US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1084

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001084 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR INR/MR, I/RW, I/REC; PA 
SA/INS (CAMP, DEAN, WALLER) SA/PD (SCENSNY, ROGERS, 
STRYKER); SSA/PAS 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, PHUM, EAID, OIIP, PREL, CE, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT:  MEDIA PLAY:  Coverage of Ambassador's roundtable 
on Brussels/Peace Process with senior newspaper editors 
 
REFS:  Colombo 1075 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY.  Following an Ambassadorial roundtable on 
June 24 with senior newspaper editors (see Reftel), press 
coverage in Sri Lanka was largely positive and upbeat. 
Newspapers, both English and vernacular, covered the event 
factually and placed their coverage of the event 
prominently.  Key topics of the coverage included the co- 
chairs statement given at Brussels, the peace process, and 
religious freedom issues.  Editorial comment was also 
positive.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------- 
Headlines 
--------- 
 
2.  (U) Highlighting the recent co-chairs' Brussels 
Statement, independent Sinhala daily, LANKADEEPA (6/25) 
said :  "Don't let USD 4.5 Billion go by delaying peace 
talks anymore - U.S. Ambassador tells government and LTTE" 
 
3. (U) Many headlines focused on peace process issues or 
specific topics dealing with the LTTE.  Pro-LTTE Tamil 
daily SUDAR OLI reported under the headlines (6/25):  "We 
have no differences with India regarding a peaceful 
solution for the ethnic problem" - U.S. Ambassador, and 
"Can achieve peace only if the Sri Lankan forces are strong 
enough" - U.S. Ambassador 
 
- Government-owned Tamil weekender THINAKARAN VAARA MANJARI 
said (6/27):  "Self-governing proposals of the LTTE should 
not exceed the limits of the final settlement" - U.S. 
Ambassador 
 
- Government-owned DAILY NEWS (06/25) "Solution to ethnic 
crisis vital for prosperity - U.S. Envoy" 
 
- Independent English DAILY MIRROR, (06/25) "U.S. urges 
LTTE, military to talk" 
 
4. (U) Under the headline  "Religious Conversions -- an 
issue already in Sri Lanka-U.S. relations - U.S. 
Ambassador," the independent English daily ISLAND (6/28) 
quoted the Ambassador on a variety of topics: 
 
- Conversions.  "it's important that it be handled in a way 
that it not become a divisive issue.  We're encouraged when 
we see religious leaders, sometimes encouraged by the 
government, taking steps to deal with this in a positive 
way by discussing among themselves how they deal with the 
issue, but it's always important to ensure that individual 
freedom is maintained.  And this is guaranteed in the Sri 
Lankan Constitution, it's guaranteed in the International 
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Sri Lanka has 
signed, and within those boundaries, Sri Lanka obviously 
wants to try to deal with the issue." 
 
- India. "India did not come to Tokyo and is not a member 
of the co-chairs, but I ... don't think that there is any 
difference of opinion, or major difference between the co- 
chairs, the other concerned countries and India, on the 
necessity for a peaceful settlement in Sri Lanka which 
preserves the unity and integrity of the State, as will be 
in some type of a federal set-up....  This is a huge 
benefit for Sri Lanka. It's unique, really.  I've never 
seen in all my diplomatic experience a situation where all 
the major concerned countries, the donors, are in such 
agreement, and co-ordinate so closely with each other. 
This is to your advantage....  This is an opportunity that 
should not be wasted, the outside world wants to help Sri 
Lanka. We don't want to try to solve your problem, it's 
your problem, you need to solve it. We think that you are 
on the right track.  We want to help. This is something you 
really have to take advantage of, and doesn't occur that 
often." 
 
------------------- 
Editorial excerpts: 
------------------- 
 
5.  (U) Under the header "Inspiring words of support," the 
government-owned English DAILY NEWS (06/25) commented: 
"Unflagging international support for the peace process in 
Sri Lanka is one predominant positive from which this 
country could gather succor and strength. Close on the 
heels of a recent joint statement by the Co-chairs of the 
Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri 
Lanka, pledging ardent support for our peace process, comes 
a strong word of support from the U.S. Ambassador to Sri 
Lanka, Jeffrey Lunstead, that this country should 
courageously soldier on to peace, making itself an example 
to the rest of the world, in the process.  The U.S. 
Ambassador was unambiguous in his pronouncement that Lanka 
enjoyed the backing of the international community in this 
effort.  It is their wish that Sri Lanka would overcome all 
obstacles on the path to peace.  Inasmuch as we are buoyed 
by these warm words of support for our peace endeavor, we 
could also take heart from the fact that the U.S. has made 
very clear its conditions for lifting its ban on the LTTE. 
On this issue, its principled position is most exemplary 
and we hope other sections of the world community which 
cannot quite make up their minds on the issue, would be 
inspired into a clearer stand by the U.S.' clarity of 
position." 
 
6.  (U) Under the header "Interim Administration and the 
final solution" the independent Sinhala weekly, SUNDAY 
LAKBIMA (6/27) commented:  "(The) bottom line of the 
discussion the U.S. Ambassador had with editors on Brussels 
meeting is the importance of the link between the agreement 
on ISGA and the final solution .... But whatever is said 
and done, we need to talk with the LTTE to end war.  The 
LTTE wants the ISGA established before restarting the talks 
... This time although returning to war is not that simple, 
they seem to be taking advantage of the weakness of 
government .... In the meantime, the government is forced 
to push for peace talks, because of the huge amount of 
money that has been pledged for Sri Lanka...." 
 
Lunstead