Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06COLOMBO808
2006-05-17 11:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
Special Media Reaction: PDAS Camp Visit to
how-toVZCZCXRO7804 PP RUEHBI RUEHCI DE RUEHLM #0808 1371158 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 171158Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3396 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9636 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 6641 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 0175 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4533 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6088 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 4123 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2020 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2168 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 3096
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
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
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