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AA AADP AALC ABDALLAH FETHI ABDULHADI ABDULRAHMEN ABER ABLD ABLDG ABLG ABMC ABT ABUD AC ACABQ ACAO ACBAQ ACCELERATED ACCOUNT ACDA ACEC ACKM ACOA ACOTA ACS ACTION ADANA ADB ADCO ADCP ADEL ADEP ADIP ADM ADMIRAL ADPM ADRC AE AEC AECL AEGR AEIR AEM AEMED AEMR AER AESC AF AFAF AL HOURANI AFARI AFDB AFDIN AFFAIRS AFGHAN AFGHANISTAN AFIN AFL AFLU AFOR AFR AFSA AFSI AFSN AFU AFZAL AG AGAO AGENCIES AGENDA AGENGA AGIT AGMT AGOA AGR AGRI AGRIC AGRICULTURE AGS AGUILAR AGUIRRE AHMED AI AIAG AID AIDAC AIDS AIEA AIHRC AIN AINF AINFCY AINR AINT AISG AIT AJ AK AL ALAB ALAMI ALANAZI ALBE ALEXANDER ALI ALIREZA ALJAZEERA ALL ALNEA ALOUNI ALOW ALOWAR ALVAREZ AM AMAT AMB AMBASSADOR AMCHAM AMCHAMS AMCT AME AMED AMEDI AMEMR AMER AMERICAS AMEX AMG AMGE AMGMT AMGT AMIA AMLB AMPR AMT AMTC AMTG AN ANARCHISTS ANC AND ANDREW LEE WATKINS ANET ANTITERRORISM ANTOINE GHONDA ANTONIO ANTXON AO AOCR AODE AOIC AOMS AOPR AORC AORD AOREC AORG AORL AOWC AP APCS APDC APEC APECO APER APR APRC APRM AQ AR ARAB ARABBL ARABL ARABLEAGUE ARAS ARC ARCH ARENA AREP ARF ARG ARM ARMITAGE ARMS ARNOLD FREDERICK MORRIS AROC ARR ARRMZY ARSO AS ASA ASAC ASC ASCC ASCE ASCEC ASCH ASE ASEAN ASEC ASECARP ASECE ASECM ASECSI ASECVE ASED ASEDC ASEG ASEK ASES ASEX ASFC ASIC ASIG ASIR ASJA ASO ASOC ASPA ASR ASSEMBLY ASSK ASSSEMBLY ASUP AT ATFN ATPDEA ATRA ATRD ATRN AU AU-1 AUC AUNR AUSGR AUSTRALIAGROUP AV AVERY AVIAN AVIANFLU AVIATION AW AX AY AZ AZE B. BA BAGHDAD BAIO BAKOYANNIS BALKANS BAPOL BARACK BASHAR BATA BAYS BB BBG BBSR BC BCW BCXP BD BE BEAN BELLVIEW BEN BERARDUCCI BESP BEXB BEXP BEXPC BEXPPLM BEXT BF BFIF BFIN BFIO BG BGD BGMT BH BHUM BI BIC BIDOON BIH BILAT BIMSTEC BINR BIO BIOS BIOTECH BIOTECHNOLOGY BIT BITO BK BL BLR BLUE BLUNT BM BMENA BMGT BMOT BN BNUC BO BOIKO BOL BOND BOQ BORDER BOSNIA BOU BOUCHAIB KAKA BOUTERSE BP BPIS BPTS BR BRIAN BRITNEY BRITNY BRPA BRUSSELS BS BSSR BT BTA BTC BTIO BTIU BTRA BTT BU BUD BULGARIA BURMA BURNS BUSH BUY AMERICA BV BW BWC BX BXEP BY BZ CA CAC CACM CACS CAFTA CAIO CAJC CAMBODIA CAN CAPC CARC CARE CARIB CARICOM CARSON CAS CASA CASC CASCC CASCR CASE CASTILLO CAVO CB CBC CBD CBE CBG CBIS CBM CBSA CBTH CBW CCSR CCY CD CDB CDC CDCC CDCE CDG CDI CE CEA CEC CEDAW CEN CENSUS CENTCOM CENTRIC CEUDA CF CFE CFED CFG CFIS CFSP CG CGEN CGOPRC CH CHAD CHALLENGE CHAO CHAVEZ CHELIDZE CHENEY CHERTOFF CHG CHIEF CHN CHR CHR-1 CHRISTIAN CHRISTOF CHRISTOPHER CI CIA CIAT CIC CICTE CIDA CIO CIP CIS CITEL CITES CITIBANK CITT CIVAIR CIVS CJ CJAN CJUS CK CKGR CKOR CL CLEARANCE CLINTON CLMT CLO CLOK CM CMAE CMFT CMGT CMP CMT CN CNAR CNARC CNC CNO CO CODEL COE COL COLIN COLLECTIVE COLOMBO COM COMESA COMMERCE CON CONAWAY CONDOLEEZZA CONDOLEEZZA RICE CONEAZ CONG CONGO CONGRINT CONS CONSULAR CONTROL CONTROLS CORRUPTION COSI COUNTER COUNTER TERRORISM COUNTERTERRORISM COUNTRY COUNTRYCLEARANCE CP CPA CPAS CPC CPCTC CPPT CPUOS CQ CR CRIM CRIME CRIMES CRISTINA CRM CROATIA CROS CRS CRUZ CS CSCE CSEP CSIS CSW CT CTBT CTER CTERR CTM CTR CTRYCLR CU CUCO CUIS CUL CUSTODIO CV CVIA CVIC CVIS CVISU CVPR CVR CW CWC CWCM CWG CX CY CYNTHIA CYP CYPRUSARMS CZ DA DAC DAFR DAN DANFUNG DANIEL DAO DARFR DARFUR DAVID DAVID LEE HOWES DAVID WELCH DAVID WILLIAM RAY DB DC DCDG DCG DCHA DCI DCM DCOM DCRM DE DEA DEAX DEFENSE DEFENSEREFORM DELTAVIOLENCE DEM DEMARCHE DEMARCHES DEMETRIOS DEMOCRATIC DENNIS DEOC DEPORTATION DEPT DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER DESI DHA DHLAKAMA DHLS DHRF DHS DHSX DIEZ DIPLOMACY DISENGAGEMENT DJ DK DKEM DMIN DMINE DO DOC DOD DOE DOJ DOMC DOMESTIC DOMESTICPOLITICS DONALD RUMSFELD DOT DPAO DPKO DPM DPOL DPRK DR DRC DRIP DRL DS DSR DSS DTFN DTRA DTRO DU DUNCAN CAMERON DVC DY EAC EAD EADI EADM EAG EAGER EAGR EAI EAIC EAID EAIDB EAIDCIN EAIDEGZ EAIDMG EAIDNI EAIF EAIG EAIO EAIR EAIS EAIT EAOD EAP EAPC EAR EARI EASS EATO EAUD EAVI EB EBEXP EBRD EBUD EC ECA ECCP ECCT ECE ECHEVARRIA ECIN ECIP ECLAC ECN ECOIN ECOM ECON ECONCS ECONEGE ECONOMIC ECONOMICS ECONOMY ECONOMY AND FINANCE ECOR ECOS ECOSOC ECOWAS ECPC ECPN ECPO ECPS ECPSN ECRM ECTRD ECUN ED EDA EDEV EDRC EDU EDUARDO EDUC EE EEB EEC EENG EENV EEOC EET EETC EFI EFIC EFIM EFIN EFIS EFLU EFN EFND EFNI EFQ EFTA EG EGAD EGAR EGEN EGHG EGOV EGOVSY EH EI EIAD EIAID EIAR EIB EICN EID EIDE EIDN EIFN EIN EIND EINDIR EINF EING EINN EINO EINR EINT EINV EINZ EIPR EIQ EISL EISNLN EITC EITI EIVN EK EL ELA ELAB ELAD ELAINE ELAM ELAN ELAP ELB ELBA ELBR ELEC ELECTIONS ELF ELIN ELN ELND ELNT ELTD ELTM ELTN ELTRN EMAIL EMED EMI EMIN EMN EMS EMW EN END ENDURING ENEG ENER ENERG ENERGY ENFR ENG ENGR ENGRD ENGRG ENGY ENIV ENLT ENNP ENR ENRC ENRG ENRL ENTG ENV ENVI ENVIRONMENT ENVR ENVT EON EOXC EP EPA EPAT EPCS EPE EPEC EPECO EPET EPIN EPIT EPPD EPRT EPSC EPTE EPTED EPWR EQ EQRD ER ERA ERD EREL ERGR ERICKSON ERIN ERTD ES ESA ESCAP ESCI ESDP ESENV ESF ESLCO ESOC ESOCI ESPS ESS ESSO ESTH ESTN ESTRADA ET ETA ETAD ETC ETCC ETD ETDR ETEL ETER ETEX ETFN ETIC ETIO ETLN ETMIN ETR ETRA ETRAD ETRB ETRC ETRD ETRDECD ETRG ETRK ETRN ETRO ETRP ETT ETTC ETTD ETTF ETTN ETTR ETTRD ETTW ETZ EU EUC EUCOM EUE EUEAID EUFOR EUM EUMEM EUN EUR EUREM EURM EURN EV EVENTS EVN EWRG EWT EWTR EWWT EX EXBS EXEC EXIM EXO EXPORT EXTERNAL EZ FA FAA FAC FAGR FAO FARC FARM FAS FATAH FBI FCC FCS FCSC FCSCEG FCUL FDA FDIC FEDULOV FEMA FERNANDO FGM FI FIGUEROA FIN FINANCE FINE FINR FINREF FINV FIR FISO FJ FK FKFLO FKLU FLU FM FMC FMGT FMLN FMS FO FOI FOOKS FOR FORCE FORCES FOREIGN FORWHA FP FPC FR FRA FRANCIS FRANCISCO RODENAS RUIZ FRANCISCO VILLA URBALEJO FRAZER FRB FREDOM FREEDOM FRELIMO FRIED FRN FRU FSC FSI FT FTA FTAA FWS GA GAERC GAMES GANGS GAO GARCIA GASPAR GATES GATT GAZA GAZPROM GB GBSLE GC GCC GCCC GE GEF GEORGE GERARD GESKE GF GG GH GI GIPNC GIWI GJ GKGIC GL GLOBAL GM GN GO GOG GOI GOMEZ GON GOVPOI GPGOV GPI GPOI GPOV GR GREGG RENE WALTER GRQ GS GT GTIP GTMO GTREFTEL GU GUAM GUANTANAMO GUIDANCE GUILLERMO GUTIERREZ GV GWI GY GZ GZIS HA HAMID KARZAI HARRIET HARRY HAWZ HCOPIL HDP HE HEAVEN HEBRON HECTOR HELGERSON HERCEGOVINA HG HHS HI HIGHLIGHTS HIJAZI HILARY HILLARY HILLEN HIPC HIV HIZ HK HKSX HL HLSX HN HNCHR HO HOA HOSTAGES HPKO HR HRC HRCS HRICTY HRIGHTS HRKSTC HSI HSTC HSWG HT HTCG HTSC HU HUD HUM HUMAN HUMANITARIAN HUMANR HUMANRIGHTS HUMOR HUMRIT HUNRC HURI HURRICANE HYDE HYLAND HYMPSK HZ IA IACHR IACI IACO IACW IADB IAEA IAES IAHRC IAIE IAII IASA IATTC IAZ IBB IBD IBET IBPCA IBRB IBRD IC ICAC ICAO ICC ICCAT ICCROM ICES ICJ ICRC ICRS ICSCA ICTR ICTY ID IDA IDB IDLI IDLO IDP IDR IE IEA IEAB IEF IF IFAD IFC IFIN IFM IFO IFR IFRC IG IGAD IGF IHO IICA IINS IIP IK IL ILAB ILC ILEA ILO IMC IMET IMF IMMIGRATION IMO IMSO IMTS IN INAUGURATION INCB IND INDO INF INFLUENZA INL INMARSAT INNP INPFC INR INRA INRB INRD INRO INRPAZ INS INSC INT INTEL INTELLECTUAL INTELSAT INTERNAL INTERPOL INV INVI IO IOC IOM IP IPET IPGRI IPK IPPC IPR IPROP IQ IQNV IR IRAN IRAQ IRAQI IRAQI FREEDOM IRC IRCE IRDB IRE IRL IRLE IRM IRMO IRNB IRPE IRQEGION IRS IS ISA ISAAC ISAF ISCA ISCON ISLAMISTS ISLE ISN ISNV ISO ISPA ISPL ISRAEL ISRAEL RELATIONS ISRAELI ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ISSUES ISTC IT ITA ITALIAN ITALY ITECIP ITEIND ITELTN ITER ITF ITIA ITRA ITRD ITU IUCN IV IVIANNA IWC IWI IX IZ IZAORC JA JABER JAM JAMES JAPAN JAT JAWAD JCIC JE JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA JEFFERY JEFFREY JENDAYI JHR JI JIMENEZ JIMENEZ CHILDREN JK JKUS JM JN JO JOHANNS JOHN JOHN BOEHNER JOHNNIE JONATHAN CHAMAN JOSE ANGEL ALZUGUREN PERURENA JOSE NEY MILA ESPINOSA JOSE RAMOS HORTA JOSEPH BIDEN JP JS JSRP JUAN JULIAN RENE KIRCHOFF JUS JY KA KACP KACT KACW KADM KAID KALM KALR KANSOU KAPO KARIM WADE KATRINA KAUST KAWC KAWK KAWL KAWS KAWX KAYLA KBCT KBDS KBEM KBIO KBNC KBTC KBTR KBTS KBWG KCCP KCEM KCERS KCFC KCFE KCGC KCHG KCIP KCIS KCM KCMA KCMR KCOG KCOM KCOR KCPS KCRCM KCRI KCRIM KCRM KCRN KCRO KCROM KCROR KCRP KCRS KCRT KCSA KCSI KCSY KCUL KCUM KCVM KCWI KDCM KDDEM KDDG KDE KDEM KDEN KDET KDEV KDGOV KDGR KDHS KDM KDMR KDP KDRG KDRL KDTB KDUM KE KEAI KEANE KEBG KECF KEDEM KEDM KEDU KEIM KEM KEMPI KEMR KEMS KEN KENV KERF KERG KESO KESP KESS KEVIN KFAM KFCE KFE KFEM KFGM KFIN KFIU KFLD KFLO KFLU KFOR KFPC KFRD KFRP KFSC KFTFN KFTN KG KGCC KGCN KGHA KGHG KGIC KGICKS KGIT KGIV KGKG KGLB KGOR KGOV KH KHDP KHGH KHIB KHIV KHJUS KHLS KHMN KHOURY KHPD KHSA KHSL KHUM KI KIBL KICA KICC KICCPUR KICR KICT KID KIDE KIF KIFR KIIC KIIP KIL KILS KIMMITT KIMT KIND KINF KINL KINP KINR KINT KIPR KIPT KIRC KIRD KIRF KIRL KIRP KIS KISC KISK KISL KISM KISR KITA KIVP KIVR KJAN KJRE KJU KJUS KJUST KJWC KK KKIV KKNP KKOR KKPO KLAB KLAP KLBO KLEG KLFLO KLFU KLHS KLIG KLIP KLPM KLSO KLTN KM KMAC KMAR KMCA KMCC KMCR KMDR KMEPI KMFO KMGT KMIG KMNP KMOC KMPF KMPI KMPIO KMPL KMPP KMPT KMRD KMRS KMSG KMVP KMWN KN KNAO KNAP KNAR KNDP KNEI KNEP KNET KNMP KNN KNNA KNNB KNNC KNNF KNNO KNNP KNNR KNOP KNP KNPP KNPPIS KNPR KNPT KNRG KNRV KNSD KNUC KNUP KO KOC KOCI KOCM KOEM KOGL KOLY KOM KOMC KOMCCO KOMCSG KOMH KOMO KOMS KOR KOSOVO KOUYATE KPA KPAD KPAI KPAK KPAL KPALAOIS KPAM KPAO KPAS KPBT KPDD KPEM KPEO KPER KPET KPIN KPIR KPKO KPKP KPLS KPMI KPMO KPO KPOA KPOKO KPOL KPOP KPOV KPOW KPPAO KPPD KPRD KPRM KPRO KPROG KPRP KPRV KPSC KPTD KPTS KPWG KPWR KQ KQM KQRDQ KR KRAD KRAL KRCIM KRCM KRCS KRD KRDP KREC KREF KREISLER KREL KRF KRFD KRFR KRG KRGY KRIC KRIF KRIM KRKO KRM KRMS KRV KRVC KS KSA KSAC KSAF KSCA KSCI KSCS KSCT KSEAO KSEC KSEI KSEO KSEP KSI KSIA KSKN KSLG KSMT KSOC KSOCI KSPA KSPR KSRE KSTC KSTCC KSTCPL KSTH KSTS KSTT KSUM KSUP KT KTAO KTBD KTBT KTCRE KTDB KTDD KTDM KTER KTEX KTFIN KTFM KTFN KTFR KTFS KTIA KTIP KTLA KTNBT KTNF KTPN KTRD KTRF KTSC KTSD KTTB KTTC KTTP KU KUAE KUIR KUM KUNA KUNC KUNH KUNP KUNR KUS KUWAIT KV KVBL KVIP KVIR KVIS KVPR KVRC KVRP KW KWAC KWAK KWAWC KWBC KWBG KWBW KWCI KWCR KWGB KWHG KWIC KWIM KWIR KWKN KWM KWMJN KWMM KWMN KWN KWNM KWNN KWOMN KWPA KWPB KWPG KWPR KWRC KWRF KWRG KWUN KWWT KWWW KX KY KZ LA LAB LABOR LANSANA LANTERN LARREA LARS LAS LAURA LAVIN LAW LB LBAR LBY LE LEAGUE LEB LEBIK LEGAT LEGATT LEIS LEON LEVINE LEW LG LGAT LH LI LIB LICC LIMA LINE LK LMS LN LO LOG LOPEZ LORAN LOTT LOVE LR LS LT LTG LTTE LU LV LVPR LY LZ MA MAAR MACEDONIA MACP MANUEL MANUEL SERGIO GONZALEZ MAP MAPP MAPS MAR MARAD MARANTIS MARIA MARIE MARINO MARITIME MARK MARQUEZ MARR MARS MARTIN MARV MAS MASC MASS MATT MAYA MB MBM MC MCA MCAP MCAPARR MCAPN MCAPP MCAPS MCAT MCC MCCAIN MCCONNELL MCCP MCGRAW MCRM MCTRE MD MDA MDC MDO ME MEA MED MEDIA MEETINGS MENDIETA MEP MEPI MEPN MEPP MERCOSUR MESUR MEX MF MFA MFO MG MGL MGMT MGOV MGT MGTA MH MHUC MI MIAH MIC MICHAEL MICHEL MIGUEL FELIPE CANAHUATI YACAMAN MIGUEL VARGAS MALDONADO MIK MIKE MIL MILI MILITANTS MILITARY MILLENNIUM MINURSO MINUSTAH MITCHELL MJ MK ML MLS MMAR MMED MN MNLF MNNC MNNUC MNU MNUC MNUCH MNUCWA MNUM MNUN MNUR MNUS MNVC MO MOHAMAD MOHAMED HESHAM ELDIN YOUSSEF MOHAMMAD MOLINA MONTENEGRO MONUC MONY MOOPS MOP MOPP MOPPS MOPS MORALES MORG MOROCCO MORS MOS MOTO MOTT MP MPOL MPOS MPP MPS MQADHAFI MR MRCRE MRRR MRS MRSEC MS MSG MSIG MT MTAA MTAG MTCAE MTCR MTCRA MTCRE MTRCE MTRE MTRRE MTS MU MUC MUCN MUKASEY MULLEN MUNC MURAD MURRAY MV MW MX MY MZ NA NAC NACB NADIA NAFTA NAM NAMSA NANCY NAR NARC NARCOTICS NARR NAS NASA NAT NATEU NATGAS NATIONAL NATO NATOAFGHAN NATOBALKANS NATOIRAQ NATOOPS NATOPOLICY NATSIOS NAVO NB NBTS NBU NC NCCC NCD NCT NCTC NDI NDP NE NEA NEC NEGROPONTE NEI NELSON NEPAD NERG NET NEW NFATC NFMS NFSO NG NGO NGUYEN NH NI NICHOLAS NICOLE NIH NIPP NK NKWG NL NLD NLIAEA NLO NMFS NMNUC NMUC NNPT NO NOAA NOI NOK NON NONE NORAD NOTAG NOVO NP NPA NPG NPT NR NRC NRG NRR NRRC NS NSC NSF NSFO NSG NSSP NT NTDB NTSB NTTC NU NUC NUIN NV NW NZ NZUS OA OAO OARC OAS OASC OASCC OASS OAU OBAMA OBS OBSP OCBD OCEA OCED OCHA OCII OCRA OCS OCSE ODAG ODC ODIP ODPC OECD OECS OECV OES OESC OEXC OEXP OF OFDA OFDC OFDP OFDPQIS OFFICIALS OFPD OFSO OGAC OGIV OHCHR OHI OHIP OI OIC OICCO OIE OIF OIG OIIP OIL OIM OLY OLYAIR OLYMPICS OM OMAR OMB OMIG OMS ON ONA OPAD OPBAT OPC OPCD OPCR OPCW OPDAT OPDC OPDP OPEC OPET OPIC OPID OPOC OPPC OPRC OPREC OPREP OPS OPSC OPVIP ORA ORC ORCA ORECD ORED OREG OREP ORGANIZED ORP ORTA ORUE OSAC OSCE OSCI OSD OSEC OSHA OSIC OSTA OSTRA OTA OTAR OTHER OTHERSASNEEDED OTP OTR OTRA OTRABL OTRAO OTRAZ OTRC OTRD OUALI OVIP OVP OXEC OXEM OZ PA PAARM PAC PACE PAGE PAGR PAHO PAIGH PAK PAL PALESTINIAN PAMQ PAN PANAM PAO PAR PARALYMPIC PARCA PAREL PARK PARLIAMENT PARM PARMS PARN PARP PARR PARTIES PARTM PARTY PAS PASS PATRICK WARREN MAHURIN PATTY PAUL PAUM PB PBGT PBIO PBK PBOV PBPTS PBS PBST PBT PBTS PCI PCON PCOR PCRM PCUL PD PDA PDD PDEM PDIP PDOV PDRG PE PEACE PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEDRO PEL PELOSI PEMEX PENA PENV PEPFAR PEPR PER PEREZ PERL PERM PERSONS PET PETER PETERS PETR PETRAEUS PETROL PF PFIN PFLP PFOR PFOV PG PGGOC PGIC PGIV PGKV PGO PGOC PGOF PGOG PGON PGOR PGOT PGOV PGOVE PGOVQL PGPV PGREL PGREV PGV PH PHALANAGE PHARM PHAS PHEM PHIM PHM PHSA PHU PHUH PHUM PHUMHUPPS PHUN PHUS PHYTRP PI PIA PICES PIF PIN PINB PIND PINER PINF PING PINL PINO PINOCHET PINR PINS PINT PINV PIR PIRF PIRN PJUS PK PKAO PKBL PKFK PKISL PKK PKMN PKNP PKO PKPA PKPAL PKPO PKPRP PKST PL PLAB PLAN PLEC PLN PLO PLUM PM PMAR PMAT PMDL PMIG PMIL PMIN PMR PMUC PN PNAT PNET PNG PNIR PNNL PNR PNRG PNS PNUC PNUK PNUM PO PODC POG POGV POINS POL POLG POLI POLICY POLINT POLITICAL POLITICS POLM POLMIL POLS POLUN POREL PORG POSTS POTUS POUS POV POWELL PP PPA PPAO PPD PPEF PPEL PPKO PPOL PQL PQM PRC PRE PREC PRED PREF PREG PREJ PREK PREL PRELEVU PRELM PRELPLS PRELTBIOBA PREM PREO PREP PRER PRES PRESIDENT PRESL PREV PREZ PRF PRFE PRFL PRGO PRGOV PRIL PRIVATIZATION PRL PRLE PRM PRO PROB PROCESS PROG PROL PROLIFERATION PROP PROPERTY PROTECTION PROTESTS PROV PROVE PRT PRTER PRWL PS PSA PSCE PSEC PSEPC PSHA PSI PSNR PSO PSOC PSOCI PSOE PT PTBS PTE PTEL PTEP PTER PTGOV PTIA PTR PTRD PU PUAS PUBLIC PUNE PUNR PUOS PV PVIP PVOV PVPR PVTS PWBG PWMN PY QA QADRI QEL QI QIZ QM QT QU QUAN QUOC RA RAED RAFAEL RAID RAMON RAMONTEIJELO RAS RATIFICATION RAY GUEVARA MILTON RBI RCA RCMP RE REA REACTION REALTIONS RECIN REF REFORM REFPAN REFUGEE REFUGEES REGION REGIONAL REID REIN REINEMEYER REL RELAM RELATIONS RELFREE RELIGIOUS REMON RENAMO RENE PREVAL REO REPORT REUBEN RF RFE RFIN RFREEDOM RGOV RGY RHUM RI RICE RICHARD RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RIMC RIVERA RL RLA RM RMA RO ROBERT ROBERT JOSEPH RODHAM RODRIGUEZ ROK ROME ROOD ROSS ROW ROY RP RPEL RPTS RQ RR RRB RREL RS RSO RSOX RSP RSZ RTT RU RUEHZO RV RW RWANDA SA SAAD SAARC SABAH SACU SADC SAFE SAIR SAIS SALOPEK SAMA SAN SANC SANR SAO SARB SARGSIAN SARS SASC SASEC SASIAIN SB SBA SC SCA SCCC SCE SCENESETTER SCHUL SCI SCIENCE SCNV SCOI SCOL SCOM SCPR SCRM SCRS SCRSERD SCUL SCVL SD SE SEC SECDEF SECI SECRET SECRETARY SECSTATE SECTOR SECURITY SEMAAN GABY EID SEN SENC SENG SENS SENU SENV SENVQGR SENVSPL SENVSXE SEP SERBIA SERZH SETTLEMENTS SEVN SEXP SF SFNV SG SGNV SGWI SH SHANNON SHI SHUM SI SILVASANDE SIMS SIPDI SIPDIS SIPR SIPRNET SIPRS SIUK SK SKCA SKEP SKI SKSAF SL SLM SLOVAK SM SMAR SMI SMIG SMIL SMIT SMITH SMRT SN SNA SNAP SNAR SNUC SO SOC SOCI SOCIA SOCIETY SOCIO SOCIS SOCISZX SOCR SOCY SOE SOFA SOI SOIC SOLI SOLIC SOM SOMALIA SOPN SORT SOSI SOVIET SOWGC SP SPAS SPC SPCE SPCVIS SPECI SPECIALIST SPILL SPP SPSTATE SR SREF SRIT SRS SRYI SSA SSH ST STAG START STATE STC STEINBERG STEPHEN HADLEY STET STP STR STUDENT SU SUCCESSION SUFFRAGE SULLIVAN SUMMIT SUR SUSAN SV SW SWHO SWMN SX SXG SY SYAI SYMBOL SYR SYRIA SYSI SYTH SZ TA TAGS TALAL TAUSCHER TAX TB TBI TBID TBIO TBIOZK TBKIO TBO TC TCOR TCSENV TD TDA TE TECH TECHNOLOGY TER TERAA TERFIN TERR TERROR TERRORISM TF TFIN TG TGRY TH THANH THE THERESE THIRDTERM THKSJA THOMAS THOMAS THOMMA THPY TI TIA TIBO TIFA TINT TIO TIP TITI TIUZ TJ TK TL TM TN TNDG TNGD TO TOPEC TORRIJOS TOURISM TP TPHY TPKO TPP TPSA TPSL TR TRAD TRADE TRAFFICKING TRBIO TRBY TRD TREAS TREASURY TREATY TREL TRG TRGV TRGY TRIO TRSY TRT TRV TRY TRYG TRYS TS TSA TSLP TSPA TSPL TSRL TSRY TSY TT TTFN TU TURKEY TV TVBIO TW TWRO TX TY TZ TZBY UA UAE UAID UAM UB UDEM UE UEU UG UGA UK UKR UKRAINE UM UMIK UN UNA UNAF UNAIDS UNAMA UNAMSIL UNAORC UNAUS UNBRO UNC UNCC UNCDF UNCDN UNCHC UNCHR UNCHS UNCITRAL UNCND UNCOPUOS UNCRED UNCRIME UNCSD UNCSW UNCTAD UNDC UNDEF UNDOF UNDP UNECE UNEF UNEP UNESCO UNFA UNFC UNFCYP UNFF UNFICYP UNFIYCP UNFPA UNGA UNGAPL UNGO UNHCR UNHRC UNICEF UNIDCP UNIDO UNIDROIT UNIFEM UNIFIL UNION UNKIK UNM UNMEE UNMIC UNMIK UNMIKI UNMIKV UNMIL UNMIN UNMOVIC UNO UNODC UNOMIG UNOPS UNP UNPAR UNPUOS UNRCCA UNRCR UNREST UNRWA UNSC UNSCAPU UNSCD UNSCE UNSCER UNSCR UNSCS UNSD UNSE UNTAC UNTERR UNTZ UNUS UNVIE UNYI UP UPU UPUO UR US USAID USAU USCC USCG USDA USDELFESTTWO USEU USG USGS USMS USNC USOAS USOP USPS USPTO USSC USTA USTDA USTR USTRD USTRIT USTRPS USTRUWR USUN UUNR UV UX UY UZ VA VANESSA VANG VAT VC VE VELS VEN VENZ VETTING VI VINICIO VIP VIS VISAS VISIT VM VN VO VOA VT VTEG VTFR VTIS VTPREL VTTBIO VTWCAR VXY VY VZ WA WAEMU WAKI WAR WARD WB WBEG WBG WCAR WCI WCL WCO WE WEBG WEBZ WEET WEF WEOG WET WEU WFA WFP WFPAORC WFPO WGC WGG WHA WHITMER WHO WHTI WI WILCOX WILLIAM WIPO WIR WITH WJRO WM WMD WMDT WMN WMO WOMEN WPO WRTO WS WSIS WTO WTRD WTRO WTRQ WW WWARD WWBG WWT WZ XA XAAF XB XC XD XE XF XFNEA XG XH XI XJ XK XL XLUM XM XO XP XQ XR XS XT XTAG XU XV XW XX XXX XY XZ YE YEH YI YL YM YMCS YS YU YURIY ZA ZANU ZB ZC ZCTU ZEALAND ZF ZFR ZH ZI ZIM ZJ ZK ZKGM ZL ZM ZN ZO ZOELLICK ZP ZR ZS ZT ZU ZW ZXA
