Special Media Reaction: PDAS Camp Visit to

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000808 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA, INR/MR, PA SCA/INS (CAMP, GOWER) SCA/PD (SCENSNY, PALLADINO); SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: PHUM KPAO PTER EAID OIIP PREL CE SUBJECT: Special Media Reaction: PDAS Camp Visit to Colombo ¶1. (U) The Sri Lankan media splashed SCA PDAS Donald Camp's media interviews prominently on their front pages and as leads on the evening TV news programs. While government-run media highlighted Camp's denunciations of the LTTE, independent papers, in both Tamil and English, played up his comments that the government needs to investigate killings of civilians and uphold law and order in areas under its control. Some papers also stressed his statement that the U.S. had encouraged the EU to ban the LTTE, even misquoting him as saying the U.S. had "urged" or "requested" such a ban. Most media also reported that Camp had come in an effort to get all sides to de-escalate the violence and move back to the negotiating table. ¶2. (U) Independent Maharaja TV broadcast excerpts of Camp's interview with its correspondent on its English, Sinhala and Tamil language stations, thereby greatly increasing the local audience that received Camp's messages. State-owned Rupavahini also broadcast its interview with him as a lead item on its evening news in all three languages. ¶3. (U) Following are headlines from today's press concerning PDAS Camp's visit: US encouraging EU to ban Tigers (Daily News - Government) US asks EU to ban LTTE; Burns to attend Co-chairs meeting (Daily Mirror - Independent) US calls on govt. to uphold law and order (The Morning Leader - Independent) US wants UNP to play major role in peace process (The Morning Leader - Independent) Ban LTTE, US requests EU (Dinamina - Government Sinhala) America asks EU to ban Tigers; Tigers have all qualifications for a ban label: US Deputy Assistant Secretary (Lankadeepa - Independent Sinhala) SIPDIS Main political parties should come to a consensus on the north east conflict - Camp (Lakbima - Independent Sinhala) America has already asked the EU to ban the LTTE - U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Donald Camp (Thinakaran - Government Tamil) Government is responsible for the current situation in the NE - TNA MP Suresh Premachandran tells Donald Camp (Virakesari - Independent Tamil) Government cannot get away from responsibility for the killings in government controlled areas - U.S. DAS Donald Camp (Sudar Oli - Independent Tamil sympathetic to the LTTE) America will fully cooperate for peace efforts - U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Don Camp (Thinakkural - Independent Tamil) ¶4. (SBU) Comment: While many headlines sought a sensational angle by highlighting Camp's words regarding an EU ban on the LTTE or the government's responsibility to investigate civilian killings, the articles themselves were more straightforward and accurately conveyed the several messages we wanted to get out. The two main points -- that the LTTE is a terrorist organization that must desist from its terror, and that the government, while exhibiting admirable restraint, must investigate and prosecute people responsible for civilian killings in areas under its control -- reached the public and may help tamp down the frequent complaint from some quarters that the U.S. only denounces LTTE violence and gives the GSL a free pass. End Comment. Entwistle