SRI LANKA: SUGGESTED U.S. STATEMENT ON THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001951 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR SA/INS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KPAO CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: SUGGESTED U.S. STATEMENT ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION REF: COLOMBO 1943 ¶1. (SBU) This message conveys Embassy's suggestions for a statement by the Department Spokesman after the November 17 presidential election. Two versions are provided: one for suggested use in the event of a generally free and fair election and another for suggested use in the event of an election that monitors deem was substantially flawed. Under either scenario, the language will have to be fine tuned according to how events transpire on election day. The texts follow below. ¶2. (SBU) Begin suggested text in the event of free and fair elections: The United States congratulates -------------- on his victory in the November 17 presidential election and commends the citizens of Sri Lanka on holding a successful free and fair presidential election. That so many voters turned out to cast their ballot testifies to the strength and vibrancy of the democratic process in Sri Lanka. All Sri Lankans have an equal and important stake in the outcome of presidential polls, and statements by LTTE-affiliated organizations and others claiming the contrary are both unfortunate and untrue. Among the many significant and immediate challenges confronting the new President will be the need to strengthen the Ceasefire Agreement and bring renewed vigor to the peace process to move towards a negotiated solution which will meet the aspirations of all Sri Lankans. The United States looks forward to exchanging views with the new President on these important topics. ¶3. (SBU) As noted reftel, there is the possibility that, in the event of a very narrow margin of victory for Sri Lanka Freedom Party candidate Mahinda Rajapakse, EU head monitor John Cushnahan may declare the election flawed because of a Supreme Court decision requiring voters from LTTE-controlled territory in the north and east to travel slightly farther to polling stations and making those voters subject to temporary police detention if their identity is questioned. If the Election Commissioner does not share Cushnahan's assessment (and we suspect he will not, since he is in charge of polling facilities nationwide, including the north and east),the result could be a "split" decision, with the national Election Commission (and possibly local and other international monitors) declaring voting to have been generally free and fair and the EU monitors declaring the contrary. In our view, an assessment that polling in the north and east was flawed solely on the basis of the Supreme Court decision omits another key (and likely more decisive) factor: the role of the LTTE in intimidating/discouraging voters. We will watch closely for any official statement by EU monitors regarding the election and will advise the Department accordingly. We suggest the following language in the event that the EU--but not the national Election Commission--declares the election flawed: The United States congratulates -------------- on his victory in the November 17 presidential election and commends the millions of Sri Lankans who exercised their right to vote on that day. That so many citizens turned out to cast their ballot testifies to the strength and vibrancy of the democratic process in your country. All Sri Lankans have an equal and important stake in the outcome of presidential polls, and we regret that apparent LTTE influence, along with other possible factors, depressed voter turnout in some areas of the north and east. Among the many significant and immediate challenges confronting the new President will be the need to strengthen the Ceasefire Agreement and bring renewed vigor to the peace process to move towards a negotiated solution which will meet the aspirations of all Sri Lankans. We look forward to exchanging views with the new President on these important topics. End text. LUNSTEAD