COLOMBO EAC MEETING APRIL 8, 2003

S E C R E T COLOMBO 000596 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR DS/IP/SA, DS/DSS/ITA, DSERCC AND SA/INS ISLAMABAD PASS LAHORE E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6 X1, X6 TAGS: ASEC AEMR PTER CASC CE SUBJECT: COLOMBO EAC MEETING APRIL 8, 2003 REF: (A) Colombo 548, (B) Colombo 582 ¶1. (U) Classified by S.V. Wright, Regional Security Officer, reason 1.5 (C) and (D). ¶2. (SBU) On April 8, 2003 Colombo Emergency Action Committee (EAC) met to discuss the local security situation. The DCM chaired the EAC. ¶3. (SBU) The EAC agreed that Colombo appears calm; the trend is of decreasing agitation. There was a relatively minor protest on Friday April 4 that - given the police refusal to allow protests near the U.S. Embassy - concentrated on the Saudi and UAE Embassies. About 300 people protested the War and burned American flags. Although the road in front of the Chancery was briefly closed as a precaution, the demonstration ended peacefully. ¶4. (S) The RSO briefed the EAC on updated information relating to possible Iraqi surveillance in Colombo (see reftels). Recent information obtained by PII and the Sri Lanka Police indicate the subject identified may be a bonafide Iraqi businessman. Inquiries are continuing, however. ¶5. (SBU) The EAC decided to disband the use of the LAV shuttle effective Friday April 11 unless the security situation degrades. The current progress in the War and lack of an emotional reaction in Colombo led the EAC to slightly reduce our security posture. ¶6. (SBU) The local police will remain deployed at all the residence for at least one more week. ¶7. (SBU) The EAC decided to continue the travel restriction for the east of Sri Lanka. It did, however, approve a USAID trip to the northern Jaffna peninsula. ¶8. (SBU) The committee agreed to meet again on Tuesday April 15. WILLS