Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COLOMBO848
2009-08-27 11:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
CLERGY IDPS RELEASED, DOCTORS OUT ON BAIL - IS
how-toVZCZCXRO2330 OO RUEHBI DE RUEHLM #0848 2391140 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 271140Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0457 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1865 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 8886 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 7125 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 5102 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3259 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 5058 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 1337 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 0595 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 4168 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 9465 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 6766 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 1264 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 3696 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000848
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM EAID CE
SUBJECT: CLERGY IDPS RELEASED, DOCTORS OUT ON BAIL - IS
THIS A TREND?
REF: A. A) COLOMBO 830
B. B) COLOMBO 695
C. C) 2008 COLOMBO 1117
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES REBECCA W. COHN. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000848
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM EAID CE
SUBJECT: CLERGY IDPS RELEASED, DOCTORS OUT ON BAIL - IS
THIS A TREND?
REF: A. A) COLOMBO 830
B. B) COLOMBO 695
C. C) 2008 COLOMBO 1117
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES REBECCA W. COHN. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)
1. (SBU) On August 27, the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL)
announced it was releasing 579 clergy members from the IDP
camps in Vavuniya. Media reports said 571 of these were
Hindu priests, with six Catholic priests and two nuns joining
them. These same reports said approximately 220 clergy
members remained in the camps.
2. (C) As reported in reftel A, the four government doctors
held since the end of the war for questioning about the
statements they made during the last months of the conflict
were released on bail earlier this week. The doctors are
still under investigation, must check in monthly with the
Criminal Investigation Division (CID),and have a court date
in November. Reports have said they contacted the Ministry
of Health, their employer while in the North during the war,
to discuss reassignment now that they have been released.
They were reportedly asked to work in the Vavuniya region.
3. (SBU) Post has noted as well a recent spike in high
profile arrests of police involved in violent incidents
against civilians. In one instance two young men were shot
and killed by police in a Colombo suburb. In another
instance, the wife of the Senior Superintendent of Police,
Colombo Crime Division, was accused of physically assaulting
and seriously injuring her son's classmate. In the past we
would have expected a long, drawn-out process of
investigation and administrative inaction for such cases,
ending in dismissal of the case or exoneration of the
officials involved. Now however, 11 police officers
allegedly involved in the killing of the two youths have been
jailed pending further investigation, and the wife of the
Senior Superintendent was summarily carted off to jail in
full view of the media.
4. (C) We will be watching closely on August 31 for the
results of the court trial of journalist Tissainayagam (ref
C). The judge is expected to announce her verdict and any
prison sentence if Tissainayagam is convicted. Embassy
contacts believe the judge is close to President Rajapaksa
and will deliver whatever verdict and/or sentence he requests
of her.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) While it is early to say definitively, a pattern of
releasing key detainees and high profile prosecutions of
police abuse may be developing. We suspect these moves may
be an effort by the GSL to put a good face forward in the
lead-up to the United Nations General Assembly meetings in
late September and in advance of the EU decision on extending
GSP tariff rates expected in October. We will continue to
monitor this possible trend very closely. END COMMENT.
COHN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM EAID CE
SUBJECT: CLERGY IDPS RELEASED, DOCTORS OUT ON BAIL - IS
THIS A TREND?
REF: A. A) COLOMBO 830
B. B) COLOMBO 695
C. C) 2008 COLOMBO 1117
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES REBECCA W. COHN. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)
1. (SBU) On August 27, the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL)
announced it was releasing 579 clergy members from the IDP
camps in Vavuniya. Media reports said 571 of these were
Hindu priests, with six Catholic priests and two nuns joining
them. These same reports said approximately 220 clergy
members remained in the camps.
2. (C) As reported in reftel A, the four government doctors
held since the end of the war for questioning about the
statements they made during the last months of the conflict
were released on bail earlier this week. The doctors are
still under investigation, must check in monthly with the
Criminal Investigation Division (CID),and have a court date
in November. Reports have said they contacted the Ministry
of Health, their employer while in the North during the war,
to discuss reassignment now that they have been released.
They were reportedly asked to work in the Vavuniya region.
3. (SBU) Post has noted as well a recent spike in high
profile arrests of police involved in violent incidents
against civilians. In one instance two young men were shot
and killed by police in a Colombo suburb. In another
instance, the wife of the Senior Superintendent of Police,
Colombo Crime Division, was accused of physically assaulting
and seriously injuring her son's classmate. In the past we
would have expected a long, drawn-out process of
investigation and administrative inaction for such cases,
ending in dismissal of the case or exoneration of the
officials involved. Now however, 11 police officers
allegedly involved in the killing of the two youths have been
jailed pending further investigation, and the wife of the
Senior Superintendent was summarily carted off to jail in
full view of the media.
4. (C) We will be watching closely on August 31 for the
results of the court trial of journalist Tissainayagam (ref
C). The judge is expected to announce her verdict and any
prison sentence if Tissainayagam is convicted. Embassy
contacts believe the judge is close to President Rajapaksa
and will deliver whatever verdict and/or sentence he requests
of her.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) While it is early to say definitively, a pattern of
releasing key detainees and high profile prosecutions of
police abuse may be developing. We suspect these moves may
be an effort by the GSL to put a good face forward in the
lead-up to the United Nations General Assembly meetings in
late September and in advance of the EU decision on extending
GSP tariff rates expected in October. We will continue to
monitor this possible trend very closely. END COMMENT.
COHN