SRI LANKA: MONITORING MISSION BACKS UN CLAIMS THAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001958

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PREF MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: MONITORING MISSION BACKS UN CLAIMS THAT
ELEMENTS OF SECURITY FORCES ARE WORKING WITH KARUNA
PARAMILITARY

REF: A. COLOMBO 1911

B. COLOMBO 1896

C. COLOMBO 1895

Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires James R. Moore for reasons 1.4(b,d).


1. (C) Summary: On November 13, following a ten-day trip to
Sri Lanka, United Nations Special Advisor for Children and
Armed Conflict Allan Rock released a report alleging
complicity between elements of the Government of Sri Lanka
(GSL) security forces and the Karuna faction (ref C). The
Nordic-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission quickly backed Rock's
statement, while the Sri Lanka Army vehemently denied any
knowledge of or assistance in Karuna group abductions. An
expatriate USAID representative in the east of Sri Lanka
reported that police and Karuna forces worked together on
November 14-15 to warn Tamils in Batticaloa and Trincomalee
not to participate in an LTTE-led strike following the murder
of Tamil Member of Parliament Nadarajah Raviraj. End
summary.

Army "Perturbed"
--------------


2. (C) On November 13, United Nations Special Advisor for
Children and Armed Conflict Allan Rock released a report
following a ten-day trip to Sri Lanka alleging complicity
between elements of the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL)
security forces and the Karuna faction (ref C). The Sri
Lanka Army (SLA) responded immediately with a press release
November 13 saying they were "perturbed" by Rock's statement,
which they called "completely misleading." The SLA
questioned the impartiality of the UN, stating, "It is no
secret that the UN by innuendo has gone the extra mile to

SIPDIS
blame the troops of the Sri Lankan security forces who are
deployed in government controlled areas of eastern Batticaloa
to contain LTTE violence and defend human rights... Security
forces deny any involvement with the LTTE breakaway group for
abductions in Batticaloa." Government-owned and -influenced
media then launched a smear campaign against Rock the week of
November 20.

SLMM Backs Findings
--------------


3. (U) Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission spokesperson Helen
Olafsdottir told Reuters that the SLMM had been aware of
collusion between elements of the security forces and the
Karuna group for some time (ref A),and noted the
relationship in a September 2006 report available to the
public.

Karunas and Local Police Intimidate Shop Owners
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4. (C) Following the November 10 murder of Tamil National
Alliance Member (TNA) of Parliament Nadarajah Raviraj in
Colombo (ref B),the pro-LTTE TNA called a general strike in
the eastern districts of Batticaloa and Trincomalee on
November 14-15. A U.S. contractor in Trincomalee reported
that police and the Karuna group were cooperating in
theintimidation of Tamil civilians. She told us that police
with one or two armed Karuna cadres were visiting shopkeepers
who had closed their shops in observance of the strike,
ordering them to reopen. Civilians were caught in the
squeeze, unsure of which potentially violent forces -- LTTE
or SLA/Karuna -- to obey.

Human Rights Activists Concur
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5. (C) Human rights activist and director of the Berghof
Foundation Dr. Mario Gomez told us that ongoing forced
recruitment by the Karuna faction since the March 2004 split
with the LTTE has increased recently. He added, "To some
extent, these abductions are being facilitated by the
security forces." Muslim Peace Secretariat chairman A.M.M.
Faaiz contended to POL FSN that Karuna could not operate
without "a lot of patronage." Commenting on the Allan Rock
report, National Peace Council director Jehan Perera told us:

COLOMBO 00001958 002 OF 002


"The international community has now put the GSL virtually on
par with the LTTE in terms of human rights abuses and
impunity. The GSL cannot stomach this comparison."


6. (C) Comment: The SLMM has concluded in earlier reports
that the Karuna group operates with at least some support
from elements of the GSL security forces, but the Sinhalese
general public has discounted this, perceiving the Nordic
monitors as biased toward the LTTE. The UN has now put its
prestige behind the allegations. It is unfortunate that the
government has elected to circle the wagons and respond with
both personal attacks against Rock and allegations of
sinister UN motives, rather than attempt to address the real
human rights problems that exist.
BLAKE