Northern Sri Lanka SitRep 39

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000329 SENSITIVE STATE FOR SCA (BOUCHER, CAMP),SCA/INS AND PRM STATE ALSO PASS USAID AID/W FOR ANE/SCA, DCHA/FFP (DWORKEN, KSHEIN) AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA (MORRISP, ACONVERY, RTHAYER, RKERR) ATHENS FOR PCARTER BANGKOK FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA (WBERGER) KATHMANDU FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA AND POL (SBERRY) GENEVA FOR RMA (NKYLOH, NHILGERT, MPITOTTI) USUN NEW YORK FOR ECOSOC (D MERCADO) SECDEF FOR OSD - POLICY PACOM ALSO FOR J-5 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MOPS PREF PHUM PGOV PREL ASEC CE SUBJECT: Northern Sri Lanka SitRep 39 Ref: A) Colombo 321 B) Colombo 320 C) Colombo 316 D) Colombo 310 E) Colombo 307 F) Colombo 304 G) Colombo 299 H) Colombo 294 I) Colombo 287 J) Colombo 282 K) Colombo 279 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Sri Lankan Air Force confirms that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fired shoulder-mounted missiles from the safe zone on March 25. The Government publicly assails humanitarian agencies, free media, and civil rights activists, among others. UNHCR reports access problems at Omanthai screening point, and questions whether there will be sufficient water available at Vavuniya IDP sites. End Summary. LTTE Fires Missiles from "Safe Zone" -------------- ¶2. (SBU) A Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) contact confirmed a report that two shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles were launched today (March 25) from within the "safe zone" at two SLAF Bell helicopters conducting a mission to evacuate wounded soldiers. SLAF said neither missile struck its intended target. Firing of missiles from the safe zone, an area of civilian concentration, is a provocation by the LTTE. If Sri Lankan forces respond to such attacks, civilian casualties are nearly certain. Such actions by the LTTE are likely to become more common as the front line advances closer to the "safe zone". Government Assails International Organizations -------------- - ¶3. (U) The Ministry of Defense strongly criticized international humanitarian agency CARE along with a wide range humanitarian and civil rights actors in Sri Lanka, resulting in international headlines. The Ministry of Defense's barrage against CARE for its purported support of the LTTE (accusations which post asserts are unfounded) lumped the organization into a wider "vicious coalition of local and international bodies other than the LTTE" that support terrorism because "continued bloodshed on Sri Lankan soil [is] a lucrative business for them." The statement assails "humanitarian agencies, aid agencies, free media, civil rights movements" as villains in an "abominable conspiracy" against peace in Sri Lanka. Ambassador has requested a meeting with Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the CARE Country Director to respond to the public accusations against CARE. UNHCR Points at Problems in Omanthai, Vavuniya -------------- - ¶4. (SBU) UNHCR reported on March 24 that the total number of new arrivals in Government-controlled territory is 48,100, including 4,500 persons who arrived since March 18. UNHCR reported on March 24 that while the organization has access to monitor new arrivals at the Omanthai screening location, they are not permitted to speak with new arrivals. (UNHCR separately reported to us that the Government does not provide registration details, hampering UNHCR efforts to assist IDPs.) The Omanthai site is where the Government registers new arrivals from the conflict zone before sending them onward to IDP sites in Vavuniya. UNHCR also reports that while preparations are underway to accommodate tens of thousands of new arrivals in Vavuniya, the lack of available water remains a problem. Currently, drinking water is provided at most sites by bowsering (water tankers) to these locations; this will become an expensive proposition if the camp population surges with an outflow of new arrivals. Reported Civilian Casualties -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Tamil sources from within the LTTE-controlled area report 101 civilians were killed and 125 injured on March 23. There were no reports received regarding arrivals into Government-controlled territory on March 24. (Note: Such reports from Tamil sources cannot be confirmed and are frequently exaggerated.) BLAKE