US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO244

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000244 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR S/ES, INR/MR, PA 
SA/INS (CAMP, DEAN) SA/PD (SCENSNY, ROGERS, STRYKER); 
SSA/PAS 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, KPAO, PTER, EAID, OIIP, PREL, CE, Tsunami 
SUBJECT:  Special Media Reaction: Colombo Press Conference 
to Announce Marine Draw-down and Continuing USG Relief 
Efforts 
 
1. (U) Summary:  Media coverage of post's January 29 press 
conference to announce plans to transition from a mix of 
military and civilian tsunami relief efforts to a fully 
civilian one was prominent and widespread, generating 
front-page headlines but little editorial comment.  Most 
media focused on the imminent draw-down of military forces 
and whether this implied a reduction in the USG commitment 
to rehabilitation efforts.  A few outlets played up 
Charge's assertion that our position on contact with the 
LTTE had not changed.  The conference served to underscore 
the deep USG commitment to relief and rehabilitation 
programs in Sri Lanka and reassure the Sri Lankan public 
that despite the military draw-down, our civilian programs 
aimed at reconstruction will increase.  End summary. 
 
2.  (U) Post held an open press conference January 29 led 
by Charge d'Affaires James Entwistle; Brigadier General 
Frank Panter, head of the Combined Support Group in Sri 
Lanka; Carol Becker, USAID Mission head; and Bill Berger, 
head of OFDA's Disaster Assistance Response Team. 
Approximately 15 different print and broadcast 
organizations, including the international wire services, 
attended the conference.  A press release (para 6) and fact 
sheets handed out at the conference summarized all the 
activities the U.S. military and USAID had carried out to 
date and stressed our transition to a more long-term, 
civilian-led effort after the Marines had largely 
accomplished their mission.  The following day's newspapers 
(January 30), for the most part, emphasized the military 
withdrawal rather than the continuation of civilian 
programs, with headlines such as the government-owned 
Sunday Observer's (01/29) front-page banner:  "U.S. Marines 
leave by February 15," or the Sunday Leader's inside 
header:  "U.S. to withdraw Marines from Lanka."  The 
independent Sunday Island took a slightly different tack, 
headlining:  "U.S. willing to return, but not to LTTE-held 
areas," as did the independent Sunday Times, titling its 
coverage of the press conference "Troops to go but U.S 
pledge firm." 
 
3.  (U) The Tamil and Sinhalese language press likewise 
gave the conference wide coverage, with many outlets 
running front-page photographs and headlines January 30 and 
31.  Independent Sinhala daily Lankadeepa headlined: 
"American commandos leave in two weeks after concluding 
relief activities" and subheaded "The tsunami has not 
changed America's stance on the Tigers."  Independent 
Divaina bannered:  "American forces leave in the next two 
weeks; ready to come back if need be."  Government-owned 
Sinhala weekender Silumina January 30 led with "American 
relief services will continue."  Independent Tamil daily 
Thinakkural January 31 subheaded:  "U.S. troops are 
engaging in relief assistance in cooperation with the 
Indian and Sri Lankan militaries - U.S. Embassy's Charge 
d'Affaires, James Entwistle." Government-owned Tamil 
weekender Thinakaran Vaara Manjari headlined:  "American 
troops in Sri Lanka will leave by February 15 - Brig. Gen. 
Panter." 
 
4.  (U) Local television and radio also covered the story 
widely, leading with items from the presser in their 
January 30 afternoon and evening news broadcasts, and 
mentioning it as part of their weekly news roundups on 
January 30.  In addition, news websites such as the 
independent Lanka Academic and the pro-LTTE TamilNet 
covered the story prominently, without editorializing. 
 
5.  (U) Comment:  Working in cooperation with the Combined 
Support Group (CSG), post arranged widespread and 
continuous coverage of the U.S. military's tsunami relief 
efforts in Sri Lanka.  Thus, it is no surprise that 
coverage of a press conference designed to focus on the 
transition to a longer-term, ongoing civilian, 
reconstruction effort would stress the military draw-down 
aspect of that transition.  Nevertheless, with the CSG 
beginning to pack up and re-deploy its planes and ship 
under the media's gaze, this was an opportune time to ward 
off any rumors about the U.S. abandoning Sri Lanka.  The 
statements by the Charge and USAID Mission Director 
emphasizing the increasing commitment of civilian resources 
to reconstruction and rehabilitation allowed us to shape 
the story in a positive direction and allay the suspicions 
of some that the military had ulterior motives for coming 
to Sri Lanka.  End Comment. 
 
6.  (U) The full text of Mission's press release, 
disseminated January 29, appears below. 
 