AA AADP AALC ABDALLAH FETHI ABDULHADI ABDULRAHMEN ABER ABLD ABLDG ABLG ABMC ABT ABUD AC ACABQ ACAO ACBAQ ACCELERATED ACCOUNT ACDA ACEC ACKM ACOA ACOTA ACS ACTION ADANA ADB ADCO ADCP ADEL ADEP ADIP ADM ADMIRAL ADPM ADRC AE AEC AECL AEGR AEIR AEM AEMED AEMR AER AESC AF AFAF AL HOURANI AFARI AFDB AFDIN AFFAIRS AFGHAN AFGHANISTAN AFIN AFL AFLU AFOR AFR AFSA AFSI AFSN AFU AFZAL AG AGAO AGENCIES AGENDA AGENGA AGIT AGMT AGOA AGR AGRI AGRIC AGRICULTURE AGS AGUILAR AGUIRRE AHMED AI AIAG AID AIDAC AIDS AIEA AIHRC AIN AINF AINFCY AINR AINT AISG AIT AJ AK AL ALAB ALAMI ALANAZI ALBE ALEXANDER ALI ALIREZA ALJAZEERA ALL ALNEA ALOUNI ALOW ALOWAR ALVAREZ AM AMAT AMB AMBASSADOR AMCHAM AMCHAMS AMCT AME AMED AMEDI AMEMR AMER AMERICAS AMEX AMG AMGE AMGMT AMGT AMIA AMLB AMPR AMT AMTC AMTG AN ANARCHISTS ANC AND ANDREW LEE WATKINS ANET ANTITERRORISM ANTOINE GHONDA ANTONIO ANTXON AO AOCR AODE AOIC AOMS AOPR AORC AORD AOREC AORG AORL AOWC AP APCS APDC APEC APECO APER APR APRC APRM AQ AR ARAB ARABBL ARABL ARABLEAGUE ARAS ARC ARCH ARENA AREP ARF ARG ARM ARMITAGE ARMS ARNOLD FREDERICK MORRIS AROC ARR ARRMZY ARSO AS ASA ASAC ASC ASCC ASCE ASCEC ASCH ASE ASEAN ASEC ASECARP ASECE ASECM ASECSI ASECVE ASED ASEDC ASEG ASEK ASES ASEX ASFC ASIC ASIG ASIR ASJA ASO ASOC ASPA ASR ASSEMBLY ASSK ASSSEMBLY ASUP AT ATFN ATPDEA ATRA ATRD ATRN AU AU-1 AUC AUNR AUSGR AUSTRALIAGROUP AV AVERY AVIAN AVIANFLU AVIATION AW AX AY AZ AZE B. BA BAGHDAD BAIO BAKOYANNIS BALKANS BAPOL BARACK BASHAR BATA BAYS BB BBG BBSR BC BCW BCXP BD BE BEAN BELLVIEW BEN BERARDUCCI BESP BEXB BEXP BEXPC BEXPPLM BEXT BF BFIF BFIN BFIO BG BGD BGMT BH BHUM BI BIC BIDOON BIH BILAT BIMSTEC BINR BIO BIOS BIOTECH BIOTECHNOLOGY BIT BITO BK BL BLR BLUE BLUNT BM BMENA BMGT BMOT BN BNUC BO BOIKO BOL BOND BOQ BORDER BOSNIA BOU BOUCHAIB KAKA BOUTERSE BP BPIS BPTS BR BRIAN BRITNEY BRITNY BRPA BRUSSELS BS BSSR BT BTA BTC BTIO BTIU BTRA BTT BU BUD BULGARIA BURMA BURNS BUSH BUY AMERICA BV BW BWC BX BXEP BY BZ CA CAC CACM CACS CAFTA CAIO CAJC CAMBODIA CAN CAPC CARC CARE CARIB CARICOM CARSON CAS CASA CASC CASCC CASCR CASE CASTILLO CAVO CB CBC CBD CBE CBG CBIS CBM CBSA CBTH CBW CCSR CCY CD CDB CDC CDCC CDCE CDG CDI CE CEA CEC CEDAW CEN CENSUS CENTCOM CENTRIC CEUDA CF CFE CFED CFG CFIS CFSP CG CGEN CGOPRC CH CHAD CHALLENGE CHAO CHAVEZ CHELIDZE CHENEY CHERTOFF CHG CHIEF CHN CHR CHR-1 CHRISTIAN CHRISTOF CHRISTOPHER CI CIA CIAT CIC CICTE CIDA CIO CIP CIS CITEL CITES CITIBANK CITT CIVAIR CIVS CJ CJAN CJUS CK CKGR CKOR CL CLEARANCE CLINTON CLMT CLO CLOK CM CMAE CMFT CMGT CMP CMT CN CNAR CNARC CNC CNO CO CODEL COE COL COLIN COLLECTIVE COLOMBO COM COMESA COMMERCE CON CONAWAY CONDOLEEZZA CONDOLEEZZA RICE CONEAZ CONG CONGO CONGRINT CONS CONSULAR CONTROL CONTROLS CORRUPTION COSI COUNTER COUNTER TERRORISM COUNTERTERRORISM COUNTRY COUNTRYCLEARANCE CP CPA CPAS CPC CPCTC CPPT CPUOS CQ CR CRIM CRIME CRIMES CRISTINA CRM CROATIA CROS CRS CRUZ CS CSCE CSEP CSIS CSW CT CTBT CTER CTERR CTM CTR CTRYCLR CU CUCO CUIS CUL CUSTODIO CV CVIA CVIC CVIS CVISU CVPR CVR CW CWC CWCM CWG CX CY CYNTHIA CYP CYPRUSARMS CZ DA DAC DAFR DAN DANFUNG DANIEL DAO DARFR DARFUR DAVID DAVID LEE HOWES DAVID WELCH DAVID WILLIAM RAY DB DC DCDG DCG DCHA DCI DCM DCOM DCRM DE DEA DEAX DEFENSE DEFENSEREFORM DELTAVIOLENCE DEM DEMARCHE DEMARCHES DEMETRIOS DEMOCRATIC DENNIS DEOC DEPORTATION DEPT DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER DESI DHA DHLAKAMA DHLS DHRF DHS DHSX DIEZ DIPLOMACY DISENGAGEMENT DJ DK DKEM DMIN DMINE DO DOC DOD DOE DOJ DOMC DOMESTIC DOMESTICPOLITICS DONALD RUMSFELD DOT DPAO DPKO DPM DPOL DPRK DR DRC DRIP DRL DS DSR DSS DTFN DTRA DTRO DU DUNCAN CAMERON DVC DY EAC EAD EADI EADM EAG EAGER EAGR EAI EAIC EAID EAIDB EAIDCIN EAIDEGZ EAIDMG EAIDNI EAIF EAIG EAIO EAIR EAIS EAIT EAOD EAP EAPC EAR EARI EASS EATO EAUD EAVI EB EBEXP EBRD EBUD EC ECA ECCP ECCT ECE ECHEVARRIA ECIN ECIP ECLAC ECN ECOIN ECOM ECON ECONCS ECONEGE ECONOMIC ECONOMICS ECONOMY ECONOMY AND FINANCE ECOR ECOS ECOSOC ECOWAS ECPC ECPN ECPO ECPS ECPSN ECRM ECTRD ECUN ED EDA EDEV EDRC EDU EDUARDO EDUC EE EEB EEC EENG EENV EEOC EET EETC EFI EFIC EFIM EFIN EFIS EFLU EFN EFND EFNI EFQ EFTA EG EGAD EGAR EGEN EGHG EGOV EGOVSY EH EI EIAD EIAID EIAR EIB EICN EID EIDE EIDN EIFN EIN EIND EINDIR EINF EING EINN EINO EINR EINT EINV EINZ EIPR EIQ EISL EISNLN EITC EITI EIVN EK EL ELA ELAB ELAD ELAINE ELAM ELAN ELAP ELB ELBA ELBR ELEC ELECTIONS ELF ELIN ELN ELND ELNT ELTD ELTM ELTN ELTRN EMAIL EMED EMI EMIN EMN EMS EMW EN END ENDURING ENEG ENER ENERG ENERGY ENFR ENG ENGR ENGRD ENGRG ENGY ENIV ENLT ENNP ENR ENRC ENRG ENRL ENTG ENV ENVI ENVIRONMENT ENVR ENVT EON EOXC EP EPA EPAT EPCS EPE EPEC EPECO EPET EPIN EPIT EPPD EPRT EPSC EPTE EPTED EPWR EQ EQRD ER ERA ERD EREL ERGR ERICKSON ERIN ERTD ES ESA ESCAP ESCI ESDP ESENV ESF ESLCO ESOC ESOCI ESPS ESS ESSO ESTH ESTN ESTRADA ET ETA ETAD ETC ETCC ETD ETDR ETEL ETER ETEX ETFN ETIC ETIO ETLN ETMIN ETR ETRA ETRAD ETRB ETRC ETRD ETRDECD ETRG ETRK ETRN ETRO ETRP ETT ETTC ETTD ETTF ETTN ETTR ETTRD ETTW ETZ EU EUC EUCOM EUE EUEAID EUFOR EUM EUMEM EUN EUR EUREM EURM EURN EV EVENTS EVN EWRG EWT EWTR EWWT EX EXBS EXEC EXIM EXO EXPORT EXTERNAL EZ FA FAA FAC FAGR FAO FARC FARM FAS FATAH FBI FCC FCS FCSC FCSCEG FCUL FDA FDIC FEDULOV FEMA FERNANDO FGM FI FIGUEROA FIN FINANCE FINE FINR FINREF FINV FIR FISO FJ FK FKFLO FKLU FLU FM FMC FMGT FMLN FMS FO FOI FOOKS FOR FORCE FORCES FOREIGN FORWHA FP FPC FR FRA FRANCIS FRANCISCO RODENAS RUIZ FRANCISCO VILLA URBALEJO FRAZER FRB FREDOM FREEDOM FRELIMO FRIED FRN FRU FSC FSI FT FTA FTAA FWS GA GAERC GAMES GANGS GAO GARCIA GASPAR GATES GATT GAZA GAZPROM GB GBSLE GC GCC GCCC GE GEF GEORGE GERARD GESKE GF GG GH GI GIPNC GIWI GJ GKGIC GL GLOBAL GM GN GO GOG GOI GOMEZ GON GOVPOI GPGOV GPI GPOI GPOV GR GREGG RENE WALTER GRQ GS GT GTIP GTMO GTREFTEL GU GUAM GUANTANAMO GUIDANCE GUILLERMO GUTIERREZ GV GWI GY GZ GZIS HA HAMID KARZAI HARRIET HARRY HAWZ HCOPIL HDP HE HEAVEN HEBRON HECTOR HELGERSON HERCEGOVINA HG HHS HI HIGHLIGHTS HIJAZI HILARY HILLARY HILLEN HIPC HIV HIZ HK HKSX HL HLSX HN HNCHR HO HOA HOSTAGES HPKO HR HRC HRCS HRICTY HRIGHTS HRKSTC HSI HSTC HSWG HT HTCG HTSC HU HUD HUM HUMAN HUMANITARIAN HUMANR HUMANRIGHTS HUMOR HUMRIT HUNRC HURI HURRICANE HYDE HYLAND HYMPSK HZ IA IACHR IACI IACO IACW IADB IAEA IAES IAHRC IAIE IAII IASA IATTC IAZ IBB IBD IBET IBPCA IBRB IBRD IC ICAC ICAO ICC ICCAT ICCROM ICES ICJ ICRC ICRS ICSCA ICTR ICTY ID IDA IDB IDLI IDLO IDP IDR IE IEA IEAB IEF IF IFAD IFC IFIN IFM IFO IFR IFRC IG IGAD IGF IHO IICA IINS IIP IK IL ILAB ILC ILEA ILO IMC IMET IMF IMMIGRATION IMO IMSO IMTS IN INAUGURATION INCB IND INDO INF INFLUENZA INL INMARSAT INNP INPFC INR INRA INRB INRD INRO INRPAZ INS INSC INT INTEL INTELLECTUAL INTELSAT INTERNAL INTERPOL INV INVI IO IOC IOM IP IPET IPGRI IPK IPPC IPR IPROP IQ IQNV IR IRAN IRAQ IRAQI IRAQI FREEDOM IRC IRCE IRDB IRE IRL IRLE IRM IRMO IRNB IRPE IRQEGION IRS IS ISA ISAAC ISAF ISCA ISCON ISLAMISTS ISLE ISN ISNV ISO ISPA ISPL ISRAEL ISRAEL RELATIONS ISRAELI ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ISSUES ISTC IT ITA ITALIAN ITALY ITECIP ITEIND ITELTN ITER ITF ITIA ITRA ITRD ITU IUCN IV IVIANNA IWC IWI IX IZ IZAORC JA JABER JAM JAMES JAPAN JAT JAWAD JCIC JE JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA JEFFERY JEFFREY JENDAYI JHR JI JIMENEZ JIMENEZ CHILDREN JK JKUS JM JN JO JOHANNS JOHN JOHN BOEHNER JOHNNIE JONATHAN CHAMAN JOSE ANGEL ALZUGUREN PERURENA JOSE NEY MILA ESPINOSA JOSE RAMOS HORTA JOSEPH BIDEN JP JS JSRP JUAN JULIAN RENE KIRCHOFF JUS JY KA KACP KACT KACW KADM KAID KALM KALR KANSOU KAPO KARIM WADE KATRINA KAUST KAWC KAWK KAWL KAWS KAWX KAYLA KBCT KBDS KBEM KBIO KBNC KBTC KBTR KBTS KBWG KCCP KCEM KCERS KCFC KCFE KCGC KCHG KCIP KCIS KCM KCMA KCMR KCOG KCOM KCOR KCPS KCRCM KCRI KCRIM KCRM KCRN KCRO KCROM KCROR KCRP KCRS KCRT KCSA KCSI KCSY KCUL KCUM KCVM KCWI KDCM KDDEM KDDG KDE KDEM KDEN KDET KDEV KDGOV KDGR KDHS KDM KDMR KDP KDRG KDRL KDTB KDUM KE KEAI KEANE KEBG KECF KEDEM KEDM KEDU KEIM KEM KEMPI KEMR KEMS KEN KENV KERF KERG KESO KESP KESS KEVIN KFAM KFCE KFE KFEM KFGM KFIN KFIU KFLD KFLO KFLU KFOR KFPC KFRD KFRP KFSC KFTFN KFTN KG KGCC KGCN KGHA KGHG KGIC KGICKS KGIT KGIV KGKG KGLB KGOR KGOV KH KHDP KHGH KHIB KHIV KHJUS KHLS KHMN KHOURY KHPD KHSA KHSL KHUM KI KIBL KICA KICC KICCPUR KICR KICT KID KIDE KIF KIFR KIIC KIIP KIL KILS KIMMITT KIMT KIND KINF KINL KINP KINR KINT KIPR KIPT KIRC KIRD KIRF KIRL KIRP KIS KISC KISK KISL KISM KISR KITA KIVP KIVR KJAN KJRE KJU KJUS KJUST KJWC KK KKIV KKNP KKOR KKPO KLAB KLAP KLBO KLEG KLFLO KLFU KLHS KLIG KLIP KLPM KLSO KLTN KM KMAC KMAR KMCA KMCC KMCR KMDR KMEPI KMFO KMGT KMIG KMNP KMOC KMPF KMPI KMPIO KMPL KMPP KMPT KMRD KMRS KMSG KMVP KMWN KN KNAO KNAP KNAR KNDP KNEI KNEP KNET KNMP KNN KNNA KNNB KNNC KNNF KNNO KNNP KNNR KNOP KNP KNPP KNPPIS KNPR KNPT KNRG KNRV KNSD KNUC KNUP KO KOC KOCI KOCM KOEM KOGL KOLY KOM KOMC KOMCCO KOMCSG KOMH KOMO KOMS KOR KOSOVO KOUYATE KPA KPAD KPAI KPAK KPAL KPALAOIS KPAM KPAO KPAS KPBT KPDD KPEM KPEO KPER KPET KPIN KPIR KPKO KPKP KPLS KPMI KPMO KPO KPOA KPOKO KPOL KPOP KPOV KPOW KPPAO KPPD KPRD KPRM KPRO KPROG KPRP KPRV KPSC KPTD KPTS KPWG KPWR KQ KQM KQRDQ KR KRAD KRAL KRCIM KRCM KRCS KRD KRDP KREC KREF KREISLER KREL KRF KRFD KRFR KRG KRGY KRIC KRIF KRIM KRKO KRM KRMS KRV KRVC KS KSA KSAC KSAF KSCA KSCI KSCS KSCT KSEAO KSEC KSEI KSEO KSEP KSI KSIA KSKN KSLG KSMT KSOC KSOCI KSPA KSPR KSRE KSTC KSTCC KSTCPL KSTH KSTS KSTT KSUM KSUP KT KTAO KTBD KTBT KTCRE KTDB KTDD KTDM KTER KTEX KTFIN KTFM KTFN KTFR KTFS KTIA KTIP KTLA KTNBT KTNF KTPN KTRD KTRF KTSC KTSD KTTB KTTC KTTP KU KUAE KUIR KUM KUNA KUNC KUNH KUNP KUNR KUS KUWAIT KV KVBL KVIP KVIR KVIS KVPR KVRC KVRP KW KWAC KWAK KWAWC KWBC KWBG KWBW KWCI KWCR KWGB KWHG KWIC KWIM KWIR KWKN KWM KWMJN KWMM KWMN KWN KWNM KWNN KWOMN KWPA KWPB KWPG KWPR KWRC KWRF KWRG KWUN KWWT KWWW KX KY KZ LA LAB LABOR LANSANA LANTERN LARREA LARS LAS LAURA LAVIN LAW LB LBAR LBY LE LEAGUE LEB LEBIK LEGAT LEGATT LEIS LEON LEVINE LEW LG LGAT LH LI LIB LICC LIMA LINE LK LMS LN LO LOG LOPEZ LORAN LOTT LOVE LR LS LT LTG LTTE LU LV LVPR LY LZ MA MAAR MACEDONIA MACP MANUEL MANUEL SERGIO GONZALEZ MAP MAPP MAPS MAR MARAD MARANTIS MARIA MARIE MARINO MARITIME MARK MARQUEZ MARR MARS MARTIN MARV MAS MASC MASS MATT MAYA MB MBM MC MCA MCAP MCAPARR MCAPN MCAPP MCAPS MCAT MCC MCCAIN MCCONNELL MCCP MCGRAW MCRM MCTRE MD MDA MDC MDO ME MEA MED MEDIA MEETINGS MENDIETA MEP MEPI MEPN MEPP MERCOSUR MESUR MEX MF MFA MFO MG MGL MGMT MGOV MGT MGTA MH MHUC MI MIAH MIC MICHAEL MICHEL MIGUEL FELIPE CANAHUATI YACAMAN MIGUEL VARGAS MALDONADO MIK MIKE MIL MILI MILITANTS MILITARY MILLENNIUM MINURSO MINUSTAH MITCHELL MJ MK ML MLS MMAR MMED MN MNLF MNNC MNNUC MNU MNUC MNUCH MNUCWA MNUM MNUN MNUR MNUS MNVC MO MOHAMAD MOHAMED HESHAM ELDIN YOUSSEF MOHAMMAD MOLINA MONTENEGRO MONUC MONY MOOPS MOP MOPP MOPPS MOPS MORALES MORG MOROCCO MORS MOS MOTO MOTT MP MPOL MPOS MPP MPS MQADHAFI MR MRCRE MRRR MRS MRSEC MS MSG MSIG MT MTAA MTAG MTCAE MTCR MTCRA MTCRE MTRCE MTRE MTRRE MTS MU MUC MUCN MUKASEY MULLEN MUNC MURAD MURRAY MV MW MX MY MZ NA NAC NACB NADIA NAFTA NAM NAMSA NANCY NAR NARC NARCOTICS NARR NAS NASA NAT NATEU NATGAS NATIONAL NATO NATOAFGHAN NATOBALKANS NATOIRAQ NATOOPS NATOPOLICY NATSIOS NAVO NB NBTS NBU NC NCCC NCD NCT NCTC NDI NDP NE NEA NEC NEGROPONTE NEI NELSON NEPAD NERG NET NEW NFATC NFMS NFSO NG NGO NGUYEN NH NI NICHOLAS NICOLE NIH NIPP NK NKWG NL NLD NLIAEA NLO NMFS NMNUC NMUC NNPT NO NOAA NOI NOK NON NONE NORAD NOTAG NOVO NP NPA NPG NPT NR NRC NRG NRR NRRC NS NSC NSF NSFO NSG NSSP NT NTDB NTSB NTTC NU NUC NUIN NV NW NZ NZUS OA OAO OARC OAS OASC OASCC OASS OAU OBAMA OBS OBSP OCBD OCEA OCED OCHA OCII OCRA OCS OCSE ODAG ODC ODIP ODPC OECD OECS OECV OES OESC OEXC OEXP OF OFDA OFDC OFDP OFDPQIS OFFICIALS OFPD OFSO OGAC OGIV OHCHR OHI OHIP OI OIC OICCO OIE OIF OIG OIIP OIL OIM OLY OLYAIR OLYMPICS OM OMAR OMB OMIG OMS ON ONA OPAD OPBAT OPC OPCD OPCR OPCW OPDAT OPDC OPDP OPEC OPET OPIC OPID OPOC OPPC OPRC OPREC OPREP OPS OPSC OPVIP ORA ORC ORCA ORECD ORED OREG OREP ORGANIZED ORP ORTA ORUE OSAC OSCE OSCI OSD OSEC OSHA OSIC OSTA OSTRA OTA OTAR OTHER OTHERSASNEEDED OTP OTR OTRA OTRABL OTRAO OTRAZ OTRC OTRD OUALI OVIP OVP OXEC OXEM OZ PA PAARM PAC PACE PAGE PAGR PAHO PAIGH PAK PAL PALESTINIAN PAMQ PAN PANAM PAO PAR PARALYMPIC PARCA PAREL PARK PARLIAMENT PARM PARMS PARN PARP PARR PARTIES PARTM PARTY PAS PASS PATRICK WARREN MAHURIN PATTY PAUL PAUM PB PBGT PBIO PBK PBOV PBPTS PBS PBST PBT PBTS PCI PCON PCOR PCRM PCUL PD PDA PDD PDEM PDIP PDOV PDRG PE PEACE PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEDRO PEL PELOSI PEMEX PENA PENV PEPFAR PEPR PER PEREZ PERL PERM PERSONS PET PETER PETERS PETR PETRAEUS PETROL PF PFIN PFLP PFOR PFOV PG PGGOC PGIC PGIV PGKV PGO PGOC PGOF PGOG PGON PGOR PGOT PGOV PGOVE PGOVQL PGPV PGREL PGREV PGV PH PHALANAGE PHARM PHAS PHEM PHIM PHM PHSA PHU PHUH PHUM PHUMHUPPS PHUN PHUS PHYTRP PI PIA PICES PIF PIN PINB PIND PINER PINF PING PINL PINO PINOCHET PINR PINS PINT PINV PIR PIRF PIRN PJUS PK PKAO PKBL PKFK PKISL PKK PKMN PKNP PKO PKPA PKPAL PKPO PKPRP PKST PL PLAB PLAN PLEC PLN PLO PLUM PM PMAR PMAT PMDL PMIG PMIL PMIN PMR PMUC PN PNAT PNET PNG PNIR PNNL PNR PNRG PNS PNUC PNUK PNUM PO PODC POG POGV POINS POL POLG POLI POLICY POLINT POLITICAL POLITICS POLM POLMIL POLS POLUN POREL PORG POSTS POTUS POUS POV POWELL PP PPA PPAO PPD PPEF PPEL PPKO PPOL PQL PQM PRC PRE PREC PRED PREF PREG PREJ PREK PREL PRELEVU PRELM PRELPLS PRELTBIOBA PREM PREO PREP PRER PRES PRESIDENT PRESL PREV PREZ PRF PRFE PRFL PRGO PRGOV PRIL PRIVATIZATION PRL PRLE PRM PRO PROB PROCESS PROG PROL PROLIFERATION PROP PROPERTY PROTECTION PROTESTS PROV PROVE PRT PRTER PRWL PS PSA PSCE PSEC PSEPC PSHA PSI PSNR PSO PSOC PSOCI PSOE PT PTBS PTE PTEL PTEP PTER PTGOV PTIA PTR PTRD PU PUAS PUBLIC PUNE PUNR PUOS PV PVIP PVOV PVPR PVTS PWBG PWMN PY QA QADRI QEL QI QIZ QM QT QU QUAN QUOC RA RAED RAFAEL RAID RAMON RAMONTEIJELO RAS RATIFICATION RAY GUEVARA MILTON RBI RCA RCMP RE REA REACTION REALTIONS RECIN REF REFORM REFPAN REFUGEE REFUGEES REGION REGIONAL REID REIN REINEMEYER REL RELAM RELATIONS RELFREE RELIGIOUS REMON RENAMO RENE PREVAL REO REPORT REUBEN RF RFE RFIN RFREEDOM RGOV RGY RHUM RI RICE RICHARD RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RIMC RIVERA RL RLA RM RMA RO ROBERT ROBERT JOSEPH RODHAM RODRIGUEZ ROK ROME ROOD ROSS ROW ROY RP RPEL RPTS RQ RR RRB RREL RS RSO RSOX RSP RSZ RTT RU RUEHZO RV RW RWANDA SA SAAD SAARC SABAH SACU SADC SAFE SAIR SAIS SALOPEK SAMA SAN SANC SANR SAO SARB SARGSIAN SARS SASC SASEC SASIAIN SB SBA SC SCA SCCC SCE SCENESETTER SCHUL SCI SCIENCE SCNV SCOI SCOL SCOM SCPR SCRM SCRS SCRSERD SCUL SCVL SD SE SEC SECDEF SECI SECRET SECRETARY SECSTATE SECTOR SECURITY SEMAAN GABY EID SEN SENC SENG SENS SENU SENV SENVQGR SENVSPL SENVSXE SEP SERBIA SERZH SETTLEMENTS SEVN SEXP SF SFNV SG SGNV SGWI SH SHANNON SHI SHUM SI SILVASANDE SIMS SIPDI SIPDIS SIPR SIPRNET SIPRS SIUK SK SKCA SKEP SKI SKSAF SL SLM SLOVAK SM SMAR SMI SMIG SMIL SMIT SMITH SMRT SN SNA SNAP SNAR SNUC SO SOC SOCI SOCIA SOCIETY SOCIO SOCIS SOCISZX SOCR SOCY SOE SOFA SOI SOIC SOLI SOLIC SOM SOMALIA SOPN SORT SOSI SOVIET SOWGC SP SPAS SPC SPCE SPCVIS SPECI SPECIALIST SPILL SPP SPSTATE SR SREF SRIT SRS SRYI SSA SSH ST STAG START STATE STC STEINBERG STEPHEN HADLEY STET STP STR STUDENT SU SUCCESSION SUFFRAGE SULLIVAN SUMMIT SUR SUSAN SV SW SWHO SWMN SX SXG SY SYAI SYMBOL SYR SYRIA SYSI SYTH SZ TA TAGS TALAL TAUSCHER TAX TB TBI TBID TBIO TBIOZK TBKIO TBO TC TCOR TCSENV TD TDA TE TECH TECHNOLOGY TER TERAA TERFIN TERR TERROR TERRORISM TF TFIN TG TGRY TH THANH THE THERESE THIRDTERM THKSJA THOMAS THOMAS THOMMA THPY TI TIA TIBO TIFA TINT TIO TIP TITI TIUZ TJ TK TL TM TN TNDG TNGD TO TOPEC TORRIJOS TOURISM TP TPHY TPKO TPP TPSA TPSL TR TRAD TRADE TRAFFICKING TRBIO TRBY TRD TREAS TREASURY TREATY TREL TRG TRGV TRGY TRIO TRSY TRT TRV TRY TRYG TRYS TS TSA TSLP TSPA TSPL TSRL TSRY TSY TT TTFN TU TURKEY TV TVBIO TW TWRO TX TY TZ TZBY UA UAE UAID UAM UB UDEM UE UEU UG UGA UK UKR UKRAINE UM UMIK UN UNA UNAF UNAIDS UNAMA UNAMSIL UNAORC UNAUS UNBRO UNC UNCC UNCDF UNCDN UNCHC UNCHR UNCHS UNCITRAL UNCND UNCOPUOS UNCRED UNCRIME UNCSD UNCSW UNCTAD UNDC UNDEF UNDOF UNDP UNECE UNEF UNEP UNESCO UNFA UNFC UNFCYP UNFF UNFICYP UNFIYCP UNFPA UNGA UNGAPL UNGO UNHCR UNHRC UNICEF UNIDCP UNIDO UNIDROIT UNIFEM UNIFIL UNION UNKIK UNM UNMEE UNMIC UNMIK UNMIKI UNMIKV UNMIL UNMIN UNMOVIC UNO UNODC UNOMIG UNOPS UNP UNPAR UNPUOS UNRCCA UNRCR UNREST UNRWA UNSC UNSCAPU UNSCD UNSCE UNSCER UNSCR UNSCS UNSD UNSE UNTAC UNTERR UNTZ UNUS UNVIE UNYI UP UPU UPUO UR US USAID USAU USCC USCG USDA USDELFESTTWO USEU USG USGS USMS USNC USOAS USOP USPS USPTO USSC USTA USTDA USTR USTRD USTRIT USTRPS 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Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
07CARACAS2158 | BRV DERIDES BADUEL, OPPOSITION REACTS SLOWLY [...] (SBU) Summary: President Hugo Chavez and other senior Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) officials wasted no time in harshly criticizing ex-Defense Minister Raul Baduel for his November 5 press conference urging Venezuelans to vote "NO" in the constitutional referendum. On the other hand, [...] | 2007-11-09 17:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS216 | ROBIN HOOD WAS A SOCIALIST [...] (SBU) During the past two weeks Chavez and other BRV officials have proposed a dizzying array of tax increases, all of which Chavez will have the ability to impose through decrees sanctioned by the new "enabling" law. These proposals maintain the trend of growing the tax burden on individuals [...] | 2007-02-01 13:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2162 | CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM: POLLS SAY CHAVEZ STILL [...] (C) SUMMARY. Local polls have focused on three issues in the lead-up to the December 2 constitutional referendum: likely participation rates, overall support for the referendum, and the popularity of specific reforms. Polls indicate that while Chavez' electoral camp does not necessarily enjoy [...] | 2007-11-09 22:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS217 | INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION VS. THE BRV [...] (C) Summary: International arbitration will become increasingly important to foreign investors as Chavez moves forward with his selective nationalizations and disputes over "prompt, adequate, and effective compensation" arise. Foreign investors have three options to avail themselves of arbitr [...] | 2007-02-01 15:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV PGOV ECON VE |
07CARACAS2172 | CHAVEZ MEETS FARC REP, SANDBAGS COLOMBIA [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Hugo Chavez met November 8 with FARC representative Ivan Marquez and Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba. Although highly anticipated, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) gave the Colombian government no official prior notification. In an unstructured press availa [...] | 2007-11-13 21:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER CO VE |
07CARACAS2173 | WEAK TURNOUT FOR OPPOSITION "NO" MARCH, [...] (C) SUMMARY: The November 11 march convoked by opposition parties advocating voting "No" in the December 2 constitutional referendum failed to generate a significant show of public support. Turnout for the event was likely hurt by a fractured anti-reform movement, recent well attended student [...] | 2007-11-13 22:11:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SCUL VE |
07CARACAS2174 | JEWISH COMMUNITY UNDERSCORES GROWING CONCERNS [...] (C) Summary. The Ambassador met November 9 with fifteen Jewish community leaders to reinforce the USG's commitment to promoting religious freedom in Venezuela. All of the Jewish organization representatives expressed concern that President Chavez's government is fomenting anti-Semitism in Ven [...] | 2007-11-13 22:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS218 | CONOCOPHILLIPS MEETS WITH ENERGY VICE MINISTER [...] (C) SUMMARY: ConocoPhillips (CP) executives met with Energy (MEP) Vice Minister Bernard Mommer on January 31 to discuss the shipment of Cuban oil to the Petrozuata upgrader and the migration of the Petrozuata and Hamaca strategic associations to PDVSA controlled joint ventures. Mommer stated [...] | 2007-02-01 15:45:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS2181 | THE BRV PUTS THE BRAKES ON CAR IMPORTS [...] (C) Summary: On October 31, the BRV issued a resolution requiring all auto importers to obtain a license from the Ministry of Popular Power for Light Industry and Commerce (MILCO) for vehicle imports. The resolution also stipulates that all imported and locally assembled vehicles must run on [...] | 2007-11-14 19:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ETRD VE |
