Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COLOMBO249
2008-03-11 15:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY DEFENDS SPECIAL
how-toVZCZCXRO1712 OO RUEHBI DE RUEHLM #0249 0711520 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 111520Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7818 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1898 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 8385 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5864 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000249
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL MASS PGOV MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY DEFENDS SPECIAL
FORCES' HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD
REF: A. STATE 17321
B. COLOMBO 161
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 000249
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL MASS PGOV MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY DEFENDS SPECIAL
FORCES' HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD
REF: A. STATE 17321
B. COLOMBO 161
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) On March 11, Ambassador delivered reftel (a) points
to Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, highlighting our
desire to clarify U.S. vetting policy to the GSL while at the
same time preserving our long-term relationship with the Sri
Lankan military. Ambassador invited Gothabaya to provide any
information the GSL might have on actions taken against human
rights violators. Gothabaya responded that withholding
training from the Special Task Force (the paramilitary elite
police unit) was understandable, given the frequent
complaints made against them. However, he countered that the
Special Forces rarely have contact with civilians and
therefore are the least likely Army group to commit human
rights violations. Gothabaya said it was important to
understand how the Special Forces' Deep Penetration Units
work and that he would have the Army prepare a report on the
issue for the USG. Gothabaya showed the Ambassador a chart,
given to him by the ICRC, that showed most incidents of
disappearances occurring in areas controlled by the STF, not
the Army. He asked if Army Legal Director MajGen Mohanti
Peiris, a Tamil and the highest ranking woman in the Army,
could visit Washington to share information with USG
officials on GSL efforts to bring human rights violators to
justice.
2. (SBU) Action request: Mission would appreciate guidance
on whether a visit can be arranged for MajGen Peiris within
the next two or three weeks. Post notes that Peiris is in
charge of our ongoing human rights judicial exchange with the
Sri Lankan military, and her visit would be an excellent
opportunity to touch base on the next steps on DILS training.
Mission would plan to meet with her first, prior to any
Washington visit.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL MASS PGOV MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY DEFENDS SPECIAL
FORCES' HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD
REF: A. STATE 17321
B. COLOMBO 161
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) On March 11, Ambassador delivered reftel (a) points
to Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, highlighting our
desire to clarify U.S. vetting policy to the GSL while at the
same time preserving our long-term relationship with the Sri
Lankan military. Ambassador invited Gothabaya to provide any
information the GSL might have on actions taken against human
rights violators. Gothabaya responded that withholding
training from the Special Task Force (the paramilitary elite
police unit) was understandable, given the frequent
complaints made against them. However, he countered that the
Special Forces rarely have contact with civilians and
therefore are the least likely Army group to commit human
rights violations. Gothabaya said it was important to
understand how the Special Forces' Deep Penetration Units
work and that he would have the Army prepare a report on the
issue for the USG. Gothabaya showed the Ambassador a chart,
given to him by the ICRC, that showed most incidents of
disappearances occurring in areas controlled by the STF, not
the Army. He asked if Army Legal Director MajGen Mohanti
Peiris, a Tamil and the highest ranking woman in the Army,
could visit Washington to share information with USG
officials on GSL efforts to bring human rights violators to
justice.
2. (SBU) Action request: Mission would appreciate guidance
on whether a visit can be arranged for MajGen Peiris within
the next two or three weeks. Post notes that Peiris is in
charge of our ongoing human rights judicial exchange with the
Sri Lankan military, and her visit would be an excellent
opportunity to touch base on the next steps on DILS training.
Mission would plan to meet with her first, prior to any
Washington visit.
BLAKE