VZCZCXRO3098
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ
DE RUEHTC #0314/01 0411711
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101711Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4802
INFO RUEHAT/AMCONSUL AMSTERDAM 0357
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000314 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, EUR/PPD 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PTER KISL PGOV PINR SOCI SCUL KPAO NL
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DUTCH REACTIONS TO CARTOON CONTROVERSY 
 
 
THE HAGUE 00000314  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
 
REFTEL: A) THE HAGUE 269 B) THE HAGUE 303 C) STATE 20587 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: The Danish cartoons remain a hot topic in 
the Netherlands.  So far, there have been no violent 
reactions here, but officials are watching closely a 
planned "peaceful demonstration" in Amsterdam on February 
¶11.  PM Balkenende and other government officials have 
expressed support for the Danes and freedom of expression 
while reaching out to the Muslim community; FM Bot plans to 
travel to the Middle East next week to help smooth ruffled 
feathers.  Some parliamentarians, however, continue to make 
inflammatory statements.  According to a recent poll, 79 
percent called freedom of expression a fundamental value 
that Muslims should 'learn to live with.'  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The Danish cartoon controversy continues to 
simmer in The Netherlands, but, so far, without violence. 
Dutch officials are taking measures to ensure that a 
demonstration against the cartoons planned for February 11 
in Amsterdam remains peaceful (ref a), but are concerned 
that no organization has claimed responsibility for 
organizing the protest. 
 
GOVERNMENT REACTIONS 
-------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) On February 7, Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende, 
'extremely concerned' about the violent reactions in Arab 
countries, publicly reached out to the Danish Prime 
minister to express his support.  Balkenende stressed that 
while freedom of speech and freedom of religion are 
"essential values in a democracy," they "do not go hand in 
hand with discrimination, insult or incitement to hatred." 
He also expressed support for investing more in dialogue 
with the Islamic world and hoped debate will continue in 
the Netherlands among the media, Muslims, government 
officials, and the public.  Balkenende reached out to 
Dutch-Muslim religious leaders, thanking them for their 
calm reaction to publication of the cartoons here and 
abroad, and for taking 'the peaceful path of dialogue -and 
if necessary- peaceful protests.' 
 
¶4. (SBU) In a conversation with Charge on February 7, MFA 
Director General for Political Affairs Hugo Siblesz stated 
religious freedom is important, but asserted governments 
have a responsibility to protect embassies and to prevent, 
not foment, destructive behavior. Charge noted the USG's 
solidarity with Denmark, Norway and other European 
countries who are under threat, is unequivocal (ref c). 
Siblesz said the Government of the Netherlands (GONL) is 
trying to speak with one voice on the issue and is pleased 
about the muted response within local Muslim communities. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Other government members have been quoted in the 
press on the cartoon issue, most agreeing that those 
offended should use the justice system instead of taking 
their anger to the streets.  For example, Foreign Minister 
Bot said 'if Muslims feel offended by the Danish Mohammed 
cartoons, and if they want to protest, they should go to 
court.'  Foreign Minister Bot plans to visit Saudi Arabia 
and Qatar next week, where he reportedly hopes to help 
soothe the conflict over the Danish cartoons.  The visit to 
the two countries was already planned but has been moved up 
a little bit because of the cartoon riots. 
 
PARLIAMENT WEIGHS IN 
-------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Some members of parliament have taken a more 
inflammatory approach to the conflict.  As noted ref a, 
maverick politician Geert Wilders posted the offending 
cartoons on his website and has -- not surprisingly -- 
reported an increase in death threats.  On February 9, 
Dutch MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali gave a press conference in Berlin 
where she supported publication of the controversial 
cartoons.  She said the 'hardline Islamist movement rejects 
democratic freedoms and wants to destroy them.'  She 
ridiculed those who disagreed with republication, calling 
them hypocrites and said they had 'no backbone.'  She went 
on to criticize Prime Minister Balkenende saying she wished 
'he had had the guts of Danish PM Rasmussen.' 
 
