SCENESETTER FOR JULY 25-28 VISIT BY PRM A/S

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000726 C O R R E C T E D COPY - CAPTION LINE ADDED SENSITIVE SIPDIS ISLAMABAD FOR LIANE DORSEY (PLEASE PASS TO A/S SCHWARTZ); GENEVA FOR RMA KATHMANDU FOR SHEILA BERRY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL CE SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR JULY 25-28 VISIT BY PRM A/S SCHWARTZ REF: USUN NEW YORK 693 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Your visit comes at a critical time in US-Sri Lanka relations. During the October 2008 - May 2009 final military push to defeat the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),the Government of Sri Lanka increasingly distanced itself from western nations who criticized its methods. Sri Lanka is now at a crossroads; a sound post-conflict approach could usher in a lasting peace among the people of Sri Lanka, or, conversely, entrench nationalistic elements in increasing divisiveness and insularity. The U.S seeks to support Sri Lanka in achieving sustainable post-conflict reconciliation and development, improved human rights and media freedom, adequate assistance to and return of conflict-affected civilians from the North, and, ultimately, a thriving, stable society. Your visit will reinforce to senior Government officials the strong U.S. interest in supporting Sri Lanka on this path, and specifically, in rapidly addressing the humanitarian situation of 283,000 persons displaced in the final months of the conflict, the majority of whom now reside in closed Government-run camps in the North. In meetings with senior Government officials, you will have the opportunity to advocate for improved Government coordination with humanitarian agencies on demining plans and ensuring the voluntary, timely returns of IDPs. END SUMMARY. IDPS: 180 DAYS UNTIL RETURN? -------------- ¶2. (SBU) 282,380 civilians trapped in the conflict zone by the LTTE now reside in 35 sites in Vavuniya, Jaffna, and Trincomalee. Some 220,000 are located in "Manik Farm", a massive camp complex you will visit on July 26, which was hastily erected following large-scale civilian outflows this year. The camps are administered by civilian and military officials, with services and goods largely provided by UN agencies and non-governmental organizations. Conditions in the camps have steadily improved since the end of hostilities, although overcrowding, sanitation, and health concerns continue. The Government views international aid agencies with suspicion, periodically leveling accusations that they supported the LTTE and restricting their access and ability to provide aid. Protection concerns cannot be adequately addressed unless independent monitors have full access to the IDP population; currently aid workers can only enter the camps if they are supplying material goods to camp residents. ¶3. (SBU) Post has strongly emphasized to Government officials the need for unimpeded humanitarian access, as well as rapid screening and registration of the camp population, which will enable restoration of freedom of movement to the majority of camp residents. President Mahinda Rajapaksa initially vowed that 80% of the camp population would return to the North by the end of the year; however, demining operations may take significantly longer before some locations are cleared for returns. The UN and international donors advocate for the release of civilians to host families outside the camps until it is possible for voluntary returns to take place; this approach would reduce costs for supporting a camp-bound community, and more importantly, restore freedom of movement. The Government has announced a "180-day plan", which was to begin July 1, for the return of most of the IDP population, but has not yet released details needed by the UN and INGOs. Post will continue to closely monitor the Government's actions in order to ensure that US funding supports positive outcomes in resolving the IDP crisis. FORMER COMBATANTS & ICRC ROLE -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Approximately 11,000 persons surrendered to Government authorities as LTTE cadres. They are temporarily occupying thirteen public buildings separate from the civilian camp populations. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has access to these detainees in keeping with its mandate, in addition to implementing its many programs to assist conflict-affected Sri Lankans. However, ICRC has been asked by the Government to scale back its operations in the country in an apparent move by the Government to assert a sense of normalcy now that the conflict is over. ICRC has drawn down its operations in the East and is negotiating with the Government on continued operations elsewhere, which include investigating cases of the disappeared, visits with detainees under the Emergency Act or terrorism regulations, and restoration of family links. ¶5. (SBU) Demilitarization (including demining), demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) of combatants will be an important element in restoring peace. The U.S. has finalized $6.6 million in FY 09 funding for four international demining organizations for projects in the North. The International Organization for Migration received $1.2M in USAID funding for an information, counseling and referral services program for 1,000 ex-combatants in the East, a promising model which sought to match needs and aspirations of ex-combatants with appropriate services (e.g. education, skills training, psychosocial counseling, medical care). The Government has requested IOM to assist in establishing a demobilization camp for the ex-combatants who are now housed at the 13 temporary facilities. HUMAN RIGHTS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Sri Lanka is widely regarded as having a poor human rights record. The Committee to Protect Journalists labels Sri Lanka as the fourth most dangerous country in the world for journalists; Amnesty International decries Sri Lanka's "vicious cycle of abuse and impunity"; and International Crisis Group claims that Sri Lanka's courts have "corroded the rule of law and worsened ethnic tensions." Every month since August 2005, the Government has renewed the State of Emergency Act, which permits suspension of habeas corpus (permitting detention up to one year without trial) and expanded Presidential powers. According to watchdog groups and Post reporting, dissidents and free media have been under increased threat, with multiple instances of attacks on journalists, including the murder of the prominent journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge on January 8, 2009. Increasingly, Sri Lankan activists and journalists are relocating abroad due to the climate of fear in Sri Lanka, and environment of impunity for acts of violence against independent voices. ¶7. (SBU) Five doctors who served in the conflict zone provided information to the press about estimated civilian deaths and the shelling of a makeshift hospital. The Government denounced the statements as LTTE propaganda, and detained the doctors once they arrived in Government-controlled territory in May. On July 8, the Defense Ministry held a press conference at which the doctors stated that the LTTE forced them to lie about civilian casualties; most in ternational media questioned whther their statements were voluntary. The doctor remain in detention. 13th AMENDMENT -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Many observers view enactment of the Thirteenth Amendment of Sri Lanka's Constitution, which will devolve power away from the central government to the provinces, as important to establishing long-term sustainability of peace in Sri Lanka. President Rajapaksa has reaffirmed his willingness to pursue a political solution (versus the military solution which ended the conflict, but left many Tamil grievances unaddressed). However, he has said that enactment must wait until after his re-election as President, which will renew his mandate. (Note: The election is expected to take place in early 2010.) ECONOMIC CLIMATE -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Sri Lanka has not been insulated from the global economic downturn, which has slowed economic growth and left the Government with depleted reserves. Sri Lanka's letter of intent accepting the terms and conditions needed to obtain a $2.5 billion IMF loan is a current hot-button issue, particularly given the lingering perception that the U.S. Government does not support the request and may vote against it. Secretary Clinton noted in mid-May that "it is not an appropriate time to consider that (loan) until there is a resolution of the conflict." Post has since communicated to the Government that the U.S. has not blocked the loan and will consider the IMF loan request based on economic criteria. There is legislation pending in Congress that would require Treasury to vote against the loan unless the Secretary of State certifies that the Government of Sri Lanka is meeting certain requirements. Treasury has not yet reached a consensus on how it will vote. A "no" vote or even an abstention would produce significant political fallout. The IMF decision will be widely covered by the press during the time of your visit. POSITIVE STEPS FORWARD -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Your visit will be an opportunity to reinforce to the Sri Lankan Government our interest in supporting a positive path forward, including continued USG assistance in demining, humanitarian aid, and development in the North. As UN Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes noted to you (Ref A),senior level visits to Sri Lanka will help keep the Government's attention focused on resolving the humanitarian crisis quickly. We look forward to your visit as a chance to reinforce a strong, collaborative relationship with Sri Lanka as it faces the important challenges that lie ahead. MOORE