07CARACAS2186 | BRV BOND OFFERINGS TARGET PARALLEL DOLLAR MARKET [...] (C) Summary: The Ministry of People's Power for Finance (MPPF) recently announced a new series of dollar and bolivar-denominated debt issuances for the coming five months. The BRV's stated reason for these issuances was to optimize its debt profile and cover upcoming amortizations. Local an [...] | 2007-11-15 17:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS2187 | CHAVEZ KEEPS SPAT WITH SPAIN GOING [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Hugo Chavez, as well as his political supporters and detractors, are attempting to make political hay out of King Juan Carlos' royal rebuke of Chavez on November 10 at the Iberoamerican summit. The King's "why don't you shut up" sound bite is receiving extensive airpla [...] | 2007-11-15 19:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS2188 | FINANCE MINISTER ACCUSES FEDECAMARAS OF SUBVERSION [...] (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified, please treat accordingly. 2. (SBU) Finance Minister Rodrigo Cabezas went on the offensive November 14 and publicly accused FEDECAMARAS,the country's largest umbrella business organization, of "subversion" for its opposition to the BRV's cons [...] | 2007-11-15 19:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV VE |
07CARACAS219 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANDS CHAVEZ BROAD LEGISLATIVE [...] (C) Summary. The National Assembly (NA) gave final approval January 31 to an omnibus Enabling Law that provides President Chavez with broad authority to issue executive decrees over the next 18 months in eleven areas, including energy. President Chavez is expected to promulgate the measure wi [...] | 2007-02-01 16:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON PHUM VE |
07CARACAS2195 | CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: PLAYERS AND THEIR POSITIONS [...] (C) Summary. The December 2 constitutional referendum is a highly polarized political battle between President Chavez and his extensive base on one side and opposition parties, university demonstrators, Catholic bishops, and important sectors of civil society on the other. President Chavez's [...] | 2007-11-16 19:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2201 | CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM: KELLER POLL SAYS "NO" [...] (C) SUMMARY. Emboffs met November 16 with pollster Alfredo Keller of Keller and Associates to discuss the December 2 referendum on President Chavez' sweeping constitutional changes. Keller said that based on his current polls the "No" vote appears to be gaining support among Chavistas despite [...] | 2007-11-19 17:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS2203 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: FATF STATEMENT AND GUIDANCE ON [...] (C) Emboffs delivered Ref A demarche on the recent Financial Action Task Force (FATF) decisions concerning Iran to Yaneth Arocha, Director of the MFA's Office of North American Affairs, and, separately, to Francisco Canela, Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (UNIF) at the Superintend [...] | 2007-11-19 20:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MNUC ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS2207 | CHINA LOANS VENEZUELA USD FOUR BILLION TO BE [...] (U) SUMMARY: BRV President Hugo Chavez and PRC Vice Minister of the National Committee and Reform Zhang Xiaoqiamg presided over a televised signing ceremony for energy, financial and technology agreements on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at the presidential palace. The main agreement established [...] | 2007-11-20 14:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET CH VE |
07CARACAS2211 | PRO-CHAVEZ PPT PARTY: GRUDGING SUPPORT FOR [...] (C) Summary. The small pro-Chavez party Patria Para Todos (PPT) is reluctantly supporting President Chavez's proposed, sweeping constitutional changes. PPT leaders told PolCouns that Chavez's constitutional package is a "tough sell" within Chavismo, and they predict that it will only narrowly [...] | 2007-11-20 21:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SNAR VE |
07CARACAS2212 | CHAVEZ VISITS IRAN: THE FOURTH TIME IN TWO YEARS [...] (C) On November 19, President Chavez visited Tehran for the fourth time since 2005 and the sixth time since 1998. During the five-hour stop-over, Chavez and his entourage of five ministers and the mayor of Caracas met with President Ahmadinejad and Iranian officials. According to media report [...] | 2007-11-20 21:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PREL IR VE |
07CARACAS2214 | OPPOSITION UCV STUDENT BLOC WINS LANDSLIDE [...] (C) SUMMARY. Opposition-oriented candidates easily won student elections held November 16 at the public Central University of Venezuela's (UCV) campuses nationwide. Student voters elected a new president to the Federation of UCV Colleges (FCU),representatives for each college, and student de [...] | 2007-11-21 14:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SCUL VE |
07CARACAS2215 | BRV APPOINTS DISMISSED JUDGES TO DIPLOMATIC POSTS [...] (SBU) The Foreign Ministry of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) appointed three dismissed appellate court judges to diplomatic posts in Europe and Latin America in late October. Judge Belkis Cedeno is the new consul general to Vigo, Spain. Judge Maikel Moreno is the new commercial [...] | 2007-11-21 14:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS2221 | AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH SHELL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Shell Venezuela President Sean Rooney paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador November 21 to discuss the current operating environment in Venezuela. In contacts with Shell, Energy Ministry and PDVSA working level contacts have significantly increased proposals for new projects and [...] | 2007-11-23 19:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS2225 | REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE-NOVEMBER 21-23 [...] (C) SUMMARY. Pro-government and opposition university students across the country organized demonstrations in support of and against President Chavez' reform package November 21. Opposition student leaders announced that university students will not participate in the opposition's march Novem [...] | 2007-11-23 21:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2226 | CHAVEZ ELECTORAL MACHINE KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Chavez' government and the "Yes" campaign are increasingly one and the same in the run-up to the December 2 referendum on Chavez' proposed, sweeping changes to the constitution. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) is injecting significant personnel and resources [...] | 2007-11-23 21:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL VE |
07CARACAS2228 | BALANCE OF PAYMENTS DATA MAY FORESHADOW CHALLENGES [...] (C) Summary: The Central Bank of Venezuela's (BCV's) third quarter balance of payments data illustrate two important trends: a declining volume of petroleum exports and rapidly growing imports. Imports over the first three quarters of 2007 have grown a hefty 36 percent relative to the same p [...] | 2007-11-26 12:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN EPET VE |
07CARACAS2229 | VENEZUELA: VISIT OF G/TIP'S BARBARA FLECK [...] (C) SUMMARY. Barbara Fleck, Reports Officer for the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP),and Emboffs met with Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) officials and NGOs October 19-23 to discuss the government's anti-trafficking efforts. MFA officials agreed to facilitate [...] | 2007-11-26 14:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KCRM KWMN VE |
07CARACAS2231 | CHAVEZ' COLD WAR WITH COLOMBIA AND SPAIN [...] (C) Summary: President Hugo Chavez publicly announced November 25 that he was putting relations with Colombia "in the freezer" following his dismissal as mediator between Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) by Colombian President Uribe. Describing Uribe with a strin [...] | 2007-11-26 16:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER CO VE |
07CARACAS2238 | REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE-NOVEMBER 23-26 [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez raised for the first time the possibility of defeat at the polls on December 2. Chavez' statements, however, appear aimed more at galvanizing his base than admitting weakness. The Venezuelan Episcopal Conference issued a statement reiterating its concerns about t [...] | 2007-11-27 10:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2243 | CHEVRON'S NEXT MOVES [...] (C) SUMMARY: The BRV has approached Chevron with a proposal to significantly increase production at the former Ameriven strategic association. Petrochina has also offered to partner with Chevron in a Faja project. Chevron is not in a hurry to make additional investments in Venezuela. Labor [...] | 2007-11-27 20:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EPET ENRG EINV ECON CH VE |
07CARACAS2245 | REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE-NOVEMBER 27 [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez reminded his supporters November 26 that a loss for the "No" vote would not end his government or the Bolivarian Revolution. Opposition parties and university students continue to try to mobilize their supporters to participate in the December 2 referendum, emp [...] | 2007-11-27 22:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2254 | REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE-NOVEMBER 27-28 [...] (C) Summary: Political polarization is increasing in the lastweek of campaigning before the December 2 referendm on President Chavez's proposed constitutional eform. A large gap in police coverage allowed pr-reform thugs to storm the fences of Andres Bell Catholic University (UCAB) while stu [...] | 2007-11-28 23:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2258 | REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE-NOVEMBER 28-29 [...] (C) SUMMARY. The "No" bloc held its end-of-campaign rally in downtown Caracas November 29, and initial indications are it is the largest anti-reform rally thus far. Embassy contacts note that the "No" bloc still lacks sufficient electoral witnesses to provide coverage outside of Caracas on e [...] | 2007-11-29 20:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2259 | CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM BY THE NUMBERS [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-29 21:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2260 | STOCK EXCHANGE STRUGGLES FOR RELEVANCE AS STATE [...] (C) Summary: The Caracas Stock Exchange (BVC) has fallen 37 percent this year in the face of nationalizations and the advance of Chavez' socialist economic agenda. BVC management is turning to the BRV to breathe life back into the exchange, asking that the BRV sell some shares in nationalized [...] | 2007-11-30 14:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS2262 | FINAL "NO" CAMPAIGN RALLY YIELDS HIGH TURNOUT [...] (C) Summary: The "No" block successfully mustered a significant public show of support in its November 29 Caracas rally. As many as 100,000 voters attended the final "No" rally before the December 2 constitutional referendum, one of the opposition's biggest crowds in recent history. Univers [...] | 2007-11-30 15:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2263 | VENEZUELA'S CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: A STEP TOWARDS [...] (C) Summary: The BRV's proposed constitutional reform removes unambiguous constitutional protections from intellectual property rights (IPR). The removal of these protections give the BRV more constitutional flexibility to walk away from its IPR obligations or pass anti-IPR laws that would vi [...] | 2007-11-30 16:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KIPR ETRD VE |
07CARACAS2268 | VENEZUELA: TITLE III OF LIBERTAD ACT [...] (C) In response to REF A tasking, Post sees no evidence that the BRV has undertaken policies or actions to advance democracy, human rights, or fundamental freedoms in Cuba over the past year. On the contrary, President Hugo Chavez is Fidel Castro's closest ally and has repeatedly and publicly [...] | 2007-11-30 20:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC CU VE |
07CARACAS2269 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO SELECT NEW OMBUDSMAN, [...] (C) Summary. The National Assembly (NA) is expected to name a new Human Rights Ombudsman, Attorney General, and Comptroller in the coming weeks. Together these positions make up the "Public Power" branch of government, also known as the Moral Republican Council (CMR). The CMR's Candidate Eva [...] | 2007-11-30 20:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2270 | THE REFERENDUM -- AND AFTER: WHAT TO WATCH [...] (C) Summary. The December 2 constitutional referendum is proving to be President Chavez's most difficult electoral test since the 2004 recall referendum, but the Venezuelan president and his supporters still enjoy significant electoral advantages. Both the "Yes" and "No" camps are battling t [...] | 2007-11-30 23:13:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2271 | REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE-NOVEMBER 29-30 [...] (C) Summary: Following the November 29 final, substantial rally of the "No" camp, President Chavez canceled a planned visit to Ecuador. Instead, he prepared for his final "Yes" campaign speech on November 30 rally, while his Zamora Command alleged domestic conspiracies to reject a "Yes" vic [...] | 2007-12-01 15:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2272 | CHAVEZ ALLEGES USG ELECTION INTERFERENCE; [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez told a mass rally November 29 that his electoral battle to win approval of sweeping proposed constitutional changes in the December 2 referendum is really a struggle against the United States and its opposition "lackeys" in Venezuela. As expected, Chavez has ram [...] | 2007-12-01 18:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2273 | REFERENDUM ELECTORAL CONDITIONS A POTENTIALLY [...] (C) Summary: While not a main focus of the referendum campaign, widespread concern over electoral conditions remains, and could become a central issue if the opposition, which believes it has a chance to win, refuses to accept a result which has the no vote losing by a sizable margin. The N [...] | 2007-12-01 18:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2274 | CHAVEZ LOSES CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM [...] (C) Summary. The National Electoral Council (CNE) announced at 1:19 a.m. on December 3 that President Chavez and his supporters failed to win public approval for proposed, sweeping changes to the 1999 Constitution. According to the CNE announcement, Venezuelans voted down both blocks of the 6 [...] | 2007-12-03 17:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL VE |
07CARACAS2284 | WHY CHAVEZ' CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM FAILED [...] (C) Summary: Chavez's defeat in the December 2 constitutional referendum is a rejection of the aggressive, radical agenda which he tried to impose this year. Chavez's sweeping proposals kept many of his supporters from voting, and lead many to vote against him. They also energized new sourc [...] | 2007-12-04 20:47:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2290 | A DEFIANT CHAVEZ DECLARES INTENTION TO REVISIT [...] (C) Summary. After appearing more statesmanlike in his December 4 concession speech, President Chavez lashed out at the opposition during a December 5 news conference, calling the "No" camp's electoral win in a December 2 constitutional referendum a "Pyhrric" and "sh-tty" victory. Chavez decl [...] | 2007-12-06 20:40:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS2294 | CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM: WINNERS AND LOSERS [...] (C) Summary. Venezuelan democracy is the big winner after voters rejected President Chavez' proposed anti-democratic changes to the 1999 Constitution on December 2. There are still few real checks on Chavez' power, but Chavez will be unable to legally impose much of his desired elements of a [...] | 2007-12-07 14:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2301 | EMBASSY CARACAS: TERRORISM FINANCE COORDINATION [...] Name and contact information for Embassy Caracas' Terrorism Finance Coordination Officer (TFCO) and Deputy TFCO are below. TFCO Andrew N. Bowen Economic Counselor 58-212-907-8412 bowenan@state.gov bowenan@state.sgov.gov Deputy TFCO David Galbraith Economic Officer 58-212-907-8406 [...] | 2007-12-07 20:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETTC PTER KTFN VE |
07CARACAS2303 | SIFTING THROUGH THE REFERENDUM RUMOR MILL [...] (C) Summary: Since the polls closed on the December 2 constitutional referendum, Caracas has been rife with rampant rumors about the accuracy of the results and Chavez's willingness to quickly accept defeat. While we may never know the real story of events, the opposition has publicly and pr [...] | 2007-12-07 20:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS231 | AMBASSADOR'S LUNCH WITH TEODORO PETKOFF [...] (C) In a lunch with the Ambassador January 30, long-time leftist and opposition figure Teodoro Petkoff shared his view of the post-election period. While he believed that Chavez would be in power for some time, Petkoff thought the Venezuelan President's aggressive political agenda was planti [...] | 2007-02-02 20:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2319 | VENEZUELAN AIR FORCE ANNOUNCES RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Venezuelan Air Force announced on December 5 the purchase of 12 Russian cargo aircraft to upgrade their heavy lift and in-flight refueling capability. In late October 2007, Rosoboronexport announced that it planned to double or triple its defense industry contracts with the [...] | 2007-12-10 21:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET//NOFORN | MARR MCAP PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2322 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SHARING U.S. CASH COURIER [...] Post forwarded reftel non-paper on December 11 to the head of the Ministry of People's Power for External Relation's North America department, with a copy to the head of the Financial Intellegence Unit of the Superintendency of Banks. We will notify the Department if we receive a substantive [...] | 2007-12-11 15:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ETTC KTFIN PREL PTER ASEC VE |
