SRI LANKA: FOREIGN SECRETARY ASKS FOR PATIENCE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000134 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: FOREIGN SECRETARY ASKS FOR PATIENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS REF: COLOMBO 127 Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona called an evening meeting with Ambassador Blake on January 22. Kohona expressed concern that a pending public letter from U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone to the White House would call for a special international envoy to investigate human rights. The Foreign Secretary contended that the "perception of an emerging human rights problem is magnified" and that Sri Lanka did not require international observers at this time. Kohona noted that the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) is working hard to address human rights issues, but that investigations would take time. The Ambassador reiterated that Sri Lanka's deteriorating human rights record would engender more international criticism in 2007 and urged the GSL to take proactive action to address these problems to pre-empt calls by some to deploy international human rights monitors. End Summary. "We're the Good Guys" -------------- ¶2. (C) New Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona called in Ambassador on January 22 to express concern that a public letter from U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone to the White House would call for a special envoy to investigate human rights. (Note: It is our understanding, based on press accounts, that Pallone's proposal for a special envoy is focused more on the conflict and ways to end it than the human rights situation. End note.) The Foreign Secretary contended that the "perception of an emerging human rights problem is magnified" and that Sri Lanka did not require international observers at this time. He claimed that public chastisement from the international community hampered the GSL's capacity to develop its human rights infrastructure and that "the terrorists want to keep us the butt of criticism." Kohona added: "We need not another front on which to defend ourselves, but the space and time to continue this initiative." ¶3. (C) Kohona stressed that the human rights dialogue between the Embassy and the GSL "does get results," noting the creation of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on human rights violations and the associated International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP). "We are working hard to address these issues, but we will take time to get there. Police authorities are making a genuine effort in most of these cases. We are among the good guys." He lamented that the LTTE "does better at the propaganda game" than the GSL. Ambassador Urges GSL to Take Strong Action -------------- ¶4. (C) Ambassador praised the Commission of Inquiry initiative, but told the Foreign Secretary that the U.S. assessment was that the human rights situation had declined in 2006. He urged: "The government needs to take steps beyond the process side. Punish offenders. Show that you are aware of the problem and that the GSL does not support human rights violations." The Ambassador noted that the United States had refrained from criticizing the GSL too much publicly but that we would come under increasing pressure to do so: "We've argued that Sri Lanka can address its problems on its own, but others are advocating an international monitoring body." Sri Lanka's deteriorating human rights record will undergo far more international scrutiny in 2007, the Ambassador reiterated. He urged the GSL to take proactive steps such as to reconstitute the Constitutional Council so that relevant independent commissions could function. COLOMBO 00000134 002 OF 002 ¶5. (C) COMMENT: The GSL, clearly uncomfortable in the brightening international spotlight of human rights criticism, wants to preempt such criticism. An articulate apologist for the GSL's foibles, Kohona admitted there are problems but predictably held out the Commission of Inquiry as a cure-all. However, one special commission cannot possibly sort out all that is not working in the current system. It would be better by far to have Sri Lanka's constitutional organs operating effectively as foreseen to provide the checks and balances that are lacking currently. BLAKE