UPDATE ON DUTCH REACTIONS TO CARTOON CONTROVERSY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000314 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UBI, EUR/PPD SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER KISL PGOV PINR SOCI SCUL KPAO NL SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DUTCH REACTIONS TO CARTOON CONTROVERSY THE HAGUE 00000314 001.2 OF 002 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED REFTEL: A) THE HAGUE 269 B) THE HAGUE 303 C) STATE 20587 ¶1. (U) Summary: The Danish cartoons remain a hot topic in the Netherlands. So far, there have been no violent reactions here, but officials are watching closely a planned "peaceful demonstration" in Amsterdam on February ¶11. PM Balkenende and other government officials have expressed support for the Danes and freedom of expression while reaching out to the Muslim community; FM Bot plans to travel to the Middle East next week to help smooth ruffled feathers. Some parliamentarians, however, continue to make inflammatory statements. According to a recent poll, 79 percent called freedom of expression a fundamental value that Muslims should 'learn to live with.' End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The Danish cartoon controversy continues to simmer in The Netherlands, but, so far, without violence. Dutch officials are taking measures to ensure that a demonstration against the cartoons planned for February 11 in Amsterdam remains peaceful (ref a),but are concerned that no organization has claimed responsibility for organizing the protest. GOVERNMENT REACTIONS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On February 7, Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende, 'extremely concerned' about the violent reactions in Arab countries, publicly reached out to the Danish Prime minister to express his support. Balkenende stressed that while freedom of speech and freedom of religion are "essential values in a democracy," they "do not go hand in hand with discrimination, insult or incitement to hatred." He also expressed support for investing more in dialogue with the Islamic world and hoped debate will continue in the Netherlands among the media, Muslims, government officials, and the public. Balkenende reached out to Dutch-Muslim religious leaders, thanking them for their calm reaction to publication of the cartoons here and abroad, and for taking 'the peaceful path of dialogue -and if necessary- peaceful protests.' ¶4. (SBU) In a conversation with Charge on February 7, MFA Director General for Political Affairs Hugo Siblesz stated religious freedom is important, but asserted governments have a responsibility to protect embassies and to prevent, not foment, destructive behavior. Charge noted the USG's solidarity with Denmark, Norway and other European countries who are under threat, is unequivocal (ref c). Siblesz said the Government of the Netherlands (GONL) is trying to speak with one voice on the issue and is pleased about the muted response within local Muslim communities. ¶5. (SBU) Other government members have been quoted in the press on the cartoon issue, most agreeing that those offended should use the justice system instead of taking their anger to the streets. For example, Foreign Minister Bot said 'if Muslims feel offended by the Danish Mohammed cartoons, and if they want to protest, they should go to court.' Foreign Minister Bot plans to visit Saudi Arabia and Qatar next week, where he reportedly hopes to help soothe the conflict over the Danish cartoons. The visit to the two countries was already planned but has been moved up a little bit because of the cartoon riots. PARLIAMENT WEIGHS IN -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Some members of parliament have taken a more inflammatory approach to the conflict. As noted ref a, maverick politician Geert Wilders posted the offending cartoons on his website and has -- not surprisingly -- reported an increase in death threats. On February 9, Dutch MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali gave a press conference in Berlin where she supported publication of the controversial cartoons. She said the 'hardline Islamist movement rejects democratic freedoms and wants to destroy them.' She ridiculed those who disagreed with republication, calling them hypocrites and said they had 'no backbone.' She went on to criticize Prime Minister Balkenende saying she wished 'he had had the guts of Danish PM Rasmussen.' ¶7. (U) Across political lines, there appears to be agreement against the European Commission proposal for a 'Media Code of Conduct'. The Prime Minister reportedly said there would be no discussion of a code 'imposed from THE HAGUE 00000314 002 OF 002 above' because of freedom of the press and freedom of speech. PvdA leader Bos was pleased to hear that 'the Netherlands will not agree to a code initiated or imposed by the European Commission.' According to press reporting, only the small Christian party SGP was even willing to raise the proposal formally in parliament. EMBASSY CONTACT REMARKS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Embassy and Consulate have spoken to many contacts regarding the cartoon controversy during the last two weeks. None believes violence will spontaneously break out in the Netherlands because of the cartoons. Amsterdam Alderman Ahmed Aboutaleb told us that there are 'no signs that the controversy over the cartoons is likely to erupt into violence in Amsterdam'. Local Muslim community leader Moustapha Baba also expected no violence, but noted that while most Dutch-Muslims understand the freedom of the press and speech issues, they still find the cartoons very disrespectful. Referring to the planned "silent and peaceful protest" Saturday in Amsterdam, Baba worried that "one stupid person burning a flag" could transform the event into a riot. ¶9. (SBU) Other Embassy contacts, such as Jean Tillie of the University of Amsterdam expect the debate in The Netherlands to remain civil. As an example, he noted the Amsterdam mosque (El Tawheed) that this week filed a complaint in court against Geert Wilders for refusing to remove the offensive cartoons from his website. This, he said, reflected a more productive and judicial means of addressing Muslim concerns.. According to El Tawheed spokesman Farid Zaari, Wilders is 'aiding the escalation of violence against Christians, Jews and Muslims," but the mosque believes that by filing an official complaint it is addressing the problem "the way it should be done in the Netherlands." Zaari also stated no objections to the publication of the cartoons in Dutch newspapers in the first place saying 'if newspapers find it necessary to show readers what the commotion is about, so be it.' ¶10. (SBU) Amsterdam City Manager Chief of Staff Jereon de Lange also expects Amsterdam to remain calm and city officials do not expect a large turnout at Saturday's demonstration. The only sign of protest they have seen so far is a group of young Dutch-Muslim boys carrying a Danish flag through the streets. This is seen only as an attempt to gain attention and is not expected to escalate. Ton Smakman, the Amsterdam Police Youth Coordinator with youth outreach programs focusing on Moroccan boys, said young people know about the publication of the cartoons, but are not worried or angry. He does not have a feel for how many will attend the demonstration on Saturday, but will be there himself to keep an eye on the young people he knows from west-Amsterdam. He will work the protest as a member of the 'Peace Keeping Force' who will be trying to maintain contact with the demonstrators to ensure a peaceful protest. He does not anticipate trouble, he said, unless young people come out "looking for a confrontation." Public Opinion: -------------- ¶11. (U) According to pollster Maurice de Hond, a recent poll of the Dutch public found the following: -- 68 percent do not object to their media publishing the Danish cartoons. -- 65 percent do not understand the uproar in other countries. -- 79 percent of those polled called freedom of expression a fundamental value that Muslims should 'learn to live with.' -- 79 percent do not find it necessary for Denmark to apologize to Muslims. -- 52 percent think there should be legal action against the Arab European League for publishing anti-Semitic cartoons on its website. BLAKEMAN