Cablegate: Outreach On Newsweek Retraction of Koran

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000900

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA, P, PA
SA/INS (BRENNIG, DEAN) SA/PD (SCHWARTZ, SCENSNY, ROGERS,
STRYKER);

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: PHUM KPAO KISL OIIP PREL CE MV
SUBJECT: Outreach on Newsweek Retraction of Koran
Desecration Story

REFTEL: State 90992

1. Reaction in Sri Lanka and the Maldives to the original
Newsweek story about alleged desecration of the Koran was
muted and low-key. Media in both countries ran straight
wire service reports about the controversy, but abstained
from publishing or broadcasting outraged commentary and
editorials. Main newspapers in Sri Lanka today reported on
Newsweek's retraction. There have been no public
demonstrations in either country to date.

2. Post immediately put up the Secretary's May 12 statement
on our mission web site after we received the transcript.
On May 16, we sent copies of the Secretary's statement and
A/S Boucher's remarks on the subject to the Maldivian
Foreign Ministry. On May 17, we sent those two items plus
the May 16 New York Times story detailing Newsweek's
retraction to all major Maldivian media.

3. Comment: Given the lack of any noticeable anger or
concern over the original story, post opted not to take a
very pro-active approach to responding lest we turn a non-
story into an issue among the Muslim community. We have now
publicized the magazine's retraction in the Maldives, and do
not expect any negative fallout from the original allegation
either there or in Sri Lanka. End comment.

Lunstead

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