Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04COLOMBO1124
2004-07-07 11:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 089 (07/07/04)
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 071103Z Jul 04
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001124
SIPDIS
OFFICIAL INFORMAL
FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2014
TAGS: AMGT CE MV
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 089 (07/07/04)
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reasons 1.5 d and g.
Contents: Suicide Bombing
Personnel
Public Security Secretary
Maldives Democracy Assistance
Guantanamo Detainee
Colombo Plan
SUICIDE BOMBING
---------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001124
SIPDIS
OFFICIAL INFORMAL
FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2014
TAGS: AMGT CE MALDIVES'>MV
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 089 (07/07/04)
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reasons 1.5 d and g.
Contents: Suicide Bombing
Personnel
Public Security Secretary
MALDIVES Democracy Assistance
Guantanamo Detainee
Colombo Plan
SUICIDE BOMBING
--------------
1. (C) You will see several cables about this. We see it as
a clear warning to the GLS from the LTTE to rein in the
Karuna forces in the East or else face retaliation. The
situation for Americans is the familiar one: it was not
directed at us and the risk is in being in the wrong place at
the wrong time.
PERSONNEL
--------------
2. (U) We have truly entered the summer transfer/R and R
season, with a suddenly depleted staff. Joe Novak is gone,
Jim Entwistle, Rich Girven and Teresa Manlowe on R and R,
with others soon to follow. Consular will have just one
officer for most of the (busy) summer. We are prioritizing
issues now as they come up.
3. (U) Speaking of personnel shortages, we assume there is
still no replacement for Jim Waller, who we believe is in his
last--or is it next-to-last--week. Is that correct and, if
so, how will our issues be handled over the summer and beyond.
PUBLIC SECURITY SECRETARY
--------------
4. (U) We understand that Mr. Ranaviraja, Secretary in the
Ministry of Public Security, and also head of the Central
Environment Agency, is now or will shortly be in DC beginning
his program arranged by the Sri Lankan Embassy. Ranaviraja
is a friendly and important contact. Can you tell us whom he
is meeting?
MALDIVES DEMOCRACY
--------------
5. (U) Ambassador received an e-mail this week from the
MALDIVES Attorney General Hassan Saeed, a young and eager
reformer. Saeed asked if we could get NDI to help in MALDIVES
democratization process. We will be sending in something on
this front channel. It seems that AID program money here
cannot be spent on MALDIVES. We need to look for some pot of
money that could help us make a big difference there.
GUANTANAMO DETAINEE
--------------
6. (C) And speaking of MALDIVES, we notice some
contradictions between the material prepared by DOD for the
Secretary on the Maldivian detainee and earlier assessments,
SIPDIS
specifically on the degree of his cooperation and what threat
he might pose. We will send a front channel on this shortly.
Given the Secretary's visit, we need to find a way to move
forward on this.
COLOMBO PLAN
--------------
7. (C) We sent in our responses to IO's latest by email from
Andrea Tomaszewicz on June 21. The next Colombo Plan meeting
is July 21. It would be good to have something useful to say
by then. We are struck in IO's memo by the fact that INL does
not seem to understand the situation. If there is no
effective way to get people to pay their dues (and a
suspension of voting rights will nto be effective),then INL
will not be able to run any programs, because the Secretariat
will not have funds to provide the administrative support. We
would suggest working on INL to get them on our side.
LUNSTEAD
SIPDIS
OFFICIAL INFORMAL
FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2014
TAGS: AMGT CE MALDIVES'>MV
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 089 (07/07/04)
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reasons 1.5 d and g.
Contents: Suicide Bombing
Personnel
Public Security Secretary
MALDIVES Democracy Assistance
Guantanamo Detainee
Colombo Plan
SUICIDE BOMBING
--------------
1. (C) You will see several cables about this. We see it as
a clear warning to the GLS from the LTTE to rein in the
Karuna forces in the East or else face retaliation. The
situation for Americans is the familiar one: it was not
directed at us and the risk is in being in the wrong place at
the wrong time.
PERSONNEL
--------------
2. (U) We have truly entered the summer transfer/R and R
season, with a suddenly depleted staff. Joe Novak is gone,
Jim Entwistle, Rich Girven and Teresa Manlowe on R and R,
with others soon to follow. Consular will have just one
officer for most of the (busy) summer. We are prioritizing
issues now as they come up.
3. (U) Speaking of personnel shortages, we assume there is
still no replacement for Jim Waller, who we believe is in his
last--or is it next-to-last--week. Is that correct and, if
so, how will our issues be handled over the summer and beyond.
PUBLIC SECURITY SECRETARY
--------------
4. (U) We understand that Mr. Ranaviraja, Secretary in the
Ministry of Public Security, and also head of the Central
Environment Agency, is now or will shortly be in DC beginning
his program arranged by the Sri Lankan Embassy. Ranaviraja
is a friendly and important contact. Can you tell us whom he
is meeting?
MALDIVES DEMOCRACY
--------------
5. (U) Ambassador received an e-mail this week from the
MALDIVES Attorney General Hassan Saeed, a young and eager
reformer. Saeed asked if we could get NDI to help in MALDIVES
democratization process. We will be sending in something on
this front channel. It seems that AID program money here
cannot be spent on MALDIVES. We need to look for some pot of
money that could help us make a big difference there.
GUANTANAMO DETAINEE
--------------
6. (C) And speaking of MALDIVES, we notice some
contradictions between the material prepared by DOD for the
Secretary on the Maldivian detainee and earlier assessments,
SIPDIS
specifically on the degree of his cooperation and what threat
he might pose. We will send a front channel on this shortly.
Given the Secretary's visit, we need to find a way to move
forward on this.
COLOMBO PLAN
--------------
7. (C) We sent in our responses to IO's latest by email from
Andrea Tomaszewicz on June 21. The next Colombo Plan meeting
is July 21. It would be good to have something useful to say
by then. We are struck in IO's memo by the fact that INL does
not seem to understand the situation. If there is no
effective way to get people to pay their dues (and a
suspension of voting rights will nto be effective),then INL
will not be able to run any programs, because the Secretariat
will not have funds to provide the administrative support. We
would suggest working on INL to get them on our side.
LUNSTEAD