VZCZCXRO4540
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCG #2552/01 3131124
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091124Z NOV 06
FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0423
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2066
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 4896
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA PRIORITY 0636
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0534
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0979
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1051

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 002552 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR SCA/INS, DS/IP/SCA and DS/IP/ITA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER PGOV IN
SUBJECT: SOUTH INDIA REACTS TO HUSSEIN VERDICT:  SECURITY NOT 
COMPROMISED DESPITE PROTESTS 
 
REF: A) STATE 182968 B) CHENNAI 2523 C) CALCUTTA 0513 and previous 
 
D) NEW DELHI 07618 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Reactions to the Saddam Hussein verdict from the 
left-leaning political parties in south India - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, 
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh - ranged from mild opposition to strong 
condemnation.  Protests were peaceful overall yet indicative of the 
region's steadfast opposition to the USG's policy in Iraq.  In Tamil 
Nadu, nearly 400 arrests occurred after a demonstration in close 
vicinity to the U.S. Consulate General.  All protestors were later 
released and no harm was caused to American citizens or locally 
engaged staff.  END SUMMARY. 
 
DEMONSTRATIONS IN CHENNAI:  CITY ON ALERT BUT SECURE 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) led an 
anti-U.S. demonstration on November 8 near the U.S. Consulate.  At 
4:30 p.m. protestors started shouting slogans against the USG and 
President Bush.  Some of the demonstrators tied flags to their feet 
and stamped on posters of the President.  When some demonstrators 
attempted to burn a U.S. flag and effigy of the President, police 
and event organizers stopped them.  Approximately 400 police were 
deployed to the area and they began making arrests just fifteen 
minutes into the rally.  Police presence was robust and dealt with 
demonstrators in an even-handed fashion.  In total, nearly 400 
protestors were arrested, all of whom were peacefully detained and 
later released the same evening. 
 
¶3. (U) After we learned of the planned demonstration, on November 7 
post issued a warden message to advise American citizens about the 
event.  The message drew on the language provided in ref A. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The TTMK (Organization for the Progress of Muslims) is a 
leading Islamic organization in Tamil Nadu, mainly championing 
communal causes. Although the TMMK has no history of organizing 
terrorist violence, it employs hardliner Islamic rhetoric in its 
rallies, which routinely draw hundreds of volunteers. The 
organization has a strong youth cadre disenchanted with the more 
moderate Muslim political parties such as the Indian Union Muslim 
League.  The TMMK is not a political party yet; it does not contest 
elections but influences election outcomes through Islamic communal 
mobilization. The TMMK has consistently opposed Hindu groups and 
parties such as the RSS and BJP, as well as U.S Middle East 
policies. 
 
SOUTH INDIA STRONGLY REACTS; NO IMMEDIATE THREAT POSED 
 
¶5. (SBU) While the ruling DMK party in Tamil Nadu opposed the Saddam 
Hussein death sentence on humanitarian grounds, several other 
parties such as the CPI(M) and the AIADMK strongly condemned it as 
"a rigged verdict delivered by a puppet court after a farcical trial 
which has made a mockery of the judicial process."  AIADMK leader 
and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha went on record 
stating that no other outcome could be expected from a court setup 
by the United States in an occupied country.  In Communist-led 
Kerala, Chief Minister Achuthanandan condemned "U.S. imperialist 
aggressions."  Throughout the region, Muslim and Leftist 
organizations held protest demonstrations against the verdict, 
however no violence was reported.  An editorial in prominent Muslim 
newspaper Madhyamam criticized the awkward silence of the Union 
Minister of State for External Affairs, E.Ahmed, a leader of the 
Indian Union Muslim League which itself has condemned the verdict. 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) In Karnataka, reaction to the verdict was muted among both 
local Shia and Sunni Muslim groups, and featured  small impromptu 
processions in towns located in the northern districts of Bijapur, 
Belgaum, Gulbarga and Bidar. Both English and Kannada language press 
carried condemnatory editorials.  Roshan Baig, a senior Muslim 
Congress leader told Post that he expects a large protest in 
Bangalore after Friday noon prayers on November 10. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Finally, Andhra Pradesh experienced minimal disruption. 
While the Communist parties and Muslims expressed disappointment 
over Saddam's verdict, minimal organizing occurred. 
 
REACTION PREDICTIBLE:  NO CAUSE FOR IMMEDIATE ALARM 
 
¶8. (SBU) COMMENT:  Demonstrations against the Hussein verdict were 
largely both predictable and contained throughout the south Indian 
states.  Although public opposition to U.S. Iraq policy is genuine 
and widespread, the demonstrations were mostly an effort by 
 
CHENNAI 00002552  002 OF 002 
 
 
relatively small groups to gain attention and appeal to their 
supporters.  Solidarity with fellow Muslims has considerable 
resonance among south India's large Muslim population, while 
Leftists oppose what they view as U.S. violations of Iraq's 
sovereignty.  Post will continue to closely monitor the situation as 
well as potential threat levels against Americans in the region. 
HOPPER