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.


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Rising Numbers In Jaffna
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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.


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More Incidents in the Capital
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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.

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Expats Are Not Exempt
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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.

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The Government Reacts To Deter Protests
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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.


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Comment
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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