SRI LANKA: A/S BLAKE RAISES IDPS AND REPORT TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 096501

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF MOPS KAWC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: A/S BLAKE RAISES IDPS AND REPORT TO
CONGRESS WITH FM BOGOLLAGAMA

Classified By: SCA A/S Robert O. Blake, Jr., reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Assistant Secretary for South and Central
Asian Affairs Robert Blake urged Sri Lankan Foreign Minister
Bogollagama September 15 to allow freedom of movement for
internally displaced persons (IDPs) by the end of September,
when monsoon rains will begin. A/S Blake stressed that the
continued detention of IDPs is contrary to international
standards. Bogollagama restated the challenges Sri Lanka
faces in screening for former Tamil tiger (LTTE) combatants
and the slow pace of demining. He sought to assure A/S Blake
of substantial progress on IDP returns over the next month.


2. (C) SUMMARY CONT'D: Blake told Bogollagama that the
report being prepared by the State Department Office of War
Crimes Investigations (S/WCI) is a Congressionally mandated
compilation of information about potential violations of
international humanitarian law committed by both sides of the
conflict in its final stage -- not a political message. That
said, accountability is an important part of political
reconciliation. Bogollagama expressed concern about the
potential negative impact of the report on the bilateral
relationship. Blake and Ambassador for War Crimes
Investigations Stephen Rapp met later on September 15 with
Sri Lankan Ambassador Wickramasuriya to make the same points.
Wickramasuriya also expressed concern for the potential
impact on the bilateral relationship, noting that the public
and media would respond negatively. He emphasized that the
military victory over the LTTE would ease the suffering of
all the Sri Lankan people in the long run. END SUMMARY.

FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT FOR IDPS
--------------


3. (C) In a September 15 telephone call to Sri Lankan Foreign
Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, SCA A/S Blake underscored the
difficulty the international community will face in
continuing to support the IDP camps. More than three months
since the end of hostilities, IDPs remain behind barbed wire
and, contrary to internationally accepted practice and
standards, are not permitted to leave. Bogollagama sought to
assure A/S Blake that a substantial number of low-risk IDPs,
such as children, the elderly, would be returned over the
next month. He noted the 9,400 returns that had recently
been announced and pointed to successful, ongoing
rehabilitation efforts for former LTTE combatants.
Bogollagama blamed the slow pace of returns on the need to
demine the areas IDPs had fled, which he maintained was a
precondition for returning them to many of their home
districts. He argued that progress on demining is being
made, namely on roads, and pointed to recently purchased
demining equipment from the Czech Republic. At the same
time, he questioned the level of productivity of
international NGOs being supported by the U.S. and others in
the international community.


4. (C) A/S Blake said he understood the need to ensure that
IDPs return to safe areas, but argued that the process of
screening former LTTE has slowed GSL's effort. He noted the
apparent lack of a timetable to complete the screening
process. Bogollagama called the process time-intensive,
saying the focus to date has been on feeding and sheltering
people. A/S Blake reemphasized that more progress on IDP
returns will boost Sri Lanka's standing in the international
community, suggesting that the rolling targets announced by
the GSL -- targets that it has successively missed by a wide
margin -- undermine GSL credibility.

REPORT TO CONGRESS ON POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS
OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW
--------------


5. (C) Blake stressed the report was ordered by Congress and
is not a political message. The report will catalogue
potential violations of international humanitarian law by
both sides of the conflict. Blake emphasized that
accountability is important so that Sri Lanka can have a
process of political reconciliation. Bogollagama expressed
concern about the impact of the report on U.S.-Sri Lanka
relations, suggesting that the Administration could have

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delayed the report or responded to the request from Congress
in a manner "sensitive to our relations." Blake responded
that was not an option. Bogollagama also expressed concern
for the impact of the report on the reconciliation process
between the government and Tamils, noting the recent meeting
between President Rajapaksa and the Tamil National Alliance.


6. (C) Blake and S/WCI Ambassador Rapp met later on September
15 with Sri Lankan Ambassador to the U.S. Wickramasuriya and
DCM Tissa Wijeratne to inform them about the upcoming report.
Like Bogollagama, Wickramasuriya expressed concern about the
impact of the report on relations with the U.S., suggesting
that the report would be received badly by the media and
public. While news of the report stings more coming from a
friendly country like the U.S., Wickramasuriya stressed
President Rajapaksa's determination to maintain strong
U.S.-Sri Lanka ties, expressing appreciation for U.S. support
in the fight against the LTTE. Wickramasuriya noted that the
decision to end definitively the war against the LTTE would,
in the long run, ease the suffering faced by all Sri Lankans,
in particular Tamils. He also maintained that the decision
to pursue a dangerous ground offensive against the LTTE,
rather than aerial bombardment, reduced civilian casualties
but lost twenty thousand troops in the Sri Lankan Army as a
result.
CLINTON