SRI LANKA: A/S SCHWARTZ VISITS IDP CAMPS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000769 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB GENEVA FOR RMA KATHMANDU FOR REFCOORD E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2019 TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: A/S SCHWARTZ VISITS IDP CAMPS IN NORTHERN SRI LANKA REF: COL 768 Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES R. MOORE. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During his July 25-28 visit to Sri Lanka, PRM Assistant Secretary Eric Schwartz directly observed the humanitarian situation in Manik Farm, an expansive, yet congested, camp complex in northern Sri Lanka for 220,000 of the 280,000-plus Sri Lankans displaced in the final months of the conflict. A/S Schwartz received full access to Manik Farm, including areas such as Zone 2 that have been prohibited to many other visitors, a signal that the Sri Lankan Government intended to ensure a productive visit. As a demonstration of the U.S.,s strong interest in rapid release and return, A/S Schwartz announced $8 million in PRM and USAID/OFDA funding for returns and early recovery. A/S Schwartz also discussed with civilian and military leadership the Government's preliminary plans for rehabilitation of LTTE combatants. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The U.S. delegation -- A/S Eric Schwartz, Charge, USAID Mission Director, and Deputy RefCoord -- were accompanied to Manik Farm by Justice Minister Milinda Moragoda, UNHCR Representative Amin Awad, and Commissioner General for Rehabilitation Daya Ratnayake. Upon landing next to Manik Farm Zone 2, A/S Schwartz was received by Vavuniya District Government Agent Mrs. P.S.M. Charles and Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Rishad Bathiudeen, as well as military officials and representatives from OFDA and U.S.-funded humanitarian organizations. 40,000 RETURNS IN AUGUST ¶3. (SBU) Mrs. Charles and civilian liaison officer Brigadier Perera briefed A/S Schwartz on plans to begin returns in August. Mrs. Charles reported that 10,000 families will be returned to 35 villages in Vavuniya District North and Kilinochchi District by August 15. These villages have been declared &clear8 by the Sri Lankan military. (Comment: During the conflict, &cleared areas8 referred only to Government-captured land, not necessarily areas certified as mine-free. Post's understanding is that the military has determined that these 35 villages are mine-free. End comment.) Mrs. Charles predicted that approximately 40,000 IDPs will be returned in the month of August. Brigadier Perera, who has been coordinating military efforts in and 
around the camps since former Competent Authority General Chandrasiri was appointed Governor of the Northern Province, emphasized to A/S Schwartz the importance the Government places on decongestion to alleviate overcrowded conditions. The Government is clearing additional land to decongest the camps and the public buildings in Vavuniya which have been accommodating IDPs for months. He noted that he hopes 30 to 40 percent of camp residents will be out of the camps before the monsoon rains begin in October. CAMP RESIDENTS SHARE THEIR CONCERNS WITH A/S SCHWARTZ ¶4. (SBU) A/S Schwartz began the camp visit by traveling to Zone 2 in a vehicle convoy of military escorts and humanitarian agency representatives. According to UN workers, Zone 2 is the most overcrowded, with an average of 9-12 people living in each tent, and the zone where access restrictions for aid agency workers and visitors are the most severe. When traveling within Zone 2, A/S Schwartz directed his vehicle to stop, and with only Brigadier Perera and Deputy Refcoord accompanying, toured an area of the camp and spoke with camp residents. They relayed to him their hopes of returning home, and their anxiety at not knowing how long they must remain in the camps. A/S Schwartz encouraged Brigadier Perera to answer the residents, questions about when they could leave; they were visibly relieved to hear that the Government wanted them returned home as soon as possible. None appeared intimidated by the presence of a COLOMBO 00000769 002 OF 003 military official in uniform, and seemed to talk freely in his presence. Some residents complained of separation from family members, whom they presumed were in the separate temporary sites for ex-combatants. Brigadier Perera encouraged family members to sign up for a bus that takes family members to visit ex-combatants in separate facilities. Interestingly, apart from general medical complaints, the residents did not raise concerns about the quality of services or goods provided within the camps. ¶5. (SBU) At Zone 4, A/S Schwartz visited a medical center and talked with Sri Lankan doctors serving in Manik Farm for the Ministry of Health. The doctors reported that most health concerns in the camps relate to hygiene and sanitation concerns. The doctors are currently coordinating with the Ministry of Health on hygiene promotion and on an upcoming inoculations campaign. The medical and humanitarian workers in Manik Farm were mindful of the rainy season's start in October, and all believe that decongestion, improved sanitation, and hygiene promotion must take place in the coming months to prevent the spread of diarrhea and other disease. (Comment: The sanitation conditions in both Zones 2 and 4 were markedly improved from earlier post visits in May and June. End comment.) REHABILITATION OF EX-COMBATANTS NOT YET UNDERWAY ¶6. (C) During his visit, A/S Schwartz had the opportunity to discuss plans for the rehabilitation of ex-combatants with Justice Minister Milinda Moragoda, newly appointed Commissioner General for Rehabilitation Daya Ratnayake, and other officials. (Note: Ratnayake is an active duty Army general. He and Moragoda explained that the Ministry of Justice, which will be responsible for rehabilitation, lacks the human resources to implement and oversee rehabilitation programs. Both said the GSL will depend on the expertise of the International Organization for Migration (IOM ) in this area. End note.) The Government currently plans to create rehabilitation centers for the identified 10,000 surrendees, who are now in 13 temporary sites. GSL officials predict that up to 10,000 additional ex-combatants may be identified as security sweeps in the camps continue. General Senaka, of the Vavuniya District command, informed A/S Schwartz that the Government anticipates the rehabilitation process for ex-combatants will involve one year in a rehabilitation center and two years in the community. The Government is currently in discussion with IOM about establishing the camps and conducting demobilization and rehabilitation programs in the North. A tough question for the Government involves the family members of LTTE combatants who are in the IDP camps. A/S Schwartz was told that family members of combatants enjoyed special status under the LTTE, including allowances and other benefits. The Government also believes some family members are or were militant supporters of the LTTE and may also pose a security risk. The Government is currently considering options for how to deal with the family members including whether family members should remain with ex-combatants during the course of rehabilitation, or if this should be addressed through another approach. (Comment: In conversations with A/S Schwartz (please protect),Moragoda referred to his new assignment coordinating the rehabilitation process as a &poisoned chalice.8 This will be a highly challenging role, and Moragoda told A/S Schwartz he is extremely interested in obtaining advice and guidance from U.S. friends as well as IOM. End comment.) ¶7. (C) The delegation had requested access to visit one of the 13 temporary facilities where ex-combatants are detained. Ultimately, the request to enter one was not approved for the stated reason of concern for the security of the delegation. Minister Moragoda later confided to A/S Schwartz that the group could not visit a camp because no rehabilitation programs have yet been initiated in the COLOMBO 00000769 003 OF 003 facilities in the Vavuniya area where the ex-combatants are being detained. COMMENT ¶8. (C) The Government clearly went to great lengths to ensure Assistant Secretary Schwartz received access to Manik Farm. While the military officials overseeing the camps were uneasy with A/S Schwartz,s unannounced walk-throughs, they ultimately permitted it. The residents of the camps primarily voiced concerns about separation from family members and about their future, rather than about the physical conditions in the sites -- although there were complaints about health and sanitary conditions relating to the very close quarters in which people are living. The Government could clearly be doing more to assuage all these concerns, a message A/S Schwartz conveyed to President Rajapaksa and others senior officials. (reftel) ¶9. A/S Schwartz has reviewed and cleared this cable. MOORE