07CARACAS2325 | CNE UPDATES REFERENDUM RESULTS AND RE-CERTIFIES [...] (U) National Electoral Council (CNE) President Tibisay Lucena released the "final" results of the December 2 constitutional referendum late on December 7 based on 94 of the returns. She reiterated that both blocks of proposed changes to the 1999 Constitution had been defeated. Although some [...] | 2007-12-11 18:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2327 | JEWISH GROUP PROTESTS POLICE SEARCH OF CARACAS [...] (C) Summary. Venezuelan police searched the Caracas Hebrew Center compound in the early morning of December 2, several hours before polling stations opened for the constitutional referendum. The police had a warrant to search for drugs and weapons; they found nothing and left. The Venezuelan [...] | 2007-12-11 19:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2330 | PRESSURE MOUNTS ON VENEZUELA'S EXCHANGE CONTROL [...] (C) Summary: The BRV's exchange control system appears to be coming under increasing pressure, as a persistent and large gap between the official and parallel exchange rates makes acquiring dollars at the official rate the best business in town. Contacts note that CADIVI is falling further b [...] | 2007-12-12 14:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS2346 | PDVSA CASH FLOW PROBLEMS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Multiple oil sector contacts have stated that PDVSA is not paying service companies and has told a number of them that they will not be paid until mid-January or even February. A local analyst also stated that PDVSA had not paid the missions prior to the December 2 constitutional [...] | 2007-12-14 16:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS2348 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: PARIS DONORS CONFERENCE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-14 17:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN PREL PGOV KWBG KPAL IS VE |
07CARACAS235 | CHAVEZ'S SELF-CORONATION; GOES AFTER ELECTRICITY, [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Chavez promulgated the omnibus Enabling Law February 1, an instrument that gives him effectively unlimited power to rule by decree in eleven vaguely-defined areas for the next eighteen months. He then engaged in a rambling four-hour follow-on press conference in whic [...] | 2007-02-02 21:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2350 | AMBASSADOR MEETS GOVERNOR ROSALES [...] (C) Zulia Governor and unsuccessful presidential candidate Manuel Rosales told the Ambassador on December 13 he was optimistic regarding the opposition's chances to win additional mayoral and governor positions in October 2008, but recognized the opposition faced significant hurdles. He was [...] | 2007-12-14 19:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2351 | BRV CALLS ANTONINI INDICTMENTS A U.S. PLOT [...] (C) Summary. In a December 12 press release Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro denounced the Justice Department's arrest of three Venezuelans and one Uruguayan as "a U.S. plot to smear progressive governments in South America". Information and Communication Minister William Lara later told a gov [...] | 2007-12-14 19:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2355 | PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE -- DECEMBER 17 [...] (C) Summary. In the period leading up to and immediately following President Chavez' failed efforts to reform the 1999 constitution, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) continued to systematically harass and threaten independent media outlets and restrict freedom of expression. The op [...] | 2007-12-17 17:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SCUL VE |
07CARACAS2362 | WISHING AWAY THE PARALLEL RATE: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY [...] (U) The National Assembly on December 13 approved a law revising the 2005 law on illicit foreign currency transactions. The new law, which will go into effect pending presidential approval and publication in the Official Gazette, continues to allow the bond transactions on which the parallel [...] | 2007-12-18 15:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS2363 | LULA: TOUCH AND GO IN CARACAS TO DISCUSS TRADE [...] (U) SUMMARY: Brazilian President Lula Da Silva, accompanied by approximately 130 Brazilian business leaders paid a five-hour visit to Caracas on December 13, and met with President Chavez and other senior BRV officials. Nine agreements were signed in the areas of health, agriculture, energy, [...] | 2007-12-18 15:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD ENRG EINV VE BR |
07CARACAS2364 | OPPOSITION LOOKS TOWARD 2008 [...] (C) Summary: Bolstered by its first electoral victory in nine years, the opposition is preparing for the 2008 state and municipal elections, where it hopes to take back a few governorships and mayoral posts. Mainstream opposition parties Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT),Primero Justicia (PJ) and Copei [...] | 2007-12-18 16:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2367 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTS LOYALISTS AS NEW HUMAN [...] (C) Summary. The National Assembly (NA) appointed new members to the "Public Power" branch of government on December 13. Gabriela Ramirez will serve as Human Rights Ombudsman, Luisa Ortega Diaz as Attorney General, and Clobosbaldo Russian will serve a second seven-year term as Comptroller. [...] | 2007-12-18 22:40:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2370 | CHAVEZ RAMBLES ON ANNIVERSARY OF BOLIVAR'S DEATH [...] (C) In a six-hour speech on December 17 from the Pantheon (where Simon Bolivar is entombed),a clearly unhappy President Chavez delivered a particularly rambling discourse in which he attacked in succession "the Empire" (United States),Spain, Colombia and the international press. Speaking on [...] | 2007-12-19 11:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PREL VE |
07CARACAS2371 | AMBASSADOR'S DISCUSSION WITH BARUTA MAYOR HENRIQUE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-19 11:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2380 | NEW BOLIVAR, SAME OLD ECONOMY [...] (C) Summary: The BRV is finalizing plans to change the denomination of its currency. Beginning January 1, 2008, one new bolivar (known during the transition period as the bolivar fuerte, or "strong" bolivar) will be worth 1000 old bolivars. Venezuela's Central Bank has provided what appears [...] | 2007-12-20 19:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2381 | FOOD VULNERABILITIES: BRV POLICY RESPONSES CRACK [...] (SBU) Summary: Thanks to growing demand, inflation, strict price controls and other retrograde BRV economic policies, rolling shortages of basic food staples persist. To try to cope the BRV has rolled out massive open-air markets known as MegaMercals (frequented primarily by poor Venezuelans),[...] | 2007-12-20 19:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAGR VE |
07CARACAS2386 | PUBLIC REPORTING UNDERESTIMATES RISING HOMICIDE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Venezuelan newspaper, El Universal, reported that 315 violent deaths occurred in Caracas during the first two weeks of December, an average of 15.5 per day. The chief coroner (protect) at the Caracas morgue told Poloff that the actual rate was closer to one per hour. El Un [...] | 2007-12-21 12:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KCRM VE |
07CARACAS2388 | CHAVISTA GOVERNOR LEADS PROTEST AT U.S. EMBASSY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Cojedes State Governor Jhonny Yanez Rangel led a small and peaceful protest on December 20 in front of the U.S. Embassy against the arrest of three Venezuelans implicated in the Antonini "valijagate" case. Governor Rangel held a press conference outside the mission and read al [...] | 2007-12-21 19:45:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ASEC PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2396 | ASSEMBLY APPROVES 2007-2013 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL [...] (SBU) On December 13 the National Assembly approved the BRV's "Guidelines for the 2007-2013 Economic and Social Development Plan for the Nation." The two page introduction of the 51 page document outlines President Chavez' vision to further develop "21st Century Socialism." Themes include " [...] | 2007-12-26 20:32:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV VE |
07CARACAS2398 | CHAVEZ'S PLAN AND URIBE'S BURDEN TO RECOVER [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: President Hugo Chavez outlined a plan designed to secure the release of three hostages of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) in a December 26 press conference. The plan calls for the participation of international observers from Venezuela and six other countries [...] | 2007-12-27 15:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER CO VE |
07CARACAS2403 | FOR NOW: CHAVEZ' POST-REFERENDUM OPTIONS [...] (C) Summary. In the wake of his constitutional referendum defeat, President Chavez declared his intention to continue to pursue changes to the constitution, but he has not specified how or when. Amending the constitution is required to make major political changes, such as the elimination of [...] | 2007-12-27 20:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS2404 | BRV HARASSMENT OF POLITICAL OPPONENTS [...] (C) Summary. Despite the Christmas release of retired Army General Francisco Uson from a military prison, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) continues to use the judicial system to intimidate its high profile opponents. The BRV recently initiated hearings against ex-judge Monica Ferna [...] | 2007-12-27 21:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV VE |
07CARACAS241 | JAPANESE AMBASSADOR WORRIED ABOUT INVESTMENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Ambassador met with Japanese Ambassador Matsui, at Matsui's request, on February 2 to discuss the current investment environment in Venezuela. Matsui was clearly concerned about the Japan Bank for International Cooperation's (JBIC) one billion USD loan to PDVSA. Matsui opin [...] | 2007-02-05 21:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS2410 | OPERATION TO RECOVER THREE FARC HOSTAGES BEGINS [...] (SBU) President Chavez personally kicked off what he called "phase one" of "Operation Emmanuel" on December 28 to facilitate the release of three FARC hostages. Chavez led the team of international commissioners from Caracas to the Santo Domingo airfield in the western state of Tachira on his [...] | 2007-12-28 22:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER CO VE |
07CARACAS242 | FM MADURO CONTINUES ATTACKS ON NEGROPONTE [...] (SBU) For the third time in two weeks, Minister of Foreign Affairs (FM) Nicolas Maduro attacked Deputy Secretary-designate John Negroponte, calling him a "confessed SIPDIS and convicted drug dealer". Maduro launched the latest round of insults February 4 at a Caracas military parade marking [...] | 2007-02-05 21:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS243 | VENEZUELA: JUSTICE COWED [...] (C) During the opening of the Supreme Court's 2007 judicial year, Chief Justice Omar Mora laid the legal foundation for President Chavez' "socialist" agenda, and called on the entire judicial system to support Chavez' vision. Most of the initiatives Mora announced to transform the court syst [...] | 2007-02-05 21:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS245 | ROSALES CALLS FOR UNITED FRONT AGAINST [...] (C) Summary. Zulia Governor and de facto opposition leader Manuel Rosales tried to rally opposition to President Chavez and recapture some of his lost momentum in a combative February 1 speech in Caracas. Rosales said that his Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) would unite with several other mainstream op [...] | 2007-02-05 22:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS25 | CHAVEZ NAMES JORGE RODRIGUEZ VP AND PEDRO CARRENO [...] (C) Summary. President Hugo Chavez named former National Electoral Council (CNE) President Jorge Rodriguez to replace Jose Vicente Rangel as Vice President and Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) National Assembly deputy Pedro Carreno to replace Jessie Chacon as Interior and Justice Minister on Jan [...] | 2007-01-04 21:33:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS256 | CARDINAL PREDICTS FURTHER BRV PRESSURE ON CHURCH [...] (C) Summary. Ambassador had lunch February 1 with Cardinal Jorge Cardenal Urosa Savino at the Papal Nuncio's residence. The Venezuelan Cardinal predicted continued Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) pressure against the Catholic Church, noting that the BRV is trying to wrest control of the [...] | 2007-02-06 21:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS264 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CEDES POWER TO CHAVEZ [...] (C) On January 31, the Venezuelan National Assembly (AN) passed the Omnibus Enabling Law, which gives unlimited power to legislate to President Chavez for 18 months. With this act, the 100-percent pro-Chavez National Assembly eagerly and completely abdicated its responsibility as an independe [...] | 2007-02-07 21:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS291 | OUT OF THE GATE INFLATION SURGES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Inflation grew 2 percent in January 2007, the second highest monthly rate in more than a decade. Prices for foodstuffs (food and non-alcoholic beverages) grew even faster at around 4 percent, and have risen 31.1 percent for the 12 months ending in January. BRV officials announce [...] | 2007-02-09 21:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON VE |
07CARACAS293 | FM MADURO RESPONDS TO SECRETARY'S COMMENTS, CUT [...] (U) SUMMARY. Minister of Foreign Affairs (FM) Nicolas Maduro continued his anti-USG comments, this time in response to Secretary Rice's February 7 remarks to the U.S. Congress on the state of democracy in Venezuela. Maduro also reiterated allegations that the U.S. is mounting a "campaign" aga [...] | 2007-02-09 21:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV SNAR VE |
07CARACAS302 | AES AND BRV REACH AGREEMENT ON ELECTRICIDAD DE [...] (C) Summary: AES Corporation and the BRV have reached a deal for the sale of Electricidad de Caracas (EDC),Venezuela's largest private energy company. The BRV will pay AES 739 million U.S. dollars for its 82.14 percent interest in EDC and will buyout minority shareholders at the same price [...] | 2007-02-12 20:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG EINV PGOV VE |
07CARACAS305 | A BILLION HERE, A BILLION THERE, AND PRETTY SOON [...] (C) SUMMARY: Econoffs met with the BNP Paribas Representative to discuss the recent announcement of a USD 1 billion revolving credit facility arranged by BNP for PDVSA. The Minister of Finance recently announced plans for up to a USD 3.5 billion PDVSA bond issue, and PDVSA has also arranged fo [...] | 2007-02-13 13:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EPET ENRG EFIN VE |
07CARACAS306 | CHAVEZ PREPARING MAJOR CHANGES TO CONSTITUTION [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez intends to make profound "socialist" changes to the 1999 Constitution via a constitutional "reform" process this year. Chavez says this effort will "complement" the executive decree-laws that he can issue over the next 18 months courtesy of the Enabling Law (Ref [...] | 2007-02-13 16:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM EINV ECON ENRG VE |
07CARACAS32 | PRISON RIOT IN LARA STATE LEAVES 16 DEAD [...] (U) At least sixteen prisoners were killed in a riot in the early hours of January 2 at the notoriously violent Uribana prison in Lara state. Rival gangs within the prison engaged in brutal violence that left three major gang leaders among the dead, and over a dozen more inmates injured. In [...] | 2007-01-05 18:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM SOCI VE |
07CARACAS321 | VERIZON AGREES TO SELL CANTV SHARES TO THE BRV [...] (SBU) Four days after AES agreed to sell the BRV its interest in EDC (Reftel A),the BRV and Verizon announced February 12 that they had struck a deal for the sale of Verizon's 28.51 percent controlling interest in CANTV. Verizon will be paid USD 572 million for its shares and has indicated t [...] | 2007-02-14 15:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ECPS ENRG PGOV VE |
07CARACAS329 | VENEZUELA: EU DIPLOMAT CONCERNED ABOUT RCTV AND [...] (C) EU First Secretary Denis Daniilidis (protect) told Poloff February 7 that the EU Commission is increasingly concerned about President Chavez' push to implement his "socialist revolution." Daniilidis said the EU mission is organizing a trip to Brussels for Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) [...] | 2007-02-15 13:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM EU VE |
07CARACAS33 | CHANGE IS IN THE AIR IN ECONOMIC MINISTRIES AS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Rodrigo Cabezas, Chairman of the National Assembly's Finance Committee, will be Venezuela's next Finance Minister, replacing current Finance Minister Nelson Merentes. The change is part of a larger re-shuffling of positions by Chavez and will likely be followed by more announce [...] | 2007-01-05 18:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV EFIN VE |
07CARACAS330 | VENEZUELA NOMINATIONS FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S [...] (U) Post identified a number of potential nominees for the Secretary of State's Award for International Women of Courage. Because of the abundance of deserving candidates, post has decided to nominate two Venezuelan Women of Courage for Washington's consideration. Both are working for the s [...] | 2007-02-15 15:08:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KWMN PHUM KPAO VE |
07CARACAS332 | AFTER THE FIRST PASS, BRV GOES ON ATTACK AGAINST [...] (SBU) At a press conference on February 11, Vice President Jorge Rodriguez, Finance Minister Rodrigo Cabezas, and Minister of Light Industries and Commerce (MILCO) Maria Cristina Iglesias announced details of the BRV's anti-inflation pact. Plans include eliminating the Value Added Tax (IVA) o [...] | 2007-02-15 17:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS336 | CHAVEZ: DEATH TO THE U.S. "EMPIRE" [...] (SBU) Summary: President Chavez lashed out (again) at the United States on February 14 and threatened to nationalize supermarkets not abiding by government price controls. Responding to Under Secretary Burns' comments last week on U.S. foreign oil dependence, Chavez downplayed the importanc [...] | 2007-02-15 22:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON ENRG VE |
07CARACAS35 | CHAVEZ PRESSING AHEAD WITH A SINGLE [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez has announced that his intention to form a single "revolutionary" party early in 2007 is firm, although he has not yet specified exactly when or how he plans to form the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Chavez and other leaders of the ruling Fifth Rep [...] | 2007-01-05 21:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS354 | SCENESETTER FOR CODEL JACKSON LEE [...] (SBU) Embassy welcomes the visit of Congresswoman Jackson Lee, the first congressional visitor to come to Caracas since the April 23-24, 2006 visit of Representatives Delahunt and Meeks. Since winning re-election on December 3, President Hugo Chavez has launched the "socialist" phase of the " [...] | 2007-02-16 21:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OVIP PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS357 | PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE [...] (SBU) This press freedom update comes in the wake of President Chavez assuming the power to draft and promulgate decree-laws via an Enabling Law passed January 31 by the National Assembly (reftel b). We expect Chavez and the BRV to continue employing a variety of mechanisms - legal, economic, [...] | 2007-02-16 21:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS358 | CHAVEZ TO LOWER VAT, "STRENGTHEN" CURRENCY AND [...] (SBU) Summary: On February 15, Chavez announced a two stage reduction of the value added sales tax (VAT),which will reduce the tax from 14 percent to 9 percent by July 2007. He also presented a plan for "monetary reform," removing three zeroes places from the bolivar by 2008, to create th [...] | 2007-02-16 21:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG PGOV VE |
