Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COLOMBO507
2008-05-27 12:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: DEFENSE JOURNALIST ABDUCTED, BEATEN AND
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C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000507
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: DEFENSE JOURNALIST ABDUCTED, BEATEN AND
RELEASED
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000507
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: DEFENSE JOURNALIST ABDUCTED, BEATEN AND
RELEASED
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Keith Noyahr, a prominent journalist and
defense analyst, was abducted and severely beaten by
unidentified men on the night of May 22. The next day,
hundreds of journalists protested the attack and demanded a
full investigation. Some of the victim's journalist
colleagues speculate that the attack was related to Noyahr's
recent article criticizing Army Commander Lt. Gen. Fonseka or
because of his reporting on the GSL's conduct of the war. The
government has assigned three special police teams to
investigate the abduction and assault. State TV reported
that both the military spokesman and Defense Secretary
Gothabaya Rajapaksa have vehemently denied involvement by the
security forces in the incident. End summary.
2. (U) Keith Noyahr, deputy editor and defense analyst at
the English-language weekly "The Nation," was abducted
outside his home in a suburb of Colombo by unidentified men
late on the evening of May 22. After six to seven hours, his
abductors released him near his home, severely beaten, but
conscious. Noyahr was subsequently admitted to hospital for
treatment. Media reported on May 24 that Noyahr was still in
shock and told his colleagues that he was not yet able to
make a statement on his abduction.
3. (SBU) On May 23 in Colombo, hundreds of Sri Lankan
journalists protested the attack on Noyahr and demanded an
inquiry into his abduction and assault. The protesters noted
that the attack occurred within hours of Sri Lanka losing a
vote to retain its seat on the UN Human Rights Council,
speculating that threats to the media freedom were among the
reasons for Sri Lanka's defeat in the vote. Some placards
blamed the government for the attack on Noyahr. General
Secretary of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists' Association
Poddala Jayantha said, "We believe that the reason for this
attack is Noyahr's independent writing and analysis of the
country's civil war." Free Media Movement Secretary Sunanda
Deshapriya urged the government to hold an impartial inquiry
to find and prosecute the perpetrators.
4. (C) Police spokesman N.K. Ilangakoon said on May 23 that
three special police teams have been assigned to investigate
the attack. He added that the President had personally
instructed Police Chief Victor Perera to take prompt action.
Many of Noyahr's journalistic colleagues have told us they
believe his abduction and assault were linked to a recent
article he wrote that was highly critical of Army Commander
Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka. Ilangakoon invited anyone who
believes the abduction was linked to Noyahr's recent article
to provide a statement to the police. State TV and other
media sources reported that both the military spokesman and
Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa have vehemently denied
any involvement by the security forces in the incident.
5. (C) COMMENT: The assault on Noyahr is part of a
disturbing trend in the violent intimidation of journalists.
Some journalists have told Emboffs that they do not expect
the government to conduct a serious investigation. After the
protests by the Free Media Movement, Deshapriya and two other
journalists reported that the Defense Secretary had summoned
them; they subsequently requested a meeting with Charge and
the European Union's Head of Mission in Colombo, which will
take place May 28. Post is not in a position to determine
whether the attack on Noyahr was directed, approved, or
carried out by the government. However, military
intelligence "special units," violent hoodlums belonging to
ministerial security details, members of paramilitary groups
or hired criminal thugs are among the possible authors of
this brutal act. We will strongly urge the GSL to conduct an
impartial and thorough investigation, bring the perpetrators
to justice, and take steps to prevent such attacks in the
future.
MOORE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: DEFENSE JOURNALIST ABDUCTED, BEATEN AND
RELEASED
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Keith Noyahr, a prominent journalist and
defense analyst, was abducted and severely beaten by
unidentified men on the night of May 22. The next day,
hundreds of journalists protested the attack and demanded a
full investigation. Some of the victim's journalist
colleagues speculate that the attack was related to Noyahr's
recent article criticizing Army Commander Lt. Gen. Fonseka or
because of his reporting on the GSL's conduct of the war. The
government has assigned three special police teams to
investigate the abduction and assault. State TV reported
that both the military spokesman and Defense Secretary
Gothabaya Rajapaksa have vehemently denied involvement by the
security forces in the incident. End summary.
2. (U) Keith Noyahr, deputy editor and defense analyst at
the English-language weekly "The Nation," was abducted
outside his home in a suburb of Colombo by unidentified men
late on the evening of May 22. After six to seven hours, his
abductors released him near his home, severely beaten, but
conscious. Noyahr was subsequently admitted to hospital for
treatment. Media reported on May 24 that Noyahr was still in
shock and told his colleagues that he was not yet able to
make a statement on his abduction.
3. (SBU) On May 23 in Colombo, hundreds of Sri Lankan
journalists protested the attack on Noyahr and demanded an
inquiry into his abduction and assault. The protesters noted
that the attack occurred within hours of Sri Lanka losing a
vote to retain its seat on the UN Human Rights Council,
speculating that threats to the media freedom were among the
reasons for Sri Lanka's defeat in the vote. Some placards
blamed the government for the attack on Noyahr. General
Secretary of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists' Association
Poddala Jayantha said, "We believe that the reason for this
attack is Noyahr's independent writing and analysis of the
country's civil war." Free Media Movement Secretary Sunanda
Deshapriya urged the government to hold an impartial inquiry
to find and prosecute the perpetrators.
4. (C) Police spokesman N.K. Ilangakoon said on May 23 that
three special police teams have been assigned to investigate
the attack. He added that the President had personally
instructed Police Chief Victor Perera to take prompt action.
Many of Noyahr's journalistic colleagues have told us they
believe his abduction and assault were linked to a recent
article he wrote that was highly critical of Army Commander
Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka. Ilangakoon invited anyone who
believes the abduction was linked to Noyahr's recent article
to provide a statement to the police. State TV and other
media sources reported that both the military spokesman and
Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa have vehemently denied
any involvement by the security forces in the incident.
5. (C) COMMENT: The assault on Noyahr is part of a
disturbing trend in the violent intimidation of journalists.
Some journalists have told Emboffs that they do not expect
the government to conduct a serious investigation. After the
protests by the Free Media Movement, Deshapriya and two other
journalists reported that the Defense Secretary had summoned
them; they subsequently requested a meeting with Charge and
the European Union's Head of Mission in Colombo, which will
take place May 28. Post is not in a position to determine
whether the attack on Noyahr was directed, approved, or
carried out by the government. However, military
intelligence "special units," violent hoodlums belonging to
ministerial security details, members of paramilitary groups
or hired criminal thugs are among the possible authors of
this brutal act. We will strongly urge the GSL to conduct an
impartial and thorough investigation, bring the perpetrators
to justice, and take steps to prevent such attacks in the
future.
MOORE