Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COLOMBO345
2008-04-03 11:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: BISHOP OF MANNAR APPEALS TO STOP CHURCH
VZCZCXRO2185 OO RUEHBI DE RUEHLM #0345 0941148 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031148Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7963 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0818 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7811 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5994 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4337 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1941 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 4336 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3432 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 8418 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5895 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0605 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2696 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 COLOMBO 000345
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: BISHOP OF MANNAR APPEALS TO STOP CHURCH
SHELLING; EMBASSY URGES RESTRAINT
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 000345
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: BISHOP OF MANNAR APPEALS TO STOP CHURCH
SHELLING; EMBASSY URGES RESTRAINT
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (U) On April 3, the Bishop of Mannar faxed to Ambassador
a press release calling on both the LTTE and Sri Lankan
military to stop shelling the premises of a venerated
Catholic shrine in Madhu, and to respect it as a zone of
peace. TamilNet reported that the LTTE said the SLA was
shelling the church. The Mannar Citizens Committee told Pol
FSN that, based on troop positions, the shelling appeared to
be coming from the government security forces.
2. (C) Ambassador called Army General Fonseka and noted
various church groups' concern about the fighting around
Madhu Church. Fonseka said the Sri Lankan troops were one
kilometer from the church, and the LTTE were firing mortars
and artillery from the zone around the church. He said the
army hoped to go around them and cut them off from the north.
Ambassador told Fonseka that the military has been credited
with a relatively good record in avoiding civilian casualties
in these latest months of fighting, but extreme care must be
exercised for this particularly sensitive area. Ambassador
urged Fonseka to exercise restraint, even if the firing
appeared to be coming from the vicinity of the church, and
stressed that the accidental killing of priests and others
who have taken refuge in the church grounds would be a
disaster for the GSL.
3. (SBU) Ambassador told the Bishop that the U.S. is
concerned about the shelling near Madhu Church. He relayed
that the U.S. had urged maximum restraint on the part of the
military, even if the LTTE had taken up positions within the
church zone. Ambassador offered to make a public statement
urging the LTTE to withdraw from the church zone if the
Bishop can confirm the LTTE has indeed taken up such
positions. Embassy will continue to follow this closely.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: BISHOP OF MANNAR APPEALS TO STOP CHURCH
SHELLING; EMBASSY URGES RESTRAINT
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (U) On April 3, the Bishop of Mannar faxed to Ambassador
a press release calling on both the LTTE and Sri Lankan
military to stop shelling the premises of a venerated
Catholic shrine in Madhu, and to respect it as a zone of
peace. TamilNet reported that the LTTE said the SLA was
shelling the church. The Mannar Citizens Committee told Pol
FSN that, based on troop positions, the shelling appeared to
be coming from the government security forces.
2. (C) Ambassador called Army General Fonseka and noted
various church groups' concern about the fighting around
Madhu Church. Fonseka said the Sri Lankan troops were one
kilometer from the church, and the LTTE were firing mortars
and artillery from the zone around the church. He said the
army hoped to go around them and cut them off from the north.
Ambassador told Fonseka that the military has been credited
with a relatively good record in avoiding civilian casualties
in these latest months of fighting, but extreme care must be
exercised for this particularly sensitive area. Ambassador
urged Fonseka to exercise restraint, even if the firing
appeared to be coming from the vicinity of the church, and
stressed that the accidental killing of priests and others
who have taken refuge in the church grounds would be a
disaster for the GSL.
3. (SBU) Ambassador told the Bishop that the U.S. is
concerned about the shelling near Madhu Church. He relayed
that the U.S. had urged maximum restraint on the part of the
military, even if the LTTE had taken up positions within the
church zone. Ambassador offered to make a public statement
urging the LTTE to withdraw from the church zone if the
Bishop can confirm the LTTE has indeed taken up such
positions. Embassy will continue to follow this closely.
BLAKE