Sri Lanka: Journalists Face Continued Pressure

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000902 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA SCA/INS, SCA/PPD and DRL/NESCA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PROP CE SUBJECT: Sri Lanka: Journalists Face Continued Pressure ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Munza Mushtaq, news editor the English-language, independent daily "The Nation," resigned on August 30, 2008 to protest a spate of recent actions by the publication's new management to curb journalistic and editorial independence. The change in management and in editorial oientation at the Nation will muzzle a moderate bt independent voice and further narrow the spectum of opinion in Sri Lanka's media landscape. EndSummary. ¶2. (SBU) Embassy PD officers met withMunza Mushtaq, who resigned her post on August 30as News Editor for the Nation, an English-languae, independent daily. Mustaq had been employed by the Nation since its beginning in 2006, when a Si Lankan businessman established the paper to seve as an independent voice. The management recruited several leading journalists from other newspaers, and the paper quickly gained a strong reputaton as a reliable and unbiased publication. ¶3. (SBU) In March 2008, Nilanka Rajapaksa purchased a 49 percent share in the Nation. Rajapaksa, although not a relative, is reportedly a close friend of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaska. According to Mushtaq, soon after Nilanka Rajapaksa became involved with the paper, journalists felt their independence threatened. Tension erupted in late May 2008, when the Nation's Defense correspondent Keith Noyahr was abducted and brutally tortured by a group of thugs with alleged ties to senior military officers. He had been warned not to criticize the military activities of the regime, according to Mustaq. Noyahr has since left the country with his family. ¶4. (SBU) Shortly after the attack on Noyahr and approximately two and half months after Rajapksa purchased his 49 percent share, the remaining 51 percent was sold to Prasanna Wickremasuriya, brother of the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the U.S. and a cousin of President Rajapaksa. According to Mushtaq, initially Wickremasuriya assured the editorial staff of total independence. However, soon thereafter, management frequently stopped editors from printing stories critical of the government. This environment caused further tension and dissatisfaction among a group of senior editors, and the group handed over their resignation letters in July en masse. Fearing the fallout of such an exodus, the paper's new general manager refused the resignations and instead offered large financial incentives if the journalists stayed. The journalists accepted the offer and rescinded their resignation letters. ¶5. (SBU) Tension briefly subsided, according to Munza. However, on August 24, Munza penned an article, verified by multiple sources, outlining Ambassador Wickremasuriya's attempts to have the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry give the Sri Lankan embassy assistance to counter the efforts of U.S. lobbyist Bruce Fein (who is viewed as pro-LTTE by the Sri Lankan government). According to Munza, it was Nilanka Rajapaksa who was agitated with the article, rather than Prasanna Wickremasuriya, the Ambassador's brother. ¶6. (SBU) In response to the article, the Nation's management asked longtime chief editor Lalith Allahakoon to resign. Allahakoon refused. He challenged the board to fire him, knowing that his dismissal would create a media uproar. The management subsequently relieved Allahakoon of his responsibilities, but has kept him on staff. In response, Munza and Marianne David, another senior journalist, tendered their resignations. The management accepted both with immediate effect. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: The events underscore the tense working environment for independent media in Sri Lanka. Journalists are fearful of writing pieces critical of the government or the military offensive in northern Sri Lanka. The beating of Noyahr in May was viewed by many journalists as both a punishment for his articles and a threat to other journalists of the consequences for authoring critical pieces. The purchase of the Nation by the president's cronies, while ostensibly motivated by investment considerations, is likely to further narrow the spectrum of opinion reflected in Sri Lanka's media landscape. BLAKE