A/S SCHWARTZ PRESSES FOR EARLY RETURN OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 000768 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB GENEVA FOR RMA KATHMANDU FOR REFCOORD KATHMANDU E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2019 TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM CE SUBJECT: A/S SCHWARTZ PRESSES FOR EARLY RETURN OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES R. MOORE. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) Summary: In his July 25-28 visit to Sri Lanka, PRM Assistant Secretary Eric P. Schwartz urged the government to undertake rapid returns of internally-displaced persons (IDPs) to their home villages and avoid prolonging the closed camp situation in the North. In meetings with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Senior Advisor to the President, MP Basil Rajapaksa, and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, as well as civilian and military officials directly managing the IDP camps, A/S Schwartz received an unwavering -- and emphatic -- message that the Government is committed to large scale returns, including an initial return in August of up to 40,000 persons. A/S Schwartz welcomed this news and relayed the U.S.,s strong commitment of support for this effort, beginning with $8 million in U.S. funding to support returns and early recovery. In his meetings and public comments, A/S Schwartz underscored serious U.S. concerns regarding confinement of IDPs in camps, while also affirming U.S. commitment to helping the Government of Sri Lanka resolve the humanitarian crisis. During the visit, A/S Schwartz encouraged senior government officials to permit ICRC to continue its important protection work in Sri Lanka. This high-level visit reinvigorated a collaborative approach to addressing humanitarian challenges at a time when the Government of Sri Lanka increasingly bristles at international pressure. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) During his July 25-28 visit, PRM Assistant Secretary Eric Schwartz met with senior government and military, representatives of international humanitarian organizations and local civil society NGOs, and other donor country representatives, and visited Manik Farm (reported septel),a series of camps established by the Government to accommodate over 220,000 of the 280,000 people displaced in the last several months of the conflict. The Government of Sri Lanka welcomed A/S Schwartz and demonstrated its desire to place engagement with the U.S. on a positive trajectory. PRESIDENT: FIRST PRIORITY IS TO RESETTLE ¶3. (C) Following A/S Schwartz,s visit to Manik Farm on July 26, Justice Minister Milinda Moragoda and the U.S. delegation �00A;(A/S, Charge, USAID Mission Director, and Deputy RefCoord) flew directly to Kandy to meet with President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The President immediately and emphatically stated that his first priority was to resettle the IDPs, noting that at least 19,000 will return within the next several weeks, and commenting that he understated his estimate in order to exceed expectations. (Comment: Other officials reported that some 40,000 will return in August.) He noted that Sri Lanka prioritizes returns because it is the right thing to do, not because of outside pressure. A/S Schwartz recognized the efforts of Sri Lankan officials to address enormous challenges in the camps. He emphasized that the U.S. wants to assist Sri Lanka, particularly with early returns and recovery. The President highlighted practical needs, commenting, "most of these people are farmers, not fighters" who will need seeds and other livelihoods support, in addition to broader development programs in the North. A/S Schwartz commented to the President that Manik Farm residents urgently wanted to know how long they would remain in the camps and when they could return home. He observed that the Sri Lankan brigadier responsible for civilian affairs who accompanied him in the camps assured IDPs that they would return home soon, and people seemed relieved to receive this news. Simply providing information to the IDPs regarding the Government's plan, Schwartz noted, could do much to assuage IDPs, concerns. President Rajapaksa thanked A/S Schwartz for raising this issue, noting that he believes his government has "not done well enough to communicate what we COLOMBO 00000768 002 OF 004 are doing" and characterized this as a problem within the camps, as well as in Sri Lanka,s engagement with other nations. (Comment: The President went to great lengths to make clear he has ordered returns to take place soon. The fact that little information has yet been shared with UN agencies regarding specifics reflects a clear intention by the Sri Lankan Government to "own" --and tightly