SRI LANKA: UN UNDERSECRETARY GENERAL HOLMES

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 114922

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2019
TAGS: CE KAWC PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG UN
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: UN UNDERSECRETARY GENERAL HOLMES
WELCOMES RECENT PROGRESS ON IDP RETURNS

Classified By: SCA A/S ROBLAKE


1. (C) SUMMARY: United Nations (UN) Undersecretary General
for Humanitarian Affairs told Assistant Secretary for South
and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake November 5 that he was
encouraged by the recent progress on the return of internally
displaced persons (IDPs) in Sri Lanka. Holmes plans to
travel to Sri Lanka in late November and will be prepared to
issue more supportive public statements as progress
continues. He noted that the resettlement process has not
been very well organized, as UN agencies have had to scramble
to keep up, due to the lack of advanced notification from the
Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) on returns. He described the
UN relationship with the GSL as "difficult," while at the
same time noting international NGO accusations that the UN
has gotten too close to the government. Holmes was somewhat
pessimistic that the GSL would do anything credible on
accountability, but said the UN is prepared to give it time
to try, perhaps six months. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Meeting with SCA A/S Blake in Washington November 5,
repeat title Holmes said he was encouraged by the recent
progress on IDP returns in Sri Lanka. (NOTE: This recent
acceleration of returns has reduced the total number of IDPs
to approximately 188,000, according to most recent Embassy
Colombo reporting, down from 250,000 only a few weeks ago.
Approximately 19,000 have been released to join host family
and friends, while the rest have been resettled, primarily in
Jaffna and Mannar, but also in recent post-conflict areas in
the North, such as in Mullaitivau. END NOTE.) Holmes
surmised that if Sri Lanka could reduce the number of IDPs to
about 150,000 - a number that has been identified as a level
sufficiently decongested to avoid a humanitarian crisis when
monsoon rains begin - it will have "changed the dynamic." He
noted that he plans to travel to Sri Lanka in about three
weeks and would have more positive things to say publicly if
progress continues. Blake noted that he too plans to visit
December 6-8, and that a little encouragement to the Sri
Lankans is important to keep them moving in the right
direction.


3. (C) Holmes noted concerns with how returns are being
carried out. While reports from UNHCR have been reasonably
encouraging, the numbers are often difficult to track and and
the process not very well organized. There is often no
advance notification before the government undertakes to
return large groups of IDPs to their home districts.
Nonetheless, UNHCR, WFP and the GSL have worked reasonably
well together to ensure that returnees are provided with
assistance to help them at least start to rebuild their
lives; the situation for returnees is invariably better then
camp confinement. Holmes noted that he would seek to get a
better sense of the resettlement when he visits Mannar,
during his upcoming trip. Blake inquired about overall
UN-GSL relations; Holmes said they were "difficult," and
noted the GSL tendency to engage selectively with certain UN
agencies. At the same time, he noted INGO accusations that
the UN has grown too close to the government.

ACCOUNTABILITY
--------------


4. (C) According to Holmes, the UN has told the GSL that "if
you do not do something (on accountability),(the UN) will
have to." He did not provide a timetable, but suggested
around six months, i.e. until elections, for the GSL to
initiate a credible process, such as beginning an
evidence-collection effort. The Sri Lankans would need some
time to do the "right thing," and he suggested that a truth
and reconciliation-type process would be more effective than
a judicial process. He said he was encouraged by GSL
dialogue with the parliamentary opposition Tamil National
Alliance (TNA) and with Tamil Diaspora representatives.
Blake noted U.S. efforts to quietly push the GSL and Diaspora
toward engagement with each other. He underscored that the
GSL needs to talk to its critics, not just pro-government
Tamils, particularly on what form of accountability process
the country will pursue; it is not clear to us what degree of
importance Sri Lankan Tamils attach to accountability versus
other priorities, such as IDP returns. One useful step would
be allowing camp residents to organize themselves
politically, but this has not happened, Blake commented.

RECONSTRUCTION
--------------


5. (C) Blake asked if UN plans were moving forward on
reconstruction, noting that a U.S. decision to assist with
reconstruction would require additional progress on IDP
returns and related issues over the next few months. Holmes
said the government has not shared its overall reconstruction
plan and likely does not have one. Blake suggested that key
Colombo-based Ambassadors and the UN Mission Director should
begin to consult on the benchmarks, i.e., paramilitary
disbandment, participatory local elections, and a reduced
military presence, that would allow the donor community to
move forward on reconstruction. But appointing
(pro-government Tamil paramilitary EPRD Chief) Douglas
Devananda to a position of political power in the North would
dampen U.S. enthusiasm for reconstruction support, he
cautioned.
CLINTON