US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE3069

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 003069 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958 N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PINR, PTER, SOCI, SCUL, KISL, NL, KPAO 
SUBJECT: ONE YEAR AFTER MURDER OF THEO VAN GOGH 
 
 
1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: The first anniversary of the murder of 
Theo van Gogh passed with lightly attended memorial events, 
but the most durable memorial is a heated and constant 
discussion in the government, the press and on the streets 
about integration, Islam, immigrants, and terrorism.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (SBU) Family and friends of Theo van Gogh and the City 
of Amsterdam organized several memorial events on November 2 
to commemorate van Gogh's life, encourage better 
understanding among native Dutch and ethnic Dutch, and to 
emphasize the importance of freedom of speech, as they 
consider van Gogh died for speaking out freely, if 
imprudently. 
 
3.  (SBU) Prime Minister Balkenende and Amsterdam Mayor Job 
Cohen attended a memorial ceremony held at the same hour and 
location as last year's murder.  Balkenende called for 
tolerance and "not letting go of each other."  He also 
argued that, "No one in the Netherlands should be afraid to 
give his opinion."  Cohen too stressed the importance of 
freedom and mutual understanding. 
 
4.  (SBU) In the afternoon the City organized an event at 
which Mayor Cohen and van Gogh's father spoke, followed by a 
debate on how Amsterdammers of all backgrounds should live 
with each other.  At other locations in the city as well, 
debates, commemoration services and seminars were organized 
that brought together publicists, politicians, Muslim 
community leaders and integration experts to discuss ethnic 
tension in society, the role of the media, the ideological 
motives of Muslim extremists, as well as the need to protect 
freedom of speech. 
 
POLICTICALLY CORRECT NO MORE 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
5.  (SBU) A year after the event, much of the rage on both 
sides is gone, as is the political correctness that framed 
the debate for the decades leading up to van Gogh's murder. 
Emboff attended a lecture on Muslim minorities in Western 
liberal democracies by American Professor Francis Fukuyama 
earlier this fall.  An elegant native Dutch woman stood up 
during the question and answer session and said: "Let's be 
honest: Muslims are the problem."  The audience reacted with 
nervous laughter and chatter.  These sentiments have become 
a common refrain for many native Dutch. 
 
RESULTS QUESTIONABLE 
-------------------- 
 
6.  (SBU) Despite the debate and resulting initiatives to 
better the situation, the results have been lackluster.  A 
recent poll among residents in large Dutch cities with 
sizeable minority populations confirmed the perception in 
each ethnic group that the gulf between native Dutch and 
immigrants has widened since van Gogh's murder.  The Muslim 
community, especially Turks and Moroccans, views Dutch 
society as increasingly hostile.  As Green Left party leader 
Femke Halsema said after the murder of van Gogh, 
"[Immigrants] have lost confidence in Dutch society.  Dutch- 
born and raised Moroccans suddenly feel strangers in their 
own country.  People are increasingly alienated and lonely." 
 
ONUS ON THE IMMIGRANTS 
---------------------- 
 
7.  (SBU) Many native Dutch citizens believe that the duty 
to integrate falls primarily on the shoulders of immigrants, 
including second generation Dutch citizens of ethnic 
descent.  During a meeting with Emboff November 9, prominent 
Dutch sociologist Dr. Han Entzinger said, "Dutch society 
sees itself on the receiving end of immigrants; especially 
the government.  Society does not believe it needs to be 
more welcoming to newcomers."  All the same, there is 
increased awareness since the murder that both segments of 
society must live together and should therefore take more 
consideration of each other. 
 
8.  (SBU) COMMENT: Van Gogh has become a symbol for free 
speech, and the need to defend it.  His murder has triggered 
heated debate on how to deal with those who challenge such 
core Dutch values.  The debate touches on the underlying 
question of how to deal with Islam in a secularized and 
individualized western society like the Netherlands.  The 
debate continues, and many educational, socioeconomic and 
housing initiatives have been established to address 
segregation in Dutch society.  For now, however, Muslims and 
non-Muslims continue to live mostly segregated lives.  There 
is concern from both sides over what might happen next.  END 
COMMENT.