US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE2929

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 002929 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PINR, NL 
SUBJECT: TENSION AND DEBATE IN HOLLAND 
 
REF: The Hague 2864 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: The November 3 murder of Theo van Gogh 
(reftel) and subsequent events -- including arson attacks 
against Islamic sites and a dramatic shoot-out between 
Islamic extremists and Dutch authorities on November 10 -- 
have raised tensions and prompted contentious debate in 
Dutch society.  The Dutch government "declared war" on 
Muslim extremism, but is also calling for dialogue with the 
Muslim community to reduce tension and prevent further 
polarization.  Public opinion continues to reflect a more 
negative attitude towards Muslims and calls for "tougher 
measures" are increasing.  There have been multiple 
incidents of arson and vandalism against mosques and Islamic 
schools (so far with no casualties).  Security has been 
tightened, and a number of suspected extremists have been 
rounded up.  Websites, media, talk shows and parliamentary 
debates are focused on the impact of recent events on Dutch 
society.  End Summary. 
 
Death Threats Heighten Concerns 
------------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) On November 4, Justice Minister Donner released "in 
the public interest"  the texts of the letter pinned to van 
Gogh's dead body (reftel) and the farewell letter carried by 
the murderer.  The letters confirmed that the assassin had 
acted out of radical Islamic convictions and in coordination 
with others planning similar attacks.   The first letter 
included a death threat against liberal (VVD) politician 
Ayaan Hirsi Ali and other "enemies" of Islam.  In releasing 
the letters, Donner noted that the suspect was born and 
raised in the Netherlands but apparently went through a 
radicalization process here since both letters "unmistakably 
reflect the ideology of a violent Jihad." 
 
Government Speaks Out... 
------------------------ 
 
3. (SBU) The government at once reacted by announcing that 
it would intensify the intelligence and law enforcement 
operations against Muslim extremism in the Netherlands. 
Deputy Prime Minister Zalm attracted headlines by stating 
that the government is "declaring war on Muslim extremists." 
said deputy Prime Minister Zalm.  4. (SBU) Prime Minister 
Balkenende referred less bluntly to an "atmosphere of 
violence that must be stopped" and called for a staunch 
combat against those who violate the fundamental principles 
of Dutch society: "There can be no place for those in the 
Netherlands who think they can get away with intimidation, 
threats, violence and muzzling people."  At the same time, 
he warned against tarring the all Dutch Muslims with the 
same brush and called for dialogue and cooperation to 
counter extremism: "Let us be careful with those black-and- 
white images and let us please try to hold onto each other 
because a climate of radicalization and extremism does not 
help this society further along." 
 
...Takes Action.... 
------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) The government's rhetoric was matched by intensive 
anti-terrorist raids throughout the country.  According to 
press reports, over a dozen arrests of supposedly Muslim 
extremists were made since the murder of Van Gogh, including 
the arrests of six Moroccans, an Algerian and a Spanish- 
Moroccan in connection with his murder.  The government has 
also begun a concerted effort to round-up known militant 
cells in The Hague, Amsterdam, and Amersfoort.  On November 
10, an attempted arrest of Islamic extremists in The Hague 
led to a several-hour stand off and the wounding of several 
policemen and one suspect (details reported septels).  The 
police action also sparked a violent clash with local 
residents and numerous arrests.  Like the van Gogh murder 
itself, press coverage of the violent confrontation between 
police, anti-terrorist, and even Dutch military forces and 
(for the Netherlands) heavily armed militants sent shock 
waves throughout Dutch society. 
 
5. (SBU) On November 11, the government sent to parliament a 
series of proposals designed to strengthen its ability to 
act against Islamic extremists.  These included boosting the 
government's authority to conduct surveillance, searches, 
and arrests of suspected extremists, as well as the ability 
to withdraw Dutch passports from dual nationals in certain 
circumstances (Note:  Many in the Dutch-Moroccan community, 
in particular, hold dual citizenship), deport Imams and 
others espousing radical views, provide greater protection 
to controversial public figures.  In addition to debating 
the government's proposals, some parties have announced 
their own proposals, including for "filtering" the content 
of media and internet material. 
 
