Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03COLOMBO460
2003-03-19 11:16:00
SECRET
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

TFIZ01: PM negative on possible UNGA

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER KPAO ASEC CE MV IZ 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000460 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, SA/PD, S/CT:CBLACK, NEA/NGA,
DS/DSS/ITA, INR/NESA; NSC FOR E. MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03-19-13
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KPAO ASEC CE MV IZ
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: PM negative on possible UNGA
involvement; Local reaction to situation remains muted

Refs: (A) State 71552
- (B) Colombo-SA/INS 03/18/03 class e-mail
- (C) State 70678
- (D) Colombo 443, and previous
- (E) Colombo 444

(U) Classified by Ambassador E. Ashley Wills.
Reasons: 1.5 (B,D).

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000460

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, SA/PD, S/CT:CBLACK, NEA/NGA,
DS/DSS/ITA, INR/NESA; NSC FOR E. MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03-19-13
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KPAO ASEC CE MV IZ
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: PM negative on possible UNGA
involvement; Local reaction to situation remains muted

Refs: (A) State 71552
- (B) Colombo-SA/INS 03/18/03 class e-mail
- (C) State 70678
- (D) Colombo 443, and previous
- (E) Colombo 444

(U) Classified by Ambassador E. Ashley Wills.
Reasons: 1.5 (B,D).


1. (S) SUMMARY: The PM told the Ambassador that he
agreed that there was no need for UNGA involvement re
Iraq. He said he would look into possibly issuing a
"constructive" statement re the overall situation.
Mission has reviewed Department's points re Iraqi intel
officers, but does not think further action at this time
is warranted. In other news, Sri Lanka has closed its
embassy in Baghdad. As requested, the GSL has deployed
security forces to guard Mission homes. The Maldives
appears quiet. There has been a spike in media coverage
re Iraq and some anti-U.S. rallies are planned, but
reaction to the situation remains muted. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) RE UNGA INVOLVEMENT: Mission deployed
Ref C points re heading off any UNGA involvement re Iraq
with the Sri Lankan and Maldivian governments on
March 18. In a conversation with Prime Minister
Wickremesinghe that day, the Ambassador reiterated U.S.
concerns that UNGA or CHR involvement regarding the
developing situation would not be useful. The PM said
he agreed. He said he had spoken with Sri Lankan UN
Permrep Mahendran earlier in the day and there had been
no mention of a possible UNGA session. He would,
however, call Mahendran back and tell him to oppose any
attempt to convoke UNGA. (Note: Mission has not yet
received any reaction to Ref C points from the Maldivian
government.)


3. (C) POSSIBLE GSL STATEMENT: Noting President Bush's
March 17 speech, the Ambassador also urged the prime
minister to consider seriously having his government
issue a statement re the Iraq situation. The Ambassador
emphasized that a statement preferably backing or at
least not criticizing the U.S. stance and underscoring

Iraq's complete failure to accede to UNSC resolutions re
disarmament would be helpful. The PM replied that he
would look into having the GSL issue a "constructive,
moderate" statement soon.


4. (S) IRAQI INTEL OFFICERS: Mission has reviewed
latest points re Iraqi intelligence officers contained
in Ref A, but we do not think further action at this
time is warranted. Per earlier interactions with the
GSL on this issue (see Ref D, et sequence),we are
convinced that the government is seized with this matter
and that another formal demarche would not be useful.
In our day-to-day contacts with the GSL, Mission will
continue to urge it to remain fully vigilant and to
reconsider its decision not to expel Iraqi officials.


5. (U) GSL CLOSES BAGHDAD EMBASSY: The Sri Lankan MFA
has confirmed local press reports that Ambassador M.M.
Amanul Farook and his staff closed the Sri Lankan
embassy and departed Baghdad earlier this week for
Amman.


6. (C) SECURITY FORCES PROTECT MISSION HOMES: Per
Ambassador's recent meeting with Interior Minister
Amaratunga (Ref E),the GSL has begun stationing
soldiers and police in front of the homes of Mission's
Amcit employees.


7. (C) ANTI-U.S. RALLIES: An anti-U.S. Iraq policy
rally and march is scheduled to take place after Muslim
prayers this Friday, March 21, in Colombo. The "Joint
Front Against USA's Invasion of Iraq" rally is being
sponsored by several Muslim groups, elements of the
Opposition People's Alliance party, and the radical
left Janantha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). As with other
rallies of a similar nature, up to several thousand
people will probably take part. (Note: The JVP -- which
has taken an anti-U.S. tack re Iraq -- has hundreds of
loyal cadre, who dutifully turn out for its events.)
Mission has also received unconfirmed reports that
smaller rallies are planned for other cities in Sri
Lanka.