control-- the returns process. End comment.) A/S Schwartz also urged the President to permit international health providers greater access to the camps; Justice Minister Moragoda suggested this would be an issue to discuss with Basil Rajapaksa. DEFENSE SECRETARY: CAMPS A "SECURITY RISK" ¶4. (C) In a July 27 meeting with A/S Schwartz, Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa bemoaned the "ineptitude" of INGOs in conducting demining and humanitarian assistance, characterizing them as less efficient than the military. He commented that the Army could complete demining work quickly, but that lack of funding is the obstacle. (Comment: At several points during the trip, Sri Lankan interlocutors criticized NGOs. A/S Schwartz would generally respond that many NGOs in Sri Lanka did excellent work, and that it was a mistake to make categorical judgments.) When asked by A/S Schwartz for his vision or plan for the North, the Defense Secretary replied, "exactly what we did in the East." He pointed out that the IDPs need roads and electricity, not just assistance in returning. Notably, the Defense Secretary said that he views a prolonged camp situation as a security risk, observing that it would be easier to "control security" if people are in small villages rather than large camps. (Comment: A brigadier who accompanied the delegation at Manik Farm observed that the Government does not believe that identification and separation of combatants must be completed before returns can begin; this task will be ongoing in areas of return. End comment.) SCHWARTZ URGES CONTINUED ICRC PRESENCE IN SRI LANKA ¶5. (C) A/S Schwartz then raised with the Defense Secretary concerns about ICRC,s future in Sri Lanka. (Note: ICRC was informed on June 30 in a letter from Defense Secretary Rajapaksa that it should scale back its activities in Sri Lanka now that the conflict has ended, a move which raised concerns about ICRC,s continued presence in Sri Lanka. A/S Schwartz consulted with ICRC Head of Delegation before raising these concerns. End note.) A/S Schwartz stressed that "if they leave (Sri Lanka),our work would become very difficult." The Defense Secretary commented that, after 30 long years, Sri Lanka has defeated the LTTE, and wants to see everything connected to that period eradicated. A/S Schwartz pointed out that the ICRC performs its mandated activities with the United States, in conducting detainee visits in Guantanamo Bay. The Defense Secretary claimed he has no problem with ICRC continuing to work in Sri Lanka, but does not want it to do so in the context of its prior focus. He said ICRC must conduct its work under a new, different mandate, now that the conflict has ended. A/S Schwartz stressed that the authorities and the ICRC should engage to develop mutually agreeable arrangements. FOREIGN MINISTER EMPHASIZES BILATERAL COORDINATION ¶6. (C) In a meeting with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, A/S Schwartz emphasized the need for freedom of movement for IDPs, and welcomed plans for significant returns in August. He further urged the Sri Lankan Government to permit improved access by humanitarian agencies to address deficiencies in the camps. Bogollagama asked for A/S Schwartz,s views on steps that could be taken to improve bilateral coordination generally. A/S Schwartz noted that if Sri Lanka addresses the challenges ahead in responding appropriately to the humanitarian crisis, it would pave the way for opportunities in bilateral coordination and support. COLOMBO 00000768 003 OF 004 Regarding the North, Schwartz indicated that the U.S. wanted to help in the recovery process. ¶7. (C) After the meeting, A/S Schwartz pulled aside the Foreign Minister to alert him that ICRC departure from Sri Lanka would make continued U.S. assistance much more difficult. He told Bogollagama that he understood the Defense Ministry was the major player on this issue, but he strongly urged Bogollagama to make clear to the Defense Ministry the costs of an ICRC pull-out, and to press them on the issue. Boglollagama took careful note of our concern. As he left the meeting with A/S Schwartz, Additional Secretary Prasad Kariyawasam, who was in the pull-aside, indicated to A/S Schwartz that he shared the desire to work out an arrangement with the ICRC, and urged A/S Schwartz to press the Defense Ministry on the issue. SENIOR ADVISOR DETAILS RETURNS PLANS ¶8. (C) Senior Advisor to the President and MP Basil Rajapaksa met with A/S Schwartz amid piles of reports, folders and maps in his office detailing the infrastructure needs of the North. The Senior Advisor showed A/S Schwartz a binder of IDP registration information, which he said is now 85 percent complete. Upon completion, IDPs will receive camp identification cards. (Note: No government official has