U/SYG HOLMES BRIEFS THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON HIS

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000199

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC PHUM PREF CE
SUBJECT: U/SYG HOLMES BRIEFS THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON HIS
TRIP TO SRI LANKA

REF: USUN 192


1. (SBU) Summary: U/SYG for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes
briefed the Security Council February 27 on the situation in
northern Sri Lanka and his recent visit there. He said
civilians in the LTTE-controlled area are in "very great
danger" and there are strong anecdotal reports that they are
being prevented physically from leaving the area. He said
the government of Sri Lanka has improved access to IDP camps
and has begun to allow UNHCR to monitor the screening process
for civilians leaving the LTTE-controlled area. All Council
members supported the UN,s work as well as the personal
engagement of the Secretary-General and U/SYG Holmes.
Although Council members agreed that the Japanese, as
President of the Council, could brief the press on the
meeting, several countries - Russia, China, Vietnam, Libya
and Turkey - emphasized that the press remarks be simple,
factual and clearly state that Sri Lanka will not be a
recurring agenda item for the Security Council. End summary.

U/SYG HOLMES BRIEFS


2. (SBU) Holmes said he met with high-level government
officials, including the President, UN staff, the Co-Chairs,
and key donor countries during his recent visit to Sri Lanka.
His goal was to obtain first-hand information on the
humanitarian crisis in the north, as well as to promote
compliance with international humanitarian law. He visited
IDP camps in Vavuniya, and said that basic humanitarian needs
of the IDPs are being met despite overcrowding. However, he
criticized the severe restrictions on IDP movements into and
out of the camps. This included family members of IDPs, who
are not allowed entry into the camps. He raised the issue of
IDP movement with government officials, and was told that
they will allow increased mobility once temporary ID cards
have been issued to the IDPs. Government officials also
stated that they hoped to have 80 percent of the IDPs
resettled or returned to their homes by the end of 2009.
Holmes said government reasons for delaying full movement
were understandable given security concerns, although the UN
would watch carefully to ensure that the government fulfills
its promises regarding the IDPs.


3. (SBU) Turning to the situation within the LTTE-controlled
area, Holmes said information was scarce, but the risk of a
bloody end to the conflict was "unacceptably high." Although
the government claims to have stopped using heavy weapons in
order to minimize harm to civilians, it was not clear whether
this was actually being done. Holmes said he "desperately
hoped" that the LTTE would let civilians leave, and he asked
countries that have influence with the LTTE to press them on
this point. He urged the government to tackle the underlying
political issues as this decades-long conflict comes to a
close. Holmes ended by emphasizing that he and the
Secretary-General will continue to closely monitor the
situation.

SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS REACT


4. (SBU) Council members agreed on the following points: to
support the sovereign government of Sri Lanka and to call
upon the LTTE to lay down their arms and allow civilians to
leave the affected area. Council members also emphasized
their preoccupation and concern regarding the humanitarian
situation, and called for the full respect of international
humanitarian law. Several countries - France, Costa Rica and
Austria - asked about the situation regarding children in
armed conflict. Holmes replied that anecdotal reports from
within the LTTE-controlled zone indicate that the LTTE have
increased their forced recruitment of civilians, including
children. (Note: NGOs such as CARE and Watchlist have
suggested sending the Security Council's Children and Armed
Conflict Working Group on a visit to Sri Lanka. The UN's
office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed
Conflict opposes this idea, and prefers a lower-key approach.
End note)


5. (SBU) Ambassador DiCarlo expressed the USG,s deep concern
regarding the humanitarian situation, called for maximum
restraint by both sides as well as access by the ICRC to the
government,s registration and screening process. In
response to her questions, Holmes said that at the moment, he
did not have concerns about treatment in the IDP camps; his
concerns focused on the severe restrictions to their movement
and the heavy military presence within the camps. He had
received assurances from the government that they would
improve both of these situations. Regarding ICRC access to
the government,s registration and screening process, the
government was allowing UNHCR full access but not the ICRC,
said Holmes. The government would not grant access to the

ICRC because they did not want to give the impression that
the line between the government and LTTE-controlled areas was
an international border.


6. (SBU) Council members agreed that Japanese PR Takasu, this
month,s President of the Security Council, should brief the
media on the meeting. Russia, China, Turkey, Vietnam and
Libya all emphasized that Takasu,s statement should be
factual and underscore that Sri Lanka would not be a
recurring agenda item of the Security Council, and the
necessity of any future briefings would be decided on a
case-by-case basis.
Rice