SRI LANKA: ICRC UPDATE: REGISTRATION OF EX-COMBATANTS

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000653

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND PRM
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID
AID/W FOR ANE/SCA
AID/W FOR DCHA/FFP FOR JDWORKEN, JBORNS
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA FOR ACONVERY, RTHAYER AND RKERR
BANGKOK FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA WBERGER
KATHMANDU FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA MROGERS AND POL SBERRY
USMISSION GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: ICRC UPDATE: REGISTRATION OF EX-COMBATANTS
COMPLETED, PROTECTION WORK CONSTRAINED


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Charge attended an International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) briefing by Head of Delegation Paul Castella on
June 25 to update heads of Mission on the status of ICRC's
humanitarian activities, as well as on its efforts to register
ex-combatants detained by the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL). ICRC
stated that it had completed the registration of surrendees and had
registered 9,186 detainees who are being held in 11 disarmament,
demobilization, and rehabilitation (DDR) camps, most of which are
located in Vavuniya District. ICRC stated that they have been able
to provide information to more than 2,500 families on the status of
the detainees registered. ICRC commented that the GSL was
unprepared to handle the influx of surrendees and therefore had not
allocated funds to provide support to the camps. ICRC said that the
committee has five international staff in the entire Sri Lankan
Delegation who speak Tamil or Singhalese and who are available to
visit the camps to carry out the registrations. Castella concluded
the briefing by stating that the GSL is currently reviewing the
status of the ICRC and that diplomatic intervention on its behalf
could be counter-productive. He encouraged the heads of missions,
however, to continue to advocate collectively and individually for
protection of the rights of detainees, as well as of all civilians
displaced during the conflict. In keeping with ICRC's mandate,
Castella asked briefing attendees to protect the information and
figures he provided and not attribute them to ICRC. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Charge attended an ICRC briefing hosted by Head of
Delegation Paul Castella on June 25 to update heads of mission on
the status of ICRC's humanitarian activities, as well as on efforts
to register ex-combatants detained by the GSL. Castella stated that
ICRC continues to focus on IDPs in northern Sri Lanka and is
providing food, relief commodities, healthcare, and
engineering/construction support to help rebuild health facilities
for those wounded in the conflict. ICRC reported poor access to
Manik Farm by ICRC staff conducting non-assistance protection and
monitoring activities.

OVER 9000 SURRENDEES AND NEARLY 1000 ARRESTED


3. (SBU) ICRC stated that it had completed registration of
surrendees and had registered 9,186 indviduals who are being held
in 11 DDR centers, mot of which are located in Vavuniya. 173
minors ave been separated from adult detainees and are locted in
one DDR facility. Females are located in a separate facility and
the remaining adult males in nine others. The current population of
each of these centers ranges from 600 to 1,900 people. ICRC stated
that the GSL plans to open an additional 11 centers, bringing the
total to 22 with a target capacity of 400 people each. Castella
stated that conditions in the rehabilitation centers are comparable
to conditions in Manik Farm and that "there was nothing much to
worry about."


4. (SBU) Castella reported that in addition to the 9000-plus
surrendees, since January 1, 2009, 930 ex-combatants and other
alleged LTTE supporters have been arrested under Emergency
Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act. ICRC has access to
these detainees, who are located in several facilities around the
country, including in Colombo. ICRC reported no problems with
access to these persons, including the arrested Ministry of Health
doctors who were working in the no-fire zone. ICRC said that the
next step is to take the registration data and compare it to a list
that ICRC has compiled of individuals who have been reported as
missing. ICRC noted that it was too early to arrive at any
conclusions on possible discrepancies between the number of
detainees registered and the number reported missing since neither
ICRC nor the GSL have reliable figures on missing persons.

FAMILY NOTIFICATIONS


5. (SBU) ICRC stated that ICRC staff have been able to provide
information to more than 2,500 families on the status of the
detainees registered. The ICRC Vavuniya sub-delegation is handling


approximately 50 notifications a day, whereas 350 families in Manik
Farm have been provided information on missing family members. ICRC
reported that in some cases family members are able to visit
arrested persons and that ICRC has assisted family members who live
in northern areas of the country to obtain the necessary
authorizations to cross the Mediwachiya checkpoint to visit
arrestees, who are mostly detained in the south.

ASSISTANCE TO DDR FACILITIES


6. (SBU) ICRC commented that the GSL was unprepared to handle the
influx of surrendees and had not allocated funds to provide support
to the center. Local non-governmental organizations and religious
organizations have been providing food and ICRC has distributed
4,673 hygiene and clothing kits to the detainees. ICRC is currently
conducting a needs assessment to determine additional requirements
and gaps in assistance.

CONSTRAINTS ON PROTECTION ACTIVIITES


7. (SBU) ICRC said that the committee only has five international
staff in the entire Sri Lankan Delegation who speak Tamil or
Singhalese and who are able to visit the centers to carry out
registrations. With registration completed, ICRC plans to return to
the DDR centers to conduct follow-up protection work. Staff
shortages, however, attributable in part to visa problems, have
prevented them from doing so. ICRC indicated that that they had not
received any approvals for visas submitted for new international
staff and/or to extend current staff in the last month. This
hinders operations as ICRC has had to shift resources within the
Delegation to cover the shortages. Castella reported that access to
conduct registration was adequate but he did not know how it would
be for follow-up protection activities. Withholding visas, though,
is seen as a symptom of a bigger issue. The GSL reportedly believes
that now that the conflict is over, there is less for ICRC to do and
thus it needs fewer staff in country.

CHALLENGING OPERATING ENVIRONMENT FOR ICRC


8. (SBU) Castella commented that ICRC has limited dialogue with the
senior decision-makers who can affect change. If ICRC's ability to
carry out its mandate in Sri Lanka is limited by GSL actions that
restrict the level of expatriate staff, it would deprive the
international community of a neutral, independent, humanitarian
action organization that can work to enhance the protection of
rights of persons denied their liberty. He concluded the briefing
by stating that the GSL is currently reviewing the status of the
ICRC and that he does not want to raise his voice too loudly. He
encouraged the heads of missions continue to advocate collectively
and individually for protection of the rights of detainees, as well
as of all those displaced during the conflict, but indicated that it
could be counterproductive for foreign missions to press the GSL on
ICRC access and visas, saying this could be "like throwing oil on
the fire."


9. (SBU) COMMENT: Clearly Castella's remarks were calibrated to a
larger diplomatic audience. Post has advocated with the GSL in the
past on behalf of ICRC regarding visa issues, and we will consult
privately with ICRC officials in Colombo to determine if they would
want us to do so once again. In a private meeting earlier this week
with an ICRC protection officer, PolOff was told the visa problem
will become especially acute this summer, as a comparatively large
number of international staff will be required to leave, and no new
staff will replace them unless visas are obtained.

MOORE