PEACEFUL ANTI-US DEMONSTRATION AT AMEMBASSY COLOMBO

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000471


DS/IP, DS/ITA, DS/CC, DS/IP/SCA AND SCA/INSB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER
SUBJECT: PEACEFUL ANTI-US DEMONSTRATION AT AMEMBASSY COLOMBO


1. On Wednesday April 29, 2009, at approximately 1030 hr., a
group of five men, dressed as Buddhist monks and claiming to
represent the "Jana Setha Pandanama" (People's Service
Foundation),came to U.S. Embassy Colombo to deliver
documents and requested that the Embassy pass the documents
to President Obama. The letter asked the United States to
garner support in the international world to support the
Government of Sri Lanka and to stop assisting the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, or Tamil Tigers). POL chief
accepted the letter on behalf of the Embassy. Janaseta
PERAMUNA, the individual who delivered the letter, also
handed over a rejected U.S. visa application. PERAMUNA asked
that that the Embassy pass his application to President Obama
for review and an explanation as to why it was rejected.


2. According to RSO sources, PERAMUNA is a close friend of
the Sri Lanka's President and a local Colombo business man.
Police escorted the group of five men, who represented a
larger group of approximately 40 to 50 demonstrators, which
the police had prevented from entering the high security zone
(per police security protocol). The group dispersed at
approximately 1115 hr., once the five representatives
returned and confirmed that Embassy had accepted the letter.


3. Meanwhile, a larger group peacefully demonstrated at the
High Commission of the United Kingdom. This group,
approximately 150 in number, was composed of many different
pro-Sri Lanka government factions and carried signs calling
on the U.S., the U.K, and the United Nations to stop
assisting the LTTE and to support the host government in the
fight against the Tamil Tigers. Immediately prior to
demonstrating in front of the U.K. High Commission, this same
group had demonstrated in front of the French Embassy.


4. RSO Colombo received no reports of violence or threatening
incidents associated with the demonstrations. Local police
support was positive and sufficient for the number of people
involved.


5. Point of contact for this message is ARSO Aaron LaFortune.
ARSO may be contacted via telephone at (94-11-249-8500)
during business hours, or at (94-11-249-8888) Post 1 after
business hours.


MOORE