Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SYDNEY254
2008-11-18 22:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Sydney
Cable title:  

PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION BY AUSTRALIAN SYRIAN COMMUNITY

Tags:  ASEC AS 
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R 182244Z NOV 08
FM AMCONSUL SYDNEY
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8715
INFO AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
UNCLAS SYDNEY 000254 


DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP, DS/ITA
POST FOR RSO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC AS
SUBJECT: PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION BY AUSTRALIAN SYRIAN COMMUNITY

REF: DS SPOT REPORT DATED: 11/17/2008


UNCLAS SYDNEY 000254


DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP, DS/ITA
POST FOR RSO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC AS
SUBJECT: PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION BY AUSTRALIAN SYRIAN COMMUNITY

REF: DS SPOT REPORT DATED: 11/17/2008



1. (U) On Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 1600, there was a peaceful
demonstration by a group calling itself the "Australian - Syrian
Community" directed against the United States Government. According
to local authorities, the group had intended to rally at the Sydney
Town Hall before proceeding approximately one kilometer to the U.S.
Consulate General Sydney located within the MLC Building at Martin
Place and had hoped to draw several hundred participants. The group
did not march to Martin Place as planned and only drew approximately
20 participants. The group remained in the area of the Sydney Town
Hall for approximately 30 minutes handing out leaflets before
dispersing without incident. New South Wales Police and the
Australian Federal Police were present for the demonstration.


2. (U) Demonstrators distributed leaflets containing two pictures of
bloodied bodies followed by the following text:

BEGIN VERBATIM TEXT

!!!
U.S. military helicopters attacked an area along
Syria's border with Iraq
Killing eight people,
Syrian Arab News Agency said the attack was on the
Sukkariyeh Farm near the town of Abu Kamal, five miles
inside the Syrian border. Four helicopters attacked a civilian
building under construction, firing on the workers inside,
shortly before sundown.

The eyewitness accounts said that four helicopters
were involved in the operation, with two of the
helicopters landing in the town and eight American
soldiers disembarking. The eyewitnesses said that
the seven killed men were supposedly construction
workers.

Doctors in the town of Al-Sukkariya, some eight
Kilometers from the Iraqi border, said seven corpses
And four wounded had been delivered to a nearby
Clinic after

Ask your self do you want this to
happen to you?
Send a letter condemning to the
American embassy or email on
usrsaustralia@state.gov

END VERBATIM TEXT


3. (U) If you have any additional questions or concerns
regarding this report, please contact RSO Sydney: David Shamber;
Mobile: 61-434-316-465.


FERGIN