JAPAN'S VIEWS ON SITUATION IN SRI LANKA

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001130 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2019 TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM EAID CE JA SUBJECT: JAPAN'S VIEWS ON SITUATION IN SRI LANKA Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jim Zumwalt for reason 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Japan announced May 15 it would give assistance in kind worth approximately USD 470,000 to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to help aid Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Sri Lanka. The assistance will include 560 tents, 30,000 jerry cans, 4,000 plastic sheets, 10,000 sleeping mats, and 1,000 mosquito nets. Japanese Self Defense Forces have control over these items and will transport them to airports for commercial shipment to Sri Lanka, according to MOFA Southwest Asia Division Principal Deputy Director Aya Yoshida. This assistance will be in addition to earlier Japanese pledges of emergency grant aid in the amount of USD 4 million. ¶2. (C) With regard to the developing situation in Sri Lanka, Yoshida noted the Japan very much appreciates the good coordination that is taking place among the four Tokyo Co-Chairs. She singled out A/S Boucher, in particular. Yoshida also noted Special Representative Akashi's recent trip to Sri Lanka and said that he was considering another visit in the near future. ¶3. (C) Japan recognizes that the conflict seems to be reaching its final stage, with the government winning an overwhelming victory over the LTTE. Tokyo does not know the status of the LTTE leadership, and is trying to figure out exactly what is going on. According to Yoshida, above all else, Japan wants to take whatever steps it can to assure that U.N. and other relief agencies are permitted access to civilians in need. She said that in every meeting with high-level Sri Lankan officials, Japanese diplomats "demand" that the government observe a "zero civilian casualty" policy. Yoshida added that although civilians have not been spared, Japan believes that the Sri Lankan government listens sincerely to what Tokyo has to say, in contrast to messages received from several western powers, with which they have a more "hostile" relationship. Yoshida mentioned the unsuccessful visit by the French and British Foreign Ministers, in particular. ZUMWALT