Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COLOMBO616
2007-04-25 12:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT MAKES HUMAN RIGHTS EFFORTS
how-toVZCZCXRO6327 OO RUEHBI RUEHLMC DE RUEHLM #0616 1151204 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 251204Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5918 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0358 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0055 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7036 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5121 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3693 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0889 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 3773 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2854 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7612 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5312 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1986 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000616
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND DRL (BARKS-RUGGLES)
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: GOVERNMENT MAKES HUMAN RIGHTS EFFORTS
PUBLIC
REF: A. COLOMBO 604
B. COLOMBO 511
C. COLOMBO 413
D. COLOMBO 414
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000616
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND DRL (BARKS-RUGGLES)
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: GOVERNMENT MAKES HUMAN RIGHTS EFFORTS
PUBLIC
REF: A. COLOMBO 604
B. COLOMBO 511
C. COLOMBO 413
D. COLOMBO 414
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) The Foreign Ministry on April 24 issued a media
statement highlighting the April 12 re-issuance of the
President's directive to the security forces on respecting
human rights and outlining the Government of Sri Lanka's
(GSL) progress on human rights issues. Essentially, the
order on detentions states that security forces are to follow
due process, including:
-- The arresting officers are to identify both themselves and
the person arrested or detained.
-- The arresting officers are to inform the arrestee of the
reason for his detention.
-- A certificate of fact documenting the arrest is to be
furnished to the family or counsel of the detainee.
-- The arrestee will have the right to contact his family or
counsel.
-- Arresting officers will record a statement by the arrestee
at the time of detention.
-- The Human Rights Commission is to have access to any
facility on the territory of Sri Lanka where people are
detained, and to any arrestee or detainee.
-- The Human Rights Commission is to be informed of the
detention within 48 hours.
2. (C) The press release came just two working days after
Ambassador's meeting with Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona in
which Ambassador encouraged the GSL to make its efforts on
human rights known to the international community and the Sri
Lankan public (ref a). It will be very important now for the
GSL to ensure these procedures are followed.
3. (C) COMMENT: The Mission has repeatedly stressed that
the USG is unable to highlight the GSL's positive steps if
they aren't first made public. It appears the GSL took this
message to heart. Moreover, the knowledge that security
forces may be held accountable for detentions that are their
responsibility may help some families discover the
whereabouts of family members who have "disappeared."
Victims and their families will also know their rights and
have a public document to cite.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND DRL (BARKS-RUGGLES)
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: GOVERNMENT MAKES HUMAN RIGHTS EFFORTS
PUBLIC
REF: A. COLOMBO 604
B. COLOMBO 511
C. COLOMBO 413
D. COLOMBO 414
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) The Foreign Ministry on April 24 issued a media
statement highlighting the April 12 re-issuance of the
President's directive to the security forces on respecting
human rights and outlining the Government of Sri Lanka's
(GSL) progress on human rights issues. Essentially, the
order on detentions states that security forces are to follow
due process, including:
-- The arresting officers are to identify both themselves and
the person arrested or detained.
-- The arresting officers are to inform the arrestee of the
reason for his detention.
-- A certificate of fact documenting the arrest is to be
furnished to the family or counsel of the detainee.
-- The arrestee will have the right to contact his family or
counsel.
-- Arresting officers will record a statement by the arrestee
at the time of detention.
-- The Human Rights Commission is to have access to any
facility on the territory of Sri Lanka where people are
detained, and to any arrestee or detainee.
-- The Human Rights Commission is to be informed of the
detention within 48 hours.
2. (C) The press release came just two working days after
Ambassador's meeting with Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona in
which Ambassador encouraged the GSL to make its efforts on
human rights known to the international community and the Sri
Lankan public (ref a). It will be very important now for the
GSL to ensure these procedures are followed.
3. (C) COMMENT: The Mission has repeatedly stressed that
the USG is unable to highlight the GSL's positive steps if
they aren't first made public. It appears the GSL took this
message to heart. Moreover, the knowledge that security
forces may be held accountable for detentions that are their
responsibility may help some families discover the
whereabouts of family members who have "disappeared."
Victims and their families will also know their rights and
have a public document to cite.
BLAKE