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RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000140 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR S/ES, INR/MR, PA 
SCA/INS (CAMP, SIM, GOWER) SA/PPD (SCENSNY, ROGERS, 
PALLADINO); SA/PAS 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KPAO PTER EAID OIIP PREL CE
SUBJECT:  Special Media Reaction: U/S Burns in Colombo 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: Under Secretary of State for Political 
Affairs Nicholas Burns' visit to Sri Lanka January 22-24 
elicited much high-profile attention from the Sri Lankan 
print and broadcast media on January 23 and 24. State-run 
media and mainstream independent media lauded the visit with 
the most prominence, emphasizing U.S. support for the Sri 
Lankan government and for Norway's peace facilitation 
efforts.  The Sinhala nationalist press, by contrast, 
reported the visit in side columns, and in editorial 
sections reiterated its usual argument that strong words 
alone from the international community will not stop LTTE 
violence.  The nationalist press also questioned Burns' 
assertion that the Sri Lankan government should negotiate 
peacefully with the LTTE while the U.S. pursues a military 
war on Al-Qaeda and Iraqi terrorists. Tamil media 
highlighted the issue of Tamil paramilitaries and Burns' 
contrast of the LTTE and Al-Qaeda as terrorist 
organizations, but also picked up his assertion that 
historic Tamil grievances must be addressed. End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Government-owned print media in English and the 
vernacular languages most prominently emphasized the January 
23 visit of U/S Burns to Sri Lanka with large full color 
photographs of the U/S with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and 
Norwegian Development Minister Erik Solheim.  The English 
Daily News led with, "U.S. committed to protect Lanka's 
territorial integrity.  LTTE using violence as its political 
weapon - Burns," with a second, below-the-fold headline, 
"U.S. supports Norwegian efforts." Mainstream independent 
media, such as the English Daily Mirror and the Sinhala 
Lankadeepa, also emphasized U.S. support for a peaceful 
solution. 
¶3. (U) The Sinhala nationalist press, by contrast, afforded 
the Burns visit less prominent front page coverage than did 
state-controlled and mainstream media, and called for more 
action from the U.S. and the international community. 
Independently owned Sinhala daily Divaina bannered, 
"America's intervention imperative to bringing Tigers to the 
peace table, President urges the American delegate."  The 
editorial in the English-language Island, "Needed: Deeds not 
words," opined that the LTTE would not respond to the 
international community's harsh statements.  An excerpt 
reads: "Ironically, though Mr. Burns is exerting himself to 
strengthen Sri Lanka's truce, the U.S. has flatly rejected 
Osama's offer of a truce, saying the only way to deal with 
terrorists is to put them out of business...  [Burns's] 
presence in this country is no doubt welcome.... But it is 
doubtful whether he is going to fare any better than Richard 
Armitage, Cofer Black and Jeffrey Lunstead in trying to 
strengthen the much battered truce." 
¶4.   (SBU) Sinhala media continued to hype the possibility 
of U.S. military support if the island returns to civil war. 
Independently owned Sinhala daily Lankadeepa's second 
headline read: "Stern advice to the Tigers from America; 
America ready to provide military support if needed, says US 
Undersecretary."  [The U/S did not offer increased military 
support to Sri Lanka at the press conference but did mention 
our ongoing modest level of security assistance.] The 
Sinhala media highlighted Burns' interaction with President 
Rajapaksa rather than his meeting with Norwegian peace 
facilitator Erik Solheim. 
 
¶5.  (U) Independent Tamil and pro-LTTE media ran transcripts 
of Burn's presser but emphasized the U/S's distinction 
between the LTTE and Al-Qaeda as terrorist organizations. 
Tamil media also highlighted Burns' comments on alleged 
government support for paramilitaries, and reiterated Burns' 
acknowledgement that the Tamil people have legitimate, 
historical grievances.  Independent Tamil daily Thinakkural 
led with: "There are differences between the Liberation 
Tigers and Al-Qaeda - Government should not support the 
paramilitary groups, says the U.S. State Under Secretary." 
Pro-LTTE Tamil daily Sudar Oli led with: "LTTE should give 
up its efforts to achieve the political objectives through 
violence - says the U.S. State Under Secretary." 
Independent Tamil daily Virakesari bannered: "It is 
important to stop the activities of the paramilitary forces 
 
COLOMBO 00000140  002 OF 002 
 
 
- There are differences between Al-Qaeda and the LTTE - says 
Nick Burns."  Navamani, a newspaper serving the Tamil- 
speaking Muslim population, questioned the U.S.'s human 
rights record and military actions in the War on Terror at 
the same time Burns was urging the Sri Lankan government to 
negotiate peacefully with the LTTE. 
 
¶6. (U) Both state-run and independent television stations 
broadcast generous footage of the Burns visit as lead or 
main stories.  National television Rupavahini carried a full 
eight minutes in three stories with these headlines:   "US 
pledges its fullest support to Sri Lanka's struggle against 
terrorism,"  "Foreign delegates now in the island begin 
talks with all parties on the future of the peace process," 
and, referring to Burns' exclusive interview to Rupavahini, 
"US Undersecretary stressed the LTTE should clearly 
understand that the international community will not assist 
the Tiger Organization anymore. We support the territorial 
integrity of Sri Lanka."   Rupavahini also ran several 
trailers advertising its 5-minute interview with the U/S, 
broadcast in prime time.  State-owned ITN News ran three 
minutes of similar coverage. In addition to his interview 
for state television, Burns conducted 5-minute interviews 
with CNN stringer Kasr Naji and with BBC London's The World 
radio program. 
 
¶7. (U) Popular independent Sinhala Swarnavahini also led its 
news broadcast with Burns' visit for a total of 3.5 minutes 
of coverage, with a headline, "US intervenes to revive the 
peace process."  Independently-owned MTV reported the visit 
as one of its main stories for two minutes, emphasizing 
Burns' condemnation of recent LTTE attacks on the military 
but also his acknowledgement that the Tamil people hold real 
historical grievances that must be addressed through dialog. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Comment:  The Sri Lankan media's blanket coverage 
of the Under Secretary's visit indicates acute public 
interest in what role the U.S. can play in helping Sri Lanka 
avoid war. We note that the Tamil press, by and large, also 
gave positive coverage to Burns' comments, emphasizing his 
point that the LTTE differs from Al-Qaeda and that the 
government must ensure it does not aid paramilitaries.  Only 
Navamani, a Tamil newspaper with a primarily Muslim 
audience, criticized alleged U.S. human rights violations in 
the War on Terror amidst Burns' insistence that the Sri 
Lankan government seek a political solution with the LTTE. 
The very high profile coverage of the Under Secretary's 
visit, coming simultaneously with the visit of Norwegian 
Peace Envoy Erik Solheim, publicly amplified the messages 
Burns came to deliver. We will monitor and report on 
editorial reaction to the Burns visit when it appears in the 
coming days. End Comment. 
 
 
LUNSTEAD