8. (C) MEDIA COVERAGE: In light of President Bush's
speech and the rush of other events, there has been a
bit of a spike of late in media coverage re the Iraq
situation. March 19 coverage of the Iraq story has
taken various forms: local reporting, wire service
stories, the occasional wire service op-ed piece, and --
as noted in Para 9 -- three local op-ed pieces.
Selected articles of particular interest in the March 19
press included:

- ISLAND (opposition English daily, island-wide
circulation) put an announcement of a 3/21 anti-American
rally on the front page. Inside, the Ceylon Petroleum
Company was reported to have said "No fuel worry in
event of Iraq war," and wire service reportage appeared
under headlines like "Tense wait on the launch pad for
battle." The ISLAND also reproduced two anti-war op-ed
pieces from UK newspapers.

- DAILY MIRROR (independent English daily, island-wide
circulation) ran a local story, "Lankan envoy leaves
Baghdad," on its front page, together with a Reuters
piece, "Saddam spurns Bush ultimatum." Inside wire
service pieces included "Powell: 45 nations back US in
coalition against Iraq" and "France lashes out at US,
Spain, Britain."

- DAILY NEWS (government-owned English daily, island-
wide circulation) led its front page with Reuters
coverage under the headline "Clock ticks towards war in
the Gulf" and scattered other Reuters pieces in its
inside pages, including: "Canada says its forces to
play no role in Iraq war."

- DIVAINA (opposition Sinhala daily, island-wide
circulation) published this story above-the-banner:
"Saddam go - says Bush" and "No, will not go - says
Iraqi minister." Other headlines included "American and
British troops: 270,000...Iraqi troops: 350,000."

- Coverage in THINAKKURAL (independent Tamil daily,
island-wide circulation) consisted of two stories culled
from Reuters. They appeared under the headlines "Bush
ultimatum for Iraqi president and sons to leave the
country ..." and "International opposition to American
action."

- THINAKARAN (government-owned Tamil daily, island-wide
circulation) relied on a wire service piece, which it
placed under "Bush gives 48 hours ultimatum to Saddam
and sons."


9. (U) As we have noted in previous media reaction
reports, the Sri Lankan press, in general, has been
consistently critical of USG Iraq policy. In the days
since the President's speech, that message has not
softened. Op-ed items included:

- Under the headline "`The hour has come!' the ides of
Bush," the DAILY MIRROR wrote on 3/19: "Since the fall
of the Soviet Empire...the US and its allies have been
running, ruling, controlling or manipulating virtually
the whole world through economic means. Now they are
coming out openly and imposing world domination by force
of arms."

- Under "After twelve midnight," the 3/19 issue of
DIVAINA said: "It is very difficult to understand
Bush's real objective.... Perhaps he wants genuinely to
destroy WMDs in Iraq or perhaps he wants an American
pawn in charge of Iraq in order to control access to
oil. Perhaps he holds a personal grudge..."

- VIRAKESARI (independent Tamil daily, island-wide
circulation) editorialized on 3/19: "People in their
hundreds of thousands have shown their opposition by
taking part in demonstrations and rallies. However, the
U.S. is not listening to the collective voice of the
international community..."


10. (U) MALDIVES: The Maldives appears quiet. The
government has not issued any public statements re the
developing situation of late, as far as Mission is
aware. Mission has also not heard of any rallies or
demonstrations regarding Iraq. The government-
controlled website Haveeru.com is regularly posting AFP
wire service reports on the situation, but no
commentary.


11. (C) COMMENT: Despite the spike in press coverage,
local reaction to the Iraq situation remains quite
muted. As previously reported, Sri Lankans are almost
wholly focused on the peace process with the Tamil
Tigers, including the ongoing sixth round of talks being
held in Japan (see Septel update). This process is so
complicated and tense that it is understandably
difficult for Sri Lankans to look much beyond it. That
said, if war commences, it is possible a new dynamic
might emerge that would almost certainly include wider
interest in the situation and possibly herald larger
anti-U.S. rallies. In the meantime, Mission is lucky
that the government -- as evidenced by its quick action
in deploying security forces to homes -- seems
committed to protecting U.S. citizens and interests
fully. END COMMENT.


12. (U) Minimize considered.

WILLS