US embassy cable - 05DHAKA3296

UNCLAS DHAKA 003296 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE 
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY, SSTRYKER), SA/RA, INR/R/MR, 
AND PASS TO USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B (WJOHNSON) 
 
CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (MAJ TURNER), J45 
(MAJ NICHOLLS) 
 
USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ HEDRICK) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR, OIIP, OPRC, KPAO, PREL, ETRD, PTER, ASEC, BG, OCII 
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: Aftermath of the London Blast; 
Dhaka 
 
 
Summary: Criticizing attacks on Muslims in Britain following 
the London blast, two Bangla newspapers urged the world 
community to ensure a fear-free situation for Muslims. 
 
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Aftermath of the London Blast 
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"Attacks on Mosques and Muslims" 
Anti-West Bangla language newspaper "Inqilab" editorially 
comments (7/12): 
 
A section of human rights activists shouts abroad at real or 
imaginary atrocities on minority people and violations of 
human rights.  But they remain silent over the attacks on 
Muslims in various countries, including Britain.  Muslims in 
Britain, together with other communities, expressed sorrow 
for the victims of the London blast and sought salvation of 
the souls who were killed.  Yet, Muslims have become the 
target of attacks.  Nobody has yet been arrested for 
attacking Muslims or mosques.  It seems that the entire plot 
was for killing Muslims.  Following the blast, British Prime 
Minister Tony Blair told the BBC that security alone cannot 
save a country from attacks. Attacks on Muslims only on the 
basis of suspicion instead of identifying perpetrators and 
putting them out of action will create more unrest.  We hope 
that human rights activists all over the world will resist 
motivated and planned attacks on Muslims.  We also hope that 
world leaders will find out the real cause of the crisis and 
take expeditious measures to ensure a fear-free situation 
for Muslims. 
 
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"A Test for the British" 
Independent Bangla language newspaper "Amar Desh" 
editorially comments (7/12): 
 
We hope that the British government will identify those who 
were involved in this terrorist attack and proceed with 
caution so that sectarian and racist violence does not 
increase.  It is a test for the White British. 
 
Thousands of British people demonstrated on Saturday 
demanding the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.  In light of 
that demand we would like to say that it is also necessary 
to identify the source of international terrorism.  We think 
that the world community, irrespective of race and religion, 
must take a united stand against international terrorism. 
 
Chammas