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