ANGLICAN BISHOP OFFERS ADVICE AND HOPE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000142 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2020 TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE SUBJECT: ANGLICAN BISHOP OFFERS ADVICE AND HOPE REF: COLOMBO 140 COLOMBO 00000142 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: AMBASSADOR PATRICIA A. BUTENIS. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On February 25, Ambassador called on Anglican Bishop Duleep Kamil De Chickera, a well-respected and influential Sri Lankan cleric. The bishop saw a role for the international community in Sri Lanka but cautioned against a didactic approach. While there were two national interfaith groups and many local ones, none were actively engaged in Sri Lanka. The bishop noted improvements in the Sinhalese vision for relations with Tamils and Muslims and opined that eventually Sri Lankans would demand change in the current direction of their country. END SUMMARY. COURTESY CALL ON ANGLICAN BISHOP -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador called on Anglican Bishop Duleep Kamil De Chickera, a well-respected and influential Sri Lankan cleric. The bishop had recently released a statement on Fonseka's arrest and detention, calling for clarification of charges and a transparent judicial process. He was also part of a post-election joint statement by six Roman Catholic and Anglican bishops highlighting concern over the campaign process, low Tamil voter turnout, the use of transfers for political ends, terminations and promotions to reward or punish military, police, and public servants after the election, and the disappearance of journalist Mr. Eknaligoda. (NOTE: The bishop is considered liberal within Anglican circles and drew international attention when he delivered a sermon at the Lambeth Conference, calling for inclusiveness in communion for all, "regardless of color, ability, gender or sexual orientation." END NOTE.) ROLE FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY -------------- ¶3. (C) The bishop urged Ambassador not to remain silent in Sri Lanka, acknowledging the need to express U.S. views and to promote international human values. He emphasized, however, that the U.S -- and the international community -- should frame problems as universal learning opportunities, acknowledging their own histories and responsibilities, rather than criticizing. A long history of colonization had left Sri Lankans easily "offended by the teacher mentality." Rajapaksa had won favor from Sinhalese who saw him as "a person who, right or wrong, would stand up to the global north." The bishop also recommended quietly building up relationships within the government, noting that Rome was not built in a day. Regarding advocacy on individual human rights cases, the bishop advised reminding the state of it obligations rather than focusing on its failures and soliciting individual "favors." INTERFAITH COORDINATION -------------- ¶4. (C) According to the bishop there are two major interfaith organizations bringing monks, Christian, Hindu, and Muslim leaders together: the Congress of Religions and the Inter-religious Peace Foundation. He recalled that the end of the war brought a new understanding among monks of how "the crisis was eating at the roots of democracy" and "opened peoples' eyes to the movement against dissent" in politics and the media. But the interfaith groups had not moved forward to act. (NOTE: The Fonseka arrest did galvanize monks of varying castes into issuing a joint statement on democratic governance and calling for a council of clergy to discuss it. (Ref. A). END NOTE.) At the local level, there were many low profile interfaith groups, helpful for COLOMBO 00000142 002.2 OF 002 sustaining trust among communities, but otherwise limited in their roles. POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVEMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) While the bishop admitted to concern about "moderate, principled people" who seemed to have fallen in line with the Rajapaksa regime, he also expressed hope for Sri Lanka. In his view, the Sinhalese vision for relations with Tamils and Muslims had improved. The Sinhalese were more relaxed now that the war was over, and they sensed no immediate threat from the LTTE. Reports of intimidation of Tamils in daily life had decreased. The bishop also opined that change would come "when people come to their senses and say 'enough,'" citing historical examples such as apartheid in South Africa, civil rights in the U.S., and aboriginals in Australia. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) The bishop's encouragement to the Ambassador that she continue to express U.S. views and to promote international human values by framing problems as universal learning opportunities reflected thoughtful advice from a good embassy contact with an important view on, and voice in, Sri Lanka. His advice complemented the consensus approach to engaging the GSL reached by Colombo-based chiefs of mission (COMs) in a meeting hosted by the Ambassador later on February 25 (septel). The COMs agreed that any GSL attack on core democratic values or institutions should be met with strong denunciation by the international community and that the international community should re-engage with the president after the April 8 election regarding his promises on reconciliation, the 13th Amendment, and re-development in the north and east. BUTENIS