07CARACAS359 | SHELL'S OIL SECTOR OUTLOOK: WAIT AND SEE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Shell has been monitoring the strategic association migration negotiations closely and will base future investment decisions on their outcomes. It believes the strategic association partners' decision not to engage the BRV and offer opening negotiating positions was a grave erro [...] | 2007-02-16 21:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS361 | VENEZUELA: CHAVEZ PICKS NEW CHIEF JUSTICE [...] (C) On February 7, Chavez' hand-picked candidate, Luisa Estella Morales, was elected Chief Justice of the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ). Morales, who also sits on the President's constitutional reform committee, retained the presidency of the TSJ Constitutional Chamber and, as [...] | 2007-02-20 02:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KJUS VE |
07CARACAS363 | SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: "THERE IS NO JUSTICE IN [...] (C) Perhaps the sole remaining opposition-leaning Supreme Court Justice Blanca Rosa Marmol bluntly told Poloff during a February 13 meeting that justice no longer existed in Venezuela, as the BRV had fired, intimidated, or co-opted once independent judges, and packed the judiciary with sympat [...] | 2007-02-21 11:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KJUS VE |
07CARACAS366 | 2007 SPECIAL 301 RECOMMENDATION: KEEP VENEZUELA [...] Summary: (SBU) The BRV's protection and enforcement of IPR continues to deteriorate. The market for legitimate music CDs is eclipsed by piracy, with piracy rates for CDs, DVDs, and business software hovering around 80 percent. SAPI, the agency that oversees IPR enforcement and issues patent [...] | 2007-02-21 14:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KIPR VE |
07CARACAS38 | CNPC'S VENEZUELAN WOES [...] (C) SUMMARY: CNPC executives stated Sinovensa, the joint venture between PDVSA and CNPC that produces Orimulsion, no longer produces the product on orders of the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MEP). CNPC views the situation as an expropriation and has reserved its rights to arbitration. T [...] | 2007-01-08 14:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS387 | CHAVEZ WELCOMES KIRCHNER TO VENEZUELA'S OIL BELT: [...] (SBU) Summary: During a 24 hour trip to Venezuela's Faja oil belt, February 21-22, Presidents Kirchner and Chavez announced a new USD 1.5 billion joint "Bond of the South" offering, and the creation of the "Bank of the South" within 120 days. The two presidents also inaugurated Argentina's ( [...] | 2007-02-23 22:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG PGOV |
07CARACAS404 | CHAVEZ' FIRST DECREE UNDER THE ENABLING LAW: [...] (SBU) Summary: The decree-law against speculation and hoarding, the first executive decree introduced by Chavez under the Enabling Law, was published, as amended, in Venezuela's Official Gazette on February 21. This measure criminalizes the hoarding and price speculation of food products sub [...] | 2007-02-26 20:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV VE |
07CARACAS411 | OIL NATIONALIZATION DECREE RAISES QUESTIONS [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Chavez stated on February 26 that the oil nationalization decree required the four strategic associations, the three profit sharing agreements, the Chinese Orimulsion company Orifuels Sinoven S.A. and any other companies "that carry out commercial activities in the Faja [...] | 2007-02-27 16:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS423 | ACTION REQUEST: BRV QUERIES ON MILITARY [...] (C) This is an Action Request; See Paragraph 3, and action recommendation in Paragraph 5. 2. (C) BACKGROUND: In May 2006 the Department announced that the BRV was not fully cooperating with the global war on terrorism. As a result, the USG, though the Arms Export Control Policy, "suspende [...] | 2007-02-28 19:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PGOV PM PREL VE |
07CARACAS424 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS U.S. "WAR PREPARATIONS" [...] (SBU) Summary. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV) anti-American foreign policy recently reached new rhetorical depths. The National Assembly unanimously passed a February 22 resolution that condemns U.S. "war preparations" against Iran (sic) and exhorts all countries to "confront t [...] | 2007-03-01 14:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KNNP PTER IR VE |
07CARACAS426 | BRV PUBLISHES OIL NATIONALIZATION DECREE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The oil nationalization decree, which was published on February 26 but publicly available on February 27, requires the four strategic associations, the three profit sharing agreements, the Chinese Orimulsion company Orifuels Sinoven S.A. and any related entities "that carry out c [...] | 2007-03-01 16:16:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS434 | CODEL JACKSON LEE VISITS CARACAS [...] (SBU) Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee visited Caracas February 19-22. During her visit, she met with representatives of civil society, visited an Embassy supported orphanage, met with union leaders, U.S. businesses, U.S. oil company executives, representatives of the Foreign Ministry, Nation [...] | 2007-03-02 13:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON VE |
07CARACAS444 | LIKELY CHAVEZ RANTS IN ARGENTINA AND BOLIVIA [...] (S) Summary. President Chavez announced February 28 that he will visit Argentina and Bolivia starting on March 9-10, the same time that the President is visiting Brazil, Uruguay, and Colombia. Chavez is publicly criticizing the President's upcoming visit to Latin America and is helping organi [...] | 2007-03-02 18:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET | PREL ETRD VE AR |
07CARACAS446 | HOW, WHY VENEZUELA'S 2007 ENABLING LAW DIFFERS [...] (C) The BRV frequently tries to argue that the Enabling Law (Ley Habilitante) passed January 31 giving Chavez broad power to legislate by decree for the next 18 months is no different from past decree laws. A review of previous Enabling Laws, however, shows that the current law is much broad [...] | 2007-03-02 19:11:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS448 | INSIGHT INTO 3.5 BILLION USD JAPANESE LOAN TO PDVSA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Mitsui & Co. Ltd., Marubeni Corporation, and the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) announced the closing of an agreement with PDVSA on February 23 for 3.5 billion USD, 15 year loan facilities in exchange for contracts that gave both companies rights to negotiate and [...] | 2007-03-02 20:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS470 | FOOD SECURITY IN THE BRV: MERCAL'S WOES [...] (SBU) Summary: Mission Mercal, the BRV's subsidized food distribution network, is plagued with corruption, inefficiency, and mismanagement. Shortages in basic staples have developed in large part because Mercal has fallen 2-3 months behind in imports. Once the poster child of the BRV's mis [...] | 2007-03-05 18:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ECON PGOV VE |
07CARACAS472 | STATOIL: VERY ANNOYED VIKINGS [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to Statoil, the three key issues in the strategic association migrations are compensation, governance, and taxes. Statoil believes it has six months to negotiate the terms of the migration. Financing arrangements will not be a serious issue. Senior BRV energy official [...] | 2007-03-05 20:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS473 | EU AND DOMESTIC OBSERVERS RELEASE FINAL ELECTION [...] (C) The recently released European Union (EU),Ojo Electoral, and Sumate final observation reports on the 2006 presidential election reinforced criticisms of the preliminary versions (Ref A). All criticized President Chavez for his illegal use of government resources in the campaign, BRV off [...] | 2007-03-05 20:43:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS474 | CHAVEZ: NEGROPONTE A "PROFESSIONAL ASSASSIN" [...] (SBU) President Chavez launched his latest round of anti-American insults March 4 as a special guest on the first edition of former-Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel's new Sunday television talk show, "Jose Vicente, Today." Chavez called the Deputy Secretary a "professional assassin," and ac [...] | 2007-03-05 20:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS489 | MPPFA ANNOUNCES LOYAL AMBASSADORS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The Venezuelan Ministry of People's Power for Foreign Affairs (MPPFA) announced a series of new ambassadorial assignments for Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, Central America, and the Caribbean in February. Following the December election, Chavez has moved quickly to place close an [...] | 2007-03-07 11:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET | PGOV PINR PREL VE |
07CARACAS493 | BONOS DEL SUR: ROUND 2 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Venezuela will issue another round of the "Bonos del Sur" on March 8 worth USD 1.5 billion. Preliminary reports indicate that the issuance is more than nine times oversubscribed. Demand for these Venezuelan-Argentinian bonds is well ahead of supply, as the Argentinian half offe [...] | 2007-03-07 16:45:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS502 | VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT DECLARES THE PRESIDENT [...] (C) The National Assembly criticized the President's upcoming trip to Latin America by unanimously adopting a resolution on March 6 that declares the President "persona non-grata" in Latin America and rejects any attempts by him to thwart regional integration and counter Venezuela. Senior Ve [...] | 2007-03-08 15:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS504 | EXXONMOBIL: OUT BY JULY 1? [...] (C) SUMMARY: ExxonMobil (XM) appears to be edging closer to going to arbitration with the BRV over the migration of the Cerro Negro strategic association. However, it still holds out hope that it will be able to sell its stake in the association. XM does not expect to be in Venezuela by July [...] | 2007-03-08 15:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS505 | CARACAS-TEHRAN FLIGHT: BUILDING A BOLIVARIAN [...] (SBU) Summary: On March 2, an Iran Air Boeing 747 touched down in Caracas, carrying 60 passengers on the inaugural flight of the Caracas-Damascas-Tehran route. Iran Air will operate this route once a week as a code-share with Conviasa, the BRV's fledgling state carrier. The inauguration of t [...] | 2007-03-08 15:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL EAIR VE |
07CARACAS511 | MITSUBISHI GOES AFTER MAJOR REFINERY DEAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Mitsubishi trading company is putting together a USD 1.795 billion financing deal tied to the deep conversion project at the Puerto La Cruz refinery. The company believes the deal will come to fruition in one to two years. Mitsubishi also is involved in the shipment of base [...] | 2007-03-08 20:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON JA VE |
07CARACAS512 | PDVSA AND MPPEP ANNOUNCE 2006 RESULTS: BEWARE THE [...] (SBU) Minister for People's Power of Energy and Petroleum (MPPEP) and PDVSA President Rafael Ramirez presented a consolidated financial report on their 2006 results on March 4. The end of year report details PDSVA's activities this past year, including much of its social participation. Accor [...] | 2007-03-08 21:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EPET EINV VE |
07CARACAS52 | CHAVEZ NAMES A "YES" CABINET/PREVIEWS HIS [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez used the televised January 8 swearing-in ceremony for his new cabinet to preview his plans to steer his government toward "socialist" reforms, including expropriations of privatized industries and the revision of Venezuela's commercial code. He also harshly crit [...] | 2007-01-09 21:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PINR VE |
07CARACAS526 | CUBAN OIL CONCERNS RESURFACE [...] (U) Action Requested. Please see paragraph 10. 2. (C) SUMMARY: A senior PDVSA official indicated that the Petrozuata upgrader, which is operated by ConocoPhillips, would be required to process non-Venezuelan crude in the near future. It is not clear where the crude would come from, but [...] | 2007-03-09 16:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS528 | BP: TRYING TO KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP [...] (C) SUMMARY: The USD 250 million in crude that BP and Total received for the Jusepin field was based on capital recovery rather than book or market value. The deadline for negotiations on the strategic associations appears to be June 26 instead of May 1. BP is concerned about support service [...] | 2007-03-09 17:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS53 | TO THE MAT: CHAVEZ TAKES ON INSULZA AND CHURCH [...] (C) SUMMARY In a blustery January 8 address to commemorate the swearing-in of his new cabinet (septel),President Chavez again declared that the non-renewal of RCTV's broadcast license was "irreversible." Chavez lashed out at two actors who urged reconsideration of the RCTV decision, OAS S [...] | 2007-01-09 21:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS531 | VENEZUELA'S BRAIN DRAIN: SEARCHING FOR A PLAN B, [...] (SBU) Over the last two months, President Chavez has heralded a "deepening of the Bolivarian Revolution" with a series of actions, including nationalization of key industries, new threats to foreign investors, aggressive attacks on private industry, and granting himself the power to legislate [...] | 2007-03-09 20:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CVIS CASC ECON SOCI VE |
07CARACAS534 | CHAVEZ AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: DUELING GOSPELS [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez recently renewed his public attacks on the Catholic Church by contrasting the attitude of his "good friend" San Cristobal Bishop Mario Moronta with the "oligarchs" of Venezuela's Episcopal Conference. Chavez highlighted Bishop Moronta's exhortation in a pastora [...] | 2007-03-12 13:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM VE |
07CARACAS542 | BRV RESPONDS TO HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT [...] (SBU) BRV officials reacted angrily to the Venezuela section of the March 6 release of the Department's 2006 Human Rights Report, but their response has been overshadowed by other events. BRV Human Rights Ombudsman German Mundarain said the USG lacked the "moral authority" to speak on human r [...] | 2007-03-12 20:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL VE |
07CARACAS55 | IRAN - BRV VIEWS ON UNSCR 1737 [...] (C) PolCouns delivered the points on UN Security Council Resolution 1737 regarding Iran's nuclear and missile programs (reftel) to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for North American and Multilateral Affairs Yaneth Arocha. Uncharacteristically for the Bolivarian Ministry of Foreign Affair [...] | 2007-01-09 21:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | MNUC KNNP KDGOV VE |
07CARACAS554 | THE FIFTH MOTOR OF THE REVOLUTION SHIFTS INTO [...] (U) Summary: On February 28, Minister of Popular Power for Participation and Social Development David Velazquez and other senior BRV officials announced the BRV's intention to form 32,000 new communal councils (Consejos Comunales) during a crowded inaugural kick-off in Caracas. These new coun [...] | 2007-03-14 13:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON VE |
07CARACAS564 | NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES TO LOCAL TAX LAW PURSUANT [...] (U) This is an action request; please see paragraph 4. 2. (U) Ambassador Brownfield received a letter on March 9 from the Superintendent of Customs and Taxation (SENIAT) informing Post of partial reforms to Venezuelan income tax law in 2006 and 2007. SENIAT delivered this letter pursuant [...] | 2007-03-15 14:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ECON VE |
07CARACAS567 | PRO-CHAVEZ PARTIES PUT BRAKES ON FORMATION OF A [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez' efforts to impose the formation of a United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) on pro-Chavez parties has sparked significant, public divisions among his supporters. The main Chavista party, the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR),is on board with the PSUV, but three [...] | 2007-03-15 15:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM VE |
07CARACAS568 | A STRONG BOLIVAR FOR A STRONG BOLIVARIAN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Central Bank plans to introduce a new currency in Venezuela on January 1, 2008. The new currency, to be called the "Bolivar Fuerte" (or Strong Bolivar),and will have the same value as the current Bolivar, minus three zeros. Prices are supposed to be quoted in the new curr [...] | 2007-03-15 16:37:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS569 | VENEZUELA: A NEW TIME LAUNCHES NATIONALLY [...] (C) Zulia Governor and former opposition presidential candidate Manuel Rosales launched his Zulia-based Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT, or A New Time in English) as a national "alternative opposition" party March 3. The new UNT incorporates Rosales' trusted Zulian advisers and popular Caracas personal [...] | 2007-03-15 19:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS574 | CHAVEZ SHADOWS POTUS TOUR, PROMISING AID AND LATIN [...] (SBU) Summary: During Chavez' March 9-13 "shadow tour" of President Bush's Latin American trip, he continued to aggressively push forward his own brand of dollar diplomacy and the "Bolivarian alternative" of regional financing and integration to counter USG initiatives in the region. Chavez [...] | 2007-03-16 12:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PREL EINT VE |