said that ID card issuance will result in an immediate ability for IDPs to exit the camps. End note.) When asked if a new Competent Authority will be appointed in the North, the Senior Advisor claimed this was not necessary, and camp administration would revert to civilian control under the Government Agent. (Comment: The military may believe otherwise; the newly appointed Vanni commander, whom A/S Schwartz met at Manik Farm, told us that he would soon be named Competent Authority. End Comment.) Rajapaksa estimated that 8,000 to 10,000 families, or up to 40,000 individuals, will return to areas in Mannar, Vavuniya, and even Kilinochchi Districts in August. He further noted that significant returns would continue through the rest of the year. Phases of return in the fall would include returns to all areas of Mannar District, several areas of Vavuniya District, and certain areas in Mullaitivu District. He said each returnee family would receive 25,000 rupees in cash (about 220 US dollars),shelter materials, and livelihoods support (such as fertilizer, seed paddy, and agricultural tools). Further, the Senior Advisor reported that 6,003 elderly persons have already been released from the IDP camps, and an additional 9,426 are approved for release. A/S Schwartz raised with Rajapaksa his concern that IDPs in the camps are not receiving information about the Government's plan, and that such information would ease concerns within the camps. Rajapaksa agreed that IDPs should have more information, and said he planned to meet with IDPs in the camps in an upcoming visit to the North. A/S Schwartz reiterated to Rajapaksa the need for the GSL to allow international NGOs to deliver health care inside the camps to supplement what is being provided by the Ministry of Health. This, he said, would be especially important once the monsoon rains arrive in September and the danger of communicable diseases further increases. WIDE PRESS COVERAGE CONVEYS U.S. CONCERNS ¶9. (SBU) In all his meetings with government interlocutors, A/S Schwartz foreshadowed for them his comments to the press, indicating that they would include expressions of concern on issues where further progress is required, along with an expression of continued support for humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka. ¶10. (U) A/S Schwartz conducted a press conference on July 27 in which he expressed deep U.S. concern about the confinement of the vast majority of displaced Sri Lankans, as well as concerns about limitations on access for international humanitarian organizations. At the same time, he announced COLOMBO 00000768 004 OF 004 $8 million to support the return and early recovery effort. He also said he fully intended to accept the government's invitation to return to Sri Lanka to observe the return process. The event was widely reported in international and local media. Live clips made the late news on two TV channels, Derana and MTV. Tamil language papers emphasized the hardships suffered by the displaced persons and NGOs, lack of access to them. The Sinhala language papers, on the other hand, played up Schwartz,s acknowledgment of government efforts to improve conditions and promises to return displaced persons soon. The official press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was upbeat and constructive, noting that the Government welcomed wider engagement with the US and international community in reconstructing the Northern Province and returning the IDPs. COMMENT ¶11. (C) It is clear that the Government has undertaken a massive effort to gather information regarding reconstruction needs in the North, and is planning a significant return effort, even if details necessary for UN and NGO action have not been shared outside the Government. The visit of A/S Schwartz was extremely useful in chasing down disparate claims about the Government's plans for the IDP camps and their residents. The Government's stated goal of releasing over 9,000 elderly persons and returning up to 40,000 IDPs to their home villages in the month of August is welcome news and, if realized, will send a positive signal to the international community. It was evident from the visit of A/S Schwartz that the most senior levels of Government are aware of the immediacy of international concern regarding the closed IDP camps. The real question is how, and how soon, the Government will meet its stated goals. A/S Schwartz,s visit signaled that the U.S. would continue to stress - privately and publicly - the importance of respect for humanitarian principles, and also demonstrated the strong U.S. interest in playing a positive role and assisting the rapid return of IDPs in conditions of safety and dignity. ¶12. (U) This cable has been reviewed and cleared by Assistant Secretary Schwartz. MOORE