SRI LANKA: JAFFNA CALMER FOLLOWING AMBASSADOR'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002073

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: JAFFNA CALMER FOLLOWING AMBASSADOR'S
VISIT

REF: A. COLOMBO 2060


B. COLOMBO 2056

COLOMBO 00002073 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).


1. (C) Summary: Pol FSN spoke December 14 with Mr.
Remidious, Legal Advisor and Acting Coordinator of the Human
Rights Commission in Jaffna, Government Agent K. Ganesh, and
the Jaffna Bishop Rev. Thomas Savundranayagam. Each
interlocutor pointed out that since Ambassador Blake's
December 7 visit to Jaffna (reftels),during which he gave a
strong human rights message to the commander of the security
forces and later the Foreign Minister, there have been fewer
killings and disappearances. This suggests that U.S.
influence does have an impact and that the military does in
fact bear responsibility for many human rights abuses. End
Summary.

Ambassador Hears Evidence
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2. (C) During a December 7 day-trip to the Jaffna peninsula,
which has been cut off by land from the rest of the island
after fighting between Government security forces and the
Tamil Tigers (LTTE) escalated on August 11, Ambassador Blake
met with representatives from the independent Sri Lanka Human
Rights Commission and Judicial Services Commission and the
Bishop of Jaffna (reftels). These interlocutors described
evidence of security forces colluding with paramilitary
groups, including the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP)
and the LTTE-breakaway Karuna group, to abduct, kill, and
intimidate civilians.


3. (C) Having heard this evidence, Ambassador briefed Jaffna
security forces commander Major General Chandrasiri at the
end of his visit on December 7. Ambassador impressed upon
the commander that a common theme of his meetings with
civilians and civil authorities that day was the growing
human rights problem with the security forces and the lack of
investigation into these crimes. The military must take
disciplinary action against human rights violators, he said,
to ensure human security. Gen. Chandrasiri replied that he
has "problems with certain groups operating here" and that
"some elements are beyond my control," though he denied army
involvement in so-called "white van" abductions. Ambassador
met Foreign Minister Managala Samaraweera on December 11 to
convey a similar message of accountability (ref B).

Some Impact
--------------


4. (C) Pol FSN spoke December 14 with Mr. Remidious, Legal
Advisor and Acting Coordinator of the Human Rights Commission
in Jaffna, Government Agent K. Ganesh, and Jaffna Bishop Rev.
Thomas Savundranayagam. All interlocutors pointed out that
since Ambassador Blake's December 7 visit to Jaffna, there
have been fewer killings and disappearances. Forty-seven
civilians were killed in Jaffna in November and December and
74 disappeared in the same period prior to the Ambassador's
visit, according to the Government Agent's figures (ref A).


5. (C) Remidious noted that after the Ambassador's December 7
visit, curfew hours have been changed from 6 p.m. through 5
a.m. to 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., allowing significantly increased
civilian movement. As of December 14, there had been "only
two killings" since the Ambassador's visit to Jaffna, he
said, "before, there were at least three or four killings per
day."


6. (C) Government Agent Ganesh told pol FSN the Ambassador's
visit had "some impact; we will watch the situation for a few
days." He claimed there had been fewer killings and that
Jaffna is generally quiet.


7. (C) The Bishop told pol FSN that fishing restrictions had
been relaxed as of December 11, when 250 fishermen were
allowed to fish off the coast of Jaffna, and five trawlers
were allowed to enter previously-resticted waters at night.
He reported fewer killing and said SLA movement around
Jaffna appeared tobe less.

Are They Listening?

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8. (C) Comment: The Ambassador delivered strong messages to
the Jaffna commander and the Foreign Minister regarding the
need to discipline security forces. According to most
civilian accounts, they appear to be operating with
paramilitaries in Jaffna to perpetrate human rights abuses.
The fact that killing and abduction numbers have dropped in
the week since the Ambassador's visit and some livelihood
restrictions have been lifted suggests that U.S. influence
does have an impact. Of course, this could only be true if
the military does, in fact, bear at least partial
responsibility for human rights abuses. We will watch
whether the improvement in the situation is durable, and
maintian quiet by steady pressure, welcoming positive
developments as they occur.
BLAKE