Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05COLOMBO895
2005-05-16 08:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

SRI LANKA: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON RELIGIOUS

Tags:  PHUM KIRF PGOV CE 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000895 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND DRL/IRF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2015
TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM REPORTS NO EVIDENCE OF FORCED CONVERSIONS; GSL
RESOLVE IN ADDRESSING ISSUE

REF: A. COLOMBO 818

B. COLOMBO 890

Classified By: DCM JAMES F. ENTWISTLE. REASON: 1.4 (B,D).

-------
SUMMARY
--------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000895

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND DRL/IRF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2015
TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM REPORTS NO EVIDENCE OF FORCED CONVERSIONS; GSL
RESOLVE IN ADDRESSING ISSUE

REF: A. COLOMBO 818

B. COLOMBO 890

Classified By: DCM JAMES F. ENTWISTLE. REASON: 1.4 (B,D).

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) In a May 11 briefing to the diplomatic community, UN
Special Rapporteur on Religious Freedom Asma Jahangir said
she had seen no evidence of forced conversions during her May
2-12 visit to Sri Lanka. While she heard credible reports of
some instances of "inappropriate" conversion, she indicated
that the issue had not reached the dire proportions depicted
by the Buddhist religious right and declared that proposed
anti-conversion legislation, which she stressed could have a
negative effect on human rights in the country, is not an
effective way of dealing with the matter. At the same time,
while she could confirm that some attacks on Christian
churches and harassment of Christians have occurred, she said
she found no evidence that the phenomena are widespread. She
believes that the Government of Sri Lanka is committed to
dealing firmly with the issue, and is determined not to let
religious tensions "fester." End summary.

-------------- --
SOME "INAPPROPRIATE" BUT NO FORCED CONVERSIONS
-------------- ---


2. (C) In a May 11 briefing to members of the diplomatic
community, UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Freedom Asma
Jahangir told participants that she had seen no evidence of
forced conversion during her ten-day visit to Sri Lanka.
(Note: Jahangir was in Sri Lanka at the invitation of the
government from May 2-12. In addition to Colombo, she
visited Homogama, the site of attacks on an evangelical
prayer center; Kandy; Batticaloa; Ampara; Jaffna and
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam headquarters in Kilinochchi.
End note.) Although conversations with right-wing Buddhists
like the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) produced allegations of
"unethical" or forced conversions on an epidemic scale,
Jahangir said her interlocutors were able to cite only four
or five actual cases of conversion--and no documentation that
such conversions were "forced" or any direct testimony from
the converts themselves. That said, she noted that there was

credible evidence to suggest that some people or
organizations involved in tsunami relief work may be using
"inappropriate" methods of conversion but "nothing worth a
whole country fighting over" and nothing that legislation
could appropriately address.


3. (C) Jahangir reported meeting with representatives of
all four major religions, as well as government officials and
members of civil society. The only person she wanted to meet
who remained unavailable throughout her visit was Minister of
Buddhist Affairs Ratnasiri Wicremenayake, she said.
Acknowledging that it was difficult for her to assess the
level of popular resentment at reported conversions, she
speculated that the impetus for anti-conversion legislation
came from religious and political elites in Colombo. She
sensed an "alarmist tendency" and a high level of
"insecurity" among the Buddhist leadership. Such insecurity
was easy to understand, she said, if the Buddhist clergy
feels they must compete with religions that have
institutional "parents" overseas, like Christianity and
Islam. Even though right-wing Buddhists had rejected a
proposal by Christian bishops to establish an inter-religious
council to address conversion and other contentious issues,
she said she believed that mainstream Buddhists would support
it.

--------------
"ALARMISTS" ON BOTH SIDES
--------------


4. (C) Jahangir confirmed finding evidence that some attacks
on Christian churches and harassment/intimidation of
Christians had occurred, but commented that neither
phenomenon appeared widespread. (Note: POL FSN is currently
in Galle District to follow up reports of an attack on a
Christian pastor's wife earlier in the month. End note.)
She indicated that just as there were "alarmists" on one side
claiming an epidemic of forced conversions so, too, were
claims of an epidemic of church attacks and anti-Christian
activity also likely overstated. She noted in several
instances there appeared to be some reluctance among local
authorities to prosecute perpetrators of church attacks or
other religious violence.

--------------
GSL MUST ADDRESS ISSUE HEAD ON
--------------


5. (C) Even if anti-conversion sentiment is not widespread,
the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) must deal with the issue,
especially legislative proposals to criminalize conversion,
with "firmness," Jahangir said. Her review of both draft
anti-conversion bills led her to conclude that the passage of
either could have serious negative implications for human
rights. (She added that the GSL bill appears even more
prohibitive than the JHU's.) Nonetheless, she said she
believes in general that the GSL is determined not to let the
issue "fester," although she added that the GSL's current
priority appears to be the peace process. The GSL's
commitment to maintain religious freedom, along with Sri
Lanka's strong tradition of tolerance and the presence of an
active, voluble civil society, makes her hopeful, she
indicated.

--------------
VIOLATION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
IN LTTE-CONTROLLED AREAS
--------------


6. (C) In general, she said, the level of religious freedom
in Sri Lanka compares favorably to other countries in the
region, and she said she was "very impressed" with the candor
and independent views expressed by government officials. On
the other hand, her visit to LTTE-controlled territory--where
she managed to meet with the single Buddhist monk remaining
in the area--revealed evidence of severe repression regarding
the practice of Buddhism. She described language used by the
LTTE Human Rights Secretariat to depict Buddhism as
"hateful."

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) Jahangir's assessment that the GSL has no interest
in promoting religious strife tracks with our own. (Ref B
reports President Kumaratunga's most recent assurance--in a
May 13 conversation with the Ambassador--that she will block
any attempts to pass anti-conversion legislation.) Her
statement that passage of anti-conversion legislation could
jeopardize human rights, which she repeated in a May 12 press
conference before her departure, should help bolster the
GSL's resolve. In addition, however, we would like to see
greater evidence of GSL resolve in prosecuting perpetrators
of religious violence. That Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, the
hard-line Minister of Buddhist Affairs, is also the Minister
of Public Security (with responsibility for police functions)
suggests a potential conflict of interest. We will continue
to press the GSL to safeguard the rights of all religions.
LUNSTEAD