| SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE - EUROPE Paris, 14 April 2009 Samuels noted that "This is to be preceded, from Friday to Sunday, by several 'civil' society gatherings, including a mass demonstration, ostensibly against racism," adding that "amongthe organizers are several agitators who brought havoc and mayhem to the original Durban conference in 2001 and, since then, have encouraged violence in many European cities in which theyhave gathered. Due to their record at the Durban I NGO Forum, these rioters were refused facilities within the precincts of the UN, and their behavior is now the responsibility of thecity and Swiss Federal authorities." The letter emphasized that "these demonstrations have, too often, set the scene for incitement to antisemitism and can be correlated with assaults on Jewish individuals andinstitutions." Samuels characterized Switzerland as "a historic model for European multiculturalism long before that concept became current. Swiss multilingual harmony and cantonal democracy werematched on the local level by Geneva as the mecca of diplomacy," but cautioned that "the events planned for next week must not be permitted to deteriorate into a hatefest that abuses thehospitality of both your city and your country." The Centre urged the Mayor of Geneva "to ensure the security of all institutions at risk, contain potential threats to public order and detain those bent on exploiting the real scourge ofracism to launch a week of hate." |