Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COLOMBO279
2008-03-18 11:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR PRESSES SRI LANKAN JUSTICE SECRETARY ON
VZCZCXRO7933 OO RUEHBI DE RUEHLM #0279/01 0781151 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181151Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7877 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0793 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7781 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5967 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4317 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1911 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 4313 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3409 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 8397 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5875 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0585 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2671 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000279
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PTER MOPS CE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES SRI LANKAN JUSTICE SECRETARY ON
CHILD SOLDIERS
REF: A. SECSTATE 19505
B. COLOMBO 00213
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 SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000279
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PTER MOPS CE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES SRI LANKAN JUSTICE SECRETARY ON
CHILD SOLDIERS
REF: A. SECSTATE 19505
B. COLOMBO 00213
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: On March 17, Ambassador and DCM met the
Secretary to the Ministry of Justice Suhada Gamalath to urge
SIPDIS
that the GSL, in the face of restrictions on U.S. Foreign
Military Financing to Sri Lanka (ref A),take swift and
effective measures to demobilize and rehabilitate child
soldiers in government-backed paramilitaries. Gamalath was
receptive to our arguments, promising to meet with Pillaiyan
to urge him to order the release of TMVP child soldiers.
Gamalath's committee on child soldiers has already taken some
modest steps, but we believe that without continued strong
pressure to end the TMVP's use of child soldiers, the
committee by itself is unlikely to be able to produce timely
results. Embassy will continue to exert pressure on the GSL
at all levels to take prompt action to release the TMVP's
children under arms. End summary.
2. (C) Secretary Gamalath chairs the GSL's committee on
child soldiers that was formed in August 2007, and his
Ministry is charged with enforcing the GSL's zero tolerance
policy on child soldiers. In this initial meeting,
Ambassador emphasized that U.S. interest in child soldiers in
Sri Lanka is both humanitarian and practical, as we want to
continue our military assistance to the GSL. To do so, the
GSL must show clear progress. Secretary Gamalath readily
acknowledged the use of child soldiers by
government-supported armed groups as a serious matter. He
stressed that the GSL needs an institutionalized structure,
with the support of NGOs, to gather information and monitor
what happens to child soldiers after their demobilization.
Gamalath wants to pursue a holistic rehabilitation and
reintegration program including vocational training and
psychosocial support. However, he admitted that the GSL has
limited resources, especially in psychosocial services, and
would welcome international help.
Pillaiyan Must Order Release of Child Soldiers
-------------- -
3. (C) Ambassador responded that the key missing ingredient
is orders from Pillaiyan to stop recruitment of and release
all child soldiers. (Note: Pillaiyan is the new head of the
TMVP, the armed paramilitary that swept recent elections in
the east. He replaced Col. Karuna Amman, who is now serving
a sentence for immigration violations in the UK.) Ambassador
strongly urged Gamalath to meet with Pillaiyan to insist on
this. Gamalath agreed, promising to do so within a month.
Ambassador urged him to pursue the meeting sooner.
Ambassador noted that Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa
has stated he wants to demobilize all child soldiers, and
stressed that now that the TMVP is a political party, it must
agree to release the child soldiers it is using.
Modest Actions Taken by GSL
--------------
4. (SBU) Ambassador asked what mechanisms are in place for
demobilization and rehabilitation. Gamalath explained that
the GSL refers released child soldiers to the Sri Lankan
Human Rights Commission for a hearing, summons the parents to
ensure the child's subsequent safety, then sends the child
home with the parents. Gamalath said some children receive
vocational training, but he wants to start psychological
support. Gamalath pointed out a recent change in the Penal
Code, stipulating that any person convicted of engaging or
recruiting child soldiers is liable to imprisonment not
exceeding thirty years and to a fine. Gamalath noted that the
GSL conducts meetings and awareness programs for security
forces, some of whom are not aware of the special sensitivity
that should be shown when dealing with children in armed
COLOMBO 00000279 002 OF 002
conflict.
5. (C) When DCM asked Gamalath what he would see as
"effective means" (as specified in Section 699C of the FY08
Foreign Operations Appropriations Act) that the GSL could
take to address the issue, Gamalath invited the Ambassador
and DCM to visit him again in four weeks. He said the
committee has plans to return to Batticaloa, and that a
recently opened rehabilitation center in Ambepussa, near
Kandy, will be better organized. Gamalath made no mention of
the release of children, however.
