US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO900

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000900 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA, P, PA 
SA/INS (BRENNIG, DEAN) SA/PD (SCHWARTZ, SCENSNY, ROGERS, 
STRYKER); 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, KPAO, KISL, OIIP, PREL, CE, MV, Human Rights, Maldives, Religious Freedom 
SUBJECT:  Outreach on Newsweek Retraction of Koran 
Desecration Story 
 
REFTEL: State 90992 
 
1.  Reaction in Sri Lanka and the Maldives to the original 
Newsweek story about alleged desecration of the Koran was 
muted and low-key.  Media in both countries ran straight 
wire service reports about the controversy, but abstained 
from publishing or broadcasting outraged commentary and 
editorials. Main newspapers in Sri Lanka today reported on 
Newsweek's retraction. There have been no public 
demonstrations in either country to date. 
 
2.  Post immediately put up the Secretary's May 12 statement 
on our mission web site after we received the transcript. 
On May 16, we sent copies of the Secretary's statement and 
A/S Boucher's remarks on the subject to the Maldivian 
Foreign Ministry.  On May 17, we sent those two items plus 
the May 16 New York Times story detailing   Newsweek's 
retraction to all major Maldivian media. 
 
3.  Comment:  Given the lack of any noticeable anger or 
concern over the original story, post opted not to take a 
very pro-active approach to responding lest we turn a non- 
story into an issue among the Muslim community. We have now 
publicized the magazine's retraction in the Maldives, and do 
not expect any negative fallout from the original allegation 
either there or in Sri Lanka.  End comment. 
 
Lunstead