Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COLOMBO410
2008-04-25 06:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: TMVP RELEASES 28 CHILD SOLDIERS
how-toVZCZCXRO7734 OO RUEHBI DE RUEHLM #0410 1160653 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 250653Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8040 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0855 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7848 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 6029 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4363 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1986 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 4361 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3456 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 8453 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5920 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0627 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2728 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 000410
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: TMVP RELEASES 28 CHILD SOLDIERS
REF: COLOMBO 00369
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 000410
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: TMVP RELEASES 28 CHILD SOLDIERS
REF: COLOMBO 00369
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
¶1. (SBU) Minister of Disaster Management and HUMAN RIGHTS
Mahinda Samarasinghe informed Ambassador the evening of April
24 that the TMVP (a government-backed paramilitary in the
East) released 28 child soldiers earlier in the day in
Batticaloa. This second release follows the release of 11
children by the TMVP on April 7 (reftel).
¶2. (SBU) According to Samarasinghe, 20 children were
released to their parents, and 8 to the custody of Justice
Secretary Suhada Gamalath. All 28 were released in the
SIPDIS
presence of UNICEF. UNICEF staff told Polchief that 21
children were released directly to their parents, who were
invited to be present at the release. UNICEF is trying
to locate the other seven families, as well as the families
of the 11 children previously released. Those whose families
cannot be found, or who should not return to their families
for other reasons, will likely be placed in a reception and
rehabilitation center at Ambepussa, near Kandy.
¶3. (C) In the April 7 release, UNICEF found that only 3 of
the 11 children had been previously reported to UNICEF,
indicating the possible extent of under-reporting on TMVP
child soldiers. UNICEF is in the process of verifying how
many of the 28 cases were previously known to them. UNICEF
notes that their staff has not yet verified that all 28 are
children and "meet the profile." UNICEF will have updated
figures on their open child soldier cases after the end of
April.
¶4. (C) COMMENT: This second release of TMVP child soldiers
is a welcome development. Post will continue to engage the
GSL on securing further releases by the TMVP, particularly
between now and the May 10 Eastern Provincial COUNCIL
elections. As the TMVP seeks to establish its legitimacy as
a political party, it has a strong incentive to release
additional children it is holding.
BLAKE