MEDIA REACTION: CHINA, SRI LANKA PRESIDENTIAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000173 SIPDIS STATE FOR NP, AC, PM STATE FOR INR/MR STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU STATE FOR AID/APRE-A USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CHINA, SRI LANKA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, AFGHANISTAN; 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. -------------- CHINA -------------- ¶1. "HOW LONG INDIA CAN KEEP QUIET?" commentary in January 28 centrist Hindi daily, NAI DUNIYA: "China's nationalistic zeal and territorial ambitions are proving to be India's bane. U.S. is aware of this, but is scared of China's aggressive nationalism. India should be extra vigilant on its borders. Analysts are warning that China is trying to shrink the Himalayan borders. How long will India keep mum?" ¶2. "NEW KIND OF PROXY WAR," op-ed in January 28 right- of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "India has been a victim of proxy wars before. Of late, however, a new phenomenon stares India in the face - China's cyber proxy war. China is a known cyber delinquent. Just last week, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned China on cyber censorship, and her tone was tough. An absence of a strong reaction to China has rendered India a poor, helpless nation. India has to wake up and tighten its cyber laws to guard against China." -------------- SRI LANKA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS -------------- ¶3. "PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN SRI LANKA," editorial in January 28 right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF: "The Presidential elections in Sri Lanka were held without LTTE for the first time. It will, therefore, be easy for the newly elected President to achieve its goals. Keeping aside the horrible story of death and destruction, the new President should devote himself for creating amity and congeniality between Tamils and Sinhalese so that their feeling of deprivation is carted off, enabling them to include themselves in the national mainstream." -------------- AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶4. "MAJOR ROLE OF INDIA IN AFGHANISTAN," editorial in January 28 right-of-center Urdu daily SIASAT: "Major countries want to make NATO strategy in Afghanistan a success through India. They want to enfeeble Pakistan's support to Taliban by giving a strong role to India. India has a strong bilateral relation with Afghanistan. It is busy day and night to provide every possible relief to the Afghan people. That is why Afghan people are intending to give India a greater role in the reconstruction of their motherland." ¶5. "AFGHANISTAN AND ITS NEIGHBORS," editorial in NEW DELHI 00000173 002 OF 002 January 29 right-of-center Urdu daily HINDUSTAN EXPRESS: "Neither peace and stability can be restored in Afghanistan nor the neighboring countries can breathe a sigh of relief until and unless Russia, Iran, Pakistan, India and China give their cordial support to Afghanistan. But to achieve this goal, America and Britain will have to bring changes in their policies and priorities. If America wants to save its goodwill by jostling the neighboring countries into the Afghanistan quagmire, the one which is most vulnerable is a country none other than India. Our leaders should therefore, be careful, and avoid any golden net." ROEMER