Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DARESSALAAM564
2008-09-03 13:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Cable title:
ZANZIBAR: HARDLINE ISLAMISTS BLAST KIKWETE ON
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C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 000564
AF/E FOR JLIDDLE; INR/RAA:FEHRENREICH AND DS/DSS/ITA FOR
DROTHSTEIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2013
TAGS: KISL PBTS PINR KDEM PNAT TZ
SUBJECT: ZANZIBAR: HARDLINE ISLAMISTS BLAST KIKWETE ON
ZANZIBAR'S STATUS IN TZ
REF: DAR ES SALAAM 444
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Larry Andre for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 000564
AF/E FOR JLIDDLE; INR/RAA:FEHRENREICH AND DS/DSS/ITA FOR
DROTHSTEIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2013
TAGS: KISL PBTS PINR KDEM PNAT TZ
SUBJECT: ZANZIBAR: HARDLINE ISLAMISTS BLAST KIKWETE ON
ZANZIBAR'S STATUS IN TZ
REF: DAR ES SALAAM 444
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Larry Andre for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (SBU) On September 1 Embassy Zanzibar Affairs Officer
obtained an open letter (faxed to AF/E) to President Kikwete
from Zanzibari Islamic activist group "The Association for
Islamic Mobilization and Propagation," known locally as
&UAMSHO.8 The first part of the letter purports to trace
the history and Islamic origins of &Greater Zanzibar8 and
then describes the eventual union with Tanganyika as a back
room deal between two leaders for internal political reasons.
2. (U) The letter states that during the last ten years there
has been &a delicate move to divide the people of Unguja and
Pemba8 (Comment: the two islands making up Zanzibar. End
Comment.) The letter goes on to say that this has had the
effect of frustrating the sense of nationalism among the
Zanzibari people and of distracting efforts to build Zanzibar
as a nation. In strong tones the letter criticizes the
national government,s Unionist policies, condemnnig in
particular the recent move by the national Speaker of the
House of Representatives to stop parliamentary discussion on
Zanzibar,s status within the Union and by the police to ban
a pro-Zanzibar demonstration.
3. (U) In conclusion, the letter calls for the people of
Zanzibar to unite, askIng rhetorically if the British and
Russians with different ideologies joined to fight against
German fascism, why not the people of Zanzibar? "We need to
remain united in order to liberate Zanzibar,8 the letter
concludes.
COMMENT:
4. (C) UAMSHO bills itself as a non-partisan, non-political
association of religious scholars, but in practice it
pronounces almost exclusively on political issues, seeking
out an &Islamic8 reading of current events. It was legally
registered as an NGO in 2001 to &safeguard the rights and
interests of Islam.8 Because of its NGO status and the fact
that it has not fielded political candidates of its own,
UAMSHO thus far has been able to avoid official prosecution
or censure by the ruling CCM party.
5. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: Much of UAMSHO,s anti-CCM
Government positions are in synch with CUF, and many of
CUF,s Zanzibari leadership adopt conservative Islamic dress
and manners in contrast to the openly secular stance of many
in the CCM leadership. This is not to say, however, that
UAMSHO and CUF share the same philosophy. Indeed, the
remarks about dividing Pemba and Unguja may also be seen as
criticism of CUF, whose power base rests on Pemba.
GREEN
AF/E FOR JLIDDLE; INR/RAA:FEHRENREICH AND DS/DSS/ITA FOR
DROTHSTEIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2013
TAGS: KISL PBTS PINR KDEM PNAT TZ
SUBJECT: ZANZIBAR: HARDLINE ISLAMISTS BLAST KIKWETE ON
ZANZIBAR'S STATUS IN TZ
REF: DAR ES SALAAM 444
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Larry Andre for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (SBU) On September 1 Embassy Zanzibar Affairs Officer
obtained an open letter (faxed to AF/E) to President Kikwete
from Zanzibari Islamic activist group "The Association for
Islamic Mobilization and Propagation," known locally as
&UAMSHO.8 The first part of the letter purports to trace
the history and Islamic origins of &Greater Zanzibar8 and
then describes the eventual union with Tanganyika as a back
room deal between two leaders for internal political reasons.
2. (U) The letter states that during the last ten years there
has been &a delicate move to divide the people of Unguja and
Pemba8 (Comment: the two islands making up Zanzibar. End
Comment.) The letter goes on to say that this has had the
effect of frustrating the sense of nationalism among the
Zanzibari people and of distracting efforts to build Zanzibar
as a nation. In strong tones the letter criticizes the
national government,s Unionist policies, condemnnig in
particular the recent move by the national Speaker of the
House of Representatives to stop parliamentary discussion on
Zanzibar,s status within the Union and by the police to ban
a pro-Zanzibar demonstration.
3. (U) In conclusion, the letter calls for the people of
Zanzibar to unite, askIng rhetorically if the British and
Russians with different ideologies joined to fight against
German fascism, why not the people of Zanzibar? "We need to
remain united in order to liberate Zanzibar,8 the letter
concludes.
COMMENT:
4. (C) UAMSHO bills itself as a non-partisan, non-political
association of religious scholars, but in practice it
pronounces almost exclusively on political issues, seeking
out an &Islamic8 reading of current events. It was legally
registered as an NGO in 2001 to &safeguard the rights and
interests of Islam.8 Because of its NGO status and the fact
that it has not fielded political candidates of its own,
UAMSHO thus far has been able to avoid official prosecution
or censure by the ruling CCM party.
5. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: Much of UAMSHO,s anti-CCM
Government positions are in synch with CUF, and many of
CUF,s Zanzibari leadership adopt conservative Islamic dress
and manners in contrast to the openly secular stance of many
in the CCM leadership. This is not to say, however, that
UAMSHO and CUF share the same philosophy. Indeed, the
remarks about dividing Pemba and Unguja may also be seen as
criticism of CUF, whose power base rests on Pemba.
GREEN