SRI LANKA: FOREIGN SECRETARY ASKS FOREIGN PARTNERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000604 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS MCC FOR S GROFF, D NASSIRY, E BURKE AND F REID E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: FOREIGN SECRETARY ASKS FOREIGN PARTNERS FOR "UNDERSTANDING" REF: COLOMBO 600 Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b, d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona called in the Ambassador on April 20 to provide an update on Government of Sri Lanka's (GSL) progress on human rights. He said the GSL's new Inter-Ministerial Committee on Promoting Sri Lanka's Image Abroad, which he chairs, is so far succeeding in its mandate to catalyze progress on human rights matters. Kohona argued that the numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) being reported by the UN and NGOs is greatly exaggerated. He added that Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa is working hard on resettling IDPs. Kohona stressed that given the GSL's efforts to address human rights and humanitarian problems, Sri Lanka's friends should be less critical and more understanding. End Summary. Human Rights Committee Off to a Good Start -------------- ¶2. (C) Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona called in the Ambassador on April 20 to provide an update on GSL progress on human rights. He said the GSL's new Inter-Ministerial Committee on Promoting Sri Lanka's Image Abroad, which he chairs, is so far succeeding in its mandate to catalyze progress on human rights issues. The committee, which meets weekly, consists of senior representatives from the police, military services, Attorney General's office, and Secretary-level representatives from the Ministries of SIPDIS Defense, Justice, Disaster Management and Human Rights, Rehabilitation, and Planning. According to the Secretary, the committee's successes so far include: - The investigation of the killing of 17 NGO workers in Muttur has moved from the coroner to the Magistrate's office. - The GSL is doing DNA testing to ascertain whether the body that washed up near Jaffna recently is that of Father Jim Brown, who disappeared in August 2006. - The GSL has re-circulated to security forces a list of procedures that must be followed in all arrests. - The GSL is conducting training on human rights-related issues for security forces. - 570 members of the security forces have been disciplined for various crimes and infractions. (Note: Kohona was unsure of the what time period this figure covers, but undertook to check.) ¶3. (C) Kohona added that the GSL's lack of forensics expertise was major obstacle in conducting investigations into human rights cases and said the GSL would welcome international assistance in this area. Ambassador mentioned that the Embassy would be glad to entertain any proposals if the GSL wanted to make to use of either International Military Education and Training (IMET) or Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) training to support GSL human rights training efforts. He also requested a copy of the list of procedures for the security forces and suggested that the GSL make the list public. (NOTE: The MFA later provided a text, which the Embassy emailed to the State Department Sri Lanka desk.) IDP Situation Exaggerated -------------- ¶4. (C) Kohona argued that the numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) being reported by the UN and NGOs is COLOMBO 00000604 002 OF 003 greatly exaggerated. He said the GSL has been issuing ID cards to all IDPs in Batticaloa and so far have been able to identify only 65,000 IDPs there. He said that all IDPs from Vakarai have been resettled, and that the final count on those displaced was only 14,300. According to Kohona, the UN and NGOs exaggerate the numbers of IDPs to get more funding. Kohona admitted that Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa's goal of resettling all IDPs within three months was probably too ambitious, but said that Rajapaksa was working hard on this and the GSL would have them resettled as soon as possible. Ambassador suggested that the GSL give the UN their resettlement plan ASAP so that the UN could better identify gaps and provide assistance. He reassured Kohona that the UN was trying to get its numbers right, and was even getting much of its information from local Government Agents. Ambassador acknowledged the importance of having accurate numbers and suggested that Kohona raise the issue with the UN. Undeserved Criticism Becoming a Distraction -------------- ¶5. (C) Kohona stressed that, given the GSL's efforts to address human rights and humanitarian problems, Sri Lanka's friends should be less critical and more understanding. When friends "gang up on us," he said, it feeds elements within the GSL that want to lash out at the diplomatic community. He asked that the diplomatic community give the GSL space to do its job, and not provide distractions in the form of undeserved criticism. Ambassador replied that the U.S. has been measured in its public comments on human rights, which Kohona acknowledged. He suggested that the GSL make public its efforts to improve the human rights situation, so that Sri Lankan diplomats in Washington and elsewhere can highlight those efforts. Karuna's Contact with NGOs Inappropriate -------------- ¶6. (C) Ambassador took the opportunity to express our concern that several international NGOs have been contacted by the LTTE-breakaway Karuna group and requested to provide information on their organization, projects, vehicles and staff. Ambassador noted that Karuna has no need to know this information and asked that the GSL take action to get the request withdrawn. Kohona agreed that it was an inappropriate request and agreed to look into the matter. (Note: On April 23, in a regular meeting of the Coordinating Committee on Humanitarian Assistance, reftel, Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe told Ambassador that the e-mail purporting to be from the Karuna group appeared to be a hoax. End note.) Rambukwella's Sentiments Not Shared by the Foreign Ministry -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Ambassador mentioned recent comments by Defense Spokesman Rambukwella against foreign diplomats' alleged interference in Sri Lanka's affairs. Kohona assured the Ambassador that the statements were not a Foreign Ministry initiative. ¶8. (C) COMMENT: Kohona argued strongly that the GSL was doing its best, given available resources, to address its human rights and humanitarian problems. He was eager to show that his committee was producing results and would work to address the international community's concerns. While this committee will not likely not be able to address all of Sri Lanka's human rights and humanitarian issues, its very existence is an encouraging sign that the Sri Lankan government has now realized the damage that highly publicized human rights violations have caused to its international reputation -- and is giving high level attention to the COLOMBO 00000604 003 OF 003 problem. We will monitor closely whether this results in a genuine effort to improve the human rights situation -- or whether, as the name of the committee implies, emphasis is placed more on an image-burnishing exercise. Embassy will continue to encourage Kohona to share publicly the committee's progress on resolving questions about the GSL's human rights performance with the international community and the Sri Lankan public. BLAKE