C-D18-00223: MEDAN -- DEMONSTRATORS VANDALIZE

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000674 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DS/IP/EAP, DS/ATA, CA/OCS, EUR/WE NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ASEC ID NL SUBJECT: C-D18-00223: MEDAN -- DEMONSTRATORS VANDALIZE DUTCH CONSULATE REF: A. JAKARTA 655 ¶B. STATE 20822 ¶1. (U) In Indonesia's first violent reaction against the anti-Islamic film "Fitna," 50 students from a North Sumatra Islamic students' organization vandalized the Dutch consulate in Medan on April 2. Police failed to react quickly enough to control the students, who broke down the consulate gate, burned the Dutch flag, torched the building entrance, and broke several windows with rocks, sources in Medan told DepPol/C. Police arrested 22 demonstrators while the others scattered, sources told us. No one was injured in the incident. ¶2. (U) The students from the Islamic Students Association--an organization with a moderate reputation with branches nationwide--coming from several universities, reportedly became agitated after protesting for an hour without reaction from consulate staff, according to media reports. In addition, Dutch embassy sources and human rights contacts in Medan confirmed that police were slow to react when the students began their assault on the facility. Police were likely spread thin that day with political rallies for the upcoming gubernatorial elections, human rights sources told us. The students apparently had a permit for the demonstration. ¶3. (U) This type of violence is rare in Medan and was due to heightened emotions over the film and the fact that police failed to control the situation, human rights activists told us, adding, however, that the arrests were fully justified. Human rights groups in Medan told us that while they support the students demonstrating against the film, they condemn the violence (as does the Indonesian government and virtually the entire religious establishment). ¶4. (U) As reported, there have been no other serious incidents reported in Indonesia. Protests are expected in Surabaya on April 4, sources told poloff in Surabaya. HUME