Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COLOMBO1078
2007-08-03 06:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: JAFFNA HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE ENDS CONTACT
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001078
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND PM
MCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: JAFFNA HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE ENDS CONTACT
WITH U.S. EMBASSY
REF: COLOMBO 1036
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001078
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND PM
MCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: JAFFNA HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE ENDS CONTACT
WITH U.S. EMBASSY
REF: COLOMBO 1036
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Long-time Embassy interlocutors in Jaffna,
including those who met with Assistant Secretary Boucher in
May 2007, report that they continue to feel pressure from the
government, particularly the Jaffna military commander.
Contacts have told us that in addition to the GSL curtailing
their responsibilities, they have received specific
instructions prohibiting contact with the Embassy. These
restrictions come at a time when human rights abuses in
Jaffna are increasing. The spike in extrajudicial killings
carried out by armed groups continues. END SUMMARY.
CONTACT WITH U.S. EMBASSY "STRICTLY PROHIBITED"
-------------- --
2. (C) On July 31, locally-hired Political Specialist
Padmini Raajadurrai received a call from Field Officer for
the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna Thambithurai
Rajeev (strictly protect),a long-time Embassy contact.
Rajeev informed us that his boss, newly appointed Jaffna HRC
Coordinator Sampanthar Sivarajasingham, has received
instructions from Colombo HRC Commissioner Justice D.
Jayawickrema that talking to the U.S. Embassy is strictly
prohibited. Rajeev worried that his life could be in danger
given the recent spike in extra-judicial killings in Jaffna
and the increased pressure put on Embassy contacts who met
A/S Boucher and Ambassador in Jaffna in May, 2007 (reftel).
Rajeev further stated that "military contacts" had planted a
story with reporters of the Jaffna Tamil-language newspaper
Uthayan to the effect that Raajadurrai is a CIA intelligence
agent working to undermine the Government.
REMADIOUS' RESPONSIBILITIES ARE CURTAILED
--------------
3. (C) Also on July 31, long-time Embassy contact and
Jaffna human rights lawyer M. Remadious told Raajadurrai that
Sivarajasingham has limited the number of hours Remadious can
spend at the HRC offices. He is specifically prohibited from
filing missing persons reports, he said. Likewise, Remadious
cannot contact Jaffna military commander Major General
Chandrasiri's office or any police officials, nor is he
allowed to investigate killings or disappearances.
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES CONTINUE
--------------
4. (C) A 25 year-old journalism student at the University of
Jaffna was killed in his home at 3:00 a.m. August 1, during
curfew hours, by unknown gunmen wearing civilian clothes.
Three other men were shot hours earlier on July 31, killing
two and leaving one in critical condition at Jaffna Teaching
Hospital. On August 2, a 25-year-old Jaffna Techincal
College student was gunned down by two men on a motorcycle
outside of Jaffna town. The recent spike in extrajudicial
killings in Jaffna continues; there were nearly as many in
the month of July as in April, May and June combined.
5. (C) Embassy has had received numerous reports from our
contacts in Jaffna since the May 2007 visit by Assistant
Secretary Boucher that the Sri Lankan military was conducting
SIPDIS
a systematic investigation to determine exactly who Boucher
met during that visit. As reftel reports, most of those
contacts have been forced to leave Jaffna, or are planning to
leave in the near future.
COLOMBO 00001078 002 OF 002
6. (C) COMMENT: It has long been the policy of the Colombo
Human Rights Commission that its regional branches should not
share information with us. Those who have been doing have
been acting against these instructions, and have been an
invaluable source of objective information about human rights
abuses in the conflict-affected areas. There is no doubt
that the effort to restrict our access to information from
Jaffna is taking place at the direction of General
Chandrasiri. However, we do not know whether this effort has
the blessing of Army Commander Fonseka or Defense Secretary
Gothabaya Rajapaksa. Army intelligence units and anti-LTTE
militias like the EDPD that cooperate with them are clearly
intent on pursuing their counterinsurgency campaign to root
out Tiger supporters in Jaffna, possibly before an
anticipated uptick in military activity in the North. Charge
is seeking an appointment with the Defense Secretary and will
raise our concerns about the situation in Jaffna,
particularly the wave of extrajudicial killings that continue
to occur.
