{"id":145457,"date":"2015-06-01T02:58:29","date_gmt":"2015-05-31T21:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=145457"},"modified":"2015-06-17T16:56:56","modified_gmt":"2015-06-17T11:26:56","slug":"wikileaks-athas-fears-retaliation-for-critical-articles-on-gotas-mig-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wikileaks-athas-fears-retaliation-for-critical-articles-on-gotas-mig-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"WikiLeaks: Athas Fears Retaliation For Critical Articles On Gota’s MiG Deal"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Defense Correspondent Iqbal Athas<\/span><\/a> is preparing to temporarily leave Sri Lanka with his family following a barrage of threats and intimidation apparently orchestrated by the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL). On August 12, he wrote an article for the Sunday Times about the Ukrainian Government’s inquiry into ‘irregularities’ in the sale of four MIG-27 aircraft<\/span><\/a> to Sri Lanka. On August 14, a Sinhala version of the article was published in a local paper. The next day, the government withdrew Athas’s security detail. Since then, demonstrators have gathered to protest in front of his house, a man claiming to be a retired Air Force officer threatened to kill his translator, and he has received warnings that he may be kidnapped and questioned about his sources. Athas’s situation has received extensive coverage in both local and international media. One of Athas’s employers, CNN, and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have championed his case. Ambassador Blake telephoned the Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa<\/span><\/a> on August 24 and told him that it would be bad for Sri Lanka if anything were to happen to Athas. Embassy believes the widespread publicity this case has received, and its own efforts, will give some measure of protection to Athas and his family. Post will continue to keep in close touch with Athas and intervene further if required.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.<\/p>\n

\"Athas<\/a>

Athas<\/p><\/div>\n

The Colombo Telegraph<\/em> found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks<\/span><\/a> database dated August 30, 2007. The cable is classified as \u201cCONFIDENTIAL\u201d and written by the US Ambassador to Colombo Robert O. Blake<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The ambassador wrote; “Defense Correspondent Iqbal Athas is preparing to temporarily leave Sri Lanka with his family following a barrage of threats and intimidation from the GSL. Athas writes regularly for the Sunday Times, a local English-language newspaper, and also frequently contributes to CNN, Jane’s Defense Weekly and the Times of London. On August 12, he wrote an article for the Sunday Times about the Ukrainian Government’s inquiry into “irregularities” in the sale of four MIG-27 aircraft to Sri Lanka. In his article, he noted that the third-party facilitating company, Bellimissa Holdings<\/span><\/a>, seemed to exist only on paper, while the GSL claimed the deal was handled directly between the two states. Athas published extensive details on the transaction, even reprinting the letter of credit issued by a GSL-owned bank for the planes.”<\/p>\n

Ambassador Blake telephoned Defence Secretary\u00a0Gotabaya Rajapaksa on August 24 and told him the U.S. was concerned about Athas’s safety and that it would be bad for\u00a0Sri Lanka if anything were to happen to such a prominent columnist.<\/p>\n

“Gothabaya said ‘Iqbal should not worry… there should not be any problem at all.’ He noted that other journalists had written more damning articles and survived.” Blake further wrote.<\/p>\n

Placing a comment ambassador Blake wrote; “The GSL’s proffered explanation for the\u00a0withdrawal of Athas’s security — that it was done after a routine assessment showed no further threat to him — will not bear scrutiny. Clearly the articles have struck a raw nerve. The Government is particularly sensitive to criticism in the Sinhala papers popular among its nationalist support base. Embassy believes that international interventions, coupled with the glare of publicity surrounding the case, will likely afford Athas and his family some measure of protection. Athas is a long-time Embassy contact. We have been in continuous touch with Athas since his situation became precarious and are prepared to intervene again on an urgent basis if required.”<\/p>\n

Read the cable below for further details;<\/p>\n

VZCZCXRO4412
\nOO RUEHBI RUEHLMC
\nDE RUEHLM #1187\/01 2421231
\nZNR UUUUU ZZH
\nO 301231Z AUG 07
\nFM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
\nTO RUEHC\/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6694
\nINFO RUEHRL\/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0526
\nRUEHKA\/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0371
\nRUEHIL\/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7357
\nRUEHKT\/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5472
\nRUEHLO\/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3988
\nRUEHNE\/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1299
\nRUEHNY\/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 4057
\nRUEHKO\/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3143
\nRUEHCG\/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7950
\nRUEHBI\/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5596
\nRUEHON\/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0379
\nRUEHGV\/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2284
\nRHHMUNA\/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
\nRHEFDIA\/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
\nRHEHAAA\/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
\nRUEHBS\/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
\nRUEHLMC\/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION PRIORITY
\nUNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001187<\/p>\n

SIPDIS<\/p>\n

SIPDIS<\/p>\n

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA\/INS
\nMCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE<\/p>\n

E.O. 12958: N\/A
\nTAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
\nSUBJECT: SRI LANKA: DEFENSE CORRESPONDENT FEARS RETALIATION
\nFOR CRITICAL ARTICLES ON MIG DEAL<\/p>\n

