wendel said he had heard that some Danish products had been removed from shelves in some supermarkets in Rabat and Casablanca, but he believed this was not systematic or even widely observed. The only Danish company in Morocco is Maersk, with offices in Casablanca and Tangiers. In addition, a Moroccan company represents Bang and Olufsen. The diplomats were aware of no threats or special security issues regarding either of these businesses. ¶5. (SBU) According to press reports and other embassy contacts, several other demonstrations have taken place in recent days: -- On February 6, members of a Casablanca labor union organized a sit-in in a busy business area in the city. They called for a boycott of Danish products. -- On February 4, about 700 people (one press report claimed the figure was 80,000, but that seems wildly inflated) demonstrated on the main avenue in the far northeastern border town of Oujda. Protesters condemned the Danish government and westerners that support it. ¶6. (SBU) Apart from official demonstrations, there appears to be considerable chatter on internet, SMS, and email relating to less official gatherings. One message received by an emboff appealed (rough translation from Arabic): "To you, my prophet, I sacrifice myself, my father, my mother. Defeat to Denmark. The nation of Islam has decided to have a general fast Thursday at iftar. It is your prophet that has been blasphemed. So show us your power on February 9, and spread the word and support your beloved Mohammed, spread the word for Mohammed. Please forward this to as many of your friends as possible, so that it will reach everyone." ¶7. (SBU) An American professor at Morocco's private al-Akhawayne University some two hours from Rabat in the Middle Atlas, wrote in a February 9 article entitled, "The Moroccan Street: No to Violence, no to Western Disrespect," that the consensus, based on his conversations with a wide range of Moroccans in Ifrane, is that "contrary to the apocalypse on television," while Moroccans find the cartoons highly disrespectful, they believe "violence is neither RABAT 00000221 002 OF 002 warranted nor part of Islam." ¶8. (SBU) According to press reports, political parties, unions, and NGOs have called for a national march to protest the cartoons on Friday, February 10, after noon prayers in Rabat. RSO is in contact with Moroccan police concerning the march and will recommend action as necessary. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Riley