07CARACAS584 | THE ANTI-BUSH "SHADOW TOUR": CHAVEZ ON THE [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez visited Argentina, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Jamaica March 8-13 in an obvious, but in our view unsuccessful, effort to upstage the President's March 8-14 visit to Latin America (Refs B-D). Upon his return to Venezuela, an unusually defensive Chavez appeared [...] | 2007-03-19 14:36:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS587 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SETS AGENDA [...] (C) Despite ceding almost total legislative power to President Chavez in late January, the National Assembly (NA) has incorporated 26 laws into its legislative agenda, in addition to Chavez' planned constitutional amendments. The agenda includes some important, controversial laws, such as th [...] | 2007-03-19 16:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS59 | CHAVEZ ANNOUNCES PLANS TO NATIONALIZE STRATEGIC [...] (SBU) President Chavez took the opportunity during the swearing-in ceremony for new ministers on January 8 to announce plans to "nationalize telecommunications and strategic areas such as water, (and) electrical energy." He added, "all that was privatized, nationalize them" and specifically s [...] | 2007-01-09 22:10:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PGOV EPET EINV VE |
07CARACAS591 | STUDENT LEADER SEEKS ASYLUM [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Opposition student leader Nixon Moreno emerged from nine months of hiding and petitioned for political asylum March 13 at the Papal Nunciature. The BRV is pursuing criminal charges against Moreno for attempted murder and threatening a policewomen during student clashes at the U [...] | 2007-03-19 21:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM SCUL SOCI VE |
07CARACAS597 | CHAVEZ' ETHANOL HYPOCRISY [...] (SBU) Summary: Subsequent to the ethanol cooperation agreement President Bush signed with Brazil on March 9, Chavez has labeled ethanol as "immoral," accusing the United States of turning "food into fuel." The BRV's reaction is indicative of its hypocrisy. It has actively pursued a domestic [...] | 2007-03-20 21:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENIV ENRG PREL VE CU |
07CARACAS610 | VENEZUELA SIGNS TREATY WITH TNT ON SHARED GAS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: President Chavez and Trinidad and Tobago (TNT) Prime Minister Patrick Manning signed an accord to unify the reserves of two offshore gas fields on March 20. The accord is the first unitization agreement signed in the Western Hemisphere. The agreement will permit both countries [...] | 2007-03-22 17:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS616 | CHAVEZ BLASTS PRO-CHAVEZ PARTIES FOR NOT DISSOLVING [...] (C) Summary. During a March 18 television broadcast, President Chavez strongly criticized and questioned the political loyalty of three prominent pro-Chavez parties, Podemos, Patria Para Todos, and the Communist Party. He urged them to either dissolve and merge into his proposed United Soci [...] | 2007-03-22 21:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM VE |
07CARACAS617 | VENEZUELA: A NEW TIME BUILDING SLOWLY [...] (C) Omar Barboza, Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) party President and confidant of Zulia Governor and de facto opposition leader Manuel Rosales, reviewed the UNT's organizational plans for PolCouns and PolOffs on March 20. Only three weeks into its transition as a national party (Ref A),UNT leaders a [...] | 2007-03-22 21:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS62 | CHAVEZ' SWEARING IN: "SOCIALISM OR DEATH" [...] (C) Summary. At his carefully choreographed January 10 inauguration ceremony, President Chavez staunchly defended and elaborated on his plans to enact profound "socialist" changes in Venezuela as the embodiment of the "will of the people." The Venezuelan president reiterated his intention to [...] | 2007-01-10 21:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS634 | ACTION REQUEST: CLOSURE OF VMAO [...] (C) This is an Action Request -- see Paragraph 3. 2. (C) Post requested February 28 guidance on the status of the Venezuelan Air Force's purchases currently in the pipeline and regarding the removal of items in the Venezuelan Military Acquisitions Office (VMAO) in Miami, Florida. Based on [...] | 2007-03-26 18:16:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PGOV PM PREL VE |
07CARACAS637 | VENEZUELAN JEWISH COMMUNITY COURTS INTERNATIONAL [...] (C) Summary. The Confederation of Jewish Associations in Venezuela (CAIV) attracted considerable international support and media attention for its 40th anniversary celebration on March 24. Argentine First Lady and Senator Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner electrified the audience of several hu [...] | 2007-03-26 21:43:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS655 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEMANDS U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ [...] (C) Summary. The National Assembly passed a March 20 resolution calling for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. and coalition troops from Iraq. This latest resolution comes on the heels of a February 22 resolution condemning U.S. "war preparations" against Iran (reftel). Having conceded to Chav [...] | 2007-03-28 21:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE IZ |
07CARACAS657 | CHAVEZ USHERS IN NEW WAVE OF LAND EXPROPRIATIONS [...] (U) Summary: During his weekly television program "Alo Presidente" on March 25, Chavez announced the expropriation of 16 estates totaling 330,796 hectares (800,000 acres) of "idle land" in seven Venezuelan states. He added that the armed forces would confiscate and help run an additional 13 [...] | 2007-03-29 14:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV VE |
07CARACAS659 | BRV DRAMATICALLY REDUCES EXXONMOBIL'S OPTIONS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The BRV dramatically reduced ExxonMobil's (XM) options in the strategic association migration negotiations by ruling out the sale of XM's stake in Cerro Negro to third parties. The BRV also stated that the only Citgo/PDVSA asset that could be used to compensate XM is the Chalmet [...] | 2007-03-29 18:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS66 | BRV CONTINUES PRESSURING OIL COMPANIES [...] (C) SUMMARY: The BRV ordered strategic associations to cut production in order to meet OPEC cuts. The order violates the associations' contracts. Continued rhetoric about nationalization raises questions about the development of the Faja. END SUMMARY. ----------------------- ADDING INSU [...] | 2007-01-11 19:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS666 | SERVICE COMPANIES: THE NOOSE BEGINS TO TIGHTEN [...] (C) SUMMARY: PDVSA is considering the formation of one or more service companies that will compete directly with the private sector. In addition to this threat, service companies still face payment delays and a myriad of administrative hurdles in dealing with PDVSA. As a result, private sec [...] | 2007-03-30 17:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS667 | PDVSA'S MEGA USD 5 BILLION BOND ISSUE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On April 12 PDVSA is scheduled to issue USD 5 billion in debt. This bond sale represents the largest issuance of debt in Venezuelan history, and one of the largest for emerging markets. The bonds are dollar-denominated Eurobonds and will almost certainly be resold by most loca [...] | 2007-03-30 18:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN EPET VEN |
07CARACAS669 | CHINESE POLITBURO COMES TO TOWN [...] (SBU) Summary: During Chinese Politburo Member Li Changchun's visit to Caracas March 25-27, Venezuela and China signed six new cooperative agreements in the petroleum sector and reaffirmed a USD 6 billion joint development fund. Chavez assured China that Venezuela would be a trustworthy oil s [...] | 2007-03-30 20:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENIV ENRG EPET PGOV VE CH |
07CARACAS673 | DEMARCHE ON BUILDING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR [...] No summary [...] | 2007-04-02 14:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM ZI VE |
07CARACAS686 | MEETING WITH BANKING SUPERINTENDENT: MONEY [...] (C) Econoffs met with Banking Superintendent Trino Diaz and Director of Venezuela's Financial Intelligence Unit (UNIF) Francisco Canela March 29 to discuss the sector's outlook and to follow-up several anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism finance demarches (refs A and B). Diaz was confide [...] | 2007-04-02 20:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN KTFN VE |
07CARACAS688 | PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE [...] (SBU) This press freedom update comes in the wake President Chavez' plans to "deepen" his revolution and implement "21st century socialism" despite increasing international scrutiny. Within this context, the BRV continues its attacks against independent media outlets. We expect Chavez to con [...] | 2007-04-02 21:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS689 | JAILED OPPOSITION GOVERNOR ESCAPES [...] (SBU) Summary. Eduardo Lapi, former opposition governor of Yaracuy state, reportedly escaped from San Felipe prison late March 31 or early April 1. Lapi, who was identified as a political prisoner in the 2006 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, was arrested in May 2006 on corruption c [...] | 2007-04-02 21:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS699 | CHAVEZ TAKES AIM AT UNION AUTONOMY/CTV PREPARES [...] (C) Summary. During his March 24 speech to promote the creation of a single, pro-government party, President Chavez called union autonomy a "capitalist trap" and demanded that unions join his proposed United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) as part of a "workers front." Manuel Cova, Secret [...] | 2007-04-04 17:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB PHUM PGOV VE |
07CARACAS700 | CNPC'S TAKE ON RECENT BILATERAL AGREEMENTS [...] (C) SUMMARY: CNPC was guardedly optimistic about the recent signing of bilateral petroleum agreements between China and Venezuela (Reftel A). CNPC believes the BRV is still open to foreign investment in the hydrocarbon sector. However, the company is frustrated with negotations to migrate Si [...] | 2007-04-04 21:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS701 | VENEZUELAN ARMY HOSTS U.S. MILITARY DELEGATION [...] (C) SUMMARY. An eight person U.S. Army delegation attended a March 26-30 Conference of American Armies (CAA) seminar on Disaster Relief in Venezuela, the first U.S. military delegation hosted in-country since 2003. U.S. participants were generally well received. Failure to conduct the exerci [...] | 2007-04-04 21:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PGOV PM PREL VE |
07CARACAS709 | AN - TSJ SHOWDOWN MASKS FIGHT FOR SPOILS, CONTROL, [...] (C) A dispute between the National Assembly (NA) and Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) began in late March when the NA condemned a controversial TSJ Constitutional Chamber decision to modify an article of the Venezuelan tax law and opened an investigation that could lead to the justices' impe [...] | 2007-04-10 16:10:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS71 | CHAVEZ'S WAY AHEAD: WORDS TO DEEDS [...] (C) SUMMARY In the wake of President Chavez's January 10 swearing-in, Post offers the following preliminary assessment of how Chavez intends to unfold his "socialist" project in coming months. Chavez has been foreshadowing most of these moves, and we take him at his word. Untethered by vo [...] | 2007-01-12 11:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
07CARACAS710 | MORE BRV POLICY CONTRADICTIONS: IPR "REFORM" AND [...] (SBU) Summary: Venezuela's withdrawal from the Andean Community (CAN) in April 2006 has created legal uncertainty as to both the present and future legal framework of IPR. Venezuela must now deal with an awkward reality of three concurrent IPR regimes - vestiges of the CAN, outdated domestic [...] | 2007-04-10 16:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD KIPR OTRA VE |
07CARACAS718 | EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE [...] (SBU) The BRV is spending more money than ever before on the back of historically high oil prices. Despite these high oil prices, PDVSA appears to have cash flow problems stemming from its role as the BRV's cash cow. Official production figures exceed most analyst estimates, and PDVSA's abili [...] | 2007-04-11 16:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EPET EINV ENRG VE |
07CARACAS721 | CONOCOPHILLIPS HANGS TOUGH FOR NOW [...] (C) SUMMARY: ConocoPhillips (CP) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Mulva told Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez that CP will turn over operational control of the Petrozuata and Hamaca strategic associations as well as the Corocoro project in the Gulf of Paria on May 1. CP will not contin [...] | 2007-04-11 20:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS725 | VENEZUELA: POLITICAL PRISIONER CONDITIONS WORSEN [...] (C) There are indications that the BRV is stepping up its efforts to demean, discourage, and disillusion its political prisoners. Former police commissioners Ivan Simonovis, Lazaro Forero, and Henry Vivas launched a hunger strike April 10 to protest the deplorable conditions in the prison to [...] | 2007-04-12 14:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS733 | ENERGY MINISTER RAMIREZ' MAY 3 SPEECH IN HOUSTON [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see Paragraph 3. 2. (SBU) Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez is scheduled to give a major speech on May 3 at the 2007 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas. The speech will occur two days after PDVSA assumes operational control of the four strat [...] | 2007-04-12 21:23:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS741 | PDVSA BONDS POSTMORTEM [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On April 12, PDVSA issued USD 7.5 billion worth of bonds. The issuance, an increase over the USD 5 billion originally offered, was divided between three securities, yielding 5.25 percent, 5.3 percent and 5.5 percent, and maturing in 2017, 2027, and 2037, respectively. The bonds [...] | 2007-04-13 21:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ENRG VE |
07CARACAS763 | CAPRILES BACK IN COURT [...] (C) SUMMARY. Opposition mayor of Baruta municipality Henrique Capriles Radonski appeared in appeals court April 16, following the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV) decision to appeal a lower court's ruling to acquit him December 15. The prosecution argued Capriles failed to impede the [...] | 2007-04-17 20:33:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS766 | CHAVEZ PRESSES RADICAL AGENDA DURING FIFTH [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez exploited the April 11-13 commemorations of the fifth anniversary of the short-lived April 2002 coup to convey some of his most extreme political positions to date, and to buttress "Bolivarian" myths. Specifically, the Venezuelan president ruled out any meaningfu [...] | 2007-04-18 12:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS777 | CHAVEZ PRAISES IRANIAN ASSISTANCE AND DEFENDS [...] (SBU) Summary. President Chavez continues to increase his political support for Iran and facilitate Iran's plans to establish closer relations with the rest of Latin America. Chavez vigorously defended Iran's nuclear ambitions at a recent international women's conference hosted by the Bolivar [...] | 2007-04-18 20:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS781 | THE FIRST SOUTH AMERICAN ENERGY SUMMIT [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Chavez described the First South American Energy Summit (Summit),which was held on Margarita Island on April 17, as a "perfect summit." Chavez ducked a fight with Brazil over ethanol and used the event to showcase his vision of South American integration -- effectively [...] | 2007-04-18 23:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECIN ECON ENRG EPET EINV VE |
07CARACAS787 | VENEZUELA: PROPOSAL SUBMISSION FOR G/TIP FUNDING [...] (U) Per reftel, Post submits the following executive summary of an anti-trafficking in persons project proposal for G/TIP funding. -------------------- Project Information -------------------- 2. (U) Please find the requested project information below: -- Name of the applicant: Internat [...] | 2007-04-20 21:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM ELAB KCRM ASEC PREL SMIG VE |
07CARACAS789 | VENEZUELA CONDEMNS POSADA CARRILES' RELEASE ON BAIL [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez, Foreign Minister Maduro, and the National Assembly have all condemned a U.S. federal judge's decision to order Luis Posada Carriles' release on bail. They have also reiterated the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV's) demands that Posada Carriles be extrad [...] | 2007-04-20 21:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER VE |
07CARACAS805 | 2007 VENEZUELA RECALL PROCESS: A PRIMER [...] (SBU) Summary. Venezuela's constitution permits the recall of elected officials through a petition and referendum process. Venezuelans exercised this mechanism most notably in 2004, in seeking to recall President Chavez. Venezuelans continue to use this constitutional authority actively; the [...] | 2007-04-24 12:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS812 | POOR TURNOUT AT RCTV SOLIDARITY MARCH [...] (C) Summary. The highly publicized April 21 opposition demonstration to protest the government's decision to revoke independent television station Radio Caracas Television's (RCTV's) broadcasting license on May 28 failed to generate a significant show of public support. The march's coordinato [...] | 2007-04-24 21:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS820 | CHAVEZ' SINGLE PARTY: BY UNITING, HE DIVIDES [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez is aggressively forging ahead with his proposal to forge a single pro-government party, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Swearing in over 16,000 red-shirted party promoters on April 19, Chavez announced that a party inscription drive to attract ove [...] | 2007-04-26 15:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS823 | INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BRV: RCTV CLOSURE [...] (C) SUMMARY. As the May 28 deadline for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV's) closure of independent television station Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) approaches, prominent international organizations, legislative bodies, and local support groups are becoming more vocal. Numerous in [...] | 2007-04-26 19:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS825 | OIL COMPANIES SIGN "MOU'S" TRANSFERRING [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ten foreign oil companies signed documents on April 25 transferring operational control of their respective projects to PDVSA or one of its affiliates. Chevron and ExxonMobil broadly differ in their interpretations of the nature of the documents. The documents do not deal with a [...] | 2007-04-26 20:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS83 | BRV RAISES STAKES IN THE FAJA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez announced at a press conference on January 15 that the BRV would enact a law that "nationalized" the four strategic associations in the Faja. Ramirez's comments appeared to confuse the concepts of "control" and "nationalization" to take advantage o [...] | 2007-01-16 15:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS833 | CHEVRON PROVIDES MORE DETAILS ON MOU [...] (C) SUMMARY: Chevron believes production at the Hamaca strategic association will decline 30% due to morale issues related to uncertainty among employees. Chevron expects the BRV to adopt a more private sector friendly hydrocarbons policy by 2009 due to production declines and fiscal pressure [...] | 2007-04-27 18:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS84 | CANTV'S PRESIDENT DISCUSSES NATIONALIZATION WITH [...] (C) Summary: Econoffs met with CANTV President Gustavo Roosen and senior staff on January 11 to get their take on Chavez, plans to nationalize the Venezuelan telecommunications giant, of which Verizon owns 28.5 percent. Roosen noted that Chavez surprised everyone with the timing of his annou [...] | 2007-01-16 15:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ECPS ENRG PGOV VE |