6. (C) COMMENT: Secretary Gamalath struck us as a
conscientious civil servant who is genuine about GSL efforts
to demobilize and rehabilitate child soldiers. His committee
on child soldiers has taken some modest steps, but we believe
that without continued strong pressure to end the TMVP's use
of child soldiers, the committee is unlikely to produce
timely results. Gamalath at times appeared to answer
questions by referring to programs that involve LTTE rather
than TMVP child soldiers, indicating that the GSL may have a
tendency to see this problem more in terms of the LTTE than
of the TMVP. Embassy will continue to stress that we need to
see tangible progress on child soldiers in government-backed
paramilitaries - not just enhancements of existing programs
for former LTTE child soldiers. Septel will report on
Ambassador's March 18 meeting with Sri Lankan Army Commander
Fonseka who promised to help end the practice of child
soldiers by paramilitaries.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PTER MOPS CE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES SRI LANKAN JUSTICE SECRETARY ON
CHILD SOLDIERS
REF: A. SECSTATE 19505
B. COLOMBO 00213
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: On March 17, Ambassador and DCM met the
Secretary to the Ministry of Justice Suhada Gamalath to urge
SIPDIS
that the GSL, in the face of restrictions on U.S. Foreign
Military Financing to Sri Lanka (ref A),take swift and
effective measures to demobilize and rehabilitate child
soldiers in government-backed paramilitaries. Gamalath was
receptive to our arguments, promising to meet with Pillaiyan
to urge him to order the release of TMVP child soldiers.
Gamalath's committee on child soldiers has already taken some
modest steps, but we believe that without continued strong
pressure to end the TMVP's use of child soldiers, the
committee by itself is unlikely to be able to produce timely
results. Embassy will continue to exert pressure on the GSL
at all levels to take prompt action to release the TMVP's
children under arms. End summary.
2. (C) Secretary Gamalath chairs the GSL's committee on
child soldiers that was formed in August 2007, and his
Ministry is charged with enforcing the GSL's zero tolerance
policy on child soldiers. In this initial meeting,
Ambassador emphasized that U.S. interest in child soldiers in
Sri Lanka is both humanitarian and practical, as we want to
continue our military assistance to the GSL. To do so, the
GSL must show clear progress. Secretary Gamalath readily
acknowledged the use of child soldiers by
government-supported armed groups as a serious matter. He
stressed that the GSL needs an institutionalized structure,
with the support of NGOs, to gather information and monitor
what happens to child soldiers after their demobilization.
Gamalath wants to pursue a holistic rehabilitation and
reintegration program including vocational training and
psychosocial support. However, he admitted that the GSL has
limited resources, especially in psychosocial services, and
would welcome international help.
Pillaiyan Must Order Release of Child Soldiers
-------------- -
3. (C) Ambassador responded that the key missing ingredient
is orders from Pillaiyan to stop recruitment of and release
all child soldiers. (Note: Pillaiyan is the new head of the
TMVP, the armed paramilitary that swept recent elections in
the east. He replaced Col. Karuna Amman, who is now serving
a sentence for immigration violations in the UK.) Ambassador
strongly urged Gamalath to meet with Pillaiyan to insist on
this. Gamalath agreed, promising to do so within a month.
Ambassador urged him to pursue the meeting sooner.
Ambassador noted that Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa
has stated he wants to demobilize all child soldiers, and
stressed that now that the TMVP is a political party, it must
agree to release the child soldiers it is using.
Modest Actions Taken by GSL
--------------
4. (SBU) Ambassador asked what mechanisms are in place for
demobilization and rehabilitation. Gamalath explained that
the GSL refers released child soldiers to the Sri Lankan
Human Rights Commission for a hearing, summons the parents to
ensure the child's subsequent safety, then sends the child
home with the parents. Gamalath said some children receive
vocational training, but he wants to start psychological
support. Gamalath pointed out a recent change in the Penal
Code, stipulating that any person convicted of engaging or
recruiting child soldiers is liable to imprisonment not
exceeding thirty years and to a fine. Gamalath noted that the
GSL conducts meetings and awareness programs for security
forces, some of whom are not aware of the special sensitivity
that should be shown when dealing with children in armed
COLOMBO 00000279 002 OF 002
conflict.
5. (C) When DCM asked Gamalath what he would see as
"effective means" (as specified in Section 699C of the FY08
Foreign Operations Appropriations Act) that the GSL could
take to address the issue, Gamalath invited the Ambassador
and DCM to visit him again in four weeks. He said the
committee has plans to return to Batticaloa, and that a
recently opened rehabilitation center in Ambepussa, near
Kandy, will be better organized. Gamalath made no mention of
the release of children, however.
6. (C) COMMENT: Secretary Gamalath struck us as a
conscientious civil servant who is genuine about GSL efforts
to demobilize and rehabilitate child soldiers. His committee
on child soldiers has taken some modest steps, but we believe
that without continued strong pressure to end the TMVP's use
of child soldiers, the committee is unlikely to produce
timely results. Gamalath at times appeared to answer
questions by referring to programs that involve LTTE rather
than TMVP child soldiers, indicating that the GSL may have a
tendency to see this problem more in terms of the LTTE than
of the TMVP. Embassy will continue to stress that we need to
see tangible progress on child soldiers in government-backed
paramilitaries - not just enhancements of existing programs
for former LTTE child soldiers. Septel will report on
Ambassador's March 18 meeting with Sri Lankan Army Commander
Fonseka who promised to help end the practice of child
soldiers by paramilitaries.
BLAKE