Special Media Reaction: Statement of the co-

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001063

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR S/ES, INR/MR, PA
SA/INS (CAMP, DEAN) SA/PD (SCENSNY, ROGERS, STRYKER);
SSA/PAS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: PHUM KPAO PTER EAID OIIP PREL CE LTTE
SUBJECT: Special Media Reaction: Statement of the co-
chairs of the Sri Lanka Donor Group



1. (U) Summary: Sri Lankan media provided prominent,
widespread and positive coverage to the statement issued
June 13 by the Tokyo donors' conference co-chairs following
their Washington meeting. Electronic media reported the
statement on Tuesday, June 14, while all print media carried
front-page reports on Wednesday morning, June 15.
Government owned and mainstream independent media emphasized
the co-chairs' hope for the quick establishment of a joint
mechanism for tsunami relief and reconstruction, while
Sinhala nationalist papers emphasized the donors' call for
the LTTE to end assassinations and recruitment of child
soldiers. All print media published the statement in full.
End summary.


2. (U) All English and vernacular print press ran front-page
banner headlines of the co-chairs statement on Wednesday,
June 15. Government owned Daily News headlined, "Donors
support President, LTTE effort to implement P-TOMS (Post-
Tsunami Organizational Management Structure)" with a smaller

SIPDIS
subtitle, "LTTE told to stop assassinations." Mainstream
independent Daily Mirror bannered, "Sign P-TOMS deal now: co-
chairs." Pro-JVP (junior alliance partner Janatha Vimukthi
Urumaya) Island bannered, "Tiger atrocities worry donors."


3. (U) In a page three story, the pro-JVP Island published
a story titled, "Why don't donors try to liberate people
behind the iron curtain - Sangaree," in which anti-LTTE TULF
(Tamil United Liberation Front) leader V. Anandasangaree
condemned the Co-chair's support of the Joint Mechanism
proposal, alleging Tamils in LTTE-controlled areas are
enslaved by the Tigers. The article quoted Public Affairs
Officer saying that despite the co-chairs' encouragement of
the Joint Mechanism agreement, the U.S. had not changed its
designation of the LTTE as a terrorist organization.


4. (U) The Tamil and Sinhala language press also afforded
the statement broad coverage, often mirroring the stories of
their English-language counterparts. Government owned
papers reported the statement with the most prominence.
Government owned Sinhala Dinamina led with, "Sri Lanka's
Donor co-chairs pledge total support to the Tsunami Relief
Council; stress need for Muslim representation too," while
government owned Tamil daily Thinakaran bannered, "co-chairs
of the donors fully support the JM - urge government to
include Muslim representation and sign immediately."
Independent Tamil papers also emphasized the timely signing
of the accord; independent Tamil daily Thinakkural led with,
"Sign the JM immediately - co-chairs," and independent Tamil
daily Virakesari ran, "President should review her decision
at least at the last moment - JVP: JM should be established
immediately - Donors urge the government."



5. (U) Television and radio broadcasts on the co-chairs
meeting reported it in a relatively straightforward manner
from the press release. Television news programs emphasized
the co-chairs' "demand" for the immediate establishment of
the Joint Mechanism.



6. (SBU) Comment: Government owned media, which generally
act as the President's mouthpiece, used the co-chair's
statement to rally support in their on-going public
relations campaign for the Joint Mechanism. Predictably,
the Sinhala nationalist press emphasized the criticism of
the LTTE. We expect more commentary to emerge on the
statement over the next several days and will report
accordingly. End Comment.


Entwistle