Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10RANGOON40
2010-01-21 11:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA NEWSPAPER MISREPRESENTS USG HAITI RESPONSE;
how-toVZCZCXRO3892 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHGO #0040 0211126 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 211126Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9753 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2382 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5879 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9442 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 7069 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2812 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000040
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL OIIP KPAO KDEM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA NEWSPAPER MISREPRESENTS USG HAITI RESPONSE;
GOB OFFICIAL EXPRESSES REGRET
REF: STATE 5277
Classified By: CDA Larry Dinger for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Burma Newspaper Quotes Latin America Critics of U.S.
Assistance to Haiti
--------------------------------------------- ------
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000040
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL OIIP KPAO KDEM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA NEWSPAPER MISREPRESENTS USG HAITI RESPONSE;
GOB OFFICIAL EXPRESSES REGRET
REF: STATE 5277
Classified By: CDA Larry Dinger for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Burma Newspaper Quotes Latin AMERICA Critics of U.S.
Assistance to Haiti
-------------- --------------
1. (U) The Government of Burma (GOB)-controlled
Burmese-language newspaper "The Mirror" included in its
January 18 edition (available on the Qreet January 20)
excerpts of an article off the internet titled "Leftist
Leaders Say US is Using Relief Mission as Pretext to Occupy
Haiti." The story reported: "The United States is using the
humanitarian crisis in Haiti as an excuse to occupy the
earthquake-hit island nation, two of Washington's most vocal
leftist critics in Latin AMERICA implied at the weekend. To
support the massive aid operation following last Tuesday's
devastating earthquake, the US was set to have up to 10,000
troops on the ground or in the waters off Haiti by early this
week."
CDA Discussion with Ministry of Information DG
-------------- -
2. (SBU) As guided by reftel, the CDA attempted to raise
U.S. objections directly with the Mirror; but that newspaper
refused to arrange a meeting or take a call absent permission
from the Ministry of Information, its GOB overseer. The CDA
then phoned Ministry of Information Director General U Ye
Htut to register the complaint, to emphasize the
U.S./UN/world-community partnership, and to press for
informed and responsible coverage of U.S. actions and
intentions. The DG was aware of the article. He said he
understood why the U.S. would find it objectionable. He
promised to brief the Minister of Information and the Mirror
editor. He then asked if the USG has responded to President
Ortega's allegations, saying that it might be possible to
arrange a follow-up article providing the U.S. perspective.
Comment and Action Request
--------------
3. (C) From what we can determine, official Washington has
not responded to President Ortega's alleged statement.
Please advise how, if at all, we should respond to the DG's
offer to facilitate a follow-on piece with USG comment. The
upside would be to correct the record; the downside would be
to flag the offensive theme again. As of today, the Mirror
piece is the only distorted piece on U.S. relief efforts in
Haiti that has appeared in Burmese media.
DINGER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL OIIP KPAO KDEM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA NEWSPAPER MISREPRESENTS USG HAITI RESPONSE;
GOB OFFICIAL EXPRESSES REGRET
REF: STATE 5277
Classified By: CDA Larry Dinger for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Burma Newspaper Quotes Latin AMERICA Critics of U.S.
Assistance to Haiti
-------------- --------------
1. (U) The Government of Burma (GOB)-controlled
Burmese-language newspaper "The Mirror" included in its
January 18 edition (available on the Qreet January 20)
excerpts of an article off the internet titled "Leftist
Leaders Say US is Using Relief Mission as Pretext to Occupy
Haiti." The story reported: "The United States is using the
humanitarian crisis in Haiti as an excuse to occupy the
earthquake-hit island nation, two of Washington's most vocal
leftist critics in Latin AMERICA implied at the weekend. To
support the massive aid operation following last Tuesday's
devastating earthquake, the US was set to have up to 10,000
troops on the ground or in the waters off Haiti by early this
week."
CDA Discussion with Ministry of Information DG
-------------- -
2. (SBU) As guided by reftel, the CDA attempted to raise
U.S. objections directly with the Mirror; but that newspaper
refused to arrange a meeting or take a call absent permission
from the Ministry of Information, its GOB overseer. The CDA
then phoned Ministry of Information Director General U Ye
Htut to register the complaint, to emphasize the
U.S./UN/world-community partnership, and to press for
informed and responsible coverage of U.S. actions and
intentions. The DG was aware of the article. He said he
understood why the U.S. would find it objectionable. He
promised to brief the Minister of Information and the Mirror
editor. He then asked if the USG has responded to President
Ortega's allegations, saying that it might be possible to
arrange a follow-up article providing the U.S. perspective.
Comment and Action Request
--------------
3. (C) From what we can determine, official Washington has
not responded to President Ortega's alleged statement.
Please advise how, if at all, we should respond to the DG's
offer to facilitate a follow-on piece with USG comment. The
upside would be to correct the record; the downside would be
to flag the offensive theme again. As of today, the Mirror
piece is the only distorted piece on U.S. relief efforts in
Haiti that has appeared in Burmese media.
DINGER