US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO767

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000767 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OFFICIAL INFORMAL 
 
FOR SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  05/12/14 
TAGS: AMGT, CE, MV, Human Rights, ECONOMICS, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT:  OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 070 (05/12/04) 
 
Classified by DCM James F. Entwistle for reasons 1.5 (b) 
and (d). 
 
CONTENTS: LOCAL REACTION TO REPORTED IRAQI PRISONER ABUSE 
-         TRADE MINISTER LETTER ON FTA 
-         NORWEGIANS/KADIRGAMAR 
 
LOCAL REACTION TO REPORTED IRAQI PRISONER ABUSE 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
1. (C) FYI.  Mission has heard there may be some negative 
reaction in Sri Lanka and the Maldives to the news accounts 
and photos of alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners.  In one 
case, a USAID contractor working in the ethnically diverse 
east was told not to visit a project as some Muslims in the 
area were worked up about the Iraqi abuse.  In the Maldives, 
meanwhile, one contact thought that there were undercurrents 
of tension among some Maldivians regarding the reports.  The 
majority of our contacts in both countries, however, have 
not indicated that anything significant is fomenting nor do 
we believe that any wave of anti-Americanism is developing. 
In fact, 99.9 percent of our contacts have not mentioned the 
matter to us and the whole matter has not been subject to a 
lot of press play in either country.  (One caveat: 
Maldivians get some of their news off satellite Arabic 
language channels beamed in from the Middle East.)  We will 
continue checking into the situation both here and in 
Maldives, including reports that there might be some 
demonstrations after Friday prayers here.  (POL) 
 
TRADE MINISTER LETTER ON FTA 
---------------------------- 
 
2.  (SBU) You should have the fax we sent today from Trade 
Minister Fernandopulle to USTR Zoellick.  The Minister 
understand that Z is out, but wanted us to relay the 
contents and the fact that the original would be coming 
soon.  The GSL wanted to be sure it got there while FM was 
still in the US.  The Minister seems to believe (judging 
from enthusiastic press reports) that all he needs to do to 
get FTA negotiations rolling is to notify USTR in writing, 
which is what the letter is about.  This may be due to a 
misunderstanding from Ambassador's introductory meeting with 
him.  We are discussing how to reduce these high hopes here. 
(ECON) 
 
NORWEGIANS/KADIRGAMAR 
--------------------- 
 
3. (C) FYI - as you prepare for S and D meetings with FM 
Kadirgamar today, look for our frontchannel Norwegian 
readout which will be zapped in your direction in a few 
minutes.  (DCM) 
 
LUNSTEAD