07CARACAS843 | POLITICAL PARTIES AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS APPEAL [...] (C) Summary. Opposition political parties and judicial NGO Foro Penal capitalized on the presence of regional heads of state at the April 17 Energy Summit to draw attention to President Chavez and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV's) authoritarian tendencies. Opposition politicians m [...] | 2007-04-30 21:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS861 | CHAVEZ: WORKERS UNITE - BEHIND ME! [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez blasted pro-government union leaders in televised April 30 and May 1 speeches and appealed directly to workers to foster unity by joining his new United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Leaders of both the opposition Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV) [...] | 2007-05-03 18:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS866 | BRV STEPS UP PROSECUTION AND HARASSMENT OF [...] (C) Summary: Since the five-year commemoration of Chavez' temporary ouster in April 2002, the BRV appears to be taking a harder line against political prisoners. The deplorable prison conditions (Ref A) for ex-police commissioners Ivan Simonovis, Henry Vivas, and Lazaro Forero, and the eight [...] | 2007-05-03 20:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS869 | IMF AND WORLD BANK: SO LONG AND THANKS FOR THE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On April 30, President Chavez announced that Venezuela would withdraw from the IMF and World Bank. The announcement, which followed action taken in March by Venezuela to pay off the last of its IMF and World Bank debt and continued negotiations regarding a Bank of the South, tr [...] | 2007-05-03 22:23:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN VE |
07CARACAS9 | ENDING 2006 ON A HIGH [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Caracas Stock Exchange (BVC) is set to end 2006 at a record high (up 155 pct) as investors constrained by currency controls and sitting on piles of cash continue to seek out means to boost returns. As 2006 drew to a close, the BVC's high demonstrates the bubble mentality t [...] | 2007-01-03 15:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS90 | FM MADURO INSULTS NEGROPONTE [...] (U) On January 12, Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro called U.S. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte a "criminal" after Negroponte expressed concern over the state of democracy in Venezuela and Bolivia during a hearing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Grossly misch [...] | 2007-01-16 22:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS906 | THE THIRD MOTOR OF CHAVEZ' REVOLUTION: [...] (C) Summary. President Hugo Chavez and his brother Adan Chavez, are leading ambitious Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) efforts to transform the country's educational system from top to bottom. The proposed reforms and a public education "Morality and Enlightenment" campaign are designe [...] | 2007-05-04 20:16:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB SOCI VE |
07CARACAS907 | PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-05-04 21:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS91 | CHAVEZ AND AHMADINEJAD UNITE TO SAVE THE WORLD [...] (U) President of Iran Mohammed Ahmadinejad kicked off a Latin American tour with a short (hours-long) January 13 stop in Caracas to visit with President Chavez. The trip marks Ahmadinejad's second trip to Caracas in less than six months, having also visited with Chavez in September of last y [...] | 2007-01-16 22:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
07CARACAS92 | RCTVQ,S LAST DITCH FIGHT AGAINST BRV CLOSURE [...] (C) Summary: In a January 11 lunch with ChargQ, Polcouns and A/PAO, RCTV President Marcel Granier outlined his plans for a last ditch defense against the closure of RCTV. He believes he has a strong case under both domestic and international law, but doubts the fairness of the former and e [...] | 2007-01-16 22:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS920 | AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH FORMER VP RANGEL - MAY 4 [...] (C) Summary. The Ambassador met former Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel May 4 and probed as to how the USG could best initiate a pragmatic, bilateral dialogue with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV). Rangel said President Chavez wants dialogue, but U.S. criticism of BRV policies un [...] | 2007-05-08 15:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS930 | VENEZUELA'S DEBT PICTURE [...] (SBU) Venezuela's debt profile is changing, with the BRV financing more domestically and incurring additional debt and liabilities through PDVSA and the Central Bank. External debt as a percentage of GDP remains low (16 percent of GDP) by historical and regional terms; however, "total debt" ( [...] | 2007-05-09 20:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN VE |
07CARACAS931 | CHAVISTAS USE RECALL REFERENDA TO SETTLE SCORES [...] (C) Summary: In late 2006, most of Venezuela's governors, mayors, and local legislators completed the mid-point of their term, at which point they became vulnerable to being recalled. The National Electoral Council has approved requests to initiate recall proceedings against more than 200 mo [...] | 2007-05-09 21:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS949 | MFA LAUNCHES PUBLIC RELATIONS BLITZ ON RCTV [...] (C) SUMMARY. Minister of Popular Power for Foreign Affairs Nicolas Maduro convoked the diplomatic corps May 8 to outline the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV's) justifications for revoking the broadcasting license of independent media outlet Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) on May 28. Th [...] | 2007-05-11 14:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS959 | AN ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT: THE CRACKS ARE SHOWING [...] (SBU) Inflation continues to rise despite government efforts to talk it down, and the government's tools to drain liquidity are increasingly ineffective. Foreign exchange reserves have fallen by 33.5 percent this year. Government spending continues apace, with the BRV running a large, though [...] | 2007-05-11 21:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN SOCI VE |
07CARACAS967 | UPDATE ON THE FAJA STRATEGIC ASSOCIATION MIGRATION [...] (C) SUMMARY: International oil companies (IOCs) believe PDVSA's assumption of operational control on May 1 went relatively smoothly. IOCs stated production numbers are holding stable, but the companies believe PDVSA will begin having problems operating the upgraders by the end of the year. A [...] | 2007-05-15 13:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON ELAB VE |
07CARACAS968 | PSUV MEMBERSHIP DRIVE STARTS SLOW, PICKS UP WITH [...] (C) Summary. Over one million voters have reportedly joined President Chavez' United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) during the first three weekends of party registration. With only three more weekends left in the PSUV's initial membership drive, the PSUV may fall short of Chavez' outsize [...] | 2007-05-15 13:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB PREL VE |
07CARACAS978 | EU PLANS RESPONSE TO RCTV CLOSURE [...] (C) Summary: The international protest against the closure of independent media outlet Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) may be aided if the European Union (EU),which has so far been quiet, adds its voice to the chorus of dissent. Five EU Parliamentarians will visit Venezuela May 16-18 and are [...] | 2007-05-17 18:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS988 | VENEZUELAN PRODUCTION AND OPERATING TRENDS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Private sector contacts place overall Venezuelan production at 2.1 to 2.3 million barrels a day, down from previous estimates of 2.4 to 2.6. The BRV has lifted OPEC production cuts on the four Faja strategic associations. PDVSA has been unable to find additional drilling rigs d [...] | 2007-05-18 20:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS990 | BATTLE OVER RCTV'S CLOSURE HEATS UP [...] (C) Summary. RCTV lost the first of its legal appeals to fend off the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV's) plans to close the independent broadcaster on May 28. Battlelines are hardening between the BRV and proponents of RCTV and freedom of expression. The BRV is forcing private statio [...] | 2007-05-18 21:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM ELAB VE |
07CASABLANCA10 | WOMEN'S NGO SAYS LAW CHANGED, NOT PRACTICE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Volunteers and staff members of the NGO Union for Women's Action say that while Morocco's new Family Code has brought some change, its laws are not followed consistently in practice. Reasons cited include the inclination of some judges to ignore new statutes, the unwillingness of [...] | 2007-01-10 14:23:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PHUM PGOV PREL MO |
07CASABLANCA102 | PROS AND CONS OF INVESTING IN MOROCCO [...] (SBU) Summary. Morocco is an increasingly attractive investment destination, as evidenced by the on-going series of events in Casablanca and other cities to discuss opportunities for potential investors. Many factors make Morocco a good place for Americans to invest, including the FTA, flexib [...] | 2007-06-07 09:15:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN KDEM MO |
07CASABLANCA103 | VISAS VIPER FOR MAY 2007 REPORTING PERIOD [...] (U) Members of the Embassy Rabat and Consulate General Casablanca joint Visas Viper Committee met June 4, 2007. The meeting was chaired by the DCM and attended by the CG and representatives from CONS, RAO, ECON, PAS, RSO, DATT, and DAO. 2. (SBU) The Committee has no names to submit for the [...] | 2007-06-08 11:50:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KVPR CVIS CMGT PINR PTER ASEC MO |
07CASABLANCA117 | ELECTIONS WILL NOT AFFECT MOROCCAN ECONOMY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In general, Casablancans feel that Morocco's political parties lack well-defined economic platforms as they go into the final three months before the September parliamentary election. This is due in part to the fact that many parties are old and have no tradition of presenting e [...] | 2007-06-22 16:38:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN KDEM MO |
07CASABLANCA118 | ALGERIA WEEK IN CASABLANCA PROMOTES ECONOMIC EXCHANGE, HOPE [...] (SBU) Summary: June 26 to July 1 marks Algeria Week in Casablanca, where Algeria is staging a week-long exhibition to promote business and investment opportunities between Morocco and Algeria. While the attendance of key royal family members and senior GOM officials at a lavish kick-off event [...] | 2007-06-29 15:03:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PREL EFIN KDEM AG MO |
07CASABLANCA122 | VISAS VIPER FOR JUNE 2007 REPORTING PERIOD [...] (U) Members of the Embassy Rabat and Consulate General Casablanca joint Visas Viper Committee met July 2, 2007. The meeting was chaired by the DCM and attended by the CG and representatives from CONS, RAO, POL, ECON, PAS, RSO, and LEGATT. 2. (SBU) The Committee has no names to submit for th [...] | 2007-07-03 15:48:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KVPR CVIS CMGT PINR PTER ASEC MO |
07CASABLANCA130 | MOROCCO CAUTIOUSLY INTRODUCES ALTERNATIVE BANKING PRODUCTS [...] (SBU) Summary. Morocco's Central Bank and the Professional Group of Moroccan Banks (GPBM) have moved cautiously in recent months to introduce shariah-compliant financial instruments in Morocco. Banks have been authorized to issue a limited number of Islamic products, but are only allowed to r [...] | 2007-07-11 15:02:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN KDEM MO |
07CASABLANCA135 | GOVERNMENT OF MOROCCO TO SIGN ACCORD WITH UNHCR [...] (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. 2. (SBU) Summary: On June 20, the Government of Morocco announced it would sign a cooperation agreement with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) delivering full diplomatic status to the UNHCR [...] | 2007-07-20 12:31:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM SMIG PREF PREL SOCI MO |
07CASABLANCA148 | FROM DENIAL TO FEAR - THIS SUMMER, CASABLANCANS TALK ABOUT [...] (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified, please protect accordingly. 2. (SBU) Summary: Despite the calm facade in Casablanca since the GOM raised the terrorism threat level on July 6, there is little doubt that its impact has been significant. The July announcement raised questio [...] | 2007-07-27 13:58:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PREL PGOV PHUM MO |
07CASABLANCA16 | 2006 MOROCCO UPDATE OF THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR [...] (U) This message provides requested input for the Department of Labor's annual report on the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Host County's commitment to combat and eliminate them. It updates information provided by Post in 2005 (ref A) concerning Morocco's child labor laws and regulations, la [...] | 2007-01-18 15:38:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB EIND ETRD EAID PHUM SOCI KWMN MO |
07CASABLANCA164 | VISAS VIPER FOR JULY 2007 REPORTING PERIOD [...] (U) Members of the Embassy Rabat and Consulate General Casablanca joint Visas Viper Committee met August 6, 2007. The meeting was chaired by the DCM and attended by the CG and representatives from CONS, RAO, POL, ECON, PAS, RSO, and LEGATT. 2. (SBU) The Committee has no names to submit for [...] | 2007-08-10 11:43:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KVPR CVIS CMGT PINR PTER ASEC MO |
07CASABLANCA168 | A JEWISH LEADER'S PERSPECTIVE IN AN ARAB CITY [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. 2. (SBU) Summary: As President of the Moroccan Jewish community and Ambassador at Large for the GOM, Serge Berdugo has never been shy about expressing his opinions on the situation in the country. Berdugo, however, rarely strays fr [...] | 2007-08-14 17:06:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL PGOV MO |
07CASABLANCA169 | FTA BENEFITS A MIRAGE SAYS MOROCCAN CEO [...] (SBU) Summary: According to Saad Bendidi, Chairman and CEO of palace-controlled conglomerate ONA, the Morocco-U.S. FTA is not significant. This is in part because Morocco produces little to allow it to take advantage of such bilateral agreements. In addition, the U.S. market's complexity make [...] | 2007-08-15 09:49:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFTA EFIN ETRD ECIN BEXP MO |
07CASABLANCA180 | NORTHERN MOROCCO ELECTORATE EXPECTS LITTLE FROM ELECTIONS [...] (C) Summary: In Al Hoceima, on Morocco's Mediterranean coast, estimates of voter turnout vary. Most believe participation will be low, and will not exceed 50 percent. Those interviewed said they would cast their votes based on family and tribal connections or what a candidate had done for the [...] | 2007-09-06 17:28:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PREL MO |
07CASABLANCA181 | VOTE BUYING IN HAHA AND OTHER [...] (C) Summary: During a recent visit to three coastal cities and numerous villages south of Casablanca, Poloff and PD FSN discovered a general lack of interest for the upcoming parliamentary elections, despite the fact that campaign season was in full swing. The dearth of enthusiasm was bla [...] | 2007-09-06 19:03:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | MO PGOV PINR PREL KDEM |
07CASABLANCA186 | VISAS VIPER FOR AUGUST 2007 REPORTING PERIOD [...] (U) Members of the Embassy Rabat and Consulate General Casablanca joint Visas Viper Committee met September 4, 2007. The meeting was chaired by the Casablanca Acting Principal Officer and was attended by representatives from CONS, RAO, DAO, POL, ECON, PAS, RSO, and LEGATT. The Committee submi [...] | 2007-09-12 15:47:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KVPR CVIS CMGT PINR PTER ASEC MO |
07CASABLANCA192 | CASABLANCA PORT'S CONGESTION CRISIS [...] (SBU) Summary. Explanations abound for the Port of Casablanca's congestion crisis, which has emerged over the last month as a major threat to Moroccan exports. Government and port officials suggest that an increase in imports and an overabundance of containers left in storage have precipitat [...] | 2007-09-22 10:47:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EWWT MO |
07CASABLANCA193 | UPPING THE ANTE ON MIGRATION IN MOROCCO:SUB-SAHARANS [...] (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. 2. (SBU) Summary: The GOM insists that the number of Moroccan and sub-Saharan migrants attempting to cross illegally into Europe has decreased significantly in the last 18 months. The Ministry of the Interior (MIO [...] | 2007-09-27 12:58:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM SMIG ELAB MO |
07CASABLANCA195 | DEMYSTIFY THE MOROCCO-U.S. FTA TO PROMOTE IT [...] (SBU) Summary: The Morocco-U.S. FTA has brought many successful results, but Moroccan and American companies continue to seek ways to better understand and take advantage of it. While many Moroccans remain uncertain of how and if they can benefit from the FTA, many Americans remain unaware of [...] | 2007-10-03 16:43:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ETRD EFIN MO |
