Controversial journalist's visa extension

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002120

SIPDIS

FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11-12-12
TAGS: PHUM PREL CE LTTE
SUBJECT: Controversial journalist's visa extension
denied amidst speculation of LTTE and/or political
influence

Refs: (A) Reston VA dtg 110418Z NOV 02

- (B) Reston VA dtg 110356Z NOV 02

(U) Classified by Ambassador E. Ashley Wills. Reasons
1.5 (b,d).


1. (U) SUMMARY: GSL recently denied a visa extension
for Paul Harris, a UK national and a journalist loosely
affiliated with the "Daily Telegraph" in London. The
British High Commission doubts that Harris will return
except perhaps to finalize some personal financial
matters. Speculation in the press is that the denial
was based on political pressure because of Harris'
criticism of the government and the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The President's office has alleged
that the visa denial amounts to suppression of freedom
of the press. END SUMMARY.

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Harris out, the President pounces
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2. (U) The visa case of Paul Harris, a UK national and
controversial journalist in Sri Lanka who is loosely
affiliated with the "Daily Telegraph" in London (and
writes for local publications),has created a minor
furor in the Sri Lankan press. On November 8 Harris'
visa to Sri Lanka expired. Prior to the expiration of
the visa Harris had applied for an extension, which was
denied by the MFA. Harris departed Sri Lanka to the
Maldives on November 8, with the stated intention of
reapplying for a visa.


3. (C) The President's office issued a statement on
November 6 accusing the government of preventing freedom
of the press. In part, it stated, "Freedom of
expression and the right of dissent are bedrock
requirements for a democratic and free society and this
insidious silencing of an often lone voice against the
conventional wisdom of the government is a serious
erosion of media freedom and (a) set back for democracy
in Sri Lanka." The statement received widespread
coverage in the weekend press. Presidential spokesman
Harim Peiris added that although Harris may have
technically broken the terms of his visa the decision to
enforce the rules on him was arbitrary. Peiris averred
that one way the President may make her point that she
supports freedom of the press and show she is in control
is to grant Harris Sri Lankan citizenship. Peiris
emphasized that no such decision has yet been made.

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MFA holds firm
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4. (SBU) Responding to media coverage that was critical
of the MFA's decision to deny a visa extension for
Harris, the MFA released a statement explaining its
decision. The MFA charged Harris with violating the
terms of his original visa, saying it prohibited him
from engaging in any work other than as a journalist for
the "Daily Telegraph." The statement specifically
commented on Harris' writing regular columns for the
"Daily Mirror," a local English language daily that has
expressed some criticism of the government and the
current peace process. (NOTE: Harris' columns have
been openly critical of the direction of Sri Lanka's
peace process. Among other things, Harris wrote that
his predictions that the LTTE would use the ceasefire to
prepare for future conflict, particularly through
recruitment of children, have come true. He also wrote
that the government is not doing enough to counter or to
even address this development. END NOTE.)


5. (C) Deputy British High Commissioner Peter Hughes,
commented that late last week he had urged Harris to
abide by Sri Lanka's laws and not overstay his visa.
Hughes does not believe the GSL will revisit the
decision to deny the visa extension. Hughes stated that
he spoke to Foreign Secretary Nihal Rodrigo about the
issue and Rodrigo indicated that the decision not to
extend the visa had been made at the "highest level" and
there was no intention to review the issue. Hughes
added that the MFA believes that the worst of the
negative publicity about the denial passed over the
weekend. Hughes forewarned that Harris is only
scheduled to stay in the Maldives until November 14,
when he may try to stir up attention again. Hughes
closed by saying Rodrigo had intimated that the GSL was
willing to work out a deal for Harris to return to Sri
Lanka so that he can finalize his personal financial
arrangements, but then only for a week.

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Media organizations object
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6. (SBU) Multiple organizations associated with freedom
of the press have expressed their dissatisfaction with
the actions of the GSL on this matter. The Editor's
Guild of Sri Lanka, the Free Media Movement (a local
NGO),and the Foreign Correspondents Association of Sri
Lanka have criticized the decision not to extend Harris'
visa as an infringement on freedom of the press. In
addition to accusations that the government is trying to
get rid of a critic, some articles claim that the LTTE
is applying pressure on the GSL to silence Harris
because of his criticism of the LTTE and the peace
process in general.

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Comment
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7. (C) The GSL clearly wants Harris out, and it may well
be for what he has written about the peace process
rather than for violating the terms of his visa. The
President saw his case as a chance to attack the Prime
Minister and his government over the same kind of heavy-
handed tactics he has accused her of in the past. In
doing so, she may have scored a few points. Still, the
Prime Minister's conduct since his December 2001
election has earned him a reputation for honesty and
moderation, and the Sri Lankan public seems willing to
give him the benefit of the doubt on Harris. Mission
will watch closely to determine if this case is an
isolated incident or the beginning of a trend toward
suppression of the press by the GSL.

WILLS