MOORE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND PM
MCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: JAFFNA HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE ENDS CONTACT
WITH U.S. EMBASSY
REF: COLOMBO 1036
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Long-time Embassy interlocutors in Jaffna,
including those who met with Assistant Secretary Boucher in
May 2007, report that they continue to feel pressure from the
government, particularly the Jaffna military commander.
Contacts have told us that in addition to the GSL curtailing
their responsibilities, they have received specific
instructions prohibiting contact with the Embassy. These
restrictions come at a time when human rights abuses in
Jaffna are increasing. The spike in extrajudicial killings
carried out by armed groups continues. END SUMMARY.
CONTACT WITH U.S. EMBASSY "STRICTLY PROHIBITED"
-------------- --
2. (C) On July 31, locally-hired Political Specialist
Padmini Raajadurrai received a call from Field Officer for
the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna Thambithurai
Rajeev (strictly protect),a long-time Embassy contact.
Rajeev informed us that his boss, newly appointed Jaffna HRC
Coordinator Sampanthar Sivarajasingham, has received
instructions from Colombo HRC Commissioner Justice D.
Jayawickrema that talking to the U.S. Embassy is strictly
prohibited. Rajeev worried that his life could be in danger
given the recent spike in extra-judicial killings in Jaffna
and the increased pressure put on Embassy contacts who met
A/S Boucher and Ambassador in Jaffna in May, 2007 (reftel).
Rajeev further stated that "military contacts" had planted a
story with reporters of the Jaffna Tamil-language newspaper
Uthayan to the effect that Raajadurrai is a CIA intelligence
agent working to undermine the Government.
REMADIOUS' RESPONSIBILITIES ARE CURTAILED
--------------
3. (C) Also on July 31, long-time Embassy contact and
Jaffna human rights lawyer M. Remadious told Raajadurrai that
Sivarajasingham has limited the number of hours Remadious can
spend at the HRC offices. He is specifically prohibited from
filing missing persons reports, he said. Likewise, Remadious
cannot contact Jaffna military commander Major General
Chandrasiri's office or any police officials, nor is he
allowed to investigate killings or disappearances.
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES CONTINUE
--------------
4. (C) A 25 year-old journalism student at the University of
Jaffna was killed in his home at 3:00 a.m. August 1, during
curfew hours, by unknown gunmen wearing civilian clothes.
Three other men were shot hours earlier on July 31, killing
two and leaving one in critical condition at Jaffna Teaching
Hospital. On August 2, a 25-year-old Jaffna Techincal
College student was gunned down by two men on a motorcycle
outside of Jaffna town. The recent spike in extrajudicial
killings in Jaffna continues; there were nearly as many in
the month of July as in April, May and June combined.
5. (C) Embassy has had received numerous reports from our
contacts in Jaffna since the May 2007 visit by Assistant
Secretary Boucher that the Sri Lankan military was conducting
SIPDIS
a systematic investigation to determine exactly who Boucher
met during that visit. As reftel reports, most of those
contacts have been forced to leave Jaffna, or are planning to
leave in the near future.
COLOMBO 00001078 002 OF 002
6. (C) COMMENT: It has long been the policy of the Colombo
Human Rights Commission that its regional branches should not
share information with us. Those who have been doing have
been acting against these instructions, and have been an
invaluable source of objective information about human rights
abuses in the conflict-affected areas. There is no doubt
that the effort to restrict our access to information from
Jaffna is taking place at the direction of General
Chandrasiri. However, we do not know whether this effort has
the blessing of Army Commander Fonseka or Defense Secretary
Gothabaya Rajapaksa. Army intelligence units and anti-LTTE
militias like the EDPD that cooperate with them are clearly
intent on pursuing their counterinsurgency campaign to root
out Tiger supporters in Jaffna, possibly before an
anticipated uptick in military activity in the North. Charge
is seeking an appointment with the Defense Secretary and will
raise our concerns about the situation in Jaffna,
particularly the wave of extrajudicial killings that continue
to occur.
MOORE