US embassy cable - 02COLOMBO2120

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002120 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11-12-12 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, CE, LTTE - Peace Process, External Relations, Human Rights 
SUBJECT:  Controversial journalist's visa extension 
denied amidst speculation of LTTE and/or political 
influence 
 
Refs:  (A) Reston VA dtg 110418Z NOV 02 
 
-      (B) Reston VA dtg 110356Z NOV 02 
 
(U) Classified by Ambassador E. Ashley Wills.  Reasons 
1.5 (b,d). 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY:  GSL recently denied a visa extension 
for Paul Harris, a UK national and a journalist loosely 
affiliated with the "Daily Telegraph" in London.  The 
British High Commission doubts that Harris will return 
except perhaps to finalize some personal financial 
matters.  Speculation in the press is that the denial 
was based on political pressure because of Harris' 
criticism of the government and the Liberation Tigers of 
Tamil Eelam (LTTE).  The President's office has alleged 
that the visa denial amounts to suppression of freedom 
of the press.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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Harris out, the President pounces 
--------------------------------- 
 
2. (U) The visa case of Paul Harris, a UK national and 
controversial journalist in Sri Lanka who is loosely 
affiliated with the "Daily Telegraph" in London (and 
writes for local publications), has created a minor 
furor in the Sri Lankan press.  On November 8 Harris' 
visa to Sri Lanka expired.  Prior to the expiration of 
the visa Harris had applied for an extension, which was 
denied by the MFA.  Harris departed Sri Lanka to the 
Maldives on November 8, with the stated intention of 
reapplying for a visa. 
 
3. (C) The President's office issued a statement on 
November 6 accusing the government of preventing freedom 
of the press.  In part, it stated, "Freedom of 
expression and the right of dissent are bedrock 
requirements for a democratic and free society and this 
insidious silencing of an often lone voice against the 
conventional wisdom of the government is a serious 
erosion of media freedom and (a) set back for democracy 
in Sri Lanka."  The statement received widespread 
coverage in the weekend press.  Presidential spokesman 
Harim Peiris added that although Harris may have 
technically broken the terms of his visa the decision to 
enforce the rules on him was arbitrary.  Peiris averred 
that one way the President may make her point that she 
supports freedom of the press and show she is in control 
is to grant Harris Sri Lankan citizenship.  Peiris 
emphasized that no such decision has yet been made. 
 
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MFA holds firm 
-------------- 
 
4. (SBU) Responding to media coverage that was critical 
of the MFA's decision to deny a visa extension for 
Harris, the MFA released a statement explaining its 
decision.  The MFA charged Harris with violating the 
terms of his original visa, saying it prohibited him 
from engaging in any work other than as a journalist for 
the "Daily Telegraph."  The statement specifically 
commented on Harris' writing regular columns for the 
"Daily Mirror," a local English language daily that has 
expressed some criticism of the government and the 
current peace process.  (NOTE:  Harris' columns have 
been openly critical of the direction of Sri Lanka's 
peace process.  Among other things, Harris wrote that 
his predictions that the LTTE would use the ceasefire to 
prepare for future conflict, particularly through 
recruitment of children, have come true.  He also wrote 
that the government is not doing enough to counter or to 
even address this development.  END NOTE.) 
 
5. (C) Deputy British High Commissioner Peter Hughes, 
commented that late last week he had urged Harris to 
abide by Sri Lanka's laws and not overstay his visa. 
Hughes does not believe the GSL will revisit the 
decision to deny the visa extension.  Hughes stated that 
he spoke to Foreign Secretary Nihal Rodrigo about the 
issue and Rodrigo indicated that the decision not to 
extend the visa had been made at the "highest level" and 
there was no intention to review the issue.  Hughes 
added that the MFA believes that the worst of the 
negative publicity about the denial passed over the 
weekend.  Hughes forewarned that Harris is only 
scheduled to stay in the Maldives until November 14, 
when he may try to stir up attention again.  Hughes 
closed by saying Rodrigo had intimated that the GSL was 
willing to work out a deal for Harris to return to Sri 
Lanka so that he can finalize his personal financial 
arrangements, but then only for a week. 
 
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Media organizations object 
-------------------------- 
 
6. (SBU) Multiple organizations associated with freedom 
of the press have expressed their dissatisfaction with 
the actions of the GSL on this matter.  The Editor's 
Guild of Sri Lanka, the Free Media Movement (a local 
NGO), and the Foreign Correspondents Association of Sri 
Lanka have criticized the decision not to extend Harris' 
visa as an infringement on freedom of the press.  In 
addition to accusations that the government is trying to 
get rid of a critic, some articles claim that the LTTE 
is applying pressure on the GSL to silence Harris 
because of his criticism of the LTTE and the peace 
process in general. 
 
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Comment 
------- 
 
7. (C) The GSL clearly wants Harris out, and it may well 
be for what he has written about the peace process 
rather than for violating the terms of his visa.  The 
President saw his case as a chance to attack the Prime 
Minister and his government over the same kind of heavy- 
handed tactics he has accused her of in the past.  In 
doing so, she may have scored a few points.  Still, the 
Prime Minister's conduct since his December 2001 
election has earned him a reputation for honesty and 
moderation, and the Sri Lankan public seems willing to 
give him the benefit of the doubt on Harris.  Mission 
will watch closely to determine if this case is an 
isolated incident or the beginning of a trend toward 
suppression of the press by the GSL. 
 
WILLS