SRI LANKA: CO-CHAIR AMBASSADORS DISCUSS WAYS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000252 SIPDIS STATE FOR A/S BOUCHER E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2019 TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: CO-CHAIR AMBASSADORS DISCUSS WAYS TO PRESSURE GSL AND LTTE Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) Summary: Ambassador hosted a meeting of Co-Chair Ambassadors on March 5 to take stock of actions since the February 3 Co-Chair statement and consider what further actions we should recommend to capitals. Ambassadors agreed not to recommend an additional Co-Chair statement at this time since the GSL is responding to some, but not all, our concerns. With respect to high-level visits, the EU reported that the GSL has agreed to an EU Troika visit at the Deputy Foreign Minister level during the week of March 23-27. We further agreed to recommend that Ambassadors from countries with significant Tamil Diaspora communities meet to coordinate messaging to the Tamil Diaspora to, among other things to bring additional pressure to bear on the LTTE to release the civilians trapped in the north. End Summary. Situation Update ¶2. (C) Ambassador opened by summarizing a meeting (reported septel) he and USAID Director Cohn had the previous day with Basil Rajapaksa, the GSL's Senior Coordinator for all humanitarian issues. In response to the Ambassador's concerns about the first credible reports of possible starvation in the safe zone in the north, Rajapaksa undertook to arrange an immediate delivery of an additional 200 metric tons of food by the end of March 6 and to work with the WFP to schedule more regular shipments. He also reported that the Government is arranging to bring a larger ship from Colombo equipped with a crane that will make possible the transport of greater quantities of food and more efficient off-loading. Rajapaksa reported that the ICRC delivered a shipment of medicine to the safe zone earlier in the week, but Ambassador noted there are still shortages. Rajapaksa was not as forthcoming to the Ambassador's concerns about credible reports of shelling of the safe zone on several successive days recently. Rajapaksa lamely pointed out that GSL forces had come under fire from LTTE artillery within the safe zone and they had to defend themselves. Ambassador pointed out such retaliatory shelling had killed many civilians and was a reversal of the government's own commitment not to use heavy weapons. The Norwegian Ambassador commented that in two recent meetings with Rajapkasa he acknowledged military forces were shelling into the safe zone, but was not comfortable discussing the subject. Tactics to Bring Pressure to Bear on Both Sides ¶3. (C) Turning to tactics to help achieve our objectives with both sides, Ambassador asked whether a new Co-Chair statement issued in Colombo might prove helpful to emphasize our concern about the shelling of civilians, insufficient food and medical supplies, and the need for the LTTE to release civilians. The EU argued that capitals should issue a strong, coordinated statement to express our strong concern about the potential humanitarian "catastrophe." The Japanese and Norwegian Ambassadors argued that the government was making an effort to respond to most of our humanitarian concerns with the exception of its recent shelling of the safe zone. They argued that a critical public statement now might set back Basil's efforts to provide more food. Ambassadors agreed to continue to individually deliver strong messages directly to the government on the major humanitarian concerns. Ambassadors agreed we should defer consideration of a joint statement until the middle of next week to gauge GSL sincerity in delivering food supplies. Troika Visit ¶4. (C) Noting that the last high-level Co-Chair visit had been by Japanese Special Envoy Akashi in January, Ambassador asked whether we should try to organize more regular senior level visits to keep up pressure on the GSL and highlight publicly our concerns. The EU Charge reported that the GSL has agreed to a EU Troika visit at the Deputy Foreign Minister level sometime during the March 23-27 time period. Ambassadors agreed this would be sufficient for the near term, given the recent visit by UN U/SYG Holmes. Pressuring the LTTE ¶5. (C) The Norwegian Ambassador reviewed Norway's quiet diplomatic efforts to pressure the LTTE to release these civilians trapped in the north. He reported several recent contacts with the LTTE in which he argued that under international humanitarian law they are required to allow civilians to leave the conflict area. He told the LTTE that Norway's highest priority is saving as many lives as possible. He emphasized that the LTTE must lay down arms. The LTTE acknowledged that they face military defeat, but did not indicate that they were prepared to lay down their arms. The LTTE has made clear to Norway that they do not see outright surrender as an option. Ambassador added that U.S. and others have been active in working with the Tamil Bishops, NGOs, and some in the Tamil Diaspora to request that they use their influence with the LTTE to persuade them to release the civilians. Ambassador also suggested it would be useful for the Ambassadors of countries with significant Tamil Diaspora communities to meet in Colombo to coordinate messages to our respective Diasporas. The Co-Chairs agreed this was a useful suggestion. The Canadian Ambassador has agreed to host such a meeting within the next week, to include representatives from Canada, Australia, the U.S., Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, the U.K., Germany, France, and Italy. BLAKE