US embassy cable - 05ALMATY1883

UNCLAS ALMATY 001883 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR P, PA, SA/PPD, EUR/CACEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, KISL, PREL, KZ, POLITICAL 
SUBJECT:  OUTREACH FOLLOWING NEWSWEEK'S RETRACTION OF ITS 
STORY ALLEGING KORAN DESECRATION AT GUANTANAMO 
 
Ref:  State 90992 
 
1.  (SBU) Post regrets delay in responding to reftel 
request.  Reporting in Kazakhstan's media on the erroneous 
Newsweek report of Koran desecration at Guantanamo started 
only on May 16, and was low-key and non-inflamatory.  The 
May 16 primetime news on one Kazakhstani state channel and 
one independent channel reported the basic facts, and led 
with the announcement that Newsweek's article about the 
desecration of the Koran had turned out to be 
unsubstantiated.  However, a majority of Kazakhstanis watch 
re-broadcasts of Russian NTV and First Channel news on 
local translator stations.  Those segments reported massive 
demonstrations planned for May 27 in Pakistan, Egypt, 
Turkey, United Kingdom and Malaysia in protest of the 
alleged desecration incident, but did not mention the 
Newsweek retraction. 
 
2.  (SBU) On May 18, two daily newspapers (combined 
circulation of 69,000) covered the sequence of events, 
noting Newsweek had retracted the story.  The press office 
sent a press release on May 18 using points in reftel to 
provide additional information on the retraction.  Most 
newspapers in Kazakhstan are weeklies that are issued on 
Thursday and Friday so we expect coverage based on this 
release.  No weeklies covered the story last week. 
 
3.  (SBU) Amantay Assylbek, a local man known for eccentric 
behavior, including past demonstrations at the U.S. 
Embassy, led a brief protest on May 18 in front of the 
Chancery.  Known for his failed campaigns for the 
presidency and parliament and impromptu nationalistic 
rallies, Assylbek assembled 30 supporters carrying signs 
reading, "Yankees Get out of the Soviet Union" and "War is 
Satan."  The protesters also raised the issue of the 
alleged desecration of the Koran.  A municipal station and 
two nationwide broadcasters taped footage of the 15-minute 
action.  The embassy's press officer issued a statement 
from Department guidance on the erroneous Newsweek report. 
Post will report via septel on coverage of the 
demonstration and the embassy's statement.  We will also 
monitor any further reporting on the Newsweek 
story/retraction. 
 
Asquino 
 
 
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