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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000099 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP, AC, PM 
 
STATE FOR INR/MR 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
 
STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU 
 
STATE FOR AID/APRE-A 
 
USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: SPECIAL REPORT: INDIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF U.S. 
HAITI RELIEF EFFORTS. 
 
Summary:  Though not a prominent focus of the India 
media, coverage of the U.S. response to the Haiti 
tragedy has been objective and largely positive. 
Leading newspapers, television stations, and news 
websites across India widely reported that President 
Obama had ordered an aggressive and coordinated 
strategy to ensure timely assistance reached the 
Haitian people. The media has also highlighted 
President Obama's designation of USAID Administrator 
Rajiv Shah as the U.S. government's disaster 
coordinator, a story here given his Indian background. 
While very limited reports question U.S. motives in the 
region, most highlight the rise of U.S. statesmanship 
to the occasion and President Obama's promise that the 
people of Haiti will not be forsaken. 
 
PAS India remains engaged, monitoring the situation and 
distributing timely and up-to-date information on U.S. 
efforts in Haiti through its websites, Facebook pages, 
and press offices. During a recent visit, Defense 
Secretary Gates also underscored before leading Indian 
and international media outlets the U.S. commitment to 
ensuring relief and stability to the tragedy-stricken 
country. Below follow synopses of post outreach 
efforts, media opinion, and news reporting. End 
Summary. 
 
------------- 
POST OUTREACH 
------------- 
 
¶1. To spread the news of U.S. relief efforts in Haiti, 
Embassy New Delhi and the four consulates maintain 
websites and Facebook pages updated with the latest 
information from the White House, Department of State, 
and USAID. We continue to distribute press releases and 
up-to-date fact sheets to our media partners as they 
become available. 
 
¶2. On January 20, Embassy New Delhi hosted Defense 
Secretary Gates for a press conference widely covered 
by leading Indian and international media outlets 
during which Secretary Gates emphasized our ongoing 
efforts in Haiti and discussed new initiatives recently 
undertaken by the U.S. government to increase the reach 
of aid and stability in Haiti. 
 
------- 
OPINION 
------- 
 
¶3. Appreciation for the U.S. is visible in commentary 
throughout India. Of particular note is a January 18 
editorial in THE INDIAN EXPRESS, which said American 
statesmanship had risen to the occasion. "As George W. 
Bush returned to the White House for the first time 
after his presidency ended to join up for U.S. 
President Barack Obama's ramped up plan to collect and 
effectively distribute aid for quake-hit Haiti, he had 
a request. He knew Americans were aware of the need in 
the Caribbean for blankets and water, but please, he 
 
NEW DELHI 00000099  002 OF 003 
 
 
said, just send in the cash. These are occasions that 
American diplomacy handles extremely well," the 
editorial noted. It added that: "Haiti has always been 
a test case for the commitment and assistance that the 
U.S. can deploy for the greater well-being of countries 
and peoples in what it sees as its primary sphere of 
influence." 
 
¶4. THE HINDU appreciated the international response in 
general. "The response of the international community 
to the terrible humanitarian crisis has been 
empathetic: the United States has promised $100m, 3,500 
troops, and 2,200 marines to help with relief efforts; 
Britain has pledged #6.15m; France, Spain, and China 
have joined the effort, sending funds, supplies, and 
manpower," the paper editorialized, adding that: "India 
must do its part, coming up with a generous assistance 
package." 
 
¶5. More appreciation for the U.S. came from the 
Gujarati daily GUJARAT SAMACHAR, which commented 
January 16 that: "Affluent nations like America and 
Britain are pouring in massive economic aid which is 
certainly commendable.  This will encourage other 
nations of the world to respond to this nasty 
humanitarian crisis in terms of providing relief and 
rehabilitation services."  THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS 
highlighted President Barack Obama's promise to Haiti - 
- "You will not be forsaken, you will not be 
forgotten." 
 
¶6. Leading Bengali daily ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA opined: 
"The compulsions of humanity that prompt someone to 
stand by distressed people have resulted in significant 
changes in the stand taken by two perpetually hostile 
neighboring countries like Cuba and the U.S. By 
granting permission for U.S. flights carrying medevacs 
to use their airspace, Cuba is being congratulated by 
Washington, by the people of Haiti as well as by the 
entire world. Maybe, the Communist government in Cuba 
will later return to their anti-American posture again. 
Or who can say whether this will begin an era of 
resolving the enmity between the two countries?" 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
HAITI FUND RAISING EFFORTS SURPASS THAT OF TSUNAMI 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶7. THE TIMES OF INDIA today carried a report that in 
the first six days after the quake in Haiti, more than 
$210 million has been raised in the U.S. The report 
said charities, companies, individuals and celebrities 
across America have donated like never before, even 
surpassing contributions after the 2004 Indian Ocean 
Tsunami.  It was widely reported that mobile phone 
users in the U.S. have contributed more than $11 
million to Haitian earthquake relief through text 
messages in what is being hailed as an unprecedented 
mobile response to a natural disaster. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
 
NEW DELHI 00000099  003 OF 003 
 
 
IN A FIRST, OBAMA 'TWEETS' VISIT TO AID 
CENTER FOR HAITI 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. Highlighting President Obama's personal attention to 
Haiti, THE TIMES OF INDIA today carried a report saying 
the President 'tweeted' his very first message, joining 
the millions who have used the Twitter micro-blogging 
site as a  vital information vehicle for the Haiti 
disaster.  The report pointed out that the Obama 
administration has been praised for its tech-savvy use 
of the web.  Other reports today said President Obama's 
job approval rating has increased in the last week due 
to his handling of the U.S. response to the earthquake 
in Haiti. 
 
-------------------- 
DIFFERENCES REPORTED 
-------------------- 
 
¶9. International wire reports carrying negative 
perceptions of the U.S. are also finding limited space 
in the Indian media. The Urdu daily SIASAT carried 
reports about Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's 
accusation that the United States was taking advantage 
of the deadly earthquake in Haiti to occupy the 
Caribbean country. THE HINDU English daily picked up a 
GUARDIAN NEWS SERVICE article saying the U.S. 
military's takeover of emergency operations in Haiti 
has triggered a diplomatic row with countries and aid 
agencies furious at having flights redirected. The 
leading English paper of record THE TIMES OF INDIA ran 
a story of the French calling for a UN investigation 
into the "dominant" role of the U.S. in Haiti, claiming 
that aid was meant to relieve the quake-stricken 
country, not "occupy" it. Such reports have been 
scarce, however, while the overall reporting remains 
positive and objective. 
ROEMER