Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COLOMBO567
2009-05-27 12:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

SRI LANKA: BAN KI-MOON BRIEFS CO-CHAIR AMBASSADORS

Tags:  PGOV PREF PREL PHUM MOPS CE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3811
PP RUEHBI
DE RUEHLM #0567/01 1471232
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 271232Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0038
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1213
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1700
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 8712
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 6946
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 5005
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3078
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 4964
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 4070
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 9335
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 6641
RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO 1171
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3557
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 000567 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREF PREL PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: BAN KI-MOON BRIEFS CO-CHAIR AMBASSADORS
ON VISIT

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES R. MOORE, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AN
D (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 000567

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREF PREL PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: BAN KI-MOON BRIEFS CO-CHAIR AMBASSADORS
ON VISIT

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES R. MOORE, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AN
D (D)


1. (C) Summary: In his messages to the government during a
24-hour visit to Sri Lanka on May 23, UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon emphasized the key points of the need for a
political process and reconciliation, better access by
humanitarian workers to the IDP camps, early IDP returns, and
greater accountability on human rights. In a briefing to
Co-Chair Ambassadors just prior to his departure, he
described conditions at Manik Farm as sobering and sad and
said the no-fire was a scene of "complete destruction." He
felt no purpose would be served by continuing to press for
international access to the no-fire zone, saying the priority
instead must be expediting the return of IDPs to their homes.
In his meeting with President Rajapaksa, the Secretary
General pressed for greater accountability in addressing
violations of international human rights and humanitarian
law, reference to which was retained in the joint statement
over despite GSL resistance. End summary.


2. (C) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon briefed Co-Chair
Ambassadors in Colombo at the airport on the night of May 23
at the end of his 24-hour visit to Sri Lanka, which included
meetings with President Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister
Bogollagama, and other senior government officials; a tour of
IDP camps at &Manik Farm8, near Vavuniya; and a fly over of
the former "no-fire zone," where the Army and LTTE fought
their final battles and tens of thousands of civilians were
kept against their will by the LTTE and trapped in the
crossfire between the two sides.


3. (C) The Secretary General told Co-Chair Ambassadors that
he focused in his visit on three key priorities: (a) ensuring
adequate assistance to the nearly 300,000 persons who were
displaced by the conflict; (b) the early resettlement of the
IDPs in their homes and reconstruction of northern Sri Lanka;
and (c) the need for political dialogue and reconciliation
between the government and minority groups, particularly

Tamils.

Calls for Unimpeded Access to Camps
--------------


4. (C) Ban said he pressed the government repeatedly on the
need to provide humanitarian workers "unimpeded access" to
the IDP camps. Under Secretary General for Humanitarian
Affairs John Holmes noted that the government undertook to
provide access but was short on specifics, saying, in effect,
"we,ll sort it out." (Note: In the week prior to Ban's
visit, authorities restricted vehicular access to the camps
except for the delivery of food, shelter, and other required
items. The government claimed that the large number of UN
and INGO vehicles driving through the camps was disruptive to
the residents and increased the risk of suspected LTTE cadres
"escaping" from the camps. Some UN agencies and INGO staff
had access, but clear, uniform procedures had not yet been
put into place. End note.)


5. (C) The Secretary General reported that he also raised
concern over the government's continued detention of three
government doctors who are accused of providing inaccurate
information to the media about civilian casualties and the
number of civilians in the no-fire zone. The Foreign
Minister undertook to seek to expedite their release, while
Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa referred to them as the
"LTTE doctors;" the President was non-committal. Ban also
pressed the GSL to release three UN local staff members who
are still being held in IDP camps. He was promised that they
would be released as soon as their identities were confirmed.


Early Return of IDPs to Homes Essential

COLOMBO 00000567 002 OF 004


--------------


6. (C) President Rajapaksa stressed that demining of the
formerly LTTE-controlled areas was a prerequisite for IDP
returns to their homes. Ban replied that the international
community is prepared to assist with demining. The Secretary
General welcomed the government's commitment, reiterated by
the President in their meeting, to resettle 80 percent of the
IDPs by the end of 2009.

