Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COLOMBO89
2009-01-26 13:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

AKASHI STRESSES NEED FOR POLITICAL SOLUTION AND

Tags:  PREL PREF PHUM CE 
pdf how-to read a cable
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P 261357Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9248
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2577
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 4624
RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE 0050
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3730
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0880
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3149
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000089 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2019
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM CE
SUBJECT: AKASHI STRESSES NEED FOR POLITICAL SOLUTION AND
GOOD GOVERNANCE IN VISIT TO COLOMBO

Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000089

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2019
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM CE
SUBJECT: AKASHI STRESSES NEED FOR POLITICAL SOLUTION AND
GOOD GOVERNANCE IN VISIT TO COLOMBO

Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In his January 22-25 visit to Sri Lanka, Japanese
Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi stressed the need for a political
solution, protection of the civilians from ongoing military
operations in the North, urged an improvement in law and order and an
end to the climate of impunity. Akashi expressed particular concern
about growing civilian casualties as a result of fighting in the
North. Noting estimates that more than 100 civilians have been
killed in recent fighting, Akashi lamented that both sides appear to
have been responsible for shelling of positions inside the no-fire
zone recently created by the government (the LTTE by firing from
within the zone; the GSL by responding). Akashi found President
Rajapaksa preoccupied with two provincial council elections scheduled
for mid-February and then general (Parliamentary) elections that have
not yet been scheduled, and expressed hope the President's short-term
agenda would not overshadow these important longer term
considerations. End Summary.

Trip to East and North


2. (C) Summarizing his trip to eastern Sri Lanka and then to
Vavuniya, Akashi found Eastern Province Chief Minister Pillayan to be
"overwhelmed" with his tasks and desperately in need of more
resources. As with other visitors Pillayan pleaded with Akashi to
persuade the GSL to devolve more power and resources to the Eastern
Province. Akashi also expressed concern to Co-Chair Ambassadors
about the security situation in the east where 200 have been killed
in the last three months. In Vavuniya, Akashi met with UN and NGO
staff as well as government and military representatives. He
appealed to the government to allow the UN greater humanitarian
access and the ICRC greater flexibility in conducting urgent medical
evacuations from the North. He also expressed Japan's concerns about
on-going threats from paramilitaries in Vavuniya, particularly the
EPDP and PLOTE. Akashi expressed particular concern about growing
civilian casualties as a result of fighting in the North. He said
NGOs estimated that more than 100 civilians have been killed in
recent fighting. Akashi lamented that both sides appear to have

shelled positions inside the no-fire zone recently created by the
government.

Little Forward Movement in Colombo


3. (C) Akashi characterized his discussions with the President and
other GSL officials in Colombo as useful. He related that he
recognized recent military progress (but did not endorse the military
action as some GSL-controlled press had reported). With all his
interlocutors he emphasized the need for greater political reforms,
more inclusive democracy and better protection of human rights. On
the latter point, he pressed the government to conclude the
Presidential Commission of Inquiry's consideration of the killing of
17 aid workers in Muttur and the separate killing of 5 youth in
Trincomalee. He also emphasized the need for the government to abide
by its pledge of zero civilian casualties in military operations. On
political issues, Akashi said he urged the government to not fan
Sinhalese chauvinism and instead work with Tamils in the North and
East to find measures so they can feel included. He said he told all
of his interlocutors that democracy consists both of majority rule
and full minority rights.

President Preoccupied with Short Term Agenda


4. (C) Ambassador asked if the President had made any specific
commitments regarding elements of a political solution. Akashi
responded that the President mentioned the importance of organizing
elections in the north, implementing the 13th Amendment, continuing
the APRC process, and possibly creating a second Chamber of
Parliament. But Akashi admitted he found the President preoccupied
with two provincial council elections scheduled for mid-February and
then general (Parliamentary) elections that have not yet been
scheduled. Akashi commented that he hoped the President's short-term
agenda would not overshadow these important longer term
considerations. Japanese Ambassador Araki added that the President
also had discussed devolution of some police powers to the provinces.


5. (C) Asked for more details on his discussions with the President
about preparations to accommodate the 230,000 internally displaced
persons (IDPs) now trapped in the North by fighting, Akashi said the
President had been impressed with the relief villages that he had
toured in China after the earthquake. The President expressed the
GSL's intention to set up three such villages in Mannar, Vavuniya,
and Killinochchi (note: this is the first we have heard of such a

concept but will endeavor to get more details). Akashi expressed his
personal concern that government camps were not yet ready to
accommodate a large influx of IDPs from the north. He also expressed
concern about the recent breakdown of law and order in Colombo and
cities like Vavuniya that affected the safety of civil society, IDPs
and others.

Akashi Press Conference


6. (C) In a press conference later in the day, Akashi: underlined
the importance of a political solution and urged President Rajapaksa
to expedite the APRC and the implementation of the 13th Amendment;
stressed that the climate of impunity must be rectified as early as
possible; and said that once law and order is restored and good
governance structure built, Japan would be prepared to consider
assistance in the north, ideally in cooperation with international
financial institutions and other donors.
Blake