SRI LANKA: HUMANITARIAN ACCESS COMMITTEE REVIEWS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001106 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID AID/W PLEASE PASS TO USAID/OFDA, USAID/ANE, USAID/CMM KATHMANDU FOR OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR WILLIAM BERGER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PHUM PGOV PREL CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: HUMANITARIAN ACCESS COMMITTEE REVIEWS DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE EAST REF: A. COLOMBO 1093 ¶B. COLOMBO 509 ¶C. COLOMBO 390 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes, currently visiting Sri Lanka, attended the 11th Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance (CCHA) meeting chaired by Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe on August 7. Charge attended for the U.S. Mission and raised the issue of timely access for NGOs to recently resettled areas. He requested a written reply to OFDA regional advisor William Berger's letter asking for GSL assurances on this issue. The Ministry of Nation Building presented the GSL's Development Plan for the East. Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa provided assurances that the GSL would focus on establishing effective civil administration before embarking on long term development projects. EU and UN representatives and Charge noted the importance of addressing security issues, including reining in paramilitary groups, before launching a development plan. The GSL announced the appointment of Civil-Military Liaison officers to implement CCHA policy decisions in the North and East. Relevant agencies provided updates on logistical issues, including supply shipments to Jaffna and the status of ICRC observation of border checkpoints. The Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) decided to expand checkpoint openings to 5 days per week. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Charge and PolOff attended the 11th CCHA meeting chaired by Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe on August 7. Secretary of Defense Gothabaya Rajapaksa, Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa, UN agencies, ICRC and relevant Government agencies were present. UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes, currently visiting Sri Lanka, also attended. Under Secretary General Holmes's Visit -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Holmes reported that his visit to Sri Lanka was going well and promised to be productive. He commended CCHA's efforts to facilitate coordination on humanitarian issues. At a dinner on August 7, however, Holmes told Charge that his trip to Jaffna was not useful as the GSL limited his contacts there to military officials. He said the Government had stalled on allowing his visit to Sri Lanka for quite some time and noted that the GSL was sending him conflicting messages. For example, he said Gothabaya and Basil were accommodating in meetings, while the Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary were defensive of the GSL's record on human rights and humanitarian issues. New POCs on Humanitarian Issues -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The GSL announced that Civil-Military Liaison officers have been appointed for the LTTE-held Vanni, Jaffna and East. Their mission will be to ensure that CCHA policy decisions are implemented and to serve as POCs on all humanitarian issues. Supplies Trickling into Jaffna -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The capacity to transport supplies to Jaffna is gradually improving. A ship loaded with UN construction material recently arrived in Jaffna. Committee members agreed that this was a promising start, but noted that COLOMBO 00001106 002 OF 003 shipments needed to continue on a regular basis. One obstacle is the shipping company's demand for partial payment in U.S. dollars rather than Sri Lankan rupees. A ship is reportedly reserved and ready for further shipments once payment arrangements can be worked out. Eight ships are currently being used to transport food and other supplies to Jaffna. This allows for a capacity of 17,000 tons, but there is a need for a total capacity of 30,000 tons. Participants noted that additional supplies would need to be stocked before the monsoon season. Border Checkpoint Hours Extended -------------- ¶6. (SBU) ICRC reported that it is currently present at the Omanthai and Uyilankulam checkpoints on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 0900-1700. Given concerns about security, ICRC is unwilling to resume a full time presence. They have however, agreed to be present daily from August 8-17 to facilitate travel for a religious festival in Madhu. Several participants argued that the limited opening of the crossing points was detrimental to traders and day laborers. ICRC noted that it is not responsible for opening the checkpoints, only for observing them. Gothabaya responded that the checkpoints would now be open 5 days a week, and that the ICRC could be present at its discretion. ¶7. (SBU) European Commission Head of Delegation Julian Wilson noted that more contact with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is needed on logistical issues. He suggested that arrangements should be made to facilitate the transfer of fuel into the Vanni, perhaps by allowing those who transport it to document its use. He also argued that medical supplies should not be categorized as sensitive items or be subjected to restrictions. NGO Harassment and Access to the East -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The Consortium for Humanitarian Agencies raised the issue of plainclothes policemen visiting NGOs to request information on employees. Basil explained that parliamentary committees and embassies (sic) often request information on NGOs and plainclothes officers are sent to conduct those inquiries. He said any individual can refuse access to the officers and can refuse to answer the officers' questions. He encouraged NGOs to ask for ID from the officers and to call their local police station if they have any questions or concerns about the inquiries. ¶9. (SBU) Charge raised the issue of timely access for NGOs to recently resettled areas. He requested a written reply to OFDA regional advisor William Berger's letter on the same topic and pointed out that international donors would likely be prepared to provide additional funding if such assurances can be provided in writing. Basil replied that the GSL must know what NGOs are operating in the East and what they plan to do. However, he said, once they sign an agreement with the Government Agent they may have access. He also noted that a list of 21 NGOs has been pre-approved. Neither he nor Minister Samarasinghe directly addressed the issue of a written reply to Berger's letter. GSL Unveils Development Plan for the East -------------- ¶10. (SBU) The Ministry of Nation Building presented the GSL's Development Plan for the East. The generally unimpressive presentation gave background information on the COLOMBO 00001106 003 OF 003 Eastern Province and detailed an ambitious list of infrastructure and other development projects that would require extensive donor funding. Following the presentation, Basil expanded on the GSL's approach to development of the East. He said the first priority was security. Police presence would be increased in civilian areas, allowing the military to concentrate on areas of strategic importance. He noted the need for more bilingual police officers and for interpreters in police stations and government offices. After security concerns are addressed, he said, development will be approached in two phases. The first phase will be establishing effective civil administration, including ID cards, birth certificates, schools, and hospitals. This effort will be managed by Minister of Public Administration Karu Jayasuriya. The second phase will be long term development, including livelihood projects and infrastructure. Basil emphasized that great care would be taken to resettle people in their original areas and not introduce outsiders in these areas. He also stressed that the high security zone planned for the Muttur area would not displace any residents. (Note: according to other information available to Embassy, ref A, there would, in fact, be about five thousand families displaced.) Basil ended the development discussion by thanking donors and aid organizations for their funds and responsiveness and promising to follow through on issues like NGO access. ¶11. (SBU) Wilson commented that the development presentation should be made, possibly in more detail, to the donor community at large and not just to the CCHA participants. Charge underscored the importance of a concerted effort to build institutions and strengthen governance in parallel with efforts to rebuild infrastructure. EU and UN representatives and Charge noted that paramilitary groups, like the Karuna faction, must be dealt with before development can succeed. ¶12. (SBU) COMMENT: The CCHA continues to be a generally effective forum for addressing and coordinating humanitarian policy. The GSL's current development plan for the East is a starting point but needs to be expanded beyond basic infrastructure needs, however critical they may be. Post will encourage the GSL to refine its development strategy, while at the same time addressing the core issues of security and establishment of effective civil administration. MOORE