Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KOLKATA356
2007-11-21 13:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:
INDIAN ARMY DEPLOYS TO QUELL MUSLIM RIOTS IN KOLKATA
how-toVZCZCXRO2453 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI DE RUEHCI #0356 3251320 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 211320Z NOV 07 FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1774 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 1675 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 0757 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 0762 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0496 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0496 RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0355 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0402 RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2170
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000356
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DS/DSS/ITA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC AEMR CASC PHUM IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN ARMY DEPLOYS TO QUELL MUSLIM RIOTS IN KOLKATA
REF: A) KOLKATA 0351 B) KOLKATA 0345 C) KOLKATA 0088
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000356
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DS/DSS/ITA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC AEMR CASC PHUM IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN ARMY DEPLOYS TO QUELL MUSLIM RIOTS IN KOLKATA
REF: A) KOLKATA 0351 B) KOLKATA 0345 C) KOLKATA 0088
1. (U) Summary: On November 21, central Kolkata was rocked by
violence as Muslim supporters of the All India Minorities Forum
(AIMF) and Furfurasharif Muzadeddia Anath Foundation (FMAF)
enforced roadblocks in Kolkata to protest the recent Communist
Party of India-Marxist (CPM) attacks in Nandigram and to demand
the cancellation of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen's Indian
visa. The violence started when protesters clashed with the
police and set fire to passing vehicles in the Park Circus area.
One person was reportedly killed and six army companies were
deployed to support the police. Post Emergency Action Committee
(EAC) authorized early release of non-essential consulate staff
to allow personnel to get home safely and to avoid an
anticipated military curfew. Post also issued a
Department-cleared Warden message, alerting American Citizens of
the violence and recommending that they avoid the affected
areas. Post will be closed on November 22 for the Thanksgiving
holiday. The recent violence and agitation reflects a growing
Muslim perception that CPM policies are anti-Muslim. End
Summary.
2. (U) Muslim supporters of the AIMF and FMAF began protests in
the morning of November 21 in central Kolkata, bringing traffic
to a halt on main arterial city roads -- including AJC Bose
road, Park Circus, Moulali and CIT Road (approximately a half
mile from the Consulate). Demonstrators were demanding the
revocation of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen's Indian visa,
claiming her novels were anti-Muslim. Nasreen has been residing
in Kolkata for several months. In addition, Muslims were upset
over the recent November 6-12 CPM attacks on villagers in the
rural West Bengal area of Nandigram as the Muslims say that 70
percent of the Nandigram victims were Muslim (Reftels).
3. (U) Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Jawed Shamim and
several other policemen were injured when the police tried to
lift the blockade on AJC Bose Road. Police resorted to a
baton-charge and used teargas to enforce order. The situation
spiraled out of control even as special police Rapid Action
Force were deployed. One protestor was reportedly killed and 22
vehicles were damaged. Around 1600 hours six army companies
were deployed to the disturbed areas. A curfew is to be imposed
from 2200 hours today to 0600 hours on November 22 in the
affected areas.
4. (SBU) Post EAC authorized non-essential consulate staff to
leave early to avoid the violence and the anticipated curfew. A
warden message alerting American citizens of the violence was
cleared by Embassy New Delhi and the Department, and was
released through the Warden network. Post will be closed on
November 22 for the Federal Thanksgiving holiday. Post will
continue to monitor the situation to assess possible impacts on
operations for Friday, November 23.
5. (SBU) Comment: This violence reflects rising communal anger
in West Bengal among the Muslim community. Local Muslims,
normally devoid of communal tensions, are growing upset with the
CPM-run state government for several reasons. In September,
Muslims became enraged over the mysterious death of young Muslim
Rizwanur Rehman, following his marriage to Hindu Priyanka Todi.
