US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO971

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000971 
 
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:  Former President Bill 
Clinton's May 28 Visit to Sri Lanka and the Maldives 
 
 
1. (U) Summary:  Media coverage of President Clinton's May 
27-28 visit to Sri Lanka and the Maldives as United Nations 
Special Envoy for Tsunami Relief was prominent and 
widespread.  Electronic and print media reported on the 
visit through the weekend and Monday.  The coverage of the 
former President's visit emphasized the international 
community's hope for the establishment of a joint mechanism 
for tsunami relief and reconstruction. Maldivian media also 
offered saturation coverage.  End summary. 
 
2. (U) All print press ran front-page banner headlines of 
the former President's visit.  State-run Sunday Observer May 
29 headlined, "Clinton supports President," with a large 
color photo of former U.S. President Clinton and President 
Kumaratunga.  On the same day, the independent Sunday Island 
led with "Clinton favors joint mechanism," and "Abduction of 
children a crime and a horrible one - Clinton," alongside 
large color photo of the President meeting a Buddhist monk 
in the eastern coastal town of Kalmunai. Independent Sunday 
Times May 29 bannered, "CBK (President Kumaratunga) eager 
for deal, Clinton backs her," followed by a front-page story 
detailing in a straightforward manner Clinton's statements 
that aid should be made available for people across the 
country, including those living in areas not under 
government control.  The independently owned pro-opposition 
United National Party (UNP) Sunday Leader bannered, "Clinton 
backs joint mechanism," also with a large front page photo 
of Clinton with United Nations Resident Coordinator Miguel 
Bermeo. The former President's visit also inspired a long 
inside feature story in the Sunday Island titled "Bill 
Clinton as he emerges from `My Life,'" a favorable book 
report on Clinton's autobiography.  Government owned Sunday 
Observer also published an inside story from Reuters titled 
"Clinton to visit LTTE areas next time," with a photo of 
Clinton and Ambassador Lunstead walking with a Special Task 
Force escort in Kalmunai. (Note:  the Ambassador, who heard 
Clinton's exchange with Reuters, advises that Clinton said 
something like he hoped to visit all areas of Sri Lanka in 
the future.  End Note) 
 
3.  (U) Coverage continued Monday, May 30, in the Daily 
News, which headlined: "Joint Mechanism will aid peace 
process - Clinton," on the front page and published another 
story on page three, "Joint mechanism a commendable idea - 
Clinton."  The mainstream Daily Mirror led with, "Clinton 
denounces LTTE child conscription as `horrible.'"  The 
Financial Times, published with the Daily Mirror, printed a 
front page photo of Clinton meeting Muslims in Kalmunai and 
a mid-length article titled, "Clinton sees progress in post 
tsunami work: wants government to be flexible on buffer zone 
 
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limits." Monday's lead in the pro-Sinhalese Island newspaper 
took a different angle: "Clinton meets Tiger ally via UN 
office in Colombo." The article directed criticism toward 
the U.N. for arranging the participation of the Tamil Relief 
Organization, alleged to be a front for the LTTE, among a 
group of NGO's that met with Clinton. 
 
4.  (U) The Tamil and Sinhala language press also afforded 
the visit broad coverage, often mirroring the stories of 
their English-language counterparts.  The sister papers of 
the English dailies cited above ran nearly identical stories 
in both Tamil and Sinhalese versions. The LTTE-sympathetic 
independent Tamil language newspaper on Sunday, May 29, led 
with: "Clinton to visit LTTE controlled areas during next 
visit." 
 
5.  (U) Local television and radio stations likewise played 
up President Clinton's trip, repeatedly showing images of 
his visit to Kalmunai and his press conference in Colombo. 
Broadcast media highlighted President Clinton's praise of 
the government's ability to handle the reconstruction effort 
and support for the establishment of a joint mechanism. 
 
6. (U) Maldives print and online media organizations, which 
are entirely state-controlled, published brief positive 
stories as well as stories from wire services, including one 
from AFP's Colombo correspondent: "Clinton returns to 
tsunami-hit Sri Lanka amid slow rebuilding effort." 
 
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7. (SBU) Comment:  Although President Clinton visited Sri 
Lanka this time as a U.N. representative, his widely- 
reported remarks supporting the proposed Joint Mechanism and 
raising concerns about the feasibility of imposing a coastal 
exclusion zone reinforced our own positions on these issues 
with the public.  Since Clinton is still quite popular here, 
his stance on these issues carries some weight.  His visit 
to a predominantly Muslim area in the East, prominently 
covered on TV and in the press, also associated the UN and 
the U.S. with concern for the plight of this minority 
community.  End Comment. 
Lunstead