SRI LANKA: DEFENSE CORRESPONDENT FEARS RETALIATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001187 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS MCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: DEFENSE CORRESPONDENT FEARS RETALIATION FOR CRITICAL ARTICLES ON MIG DEAL REF: EMBASSY COLOMBO E-MAILS TO SCA/INS (NOTAL) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Defense Correspondent Iqbal Athas is preparing to temporarily leave Sri Lanka with his family following a barrage of threats and intimidation apparently orchestrated by the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL). On August 12, he wrote an article for the Sunday Times about the Ukrainian Government's inquiry into "irregularities" in the sale of four MIG-27 aircraft to Sri Lanka. On August 14, a Sinhala version of the article was published in a local paper. The next day, the government withdrew Athas's security detail. Since then, demonstrators have gathered to protest in front of his house, a man claiming to be a retired Air Force officer threatened to kill his translator, and he has received warnings that he may be kidnapped and questioned about his sources. Athas's situation has received extensive coverage in both local and international media. One of Athas's employers, CNN, and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have championed his case. Ambassador Blake telephoned the Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa on August 24 and told him that it would be bad for Sri Lanka if anything were to happen to Athas. Embassy believes the widespread publicity this case has received, and its own efforts, will give some measure of protection to Athas and his family. Post will continue to keep in close touch with Athas and intervene further if required. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Defense Correspondent Iqbal Athas is preparing to temporarily leave Sri Lanka with his family following a barrage of threats and intimidation from the GSL. Athas writes regularly for the Sunday Times, a local English-language newspaper, and also frequently contributes to CNN, Jane's Defense Weekly and the Times of London. On August 12, he wrote an article for the Sunday Times about the Ukrainian Government's inquiry into "irregularities" in the sale of four MIG-27 aircraft to Sri Lanka. In his article, he noted that the third-party facilitating company, Bellimissa Holdings, seemed to exist only on paper, while the GSL claimed the deal was handled directly between the two states. Athas published extensive details on the transaction, even reprinting the letter of credit issued by a GSL-owned bank for the planes. �A;Government Harassment and Intimidation Mount -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On August 14, a translation of the article appeared in the largest-circulation Sinhala language newspaper, owned by the same company as the Sunday Times and Daily Mirror and generally sympathetic to the opposition. The next day, Athas's security detail was withdrawn by the Government. (Note: Athas has had a government-provided security detail for several years because of threats against him stemming from articles critical of former President Kumaratunga's government.) On August 18, the police guard stationed at his home outside of Colombo was also withdrawn. Athas claims that these steps were taken on the explicit instructions of Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa. ¶4. (SBU) On August 26, an article appeared in a Sinhala paper distributed in the Colombo suburb where Athas lives, which accused Athas of being an LTTE agent who has betrayed vital national security information. On August 27, demonstrators, including a local politician of the governing Sri Lanka Freedom Party, gathered to protest in front of Athas's house. According to Athas, a man claiming to be a retired Air Force officer entered the office of the Sunday Times' publisher the same day, sought out the English-to-Sinhala translator, and, in a private conversation, threatened him with death if he continued to translate Athas's articles. He also reportedly said Athas COLOMBO 00001187 002 OF 002 himself would be killed if he did not stop writing and leave the country within 90 days. The translator, however, has since recanted his story, saying that the man did not threaten him, but merely wanted to discuss the translation of a book he was working on. Athas also reports that he has been followed by men on motor bikes and that suspicious people have been hovering around his house. He has received warnings from his sources that he may be kidnapped and questioned about how he obtains his information. Concerned Parties Attempt to Intercede -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Athas's situation has received extensive coverage in both local and international media. CNN is reportedly considering contacting President Rajapaksa on his behalf. The Committee to Protect Journalists has already sent a strongly-worded letter to the President, which has received broad dissemination on the Internet. The Sri Lankan Free Media Movement issued a statement condemning the withdrawal of Athas's security. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe warned at a press conference that if Athas was harmed, the Government would be held responsible. ¶6. (SBU) Ambassador Blake telephoned Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa on August 24 and told him the U.S. was concerned about Athas's safety and that it would be bad for Sri Lanka if anything were to happen to such a prominent columnist. Gothabaya said "Iqbal should not worry... there should not be any problem at all." He noted that other journalists had written more damning articles and survived. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: The GSL's proffered explanation for the withdrawal of Athas's security -- that it was done after a routine assessment showed no further threat to him -- will not bear scrutiny. Clearly the articles have struck a raw nerve. The Government is particularly sensitive to criticism in the Sinhala papers popular among its nationalist support base. Embassy believes that international interventions, coupled with the glare of publicity surrounding the case, will likely afford Athas and his family some measure of protection. Athas is a long-time Embassy contact. We have been in continuous touch with Athas since his situation became precarious and are prepared to intervene again on an urgent basis if required. BLAKE