Press reported extensively that Todi's father solicited the
local police to threaten Rehman and many suspect that Rehman may
have been murdered. Also in recent weeks, CPM activists
attacked villagers in Nandigram and killed, injured and
displaced farmers, a large number of whom were Muslims. In
addition, the much-publicized Sachar Committee report, released
earlier this year, indicated the GOWB has failed to address the
Muslim community's economic and social backwardness in the
state. Finally, Taslima Nasreen, whose controversial writings
against Islamic practices forced her to flee a fatwa of death in
Bangladesh, has been residing in Kolkata.
JARDINE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DS/DSS/ITA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC AEMR CASC PHUM IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN ARMY DEPLOYS TO QUELL MUSLIM RIOTS IN KOLKATA
REF: A) KOLKATA 0351 B) KOLKATA 0345 C) KOLKATA 0088
1. (U) Summary: On November 21, central Kolkata was rocked by
violence as Muslim supporters of the All India Minorities Forum
(AIMF) and Furfurasharif Muzadeddia Anath Foundation (FMAF)
enforced roadblocks in Kolkata to protest the recent Communist
Party of India-Marxist (CPM) attacks in Nandigram and to demand
the cancellation of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen's Indian
visa. The violence started when protesters clashed with the
police and set fire to passing vehicles in the Park Circus area.
One person was reportedly killed and six army companies were
deployed to support the police. Post Emergency Action Committee
(EAC) authorized early release of non-essential consulate staff
to allow personnel to get home safely and to avoid an
anticipated military curfew. Post also issued a
Department-cleared Warden message, alerting American Citizens of
the violence and recommending that they avoid the affected
areas. Post will be closed on November 22 for the Thanksgiving
holiday. The recent violence and agitation reflects a growing
Muslim perception that CPM policies are anti-Muslim. End
Summary.
2. (U) Muslim supporters of the AIMF and FMAF began protests in
the morning of November 21 in central Kolkata, bringing traffic
to a halt on main arterial city roads -- including AJC Bose
road, Park Circus, Moulali and CIT Road (approximately a half
mile from the Consulate). Demonstrators were demanding the
revocation of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen's Indian visa,
claiming her novels were anti-Muslim. Nasreen has been residing
in Kolkata for several months. In addition, Muslims were upset
over the recent November 6-12 CPM attacks on villagers in the
rural West Bengal area of Nandigram as the Muslims say that 70
percent of the Nandigram victims were Muslim (Reftels).
3. (U) Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Jawed Shamim and
several other policemen were injured when the police tried to
lift the blockade on AJC Bose Road. Police resorted to a
baton-charge and used teargas to enforce order. The situation
spiraled out of control even as special police Rapid Action
Force were deployed. One protestor was reportedly killed and 22
vehicles were damaged. Around 1600 hours six army companies
were deployed to the disturbed areas. A curfew is to be imposed
from 2200 hours today to 0600 hours on November 22 in the
affected areas.
4. (SBU) Post EAC authorized non-essential consulate staff to
leave early to avoid the violence and the anticipated curfew. A
warden message alerting American citizens of the violence was
cleared by Embassy New Delhi and the Department, and was
released through the Warden network. Post will be closed on
November 22 for the Federal Thanksgiving holiday. Post will
continue to monitor the situation to assess possible impacts on
operations for Friday, November 23.
5. (SBU) Comment: This violence reflects rising communal anger
in West Bengal among the Muslim community. Local Muslims,
normally devoid of communal tensions, are growing upset with the
CPM-run state government for several reasons. In September,
Muslims became enraged over the mysterious death of young Muslim
Rizwanur Rehman, following his marriage to Hindu Priyanka Todi.
Press reported extensively that Todi's father solicited the
local police to threaten Rehman and many suspect that Rehman may
have been murdered. Also in recent weeks, CPM activists
attacked villagers in Nandigram and killed, injured and
displaced farmers, a large number of whom were Muslims. In
addition, the much-publicized Sachar Committee report, released
earlier this year, indicated the GOWB has failed to address the
Muslim community's economic and social backwardness in the
state. Finally, Taslima Nasreen, whose controversial writings
against Islamic practices forced her to flee a fatwa of death in
Bangladesh, has been residing in Kolkata.
JARDINE