War Over, Political Process Must Begin
--------------


7. (C) Ban urged the President to reach out to minority
groups, particularly Tamils and Muslims, and develop a
comprehensive plan to devolve power. He called for
implementation of the 13th Amendment. The President
responded that the amendment is part of Sri Lanka's
constitution and he plans to implement the "13th Amendment
plus one," without elaborating. (Comment: Rajapaksa was
likely referring to adding an upper house to Parliament, a
plan the President previewed in Ambassador's May 20 farewell
call on him. End comment.) Ban cautioned the President that
although the war may be over, if the reconciliation process
is not properly handled there would be a danger of recurring
LTTE violence.

Human Rights a Key Focus of Visit
--------------


8. (C) Ban also pressed the government on the need for
improved protection of human rights. He praised the
President for his work early in his political career as a
champion of human rights and stressed that the human rights
of IDPs must be protected at this sensitive time. In
particular, he called for greater accountability of human
rights violations. He told the President that concrete
action on human rights would be instrumental in building
support from donor countries for the reconstruction of the
North. Ban offered UN technical assistance with mechanisms
to provide greater human rights accountability and with
moving forward on a political solution to the underlying
causes of the conflict. He reported that the President was
non-committal in response to both offers.

"Complete Devastation" in No-fire Zone
--------------


9. (C) At the conclusion of the 15-minute briefing, Ban
noted his appreciation of the Co-Chairs, strong and
continuing engagement with the GSL on humanitarian and human
rights issues, early resettlement, and political
reconciliation. In response to a question from Norwegian
Ambassador Hattrem about his assessment of conditions at
Manik Farm, Ban said his visit there had been "very sobering
and very sad." He said the conditions were worse than those
at any other camps, including in Darfur and Goma, that he had
visited, and noted he had seen signs of malnutrition. Asked
about his flyover of the no-fire zone, Ban described seeing
"complete devastation" and no movement of human beings. He
commented that in the absence of adequate shelter and even
trees for shade, the civilians "must have suffered terribly."


10. (C) Charge asked the Secretary General whether he had
raised with the government the question of access by the
international community to the no-fire zone and the degree to
which we should continue to push for that. Ban replied that
they did not raise this specifically. John Holmes said the
time for that had passed since there was no sign of any
remaining civilians. Under Secretary General for Political
Affairs Lynn Pascoe agreed and added that the priority for
the international community now must be to work for the early
return of the IDPs to their homes.

COLOMBO 00000567 003 OF 004



Comment
--------------


11. (C) The Secretary General put down clear markers on the
critical issues of political reconciliation, human rights
accountability, humanitarian access, and early returns of the
IDPs. Ban's focus on human rights accountability was
especially important. Although he did not specifically
elaborate on what type of technical assistance with this the
UN could make available and the President did not express
immediate interest in pursuing this offer, the fact that it
was raised by the Secretary General provides a foundation on
which we will seek to build in coordination with the local UN
office. The last paragraph of the joint statement (full text
follows below) calls for human rights accountability and it
was that part of the text which generated, according to Ban,
intense last minute negotiations with Foreign Secretary
Kohona and senior presidential advisors. The UN prevailed in
retaining the proposed language which calls for "an
accountability process for addressing violations of
international humanitarian and human rights law," making
clear that this must be a high priority. End comment.



12. (U) Following is the text, dated May 23, of the Joint
Statement at the Conclusion of the UN Secretary General's
visit to Sri Lanka:

At the invitation of the H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of
Sri Lanka, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E.
Ban Ki-moon paid a visit to Sri Lanka. During the course of
his visit, he held talks with the President, Foreign Minister
as well as other senior leaders of Sri Lanka. During his
stay, he also consulted other relevant stakeholders, members
of the international humanitarian agencies and civil society.
The Secretary-General visited the IDP sites at Vavuniya and
overflew the conflict area, near Mallaitivu that was the
scene of the conflict.