Begin text: 
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT TSUNAMI ASSISTANCE TO SRI LANKA 
ENTERS NEW PHASE 
Colombo, January 29:  The U.S. Government's assistance 
program to Sri Lanka in the wake of the December 26 tsunami 
transitions today in a shift from a combined military and 
civil relief effort to one focused more on rehabilitation 
and reconstruction carried out by civilian organizations. 
The U.S. military has successfully completed their primary 
missions in Galle, Ampara and Jaffna and has begun a draw 
down of their personnel and equipment on the island, at the 
same time that U.S. civilian assistance is increasing and 
focusing more on long-term recovery, according to the U.S. 
Embassy's Charg d'Affaires, James Entwistle. 
 
"We're proud of the tremendous assistance rendered by the 
U.S. military to provide immediate relief at an important 
period of time following the tsunami," said Entwistle at a 
press conference today.  "They have completed the tasks of 
heavy ground and air lift, debris clearing, medical 
assistance, and transportation of supplies and equipment 
for which they are best suited.  Now we are transitioning 
to an increased focus on the civilian reconstruction and 
recovery effort." 
 
The United States Agency for International Development 
(USAID), U.S. military forces, international relief 
organizations and regional militaries have worked side by 
side throughout this disaster to reach those affected. 
Since arriving in Sri Lanka, U.S. military C-130 cargo 
planes and HH-60 helicopters have conducted nearly 300 
humanitarian assistance flights, delivering more than 
600,000 pounds of relief supplies to areas around the 
country including Koggala, Ampara, Pottuvil, China Bay and 
Jaffna. United States military flights also transported 
hundreds of doctors, relief workers and third-country 
national military personnel to multiple relief distribution 
sites. 
 
U.S. military medical personnel distributed medical 
supplies to hospitals throughout the island, and provided 
care for more than 1,800 patients in northern Sri Lanka. 
 
To support the disaster relief phase, U.S. military 
engineers cleared unsafe debris from schools, demolished 
unsafe buildings, returned boats displaced by the tsunami 
to Galle harbor and reinforced an existing sea wall. They 
also distributed nearly 90,000 gallons of fresh water, and 
decontaminated water from fresh water wells. 
 
In the Maldives, a detachment of about 100 U.S. Marines and 
Sailors worked in concert with the Maritime Prepositioning 
Force Ships MV Lummus and MV Bonnyman to clear debris, as 
well as produce, transport and distribute more than 120,000 
gallons of fresh water to islands in Laamu Atoll, much of 
which was produced using floating reverse osmosis water 
purification stations.  Additionally, these personnel have 
distributed water containers, hygiene kits, medicine and 
medical supplies, and water treatment supplies. 
 
Entwistle also noted in his remarks that, "Sri Lankan 
government leadership has been essential to the rapid 
humanitarian assistance response by the large number of 
U.S. and international agencies and organizations.  USAID 
and our military's Combined Support Group have been 
coordinating very smoothly with the government on their 
activities, and we want to thank the Sri Lankan government 
for its support of our operations." 
 
Brigadier General Frank A. Panter, commander of Combined 
Support Group-Sri Lanka, stated: "I believe we have made a 
positive contribution, and we're honored we were able to do 
so.  We will continue to provide support and cooperate with 
the government as much as we can, even as we transition to 
different kinds of assistance.  I can honestly say that all 
the members of the Combined Support Group have taken great 
pride and satisfaction in being a part of such a worthy 
effort." 
 
To date, in response to the earthquake and tsunamis in Sri 
Lanka, the U.S. Government has provided more than $57.4 
million in assistance.  Of this amount, USAID's Office of 
U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) provided more than 
$32.8 million to assist with the immediate relief and 
recovery efforts in Sri Lanka.  USAID/OFDA's implementing 
partners are addressing needs in affected districts in Sri 
Lanka and supporting activities in the areas of emergency 
relief supplies, shelter, water and sanitation, health, 
livelihoods recovery, psychological and social support, 
protection, and anti-trafficking, logistics and 
coordination, and cleanup and rehabilitation activities to 
assist affected communities in Sri Lanka.   USAID/OFDA's 
cash-for-work programs provide immediate cleanup and 
reconstruction support to help victims regain their 
livelihoods and shelter, and immediate community-focused 
micro-credit programs will allow affected families to 
rebuild their livelihoods.  USAID/OFDA's transitional 
shelter program will build 10,000 transitional houses for 
those individuals most affected by the impact of the 
earthquake and tsunamis. 
 
Since their inception, USAID/OFDA's programs have benefited 
an estimated 300,000 people in Sri Lanka.  Upon completion 
of the relief stage, an estimated 1.5 million affected 
persons will benefit from USAID/OFDA's programs. 
End Text. 
 
Lunstead