Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06COLOMBO2122
2006-12-22 08:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: HUMAN RIGHTS MINISTER URGES QUICK
how-toVZCZCXRO2197 RR RUEHBI DE RUEHLM #2122 3560828 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 220828Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5010 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 9728 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6664 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 4724 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3412 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0408 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 3504 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2586 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 7228 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 5000 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1636 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS COLOMBO 002122
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: HUMAN RIGHTS MINISTER URGES QUICK
START FOR IIGEP
REF: A. COLOMBO 1929
B. COLOMBO 1849
C. COLOMBO 1793
D. COLOMBO 1676
E. COLOMBO 1651
F. COLOMBO 1619
UNCLAS COLOMBO 002122
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: HUMAN RIGHTS MINISTER URGES QUICK
START FOR IIGEP
REF: A. COLOMBO 1929
B. COLOMBO 1849
C. COLOMBO 1793
D. COLOMBO 1676
E. COLOMBO 1651
F. COLOMBO 1619
1. Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights
Mahinda Samarasinghe hosted a meeting on December 22 to
discuss the status of the International Independent Group of
Eminent Persons (IIGEP). Representatives of the sponsoring
countries and organizations and relevant Government of Sri
Lanka (GSL) officials were in attendance, including Secretary
of Justice Suhada Gamlath. DCM announced the Department of
State's approval of former Assistant Secretary of State for
Population, Refugees and Migration Arthur Dewey as the U.S.
nominee. Samarasinghe emphasized the importance of getting
the IIGEP up and running as quickly as possible to observe
the work of the Commission of Inquiry (COI). The week of
January 22 was agreed to as the target date for IIGEP members
to assemble in Colombo for initial meetings with members of
the COI. Six eminent person nominations have been approved by
the President, one is pending approval, and nominations from
the United Kingdom and Australia have not yet been sent to
the GSL. The Embassy sent the nomination of Former Assistant
Secretary Dewey to the GSL December 22 and issued a press
SIPDIS
release announcing the nomination.
2. Secretary Gamlath outlined the progress made so far by
the COI, which has met four times. These meetings have
focused on defining infrastructure and technical
requirements, outlining procedures for recording evidence,
screening police officers to work with the COI, and drafting
a press release calling for the submission of evidence and
information from the public. Samarasinghe underscored the
importance of witness protection and pointed out that the
success of the COI relies on witnesses being willing to come
forward. (Note: The U.S. is seeking to identify and hire as
its assistant to the IIGEP a specialist in witness
protection. End Note.) He also noted that the COI will
continue to meet in the absence of the IIGEP, but will not
hold public hearings until the group is present in Colombo
for its initial consultations the week of January 22. The
next meeting of the COI is scheduled for December 28.
3. Embassy greatly appreciates efforts of SCA/INS to
identify former Assistant Secretary Dewey as the U.S.
representative to the IIGEP. We will coordinate with SCA/INS
on recruitment of a U.S. assistant to the IIGEP in the field
of witness protection.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: HUMAN RIGHTS MINISTER URGES QUICK
START FOR IIGEP
REF: A. COLOMBO 1929
B. COLOMBO 1849
C. COLOMBO 1793
D. COLOMBO 1676
E. COLOMBO 1651
F. COLOMBO 1619
1. Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights
Mahinda Samarasinghe hosted a meeting on December 22 to
discuss the status of the International Independent Group of
Eminent Persons (IIGEP). Representatives of the sponsoring
countries and organizations and relevant Government of Sri
Lanka (GSL) officials were in attendance, including Secretary
of Justice Suhada Gamlath. DCM announced the Department of
State's approval of former Assistant Secretary of State for
Population, Refugees and Migration Arthur Dewey as the U.S.
nominee. Samarasinghe emphasized the importance of getting
the IIGEP up and running as quickly as possible to observe
the work of the Commission of Inquiry (COI). The week of
January 22 was agreed to as the target date for IIGEP members
to assemble in Colombo for initial meetings with members of
the COI. Six eminent person nominations have been approved by
the President, one is pending approval, and nominations from
the United Kingdom and Australia have not yet been sent to
the GSL. The Embassy sent the nomination of Former Assistant
Secretary Dewey to the GSL December 22 and issued a press
SIPDIS
release announcing the nomination.
2. Secretary Gamlath outlined the progress made so far by
the COI, which has met four times. These meetings have
focused on defining infrastructure and technical
requirements, outlining procedures for recording evidence,
screening police officers to work with the COI, and drafting
a press release calling for the submission of evidence and
information from the public. Samarasinghe underscored the
importance of witness protection and pointed out that the
success of the COI relies on witnesses being willing to come
forward. (Note: The U.S. is seeking to identify and hire as
its assistant to the IIGEP a specialist in witness
protection. End Note.) He also noted that the COI will
continue to meet in the absence of the IIGEP, but will not
hold public hearings until the group is present in Colombo
for its initial consultations the week of January 22. The
next meeting of the COI is scheduled for December 28.
3. Embassy greatly appreciates efforts of SCA/INS to
identify former Assistant Secretary Dewey as the U.S.
representative to the IIGEP. We will coordinate with SCA/INS
on recruitment of a U.S. assistant to the IIGEP in the field
of witness protection.
BLAKE