CO-CHAIR AMBASSADORS RE-AFFIRM IMPORTANCE OF A

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000034 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/INS, USPACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019 TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV CE SUBJECT: CO-CHAIR AMBASSADORS RE-AFFIRM IMPORTANCE OF A POLITICAL SOLUTION; AKASHI AND MENON PLAN SEPARATE VISITS TO SRI LANKA REF: A. A) COLOMBO 3 ¶B. (B) COLOMBO 25 ¶C. (C) COLOMBO 16 ¶D. (D) COLOMBO 26 COLOMBO 00000034 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. for reasons 1.4 (a) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: In a meeting convened by Ambassador on January 8, Co-Chair Ambassadors and the Indian High Commissioner agreed that recent Sri Lankan military successes have given new impetus to Sinhalese extremists and other hard-liners to expand their extreme agenda to include efforts to stop the APRC process, reintroduce a bill on religious conversion, and restrict the work of international NGOs in Sri Lanka. Ambassadors agreed Co-Chair countries should continue individually to press the Government to come forward with a political solution now and distance the Government from this extreme agenda. The Japanese Ambassador disclosed that Japanese Special Envoy Akashi has requested GSL approval to visit Sri Lanka January 22-25. The Indian High Commissioner said Foreign Secretary Menon also plans a visit in late January. In a subsequent Co-Chair meeting with the Foreign Minister, the Minister affirmed GSL support for continued dialogue by UN, Norwegian, Japanese and other officials with the LTTE on humanitarian issues. He also disclosed tentative Foreign Ministry plans to host a conference with Tamil diaspora representatives sometime in April. End Summary. An Expanding Extreme Agenda -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador convened a meeting of Co-Chair Ambassadors (including the Swedish Ambassador representing the Czech Republic) along with the Indian High Commissioner to review recent developments in Sri Lanka and coordinate our message to the Government of Sri Lanka. Ambassador remarked that recent significant progress by the Sri Lankan military in the north (ref a) has led to efforts by Sinhalese nationalists and other hard-liners within the Government to expand their extreme agenda beyond simply defeating the LTTE militarily. That agenda apparently includes efforts to curb nationalism among the wider Tamil population; abolish the All Parties Representative Committee process; reintroduce religious conversion legislation; institute a crackdown on dissent as evident in the recent attacks on the Sirasa/MTV television station and assassination of the Leader editor (ref b); along with efforts to restrict and hinder the work of international NGOs (ref c). This agenda, if successful, would impact negatively Sri Lanka's multicultural, democratic society and U.S. relations with the Government. Ambassador reviewed the Embassy's efforts to push back on all of these fronts and particularly to urge the President to come forward with a political solution to reassure Tamils that they have a future of hope and dignity in Sri Lanka. -------------- Norway -------------- ¶3. (C) Norwegian Ambassador Hattrem agreed that extremists have expanded their agenda beyond a military solution to the conflict. He indicated Norway has urged the Government to publicly counter the efforts outlined by the Ambassador and give hope to the Tamil community. He expressed concern that the GSL's ban on the LTTE (ref d) would make it easier for the Government to arrest and harass Tamils and thereby further weaken prospects for political reconciliation. He said the Norwegian Government would continue to talk to the LTTE, but the Norwegian Embassy's Tamil employees would most likely be obliged to stop contacts they had maintained with the LTTE in the North. COLOMBO 00000034 002 OF 002 -------------- Japan -------------- ¶4. (C) JapaneseAmbassador Araki expressed confidence that Presient Rajapaksa remains serious about a political solution. In response to some skepticism by other Co-Chair Ambassadors about the President's commitment to the APRC, Araki defended the President but admitted the APRC process may take longer to play out. To reinforce Japan's strong support for a political solution, Araki said Japanese Special Envoy Akashi tentatively plans to visit Sri Lanka January 22-25, provided the Government agrees to these dates. -------------- India -------------- ¶5. (C) Indian High Commissioner Prasad expressed similar concerns about the widening agenda of hard-liners within the Government. He too said that India is arranging a series of visits to keep pressure on for a political solution. Foreign Secretary Menon plans to visit later in January at dates still to be determined, while Foreign Minister Mukerjee will visit in February for an as yet unscheduled SAARC Ministerial. -------------- Sweden -------------- ¶6. (C) Swedish Charge Mattson, who is representing the Czech Republic EU Presidency in Colombo, agreed with the general analysis of the situation and disclosed that the EU Presidency in Colombo would issue a statement in the next day calling for a political solution and condemning recent attacks on the media. -------------- -------------- Foreign Minister OKs UN, Norwegian Contact with LTTE -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Foreign Minister Bogollagama convoked the Co-Chair Ambassadors on January 10 to inform them that the GSL supports a continued role for the Co-Chairs and hopes to maintain a fruitful dialogue with them. Ambassador asked the Minister if the GSL supports continued dialogue by UN officials in Colombo and elsewhere, Norway, Japan and possibly others on humanitarian issues, including the need for the LTTE to allow freedom of movement by IDPs, stop conscription of child soldiers, and observe international humanitarian law. The Minister affirmed the GSL does support such contacts. ¶8. (C) Ambassador also urged the Minister to think about engaging the Tamil diaspora in dialogue. Since the diaspora continues to fund the LTTE, it would be very important to engage them on the elements of a political solution that would persuade them to stop funding the LTTE. The diaspora could also be an important source of assistance and new investment to the north once the GSL occupies all of the north and begins the process of resettlement and reconstruction. The Minister agreed and disclosed that the Foreign Ministry has tentative plans to host a meeting with Tamil diaspora leaders sometime in April. Blake