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

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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

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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