US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO2031

UNCLAS COLOMBO 002031 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR D, INR/MR, PA 
SA/INS (CAMP, DEAN) SA/PD (SCENSNY, ROGERS, STRYKER); 
SSA/PAS 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, KPAO, PHUM, PTER, OIIP, CE, LTTE - Peace Process, Political Parties 
SUBJECT:  Media Reaction:  Co-chairs statement on JVP 
provokes divided response in Sri Lankan media 
 
REFS:  Colombo 1997 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY:  The December 15 statement by the Tokyo 
donors conference co-chairs on the JVP's agitation against 
Norway and the peace process provoked a widespread and 
sharply divided response from the Sri Lankan media. 
Independent English and Tamil media covered the story 
factually with favorable editorials, while government-run 
and Sinhala media outlets gave the statement somewhat less 
prominence and less favorable editorial response.  Coverage 
of the statement, however, served to reinforce among the 
public the co-chairs' support for the peace process and 
concern over the lack of  cohesion within the GSL.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (U) The December 15 statement (see Reftel) by the co- 
chairs of the Tokyo donors conference received widespread 
coverage in all electronic media outlets, with both state- 
run and independent broadcasters making it their lead story 
in all three local languages.  Radio broadcasters also gave 
the statement prominent coverage in their noon and evening 
news broadcasts December 15, as did several Internet sites 
independent website Lanka Academic noted that the "co- 
chairs had told the President to bring her Marxist ally to 
heel," whereas pro-Tiger website TamilNet reproduced the 
statement verbatim without editorial comment). 
 
3.  (U) Both the English and vernacular print media also 
featured the statement prominently in their December 16 
dailies. Independent English Daily Mirror bannered (12/16): 
"JVP action shocks donors."  Independent English daily 
Island (12/16), normally sympathetic to JVP positions, 
headlined "U.S., EU, Japan lambaste JVP for opposing peace 
process; JVP dismisses allegation."  Coverage of the 
statement and the JVP response carried into the weekend, 
with the independent Sunday Leader (12/19) carrying news of 
the statement in an editorial titled "Madam, your slip is 
showing," which included the statement" ...If Kumaratunga 
is engulfed by a passionate obsession of any kind, it is 
only to stay in power for the rest of her life."  On the 
other hand, the independent Sinahala Sunday Divaina 
editorial (12/19) titled "We are also bewildered at that 
bewilderment" took a sharply negative view of the statement 
and questioned why the co-chairs had not seen fit to 
criticize the LTTE for their ceasefire violations in the 
same way they had criticized the JVP. 
 
4. (U) COMMENT:  Perhaps revealing the fragile state of the 
peace process, the media reacted forcefully and prominently 
to the co-chairs' statement, lining up along predictable 
sides.  The JVP's response to the Ambassador, which the 
party released to the press, took him to task for not 
criticizing the LTTE in the statement.  We expect that the 
Ambassador's response to the JVP, in which he reminded them 
that the U.S. had on many occasions publicly denounced LTTE 
actions, will also find its way into the media.  END 
COMMENT 
 
Lunstead