MEDIA REACTION: THE SRI LANKAN CRISIS, PAKISTAN,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000809

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E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: THE SRI LANKAN CRISIS, PAKISTAN,
US FIRST LADY AT G-20 SUMMIT; NEW DELHI.

This countrywide cable reports on relevant media
reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press.
The Mission reports on English-language media via email
through the daily "Early Edition" summary.

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THE SRI LANKAN CRISIS
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1. "CRISIS STILL CONTINUES" editorial in April 23 Kolkata
Bengali independent ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA. "The Manmohan
Singh government is silent about the sufferings of the
Tamils in Sri Lanka. While it considers the LTTE
terrorists, it doesn't like to meddle in the internal
affairs of its next-door neighbor. The war will end
eventually, but the issue of self-rule for Sri Lankan
Tamils will remain unresolved. But since New Delhi has
washed its hands of the situation, nationalist forces in
Sri Lanka will feel no pressure to extend justice to the
Tamils."


2. "LET DELHI BE VOCAL," editorial in April 23 pro-Left
Kolkata Bengali SAMBAD PRATIDIN. "India right NOW is
concerned about the Tamil-speaking people whose life is
threatened by the war, but it is not possible for India
to do anything for diplomatic and other reasons. It is
also not possible to support Pravakaran; this needs to be
understood because India, facing the worst form of
terrorism, is NOW engaged in a diplomatic war with its
western neighbor. At the national level, the biggest
concern is controlling Tamil emotions. Caution must
exercised in the event of any incident that could lead to
an emotional upsurge. It is hoped that the Indian
government will take suitable measures to prevent this."

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PAKISTAN
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3. "THEIR DEMOCRACY," editorial in April 22 nationalist
RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "Extremist forces want to
completely "Islamize' Pakistan. They are buoyed by the
Pakistan government's capitulation to the Taliban in
Swat. Red Mosque leader Maulana Abdul Aziz called for an
Islamic takeover of Pakistan; NOW the Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-
Sharia Muhammadi chief Sufi Muhammad of Swat has done the
same. He even declared democracy and courts un-Islamic.
There are demands for the imposition of Islamic rule
across the Malakand division. After Swat, NOW it is
Malakand's turn, and then perhaps all of Pakistan. The
Pakistan government's helplessness is extremely
worrisome, but there is still time for the Pakistani
politicians to sit up and do something."


4. "OUR JOINT WAR AGAINST TERRORISM," op-ed in April 22
centrist DAINIK BHASKAR Hindi daily: "The Taliban threat
in Pakistan is steadily rising. Pakistan is today in
danger of being devoured by the monster it created to
meet U.S. needs. Pakistan is completely dependent on the
U.S., as its own economy has collapsed. Its army wants
close relations with the U.S. in order to maintain its

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upper hand in the society. The army's role cannot be
reduced unless the elected government is strengthened...
the people and the politicians of Pakistan actually
believe that jihadi terrorism is no less dangerous for
Pakistan than it is for India. They feel Pakistan needs
India's help to deal with terrorist organizations. A
strong central democratic government in Pakistan is good
for India's security too. India should face this danger
jointly with Pakistan."


5. "WHAT IS HAPPENING IN PAKISTAN," editorial in the
April 22 right-of-center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ, New
Delhi: "Pakistan is an independent and self-governing
country. We, the Indians do not poke our nose in its
internal matters, nor have we any right to do so. But the
scenario changes altogether when they talk of Shariah
(Islamic Laws). India is affected when Pakistan burns in
the fires of terrorism, but those acts of terrorism and
extremism provide America with opportunities to intervene
in the internal affairs of Pakistan. A strong,
consolidated and democratic Pakistan is always in the
best interest of India. On the other hand, the strategic
significance of Pakistan is well-accepted. Zardari has
been proved to be a failed and dumbfounded President of
Pakistan. When he will wake up is hard to say. The
current drama of agreements with the Taliban could
destroy the country, and the United States of America is
awaiting such an opportunity."


6. "PAKISTAN AND TALIBAN: OUR MEDIA," editorial in the
April 22 right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF, Hyderabad:
"Pakistan is reeling these days, and there is no doubt it
is the target of a war initiated by former US president
Bush against Islam in the name of a war on terrorism. It
has long been clear that after Afghanistan and Iraq,
America's next target will be Pakistan. That's why
America is bombarding the tribal areas of Pakistan, and
has already started a campaign to malign Islam and its
followers by branding them as 'Taliban' or 'Al-Qaeda'.
America and its allies are determined to make the
situation in Pakistan explosive. Only God knows how many
people in the Pakistan government are part of this
contemptible mission."

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US FIRST LADY AT G-20 SUMMIT
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7. "MICHELLE OBAMA AND QUEEN ELIZABETH'S EMBRACE: US
FIRST LADY EXTENDS HERSELF WELL" op-ed article by
columnist Amarendra Dhaneshwar in the April 23 left-of-
center Marathi daily MAHANAGAR. "Some may not have taken
U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and Queen Elizabeth's
embrace in the right spirit. Royal etiquette dictates
that the Queen not be touched unless she reaches out
first. And the U.S. First Lady not only touched her but
patted the Queen on her back. Whatever the demands of
protocol may be, the U.S. First lady did the right thing
at the right moment, and without undue extravagance.
Michelle Obama's gesture speaks of a certain openness. As
some columnists have already pointed out, she has

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destroyed all manner of cultural untouchabilities and
ideological belief systems that create divides between
equal people of this world..."
BURLEIGH