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

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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
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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

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sustaining trust among communities, but otherwise limited in
their roles.

POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVEMENT
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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