PDAS WITTEN DISCUSSES GOI ASSISTANCE TO SRI LANKA'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002462 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2019 TAGS: PREF PGOV PREL IN SL SUBJECT: PDAS WITTEN DISCUSSES GOI ASSISTANCE TO SRI LANKA'S INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS Classified By: Political Counselor Uzra Zeya for Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. During a lengthy meeting at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on November 10, Suresh Reddy, Director for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and the Maldives, described India's relief efforts for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sri Lanka with PRM Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) Samuel Witten. Reddy told Witten that the Government of India (GOI) shared U.S. concerns regarding the situation in Sri Lanka and agreed that the international community needed to closely monitor the process of returning IDPs. Witten also discussed Bhutanese refugees, Tibetans in India, and the status of UNHCR in India with other interlocutors during the November 10-11 visit (septel). END SUMMARY. -------------- India's Relief Efforts in Sri Lanka -------------- ¶2. (C) During his November 10 meeting with PDAS Witten, Suresh Reddy, Director for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and the Maldives at MEA, described India's extensive relief efforts with IDPs in Sri Lanka since the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), including the GOI's recent announcement of an additional 100 million USD in support for IDP returns and reconstruction in northern Sri Lanka. Reddy said that India's approach began with relief support during the immediate post-conflict period and has since grown to encompass assistance for related efforts such as demining, reconstruction, and packages for returnees. Per an MEA document shared by Reddy, India has provided: -- Relief packs containing clothes, cooking utensils and household items for 280,000 families; -- Operation of a field hospital for 6 months and donation of medicines valued at 3 million USD; -- 5,600 tons of shelter materials and 5,000 kits of farm implements for returnees, with 50,000 additional kits scheduled for delivery; -- An assessment team to study agricultural needs in areas of return; -- 4 demining teams of approximately 60 people each, with three additional teams due to arrive in November and three more teams available in December as needed; -- Project proposals to work with war widows, orphans, and vulnerable children, including a team to provide prosthetic limbs. -- Lines-of-credit worth several hundred million rupees for the rehabilitation of infrastructure. Reddy also noted that the state government of Tamil Nadu has provided in-kind support. Witten commended Reddy for India's assistance, noting that it was a significant part of a broad international effort. -------------- Return of IDPs -------------- ¶3. (C) When asked why he thought the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) had dramatically increased the pace of returns from the IDP camps, Reddy suggested several possible reasons. He noted that 10 members of the Tamil Nadu State Assembly had visited the camps just before the increased returns, and he speculated that their visit may have influenced the GSL's decision. (Note: It is unclear whether the visit by the Tamil Nadu legislators had a discernable impact on the GSL's recent actions, as a myriad of other, more influential factors have also been offered as likely contributors to the acceleration of IDP release and returns in Sri Lanka. End note.) Reddy also noted that the GOI was in regular contact with the GSL and that it had repeatedly stressed to the GSL the need to speed up the pace of returns. Reddy said he believed that maintaining the closed camps of 280,000 was no longer "sustainable" for the GSL given international pressure and the threat of diminished funding for the camps. ¶4. (C) Reddy also told Witten that he believes the GSL has bought breathing space with these first returns and that he was not certain whether the accelerated pace will continue. Reddy suggested that the situation will become clearer after November 15 when the ruling party convention takes place. He promised that the GOI would remain "closely engaged" with the GSL and that refugee release and rehabilitation would remain "key" in their discussions. NEW DELHI 00002462 002 OF 002 ¶5. (C) Witten told Reddy that the U.S. is pleased with the expedited returns but that the international community should carefully monitor the process to ensure that IDPs are able to return in dignified and safe conditions. Reddy responded that while international organizations and NGOs may have limited access to areas of return, Indian demining and other relief teams who are in those areas are sending daily reports to New Delhi. Reddy informed Witten that the teams have reported "considerable" damage to infrastructure, noting that the pace of reconstruction needs to accelerate. Reddy said that demining is a real problem but "not to the extent projected" by the GSL, and he stated that one of the challenges facing demining teams is a lack of detailed knowledge on potential mine areas, as neither the Sri Lankan Army nor LTTE forces charted newly laid minefields during the last phase of the conflict because the battle advanced so quickly. ¶6. (C) Reddy was interested in future U.S. plans for assistance to the IDPs. Witten noted that the USG was considering the issue, especially in view of the recent returns and the closed nature of the IDP camps. ¶7. (U) PDAS Witten cleared this message. ROEMER