ABDUCTIONS AND DISAPPEARANCES ON THE RISE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001543 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2016 TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL PHUM CE SUBJECT: ABDUCTIONS AND DISAPPEARANCES ON THE RISE Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Independent human rights watchers indicate that the number of abductions and disappearances has surged over the last three months in both the North and East and in Colombo, with an increase in extortion kidnappings in particular. No American citizens have been victims that we are aware of. The Government of Sri Lanka (GSL),faced with growing public pressure, last week announced that a special police unit would work to address the problem. There is little consensus on who the perpetrators are; NGO representatives speculate that paramilitaries assisted by elements of the security forces may be conducting the kidnappings, while the GSL blames LTTE fundraisers. Ambassador will raise USG concerns about abductions and other human rights abuses in a meeting early next week with the Minister of Human Rights. End Summary. -------------- Rising Numbers In Jaffna -------------- ¶2. (U) The Center for Human Rights and Development (CHRD),a local NGO, and the independent Human Rights Commission (HRC), appointed by the President's Constitutional Council, indicate that incidences of extortion and politically motivated disappearances ave increased over the past few months. Disappeaances in Jaffna increased from 27 in July to 50 in August, and there have been 39 so far in September. The HRC says it has received 400 complaints of disappearances in Jaffna so far this year. Nearly 150 of those individuals were being detained by the security forces for questioning, but the rest remain unaccounted for. -------------- More Incidents in the Capital -------------- ¶3. (U) Abductions in and around Colombo also are on the rise. Extortion kidnappings, in particular, are becoming more common. According to the local media, these victims are sometimes released after paying large ransoms, but are reluctant to report the details of their cases because of threats on their lives. A protest against the abductions planned for September 19 was not held because of alleged pressure from the GSL. Stories also are circulating about abductions conducted by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) Intelligence Unit using white vans. According to an HRC contact, 21 abductions have taken place in and around Colombo in the last 3 months, and 17 of the victims have been released. Many more cases probably are not disclosed because the families are warned not to speak out. Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) contacts say the SLA Intelligence Units are conducting the abductions, while NGO contacts suggest that the perpetrators are paramilitaries operating with the knowledge and support of the security forces. Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Vocational and Technical Training P. Radhakrishnan told the POL FSN that when a group of Tamil politicians joined the government in August they were given assurances regarding the abductions that are not being kept and that the "white van abductions menace still continues." ¶4. (U) Recent incidents in Colombo include: -A businessman, his son, and an employee were abducted on September 12 by an unidentified gang. The businessman, but not the son or employee, was released on September 18. -Former Inspector of Police S.S. Santiago Pillai's son was found killed on September 2. -Thawaraja Thawamani, niece of United National Party Parliamentarian T. Maheswaran, was abducted on September 1 and released the following day. Witnesses reported seeing a COLOMBO 00001543 002.2 OF 002 white van. -Three employees of Aero Lanka, including the finance director, were abducted on August 22. -------------- Expats Are Not Exempt -------------- ¶5. (C) Tamils who have moved to Sri Lanka from abroad also are being targeted. The Australian High Commission told poloff that two Australian citizens of Tamil descent have been abducted; one has been released. A Canadian citizen Tamil businessman was abducted at gunpoint in Colombo on September 18 and released on September 20. We have seen an increase in the number of Tamil-Americans registering with the Embassy, possibly an indication that the Tamil expat community is feling increasingly targeted. But no American citiens have been targeted thus far that we are aware of. -------------- The Government Reacts To Deter Protests -------------- ¶6. (U) The government has initiated actions to curb the recent spate of abductions and disappearances, at least in Colombo. The GSL issued a media release on these efforts on September 17 in the hope of deterring planned protests over the abductions issue. President Rajapaksa expressed concern about the recent increase in abductions, particularly of Tamil citizens in Colombo, and senior government officials held discussions on September 15 with the companies and families of recent victims, as well as with several Tamil politicians. At the talks, chaired by Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the GSL announced that it would set up a special police unit of 100 officers and one Deputy Inspector General to investigate and act on incidents of abductions and disappearances. The President also has decided to appoint retired High Court Judge Mahanama Tillekeratne to probe the incidents. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Our sources make various arguments about who is conducting the alarming number abductions in Jaffna and in Colombo. Extortion kidnappings of wealthy Tamils and Tamil business owners have increased significantly over the last three months. The culprits in these cases may be the LTTE-breakaway Karuna group or the EPDP. It is possible that local security forces are either participating in the extortion kidnappings as a way to indirectly support these anti-LTTE groups, or they are simply turning a blind eye. It is also possible that the LTTE has turned to extortion as the international community is cracking down on its finance networks worldwide. The GSL has not announced any plans to combat the problem outside of Colombo. Government critics contend (correctly) that the abductions are part of a larger problem of impunity; the police are ineffective, investigations are not being conducted, and there is a lack of credible, functioning institutions to deal with these issues. ¶8. (C) Ambassador has requested a meeting with the Minister for Human Rights and Disaster Management early next week following his return from a trip overseas. He will use this occasion to express the USG's concern about the rise in abductions and other significant human rights abuses and urge swift action by the Special Police Unit and punishment of those found guilty. He will also point out that the almost complete lack of credible investigations and punishment has led to a serious climate of impunity and severely eroded the GSL's credibility. End comment. BLAKE