COLOMBO EAC MEETING MARCH 17, 2003

S E C R E T COLOMBO 000447 SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/IP/SA, DS/DSS/ITA AND SA/INS ISLAMABAD PLEASE PASS LAHORE E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6 X1, X6 TAGS: ASEC AEMR PTER CASC CE SUBJECT: COLOMBO EAC MEETING MARCH 17, 2003 REF: (A) Colombo 399, (B) STATE 69234 ¶1. (U) Classified by S.V. Wright, Regional Security Officer, reason 1.5 (C) and (D). ¶2. (SBU) On March 17, 2003 Colombo Emergency Action Committee (EAC) met to further discuss development of our security posture as we approach probable conflict in Iraq. Ambassador chaired the EAC. ¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador informed the EAC of his request that the Sri Lanka police provide armed officers at all official residences. RSO added that he had met with the Inspector General of Police and obtained his agreement to provide the officers. The EAC (though cognizant of the potential management difficulties armed officers might present) approved the recommendation. ¶4. (S) The DCM briefed the EAC on the status of Iraqi intelligence and other personnel in Sri Lanka (reftel A). The DCM reported that the GSL decided it would not expel Iraqi officers, but opted instead to call in the Iraqi Charge. The Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Iraqi Charge on March 14 and told him in that inappropriate activity would be dealt with harshly. In addition, the GSL has imposed a visa requirement on all Iraqi nationals. ¶5. (SBU) The committee agreed to several other steps to take effect on the day of conflict in Iraq: - On the day conflict begins, Post 1 will issue an "all- call" on the Embassy E&E network. All American staff will be instructed to stay home. The four Embassy LAVs will be dispatched to the residences to pick up essential Embassy staff. An EAC will be convened that morning. LAVs will be used to pick up all Americans on subsequent days until the EAC decides otherwise. (DATT and IBB will use their LAVs to transport their respective employees.) - All dependant children will be kept home from school on the first day of the conflict. Subsequently, a local guard mobile patrol will escort both school busses to the Overseas School. - The Consular section will suspend visa services on the first day in order to focus on U.S. citizen services. Consular will also forward the warden message to all Amcits in country consistent with the language provided in reftel B. - Travel to the Eastern part of Sri Lanka will once again be restricted until the EAC can gauge public sentiment in that part of the country. ¶6. (SBU) The EAC also discussed the issue of USAID and Embassy PSC American staff. The EAC will discuss whether to include PSC staff in the LAV transportation and Sri Lanka police coverage only after the conflict begins and public reaction is measured. ¶7. (SBU) The EAC agreed to meet again as needed. WILLS