¶7. (U) Across political lines, there appears to be 
agreement against the European Commission proposal for a 
'Media Code of Conduct'.  The Prime Minister reportedly 
said there would be no discussion of a code 'imposed from 
 
THE HAGUE 00000314  002 OF 002 
 
 
above' because of freedom of the press and freedom of 
speech.  PvdA leader Bos was pleased to hear that 'the 
Netherlands will not agree to a code initiated or imposed 
by the European Commission.'  According to press reporting, 
only the small Christian party SGP was even willing to 
raise the proposal formally in parliament. 
 
EMBASSY CONTACT REMARKS 
------------------------ 
 
¶8. (SBU) Embassy and Consulate have spoken to many contacts 
regarding the cartoon controversy during the last two 
weeks.  None believes violence will spontaneously break out 
in the Netherlands because of the cartoons. Amsterdam 
Alderman Ahmed Aboutaleb told us that there are 'no signs 
that the controversy over the cartoons is likely to erupt 
into violence in Amsterdam'.  Local Muslim community leader 
Moustapha Baba also expected no violence, but noted that 
while most Dutch-Muslims understand the freedom of the 
press and speech issues,  they still find the cartoons very 
disrespectful.   Referring to the planned "silent and 
peaceful protest" Saturday in Amsterdam, Baba worried that 
"one stupid person burning a flag" could transform the 
event into a riot. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Other Embassy contacts, such as Jean Tillie of the 
University of Amsterdam expect the debate in The 
Netherlands to remain civil. As an example, he noted the 
Amsterdam mosque (El Tawheed) that this week filed a 
complaint in court against Geert Wilders for refusing to 
remove the offensive cartoons from his website.  This, he 
said, reflected a more productive and judicial means of 
addressing Muslim concerns..  According to El Tawheed 
spokesman Farid Zaari, Wilders is 'aiding the escalation of 
violence against Christians, Jews and Muslims," but the 
mosque believes that by filing an official complaint it is 
addressing the problem "the way it should be done in the 
Netherlands."  Zaari also stated no objections to the 
publication of the cartoons in Dutch newspapers in the 
first place saying 'if newspapers find it necessary to show 
readers what the commotion is about, so be it.' 
 
¶10. (SBU) Amsterdam City Manager Chief of Staff Jereon de 
Lange also expects Amsterdam to remain calm and city 
officials do not expect a large turnout at Saturday's 
demonstration.  The only sign of protest they have seen so 
far is a group of young Dutch-Muslim boys carrying a Danish 
flag through the streets.  This is seen only as an attempt 
to gain attention and is not expected to escalate.  Ton 
Smakman, the Amsterdam Police Youth Coordinator with youth 
outreach programs focusing on Moroccan boys, said young 
people know about the publication of the cartoons, but are 
not worried or angry. He does not have a feel for how many 
will attend the demonstration on Saturday, but will be 
there himself to keep an eye on the young people he knows 
from west-Amsterdam.  He will work the protest as a member 
of the 'Peace Keeping Force' who will be trying to maintain 
contact with the demonstrators to ensure a peaceful 
protest.  He does not anticipate trouble, he said, unless 
young people come out "looking for a confrontation." 
 
Public Opinion: 
--------------- 
 
¶11. (U) According to pollster Maurice de Hond, a recent 
poll of the Dutch public found the following: 
 
-- 68 percent do not object to their media publishing the 
Danish cartoons. 
-- 65 percent do not understand the uproar in other 
countries. 
-- 79 percent of those polled called freedom of expression 
a fundamental value that Muslims should 'learn to live 
with.' 
-- 79 percent do not find it necessary for Denmark to 
apologize to Muslims. 
-- 52 percent think there should be legal action against 
the Arab European League for publishing anti-Semitic 
cartoons on its website. 
 
BLAKEMAN