...and reaches out to Muslim Community 
-------------------------------------- 
 
6. (SBU) In line with Balkenende's message, the government 
is seeking to combine forceful anti-terrorist actions with 
outreach to the Muslim Community.  Immigration and 
Integration Minister Verdonk met several times since the 
murder with representatives of Dutch Muslim organizations. 
On November 9 Verdonk and Muslim representatives issued a 
joint statement calling for the end to the "negative spiral 
of violence and counter violence" and stressing that  Islam 
has "a legitimate place" in Dutch society.   Verdonk also 
announced that the cabinet would soon present an action plan 
aimed at isolating and combating extremism and strengthening 
the ties of Muslims with Dutch society. 
 
7. (SBU) The Muslim organizations promised that they would 
seek to make their rank and file more aware of the dangers 
of radicalism and of the essence of the values of the 
democratic rule of law.  The organizations also pledged to 
encourage the integration of Muslims into Dutch society by, 
among other things, by giving preference to Dutch-speaking 
Imams who understand the norms of Dutch society over those 
from outside 
 
Anti-Islamic Violence 
--------------------- 
 
8. (SBU) Despite concerted government efforts to prevent 
anti-Islamic violence in the wake of the van Gogh murder, 
several mosques and Islamic institutions have been targeted 
for vandalism and arson attacks.  Two Islamic schools were 
set on fire, but because these attacks have occurred at 
night there have so far been no injuries.  Police in the 
Hague arrested a number of anti-Muslim demonstrators who 
tried to cross police barricades.  Some Muslim websites have 
received calls for Muslims to respond to such attacks by 
attacking churches and other Christian sites, and some such 
attacks have in fact occurred.  According to Registration 
Center for Discrimination on Internet (MID) many providers 
of web pages are struggling to remove inflammatory language 
and profanity as quickly as possible but are becoming 
inundated with angry e-mails from both sides. 
 
Public opinion calls for tougher measures 
----------------------------------------- 
 
9. (SBU) Public opinion polls revealed overwhelming support 
for measures to counter Muslim extremism, even if this means 
undermining traditional Dutch protections on privacy.  Such 
measures could include camera surveillance, wiretapping of 
phones and PCs, raids of mosques, expulsion of radicals, 
house searches and frisking as a preventive measure.  The 
polls also suggest growing backlash towards immigrants.  One 
poll, for example, showed that 79 percent hoped that the 
government would adopt more rigid immigration and 
integration policies; and 89 percent hoped that the 
government would crack down hard on "Muslim extremism".  54 
percent anticipated and 40 hoped that Muslims would no 
longer feel welcome in the Netherlands.  65 percent wished 
but only 15 percent expected that it would come to 
fraternization between Muslims and native Dutch.  Another 
poll revealed that 47 percent now felt less tolerant towards 
Muslims than before the murder.  Also telling was a recent 
poll showing that maverick right-wing politician Geer 
Wilders -- who has yet to attract a single prominent figure 
to join his start-up populist party -- would earn enough 
votes to gain 18 seats in parliament if elections were held 
today, largely because of his perceived tough stands on 
immigration. 
 
COMMENT: 
-------- 
 
10. (SBU) Many now believe that the murder of Theo Van Gogh 
and its aftermath will leave a more enduring impact on Dutch 
society than even the 2002 assassination of Pim Fortuyn. 
Adding to the public frustration is the sense that the 
immigration and integration issues raised by Fortuyn -- and 
repeatedly "addressed" by subsequent governments -- have not 
only not been resolved, but now threaten to split Dutch 
society irrevocably.  In the last two weeks, the Dutch have 
been confronted with nightly images of burning schools, 
churches, and mosques, shoot-outs in major cities, and a 
ritual murder in broad daylight in the middle of Amsterdam. 
These cut to the heart of the Dutch perception of themselves 
as a peaceful, tolerant nation -- and raise uncomfortable 
questions about how to deal with those in Dutch society who 
view it differently. 
 
Russel