REF: EMBASSY COLOMBO E-MAILS TO SCA\/INS (NOTAL)<\/p>\n

\u00b61. (SBU) SUMMARY: Defense Correspondent Iqbal Athas is
\npreparing to temporarily leave Sri Lanka with his family
\nfollowing a barrage of threats and intimidation apparently
\norchestrated by the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL). On August
\n12, he wrote an article for the Sunday Times about the
\nUkrainian Government’s inquiry into “irregularities” in the
\nsale of four MIG-27 aircraft to Sri Lanka. On August 14, a
\nSinhala version of the article was published in a local
\npaper. The next day, the government withdrew Athas’s
\nsecurity detail. Since then, demonstrators have gathered to
\nprotest in front of his house, a man claiming to be a retired
\nAir Force officer threatened to kill his translator, and he
\nhas received warnings that he may be kidnapped and questioned
\nabout his sources. Athas’s situation has received extensive
\ncoverage in both local and international media. One of
\nAthas’s employers, CNN, and the Committee to Protect
\nJournalists (CPJ) have championed his case. Ambassador Blake
\ntelephoned the Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa on
\nAugust 24 and told him that it would be bad for Sri Lanka if
\nanything were to happen to Athas. Embassy believes the
\nwidespread publicity this case has received, and its own
\nefforts, will give some measure of protection to Athas and
\nhis family. Post will continue to keep in close touch with
\nAthas and intervene further if required. End Summary.<\/p>\n

\u00b62. (U) Defense Correspondent Iqbal Athas is preparing to
\ntemporarily leave Sri Lanka with his family following a
\nbarrage of threats and intimidation from the GSL. Athas
\nwrites regularly for the Sunday Times, a local
\nEnglish-language newspaper, and also frequently contributes
\nto CNN, Jane’s Defense Weekly and the Times of London. On
\nAugust 12, he wrote an article for the Sunday Times about the
\nUkrainian Government’s inquiry into “irregularities” in the
\nsale of four MIG-27 aircraft to Sri Lanka. In his article, he
\nnoted that the third-party facilitating company, Bellimissa
\nHoldings, seemed to exist only on paper, while the GSL
\nclaimed the deal was handled directly between the two states.
\nAthas published extensive details on the transaction, even
\nreprinting the letter of credit issued by a GSL-owned bank
\nfor the planes.<\/p>\n

Government Harassment and Intimidation Mount
\n——————————————–<\/p>\n

\u00b63. (SBU) On August 14, a translation of the article
\nappeared in the largest-circulation Sinhala language
\nnewspaper, owned by the same company as the Sunday Times and
\nDaily Mirror and generally sympathetic to the opposition.
\nThe next day, Athas’s security detail was withdrawn by the
\nGovernment. (Note: Athas has had a government-provided
\nsecurity detail for several years because of threats against
\nhim stemming from articles critical of former President
\nKumaratunga’s government.) On August 18, the police guard
\nstationed at his home outside of Colombo was also withdrawn.
\nAthas claims that these steps were taken on the explicit
\ninstructions of Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa.<\/p>\n

\u00b64. (SBU) On August 26, an article appeared in a Sinhala
\npaper distributed in the Colombo suburb where Athas lives,
\nwhich accused Athas of being an LTTE agent who has betrayed
\nvital national security information. On August 27,
\ndemonstrators, including a local politician of the governing
\nSri Lanka Freedom Party, gathered to protest in front of
\nAthas’s house. According to Athas, a man claiming to be a
\nretired Air Force officer entered the office of the Sunday
\nTimes’ publisher the same day, sought out the
\nEnglish-to-Sinhala translator, and, in a private
\nconversation, threatened him with death if he continued to
\ntranslate Athas’s articles. He also reportedly said Athas<\/p>\n

COLOMBO 00001187 002 OF 002<\/p>\n

himself would be killed if he did not stop writing and leave
\nthe country within 90 days. The translator, however, has
\nsince recanted his story, saying that the man did not
\nthreaten him, but merely wanted to discuss the translation of
\na book he was working on. Athas also reports that he has
\nbeen followed by men on motor bikes and that suspicious
\npeople have been hovering around his house. He has received
\nwarnings from his sources that he may be kidnapped and
\nquestioned about how he obtains his information.<\/p>\n

Concerned Parties Attempt to Intercede
\n————————————–<\/p>\n

\u00b65. (SBU) Athas’s situation has received extensive coverage
\nin both local and international media. CNN is reportedly
\nconsidering contacting President Rajapaksa on his behalf.
\nThe Committee to Protect Journalists has already sent a
\nstrongly-worded letter to the President, which has received
\nbroad dissemination on the Internet. The Sri Lankan Free
\nMedia Movement issued a statement condemning the withdrawal
\nof Athas’s security. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe
\nwarned at a press conference that if Athas was harmed, the
\nGovernment would be held responsible.<\/p>\n

\u00b66. (SBU) Ambassador Blake telephoned Defense Secretary
\nGothabaya Rajapaksa on August 24 and told him the U.S. was
\nconcerned about Athas’s safety and that it would be bad for
\nSri Lanka if anything were to happen to such a prominent
\ncolumnist. Gothabaya said “Iqbal should not worry… there
\nshould not be any problem at all.” He noted that other
\njournalists had written more damning articles and survived.<\/p>\n

\u00b67. (SBU) COMMENT: The GSL’s proffered explanation for the
\nwithdrawal of Athas’s security — that it was done after a
\nroutine assessment showed no further threat to him — will
\nnot bear scrutiny. Clearly the articles have struck a raw
\nnerve. The Government is particularly sensitive to criticism
\nin the Sinhala papers popular among its nationalist support
\nbase. Embassy believes that international interventions,
\ncoupled with the glare of publicity surrounding the case,
\nwill likely afford Athas and his family some measure of
\nprotection. Athas is a long-time Embassy contact. We have
\nbeen in continuous touch with Athas since his situation
\nbecame precarious and are prepared to intervene again on an
\nurgent basis if required.
\nBLAKE<\/p>\n

Related stories;<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Media Not Allowed To Cover Sumanthiran Cross-Examining Gotabaya<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Apology To Gotabaya By The Sunday Leader<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Exclusive: Navy Report Reveals Shocking Details Of Yoshitha Rajapaksa\u2019s Rise \u2013 Ukraine Paid The Bills<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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