Cablegate: Tunisians Publicly Condemn Aqim Kidnapping Of

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTU #0256 0731522
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131522Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4620
INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 7642
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO PRIORITY 0035
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA PRIORITY 0134

UNCLAS TUNIS 000256

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG (HARRIS AND HOPKINS) AND NEA/PPD (DOUGLAS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL KPAO TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIANS PUBLICLY CONDEMN AQIM KIDNAPPING OF
AUSTRIANS

REF: A. TUNIS 235
B. TUNIS 227

1. (SBU) In the wake of the March 10 claim by Al-Qaeda in the
Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) that it had kidnapped two
Austrian tourists in southern Tunisia (reftels), political
activists and intellectuals have condemned the targeting of
civilians and the spread of extremist ideologies. The GOT's
nuanced public statements on the veracity of the AQIM claim
seem to have caused many prominent Tunisians, parties and
organizations to refrain from public comment. However, the
Tunisian public's almost zero-tolerance of terrorism is
clearly reflected in the statements of those who have already
publicly denounced the kidnapping.

2. (U) The following is a sample of public reactions:

-- Independent Opposition Progressive Democratic Party (PDP):
"The PDP opposes the use of violence as a means of realizing
political goals and calls for the immediate and unconditional
freeing of the two hostages."

-- Nejib Chebbi, 2009 PDP Presidential Candidate: "This
morally reprehensible act necessitates my unequivocal
condemnation. No argument can be invoked to justify an act
that targets innocent civilian victims and risks drawing the
country into an impasse of blind violence...I call for the
immediate and unconditional liberation of the two Austrian
tourists and reiterate that political reform and the
resolution of social problems should be undertaken through
citizens' dialogue and peaceful activities."

-- Kamel Ben Younes, Columnist, private Arabic daily
as-Sabah: "This (terrorist) act is refused..refused...there
is no room for justifying it or accepting those associated
with it...It's playing with fire."

-- Zyed Krichen, Editor, private French weekly magazine
Realites: "Terrorism is condemnable in itself. There is no
attenuating circumstance...We must all try to make our youth
deaf to these (terrorist) siren calls of death."

Please visit Embassy Tunis' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/tunis/index.c fm
GODEC

© Scoop Media