Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/imf3srilanka050709.html
UNITED NATIONS, May 7 -- With controversy about Sri Lanka's application to the International Monetary Fund for a $1.9 billion loan swirling from London to Australia, IMF spokesman David Hawley held the organization's fortnightly press conference on Thursday in Washington. In Colombo, the government has said it is close to getting not only the IMF loan, but also another one from Libya. From the UN in New York, Inner City Press before the briefing sent a question to Mr. Hawley, his deputy William Murray and IMF Asia contact Yoshiko Kamata:
Please be sure this is put to IMF spokesman during 930 briefing-- “On Sri Lanka's application for a $1.9 billion loan, French Ambassador to the UN Ripert told Inner City Press that "the Americans are trying to play with the loan." Please confirm, deny and explain the status of the loan and respond to the human rights and press freedom questions raised.”
The IMF states that accredited journalists like Inner City Press can have questions answered during the briefing by submitting them electronically. Having heard nothing back, Inner City Press called Asia specialist Yoshiko Kamata. When Inner City Press was able to attend the IMF briefing in March and asked about the Sri Lanka, Ms. Kamata afterwards approached to offer to help get information. On May 7, her voice mail said she would be away until May 11, and to call the general number. Inner City Press asked Deputy William Murray and reached him.
I don't think you're going to get an answer to that question, Murray said, saying he was unaware of the Ripert quote. That quote about the IMF was picked up in the Times of London, the Australian and elsewhere, so it seemed fair to assume that the IMF's media professionals would or could find it.
Inner City Press said, just have the question asked, it is a matter of some controversy. We're in the middle of a press conference, Murray said. The line went dead.
Despite its timely submission, it appears that the question was not asked at the IMF briefing. The press conference ended quickly, meaning that there were few other questions asked. So there was no lack of time. But after closing the briefing, Murray sent the following response:
Subj: RE: Press question for 9:30 on Sri Lanka
From: William Murray [at] imf.org
To: Inner City Press,
CC: ".dhawley" Media [at] imf.org
Sent: 5/7/2009 10:21:36 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Matthew, Our discussions with the Sri Lankan authorities about an economic program that could be supported by IMF financing are still ongoing. That is the current status.
The answer does not respond to the question, and the refusal to have publicly asked a question timely submitted raises other questions. Watch this site, and, for example, this article from Colombo, "Sri Lanka Will Get IMF Loan This Month."
Footnote: Weeks after the United Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the UN John Sawers told the Press there was "no relation" between the conflict in North Sri Lanka and the application to the IMF for a $1.9 billion loan, Sawers' boss David Miliband reportedly told the House of Commons that the situation on the ground in Sri Lanka would have to be considered before any positive action is taking on the loan. Inner City Press will be seeking new comment from the UK Mission to the UN. Wednesday was not possible, we'll see.
