SRI LANKA: CATHOLIC BISHOPS ASSESS DIRE HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000068 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: CATHOLIC BISHOPS ASSESS DIRE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION REF: COLOMBO 2051 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Blake met the Catholic Bishops of Jaffna and the northwestern district of Mannar on January 11. Political Chief and Poloff followed up with Jaffna Government Agent Ganesh on January 12. The bishops expressed deep concern regarding the humanitarian situation in the north of the island. They noted that Ambassador's December 7, 2006 visit to Jaffna and subsequent meetings with the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) in Colombo improved the situation there, albeit briefly. All emphasized the importance of opening the A9 road to restore normalcy to the north and requested that Ambassador Blake and other embassy officials make periodic trips to conflict areas such as Jaffna and Mannar. The Ambassador urged the Bishops to use their influence with the LTTE to persuade the LTTE to accept the GSL's offer to open the A-9 road and to stop threatening private shopowners in Jaffna so they can reopen their shops. End summary. Bishops Engage -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador Blake met the Catholic Bishops of Jaffna and the northwestern district of Mannar on January 11 at their request. Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam, of the northernmost diocese of Jaffna, and Bishop Rayappu Joseph, of the northwest peninsula of Mannar, have served their respective dioceses for 15 years. They have been outspoken in addressing the humanitarian needs of civilians of all faiths. The Bishops requested the meeting after Presidential Advisor (and brother) Basil Rajapaksa reportedly advised the Mannar Bishop to quiet down about civilian casualties following a January 2 Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombing near Mannar. ¶3. (C) Jaffna Bishop Savundaranaygam expressed appreciation for the Ambassador's December 7, 2006 visit to Jaffna and subsequent conversations with government leaders about the situation there. The Bishop said civilians had been reassured by the U.S. concern, and that rampant disappearances and killings had declined for several weeks following Ambassador Blake's visit. Other improvements were evident as well, including a reduction in the curfew hours, restoration of cell phone service, and a pledge by the GSL to reopen the university of Jaffna. Bishop Joseph requested that the Ambassador visit Mannar. No Justice -------------- ¶4. (C) Mannar Bishop Joseph noted that he had personally visited the sites of civilian casualties in Mannar following the May 2006 Pesalai killings and the January 2 SLAF bombing. He claimed he "took the bodies to the hospital" of the five fishermen "shot through the mouths with their identification cards in their hands" after the Sri Lanka Navy retaliated on Tamil civilians following an LTTE attack on the Mannar naval base. He added: "I collected first class evidence for the Magistrate but court authorities told me not to proceed. There is no justice here. The executive branch controls the judiciary." Both Bishops reiterated what many interlocutors have told us before: "The security forces give protection to the paramilitaries. They organize extortion as well." Tigers Must Do Their Part; Bishops Apologize for Tigers -------------- ¶5. (C) The Ambassador pointed out that the United States and other Co-Chairs are seeking the reopening of the A9 highway linking Jaffna to the rest of the island, but that the Tamil COLOMBO 00000068 002 OF 003 Tigers (LTTE) had failed to accept the Government of Sri Lanka's (GSL) offer to open temporarily the highway for a humanitarian convoy. The Tigers had also warned private traders in Jaffna against opening their shops in order to embarrass the government with the food and supplies shortage, the Ambassador added. The Ambassador asked the Bishops to intervene with the LTTE to reverse its stand on both matters. Mannar Bishop Joseph, who had met with LTTE political wing leader S.P. Tamilselvan in the Tamil Tiger de facto capital of Kilinochchi the previous week, said he had urged the Tiger leadership to allow private traders to operate in the Jaffna peninsula, and to allow a one-off humanitarian supply convoy through the A9. ¶6. (C) According to Bishop Joseph, the Tigers would be unable to open the road only temporarily for security reasons; Tamilselvan said the LTTE had heavily mined the road near the forward defense line (FDL). If the road were opened permanently, the LTTE would de-mine the area and make other security arrangements. GSL security forces would use a one or two day opening, the Tigers believed, to launch an offensive on Elephant Pass, the strategic causeway connecting the Tiger-controlled "Vanni" to GSL-controlled Jaffna. Proposed Religious Roundtable -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The Ambassador asked the two Bishops if they would be willing to participate in a religious roundtable convened by the Co-Chairs and possibly India. The Ambassador said he proposed to include the two senior monks from Kandy, the Bishops, and senior Muslim leaders still to be determined. The two senio monks in Kandy had agreed in principle to the Amassador's suggestion. The Ambassador explained hestill needed to discuss the idea with the Co-Chars and India, but asked if the Bishops also woul participate. The Bishops said they would. Ater-Curfew Collusion -------------- 8.(C) Many have noted that the "white van" abduction occur after curfew hours, when no one could pas the numerous checkpoints without challenge by scurity forces. On the disappearances, Jaffna Goernment Agent Ganesh lamented: "In Jaffna, no oneknows for sure who is doing it, and citizens fee it is advisable not to come out with the truth." Later he admitted that "the army is probably working with the paramilitaries," including Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) cadres and "Jaffna boys" who have sided with the LTTE-breakaway Karuna group (TMVP). ¶9. (C) Nor do citizens have faith in their political representatives. Citing the November 10 murder of moderate Tamil National Alliance Member of Parliament N. Raviraj, Ganesh claimed: "Citizens don't believe that politicians can do anything." TNA MPs, concerned for their personal safety, stay in Jaffna for only a few days at a time, he said. Social Development Minister and leader of the anti-LTTE Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) Douglas Devananda remains in his Jaffna office during his visits, he noted. Citizens must come to the EPDP office to register their concerns, but few will enter the EPDP office for fear of LTTE reprisals. ¶10. (C) Ganesh also expressed concern that "arrests and abductions during curfew hours continue," although at least one abducted Jaffna University student was released " a day after a petition to the military commander." He noted that of those abductees who have affiliations to the LTTE, many "were compelled to join the LTTE and just want to live peacefully. It's quite a difficult line to walk." A Fine Line -------------- COLOMBO 00000068 003 OF 003 ¶11. (C) COMMENT: Catholic Clergy of Sri Lanka have been among the foremost human rights activists. The credibility and position of the Bishops has allowed them to speak out when others have been silenced by "white van" disappearances. Jaffna Government Agent Ganesh, as a government authority, has a difficult road between looking after the interests of the citizens of Jaffna and toeing the government line. He has been willing to speak openly with us, and certainly has the Jaffna's community's best interest at heart. Civilians in the north and east will benefit from our continued engagement with their communities. Ambassador will seek to visit Mannar sometime in February. BLAKE