OUTREACH FOLLOWING NEWSWEEK'S RETRACTION OF ITS

UNCLAS ALMATY 001883 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR P, PA, SA/PPD, EUR/CACEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO KISL PREL KZ POLITICAL SUBJECT: OUTREACH FOLLOWING NEWSWEEK'S RETRACTION OF ITS STORY ALLEGING KORAN DESECRATION AT GUANTANAMO Ref: State 90992 ¶1. (SBU) Post regrets delay in responding to reftel request. Reporting in Kazakhstan's media on the erroneous Newsweek report of Koran desecration at Guantanamo started only on May 16, and was low-key and non-inflamatory. The May 16 primetime news on one Kazakhstani state channel and one independent channel reported the basic facts, and led with the announcement that Newsweek's article about the desecration of the Koran had turned out to be unsubstantiated. However, a majority of Kazakhstanis watch re-broadcasts of Russian NTV and First Channel news on local translator stations. Those segments reported massive demonstrations planned for May 27 in Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, United Kingdom and Malaysia in protest of the alleged desecration incident, but did not mention the Newsweek retraction. ¶2. (SBU) On May 18, two daily newspapers (combined circulation of 69,000) covered the sequence of events, noting Newsweek had retracted the story. The press office sent a press release on May 18 using points in reftel to provide additional information on the retraction. Most newspapers in Kazakhstan are weeklies that are issued on Thursday and Friday so we expect coverage based on this release. No weeklies covered the story last week. ¶3. (SBU) Amantay Assylbek, a local man known for eccentric behavior, including past demonstrations at the U.S. Embassy, led a brief protest on May 18 in front of the Chancery. Known for his failed campaigns for the presidency and parliament and impromptu nationalistic rallies, Assylbek assembled 30 supporters carrying signs reading, "Yankees Get out of the Soviet Union" and "War is Satan." The protesters also raised the issue of the alleged desecration of the Koran. A municipal station and two nationwide broadcasters taped footage of the 15-minute action. The embassy's press officer issued a statement from Department guidance on the erroneous Newsweek report. Post will report via septel on coverage of the demonstration and the embassy's statement. We will also monitor any further reporting on the Newsweek story/retraction. Asquino NNNN