Northern Sri Lanka SitRep 68

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000507 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA (BOUCHER),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: PREF MOPS PHUM PGOV PREL ASEC CE SUBJECT: Northern Sri Lanka SitRep 68 REF: A) Colombo 501 B) Colombo 492 C) Colombo 484 D) Colombo 477 E) Colombo 470 F) Colombo 469 G) Colombo 464 H) Colombo 459 I) Colombo 456 J) Colombo 454 K) Colombo 448 and previous ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: President Mahinda Rajapaksa briefed the diplomatic corps on May 7 regarding the conclusion of the war with the LTTE and the Government's intentions of responding to humanitarian and development needs in the North. An ICRC ferry successfully reached the conflict zone on May 7 to offload food and limited medical supplies and to evacuate wounded and sick civilians. The Sri Lankan Army is pressing further south in the safe zone, and has been facing LTTE fire and suicide bombings. OFDA Regional Advisor reports various problems at the Manik Farms location, where most new arrivals from the conflict zone reside. END SUMMARY. President Calls for International Support of Development in the North -------------- ¶2. (U) President Rajapaksa briefed the diplomatic corps on May 7 on the situation in the safe zone and development plans in the north. He said the war against the LTTE is rapidly reaching its conclusion, which he hopes will create space for democracy to take hold again in the north. He noted the government had taken military action against the LTTE only as a last resort, after years of efforts to engage them in meaningful negotiations failed. With the LTTE now confined to an area of less than six square kilometers, the President said he has directed government forces to follow a policy of zero civilian casualties, and to that end the use of heavy weapons and aerial attacks by government forces has been halted. He claimed that a ceasefire would be "redundant" because during three previous pauses in fighting the LTTE released no civilians. He characterized military actions currently underway as one of the greatest rescue operations in history. The President urged friendly nations to bring pressure on the LTTE to lay down arms and release the remaining civilians in the safe zone. Likewise, he called on the international community to encourage Sri Lankans residing in their countries to bring pressure on LTTE to release the civilians. ¶3. (U) Turning to reconstruction efforts, he thanked the international community, UN, and ICRC for their humanitarian assistance to date. He said as soon the civilians are free, the government will concentrate its efforts on the long-term development genda in the north. He committed to undertaking mjor infrastructure improvements and stressed tha resettlement will depend on rapid demining. Other priorities will be livelihoods support and the rehabilitation of former LTTE combatants. He expressed hope that the international community would join the government in resettling and developing the north. He said the government plans to hold elections for the Jaffna municipal council and for local government and town councils in Vavuniya as early as possible, with a target of calling for nominations later this month. Finally, he called on the international community to be realistic in its expectations and to not "subjugate the aspirations and aims of the Sri Lankan people," but rather to join forces with the government in its reconstruction efforts. COLOMBO 00000507 002 OF 003 ICRC FERRY UPDATE -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The ICRC-flagged ferry "Green Ocean" departed on May 6 for the conflict zone, but needed to wait the entire morning of May 7 for the fighting to cease before attempting to approach the "landing site" offshore of the conflict zone. The ferry carried 26-27 MTs of food and some medicine (drugs, but no surgical/disposables for treating war-wounded casualties). At 1330 today, May 7, ICRC began bringing evacuees onto the ferry, with an estimated time of departure of 1700. ICRC estimates that among earlier evacuees (approximately 13,000 people) there are 1,800-2,000 people still being treated in hospitals. ¶4. (SBU) There are extreme and growing difficulties providing assistance to civilians trapped in the conflict zone; the risks to aid workers are sky-rocketing. It may soon be too unsafe to continue these operations. However, Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa assured Charge on May 7 that the ICRC would have uninterrupted use of the Green Ocean ferry from now on. (Note: Until now, ICRC has only had use of the ferry for four days each week.) MILITARY UPDATE -------------- ¶5. (SBU) A Sri Lankan Army contact noted the 58 Division captured a portion of the LTTE earthwork defenses and is consolidating its gains. Tough resistance continues, likely from hardcore LTTE cadres. The contact reports "raining" LTTE mortar fires and LTTE artillery. The LTTE dispatched 2-3 suicide bombers yesterday in fighting within the "safe zone" resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. The 53 Division advanced about 300 meters southward but has not yet reached the bund. The Sri Lankan Air Force reported that Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) coverage showed LTTE back-hoes and civilians still constructing a second defensive berm, but only the eastern side is near completion. During an attempt to capture a 3-4 man LTTE team in the Vavuniya jungles yesterday, one of the cadres also detonated a suicide bomb. No civilians were able to flee overland. ¶6. (SBU) A Navy contact reported no Sea Tiger engagements. This source reported that a number of civilians were able to escape in 3-4 boats early this morning, May 7. Since the Sea Tiger patrols did not attempt to stop them, the Navy suspects they might be LTTE family members. The Navy is taking them to Pulmoddai. The Navy source believed that the Sea Tigers have about 10 suicide craft and 5-7 medium-sized craft remaining, as well as a large number of fishing boats equipped with machine guns. The LTTE is using the fishing boats for its patrols of the coast line. ¶7. (SBU) An Air Force contact reported UAV coverage shows about 2 kilometers distance between the northernmost civilians and forward troops. He said the Army is moving mostly at night, suffering 40-50 casualties a night. He estimated Army casualties last night were approximately 60. He advised that UAV coverage showed the Army had captured a center-west portion of the defensive berm. UAV coverage has not observed LTTE tank or artillery firing in the last 3-4 days; the source had seen weapons mounted on civilian vehicles. The COLOMBO 00000507 003 OF 003 source further notes that UAV coverage showed 53 Division is making good progress moving along the eastern shore of the Nanthi Kadal lagoon. The source added that last night's UAV coverage showed the front lines of the Army generally about 100-150 meters north of the LTTE earthwork defenses. PROBLEMS WITH MANIK FARMS SITES -------------- ¶8. (SBU) On May 6, the USAID/OFDA regional advisor reported poor camp planning at Manik Farms. The regional advisor noted that many tents in zone 2 are being built in lowland areas prone to floods during the rainy season. The sites are also highly dependent on water supplied from bowsers, which is expensive and therefore unsustainable. At a May 6 meeting with International Organization for Migration (IOM) staff based Vavuniya, IOM reported that an estimated 85 percent of the IDP population at Manik Farms do not use the latrines built at camp sites; open defecation has created sanitation problems. ¶9. (SBU) UN Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne reported to OFDA regional advisor that the Government has made the decision to accommodate additional arrivals at Manik Farms zone 4, a new site which is being cleared. Humanitarian agencies surveyed this site in 2008 and communicated to the Government (including UN Humanitarian Coordinator John Holmes during his recent visit) that this site, as with the other Manik Farms locations, is nsuitable for accommodating large numbers of IDP. (Comment: Should the Government proceed and transport new arrivals to this area, the agencies are however likely to provide needed aid while registering their disagreement with Government authorities). ¶10. (U) Embassy is closed tomorrow for a local holiday. We will provide an e-mail update to SCA in lieu of the sitrep. MOORE