Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05COLOMBO567
2005-03-21 10:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

SRI LANKA: NO PATTERN OF FOREIGN MISSION

Tags:  PHUM SMIG KCRM KFRD CE GM 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000567 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA/INS, G/TIP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2015
TAGS: PHUM SMIG KCRM KFRD CE GM
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: NO PATTERN OF FOREIGN MISSION
ASSISTANCE TO SUSPECTED TRAFFICKERS

REF: A. NEUMANN-TOMASZEWICZ 03/08/05 UNCLASS EMAIL


B. BERLIN 767

Classified By: James F. Entwistle, Deputy Chief of Mission. Reason 1.4
(b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000567

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA/INS, G/TIP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2015
TAGS: PHUM SMIG KCRM KFRD CE GM
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: NO PATTERN OF FOREIGN MISSION
ASSISTANCE TO SUSPECTED TRAFFICKERS

REF: A. NEUMANN-TOMASZEWICZ 03/08/05 UNCLASS EMAIL


B. BERLIN 767

Classified By: James F. Entwistle, Deputy Chief of Mission. Reason 1.4
(b,d).


1. (C) There does not appear to be a widespread pattern by
foreign missions to aid their nationals in departing Sri
Lanka while under criminal investigation. We know of only
one solid case in 2004, as well as accounts of possible cases
before then. Sri Lankan authorities take cases of pedophilia
involving foreigners seriously. Indeed, nationals from
several other countries, including the U.S., are currently in
the Sri Lankan legal system on charges of suspected
trafficking and/or abuse.

Alleged German mission assistance to suspected pedophile
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Poloff spoke with Dr. Harendra de Silva, head of the
National Child Protection Agency (NCPA) and a close Embassy
contact, who is zealous in his commitment to protect children
from trafficking and investigate adults suspected of
involvement. His description of events about a recent case
of suspected pedophilia involving a German national largely
tracks with the readout from the German government (Ref B).
According to de Silva, the man's German passport had been
confiscated by Sri Lankan officials who were investigating
the allegations. Law enforcement officials confirmed to
poloff that a German man had been arrested in October 2004 on
charges of pedophilia and his passport impounded by the
court.


3. (C) De Silva said that despite the Germany Embassy's
apparent knowledge of the criminal investigation, Embassy
officials issued the man a travel document enabling him to
leave Sri Lanka. One police official told us he had heard
that the German mission in Sri Lanka aided its nationals who
were under suspicion for any kind of criminal activity -- not
only trafficking -- in departing Sri Lanka. (Note: this
would track with Embassy Berlin,s comment that German
consular officials are required to issue travel documents in
such cases. End Note.) While the police were not aware of
the specifics of the German's departure, several officers
stated they knew he was no longer in Sri Lanka.
Notwithstanding his absence, the next hearing on the matter,
scheduled for May, will take place; the German national is
one of four defendants in the case.


4. (C) In a separate conversation with poloff, Palitha
Fernando, Senior State Counsel and head of the Child
Protection Unit within the Attorney General's office, said he
was not familiar with the case of this German national. In
addition, he was not aware of any instances of foreign
embassies assisting their nationals to depart Sri Lanka while
under suspicion of child trafficking.

No pattern of foreign mission interference
--------------


5. (C) In speaking with poloff, Prof de Silva outlined two
other instances in which the German and Norwegian Embassy
each were suspected of aiding their nationals in leaving Sri
Lanka in previous years. The German case was from the late
1990s, while the Norwegian example was from the early 2000s.
Although de Silva implied that he believes the Germany
Embassy may have been involved in more cases, he was unable
to offer any specific details or even more anecdotal
evidence. De Silva said there were "many suspects, but they
often leave before getting caught." The NCPA chair also
noted that four Dutch nationals had been arrested on
suspicion of involvement in child trafficking in recent
years, but that the Dutch Embassy in Colombo had been
"silent" -- not getting involved -- on the matter.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) In our consular experience, Sri Lankan officials tend
to be much more proactive in potential trafficking and child
abuse cases involving foreigners, suggesting that they keep a
vigilant eye on foreign missions' assistance to such
suspects. Along the same lines, Sri Lankan judges often do
not approve bail for foreign suspects -- in cases where they
very well might for a Sri Lankan defendant -- to prevent them
from fleeing the country. In our view, while our diplomatic
colleagues no doubt do what they are required to do to assist
their nationals, we do not see a widespread problem of
foreign embassies helping pedophiles and/or child traffickers
abscond from Sri Lanka. End Comment.

LUNSTEAD