President Rajapaksa welcomed the Secretary-General as the
highest dignitary to visit Sri Lanka in the post-conflict
phase. This was a reflection of the close cooperation
between Sri Lanka and the United Nations as well as Sri
Lanka,s commitment to work with the UN in the future.

President Rajapaksa and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon agreed
that following the end of operations against the LTTE, Sri
Lanka had entered a new post-conflict beginning. In this
context, the Government of Sri Lanka faces many immediate and
long-term challenges relating to issues of relief,
rehabilitation, resettlement and reconciliation. While
addressing these critical issues, it was agreed that the new
situation offered opportunities for long-term development of
the North and for re-establishing democratic institutions and
electoral politics after 2 1/2 decades. The Government
expressed its commitment to ensure the economic and political
empowerment of the people of the North through its
programmes.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Secretary-General agreed
that addressing the aspirations and grievances of all
communities and working towards a lasting political solution
was fundamental to ensuring long-term socio-economic
development. The Secretary-General welcomed the assurance of
the President of Sri Lanka contained in his Statement in
Parliament on 19th May 2009 that a national solution
acceptable to all sections of people will be evolved.
President Rajapaksa expressed his firm resolve to proceed
with the implementation of the 13th Amendment, as well as to
begin a broader dialogue with all parties, including the
Tamil parties in the new circumstances, to further enhance
this process and to bring about lasting peace and development

COLOMBO 00000567 004 OF 004


in Sri Lanka.

President Rajapaksa and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
discussed a series of areas in which the United Nations will
assist the ongoing efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka in
addressing the future challenges and opportunities.

With regards of IDPs, the United Nations will continue to
provide humanitarian assistance to the IDPs now in Vavuniya
and Jaffna. The Government will continue to provide access
to humanitarian agencies. The Government will expedite the
necessary basic and civil infrastructure as well as means of
livelihood necessary for the IDPs to resume their normal
lives at the earliest. The Secretary-General welcomed the
announcement by the Government expressing its intention to
dismantle the welfare villages at the earliest as outlined in
the Plan to resettle the bulk of IDPs and call for its early
implementation.

The Government seeks the cooperation of the international
community in mine-clearing which is an essential prerequisite
to expediting the early return of IDPs.

The Secretary-General called for donor assistance towards the
Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) jointly launched by
the GOSL and the UN, which supports the relief, shelter and
humanitarian needs of those in IDP sites. President
Rajapaksa and the Secretary-General recognized that the large
number of former child soldiers forcibly recruited by the
LTTE as an important issue in the post-conflict context.
President Rajapaksa reiterated his firm policy of zero
tolerance in relation to child recruitment. In cooperation
with UNICEF, child-friendly procedures have been established
for their "release and surrender" and rehabilitation in
Protective Accommodation Centres. The objective of the
rehabilitation process presently underway is to reintegrate
former child soldiers into society as productive citizens.
The Secretary-General expressed satisfaction on the progress
already made by the Government in cooperation with UNICEF and
encouraged Sri Lanka to adopt similar policies and procedures
relating to former child soldiers in the North.

President Rajapaksa informed the UN Secretary-General
regarding ongoing initiatives relating to rehabilitation and
re-integration of ex-combatants. In addition to the ongoing
work by the office of the Commissioner General for
Rehabilitation, a National Framework for the Integration of
Ex-Combatant into Civilian Life is under preparation, with
the assistance of the UN and other International
Organizations.

Sri Lanka reiterated its strongest commitment to the
promotion and protection of human rights in keeping with
international human rights standards and Sri Lanka,s
international obligations. The Secretary General underlined
the importance of the accountability process for addressing
violations of international humanitarian and human rights
law. The Government will take measures to address those
grievances.
MOORE