07CASABLANCA196 | UPPING THE ANTE ON MIGRATION IN MOROCCO: MOROCCAN MINORS [...] (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. 2. (SBU) As the border between Morocco and the EU tightens and more adult Moroccan illegal migrants are apprehended and returned, families are opting to send minor children north in hopes that they will be allowed [...] | 2007-10-05 11:05:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM SMIG ELAB MO |
07CASABLANCA198 | CASABLANCANS' ANGER OVER PRICE INCREASES HAS DISSIPATED, NOT [...] (SBU) Summary: Anger over price increases in Morocco is not a new phenomenon and can be explained in part by factors such as Ramadan speculation and lack of government planning. At the same time, many Casablancans contend that the problem is worse than in years past. Not only did price increa [...] | 2007-10-11 17:14:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN KDEM MO |
07CASABLANCA200 | VISAS VIPER FOR SEPTEMBER 2007 REPORTING PERIOD [...] (U) Members of the Embassy Rabat and Consulate General Casablanca joint Visas Viper Committee met October 1st, 2007. The meeting was chaired by the DCM and was attended by representatives from CONS, RAO, DAO, POL, ECON, PAS, RSO. The Committee submits twenty-one (21) new names as follows [...] | 2007-10-17 08:47:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KVPR CVIS CMGT PINR PTER ASEC MO |
07CASABLANCA207 | CASABLANCA: POST-ELECTION TALK OF THE TOWN [...] (SBU) Summary: Casablanca, with its diverse population, represents a cross-section of Morocco and reactions here to the recent elections and formation of a new government are revealing. While voter turnout across the country was only 37 percent, it was an embarrassing 27 percent in Casablanca. [...] | 2007-10-26 16:30:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | MO PGOV PINR PHUM |
07CASABLANCA208 | CASABLANCA BUSINESS BUZZ: SEVERAL GOOD MINISTERS, FEW EXPECTAT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: CasablancaQs business community finds the selection o ----------------------------- SEVERAL WELL-CHOSEN MINISTERS ----------------------------- 2. (C) Although most Moroccans expressed disappointment with the select 3. (SBU) Salaheddine Mezouar, former Minister of Indust [...] | 2007-10-26 17:20:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN KDEM MO |
07CASABLANCA209 | CASABLANCA BUSINESS BUZZ: SEVERAL GOOD MINISTERS, FEW EXPECTAT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: CasablancaQs business community finds the selection o ----------------------------- SEVERAL WELL-CHOSEN MINISTERS ----------------------------- 2. (C) Although most Moroccans expressed disappointment with the select 3. (SBU) Salaheddine Mezouar, former Minister of Indust [...] | 2007-10-26 17:22:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN KDEM MO |
07CASABLANCA21 | VISAS VIPER FOR JANUARY 2007 REPORTING PERIOD [...] (U) Members of the Embassy Rabat and Consulate General Casablanca joint Visas Viper Committee met January 29, 2007. The meeting was chaired by the DCM and attended by representatives from CONS, POL, RAO, RSO, ECON, PAS, FCS, and DAO. 2. (SBU) The Committee submits the following 34 names. T [...] | 2007-01-31 11:25:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KVPR CVIS CMGT PINR PTER ASEC MO |
07CASABLANCA210 | CASABLANCA BUSINESS BUZZ: SEVERAL GOOD MINISTERS, FEW EXPECTAT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: CasablancaQs business community finds the selection o ----------------------------- SEVERAL WELL-CHOSEN MINISTERS ----------------------------- 2. (C) Although most Moroccans expressed disappointment with the select 3. (SBU) Salaheddine Mezouar, former Minister of Indust [...] | 2007-10-26 17:25:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN KDEM MO |
07CASABLANCA211 | CASABLANCA BUSINESS BUZZ: SEVERAL GOOD MINISTERS, FEW [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Casablanca's business community finds the selection of the government's new ministers encouraging on the whole. Many were particularly pleased with the new Finance Minister, Salaheddine Mezouar, who has a solid reputation as a capable practician. Despite finding many ministers [...] | 2007-10-27 13:54:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN KDEM MO |
07CASABLANCA228 | VISAS VIPER FOR SEPTEMBER 2007 REPORTING PERIOD [...] (U) Members of the Embassy Rabat and Consulate General Casablanca joint Visas Viper Committee met November 5th, 2007. The meeting was chaired by the DCM and was attended by CONS, RAO, LEGATT, DAO, POL, RSO and CG. The Committee submits no new names, but updates follow. 2. (SBU) Per reftel [...] | 2007-11-20 10:47:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KVPR CVIS CMGT PINR PTER ASEC MO |
07CASABLANCA24 | NGO ON APPEARANCE VERSUS REALITY IN MOROCCO [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The president of the Moroccan Association of Youth Against AIDS (A.M.J.C.S.) shared his perspective on the political and economic context in which Moroccan NGOs operate. His candid comments about government efforts to appear socially responsive, the disconnect between economic g [...] | 2007-02-01 17:54:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PHUM PGOV PREL MO |
07CASABLANCA254 | 2007 MOROCCO UPDATE OF THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR [...] Summary: This message provides requested updates for the Department of Labor's annual report on the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Morocco's commitment to combat and eliminate them. It updates information provided by Post in 2006 and years prior, concerning Morocco's child labor laws and reg [...] | 2007-12-14 19:20:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB EIND ETRD EAID PHUM SOCI KWMN USAID MO |
07CASABLANCA255 | 2007 MOROCCO UPDATE OF THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR - [...] Summary: This message provides requested updates for the Department of Labor's annual report on the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Morocco's commitment to combat and eliminate them. It updates information provided by Post in 2006 and years prior, concerning Morocco's child labor laws and reg [...] | 2007-12-14 19:20:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB EIND ETRD EAID PHUM SOCI KWMN MO |
07CASABLANCA37 | CREATING JOBS OR JUST SKEPTICISM IN MOROCCO [...] (C) SUMMARY: Moukawalati, the GOM's job creation initiative, offers young entrepreneurs loans, guidance and training to start their own businesses, with the ultimate goal of lowering unemployment. The program has been slow to get off the ground since its launch nearly seven months ago. This [...] | 2007-02-27 17:27:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN KDEM MO |
07CASABLANCA42 | MOROCCO: ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. 2. (U) This cable responds to action request (ref A) for updated information on the Moroccan government's efforts to combat trafficking in persons from April 2006 to March 2007. --------------------------------- Morocco Remai [...] | 2007-03-07 16:52:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB MO |
07CASABLANCA46 | VISAS VIPER FOR FEBRUARY 2007 REPORTING PERIOD [...] (U) Members of the Embassy Rabat and Consulate General Casablanca joint Visas Viper Committee met on March 5, 2007. The meeting was chaired by the DCM and attended by representatives from POL, RAO, RSO, ECON, PAS, DAO and LEGATT, with the CG Representing CONS. 2. (SBU) The committee has no [...] | 2007-03-13 09:51:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KVPR CVIS CMGT PINR PTER ASEC MO |
07CASABLANCA57 | GENUINE EFFORTS TO CURB COUNTERFEIT IN MOROCCO? [...] (C) SUMMARY: Difficulties encountered over the past year by the Consumer and Brand Protection Group (CBPG),a working group formed by several multi-national consumer goods companies to address the prevalence of counterfeit merchandise in Morocco, highlights the challenge of practically implemen [...] | 2007-03-20 14:19:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN KDEM MO |
07CASABLANCA64 | MOROCCANS UNEASY THREE WEEKS AFTER BOMBING [...] (SBU) Summary: Three weeks after an Islamic extremist accidentally blew himself up outside an internet caf in the city's notorious slum, Sidi Moumen, the streets of Casablanca remain tense. Since the evening of March 11, when a 23-year-old unemployed Moroccan detonated a belt of explosives he [...] | 2007-04-04 10:05:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | MO PGOV PINR PREL |
07CASABLANCA66 | BANK CEO SAYS OPTIMISM JUSTIFIED IN MOROCCO [...] (C) SUMMARY: When it comes to Morocco, optimism characterizes the view of Othman Benjelloun, chairman and CEO of BMCE Bank. He attributes Morocco's positive environment to a healthy banking sector, a cooperative-minded Central Bank, and a booming economy. BMCE itself is doing well, and will soo [...] | 2007-04-04 18:11:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN KDEM MO |
07CASABLANCA69 | VISAS VIPER FOR MARCH 2007 REPORTING PERIOD [...] (U) Members of the Embassy Rabat and Consulate General Casablanca joint Visas Viper Committee met April 2, 2007. The meeting was chaired by the DCM and attended by the CG and representatives from CONS, POL, RAO, ECON, PAS, FCS, LEGATT, and DAO. 2. (SBU) The Committee submits the names of 27 [...] | 2007-04-06 10:46:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KVPR CVIS CMGT PINR PTER ASEC MO |
07CASABLANCA7 | VISAS VIPER FOR DECEMBER 2006 REPORTING PERIOD [...] (U) Members of the Embassy Rabat and Consulate General Casablanca joint Visas Viper Committee met January 8, 2007. The meeting was chaired by the DCM and attended by the CG and representatives from CONS, POL, RAO, RSO, ECON, PAS, DAO and LEGATT. 2. (SBU) The Committee submits the following [...] | 2007-01-09 15:53:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KVPR CVIS CMGT PINR PTER ASEC MO |
07CASABLANCA71 | SECOND TRANSPORT STRIKE HAS MOROCCANS ON EDGE [...] (SBU) Summary: As Morocco enters the fourth day of its second transportation strike in less then a month, the country's citizens, economy, and government are paying a significant and growing price. The strike, initiated by a group of 46 taxi drivers unions and associations, was initially to l [...] | 2007-04-06 18:55:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV ECON ETRD MO |
07CASABLANCA73 | FRAUD SUMMARY - CASABLANCA [...] SUMMARY: All consular operations for Morocco are located at Casablanca, which is a medium-fraud post where the impact is greater on Immigrant Visas (IV) than on Nonimmigrant Visas (NIV). Post's FPU consists of a (part-time vice consul FPM and one FSN Fraud Investigator (FSN/FI). The majorit [...] | 2007-04-10 13:19:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KFRD CVIS CPAS CMGT ASEC MO |
07CASABLANCA79 | CASABLANCA ON THE MORNING AFTER [...] (C) Summary: Tuesday's events in Casablanca continue to reverberate locally, provoking comment and concern at all levels in the city. The events, as described by police sources here, are now broadly known. Police continue to search for more suspects with possible links to Tuesday's incidents [...] | 2007-04-12 15:10:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | MO PGOV PINR PREL |
07CASABLANCA85 | Varied Reactions to Bombings in Casablanca [...] (SBU) Summary: Nearly six weeks after the first in a series of suicide bombings that shook Casablanca, residents of the city are still grasping for explanations. Finding themselves at a loss for answers, many citizens are reacting to the recent explosions at the U.S. Consulate and privately-ru [...] | 2007-04-27 13:11:00 | Consulate Casablanca | CONFIDENTIAL | MO PGOV PINR PREL |
07CASABLANCA92 | VISAS VIPER FOR APRIL 2007 REPORTING PERIOD [...] (U) Members of the Embassy Rabat and Consulate General Casablanca joint Visas Viper Committee met May 7, 2007. The meeting was chaired by the A/DCM and attended by representatives from CONS, POL, RAO, ECON, PAS, FCS, and DAO. 2. (SBU) The Committee has no names to submit for the April repo [...] | 2007-05-09 16:38:00 | Consulate Casablanca | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KVPR CVIS CMGT PINR PTER ASEC MO |
07CHENGDU100 | LOCAL RELIGIOUS FIGURES ON ISLAMIC RESURGENCE IN CHINA'S [...] (C) Summary: During a series of informal discussions in southern Yunnan Province along China's borders with Vietnam and Laos, local Muslim leaders described with pride the resurgence of Islam in their communities. A recently-completed mosque and religious training school in Najiaying has attr [...] | 2007-04-12 06:00:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI PHUM KIRF CH |
07CHENGDU108 | EXPECTATIONS HIGH FOR RURAL HEALTH CARE IN SOUTHERN SICHUAN [...] (U) SUMMARY: China's voluntary health insurance scheme, the Rural Cooperative Medical System (RCMS) was designed to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for the poor, particularly in the event of catastrophic illness. However, as the RCMS expands to reach the poorest areas, many commu [...] | 2007-05-04 06:56:00 | Consulate Chengdu | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | TBIO EAGR CASC CH |
07CHENGDU12 | AIDS IN TIBETAN AREAS OF SICHUAN PROVINCE [...] (C) Summary: During a recent conference on "Social Changes and Development in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) and other Tibetan Areas," a researcher from the Sichuan Provincial Ethnic Research Institute said the HIV/AIDS situation in Tibetan areas of Sichuan Province has grown more seriou [...] | 2007-01-11 07:58:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | TBIO EAID ECON PHUM PGOV CH |
07CHENGDU123 | HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS -- A MODEL FOR GRASSROOTS GOVERNANCE [...] (C) Summary: Consulate contacts recently described the role of homeowner associations in rights protection at the local level, referring to them as a central point for democratic reforms in China. The homeowner rights movement in Chengdu, which began in 2004, recently resulted in the establis [...] | 2007-05-10 09:29:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SOCI SCUL CH |
07CHENGDU124 | CHINA'S YUNNAN PROVINCE BUILDS OUT TO SOUTHEAST ASIA [...] (C) Summary: Yunnan officials in southwest China see construction of new road, river, and rail links with neighboring ASEAN countries as the key to ending their mountainous and landlocked province's long history of isolation and stimulating economic growth. While provincial authorities disag [...] | 2007-05-15 04:02:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD PGOV SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU126 | YUNNAN HOUSE CHURCH CHRISTIANS LEFT ALONE BY GOVERNMENT WHEN [...] (C) Summary: According to two foreign missionaries and a Chinese Christian, the atmosphere for Yunnan house church Christians has improved in recent years and believers are able to worship with little government interference compared to other areas of China, if they are careful to maintain a d [...] | 2007-05-18 06:15:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV SOCI SCUL KIRF CH |
07CHENGDU128 | SICHUAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS [...] (C) Summary: Sichuan rights activist Zeng Jianyu was recently sentenced to two years in jail for allegedly "trumped up" charges of business fraud. Zeng was reportedly the first popularly elected deputy to a county-level People's Congress in 1992 and well known for his activism on land, envir [...] | 2007-05-18 07:54:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV SOCI SCUL CH |
07CHENGDU129 | CHONGQING SCHOLARS DISCUSS CITY'S DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES [...] (SBU) Summary. In a day of meetings with Chongqing academics, Embassy Beijing Econ M/C and Congenoff heard about some of the city's most pressing issues: the aftereffects of Three Gorges Dam construction, industrial reform, the plight of farmers and migrant workers. In addition, the city serv [...] | 2007-05-18 10:26:00 | Consulate Chengdu | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ELAB PGOV SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU13 | HOW "HARMONIOUS" ARE SICHUAN'S TIBETAN AREAS? [...] (C) Summary: Social unrest in Tibetan areas of Sichuan Province was serious in the first half of 2006, according to an ethnic Tibetan researcher from the Tibet Study Institute of Sichuan University. Ten "mass incidents" involving over 800 people principally stemmed from conflicts in caterpill [...] | 2007-01-11 07:59:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU137 | SICHUAN TIBETAN MONASTERIES: TRYING TO GET THE STORY [...] (C) Summary: During recent meetings that were tightly scripted and filmed at five Buddhist monasteries in Tibetan areas of western Sichuan, abbots and local Religious Affairs Bureau officials gave us the party line in response to questions on specific human rights cases and restrictions on rel [...] | 2007-05-31 07:22:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV CH |
07CHENGDU139 | FAMILY PLANNING IN SICHUAN'S ABA TIBETAN AND QIANG [...] (SBU) Summary: According to the head of the local Population and Family Planning Bureau, both Han Chinese and ethnic minority families in Western Sichuan Province's Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture are permitted to have at least two, and in some cases, three children. The prefectur [...] | 2007-06-01 06:03:00 | Consulate Chengdu | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV CH |
07CHENGDU14 | ON THE ROAD THROUGH SICHUAN'S ABA PREFECTURE [...] (C) Summary. During a recent unofficial visit by Congenoff to Sichuan's Aba Prefecture (an ethnic Tibetan area),head monks at two temples complained of heavy-handed oversight by the Religious Affairs Bureau (RAB),and police and military presences were heavy. Although the prefecture seat of [...] | 2007-01-11 08:00:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON PHUM SCUL SENV CH |
07CHENGDU140 | NOMADIC RESETTLEMENT AND THE NEW SOCIALIST COUNTRYSIDE IN [...] (SBU) Summary: According to local Animal Husbandry Bureau officials in Hongyuan County of western Sichuan Province's Aba (Tibetan: Ngaba) Prefecture, the central government has invested 30 million RMB (USD 3.9 million) to implement the "New Socialist Countryside" and facilitate the transitio [...] | 2007-06-04 08:48:00 | Consulate Chengdu | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU142 | MEETINGS CONDEMNING THE DALAI LAMA HELD IN QINGHAI [...] (U) On May 31 Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that the head of Dungkyab Monastery in Gade County (Chinese: Gande) in Golog Tibetan Prefecture of Qinghai Province was forced to resign for refusing to sign documents condemning the Dalai Lama. The 70-year-old abbot, Khenpo Tsanor reportedly ackn [...] | 2007-06-05 02:52:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV CH |
07CHENGDU143 | SICHUAN RESEARCHER ON CHALLENGES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT [...] (C) Summary: Sichuan Province, the third largest in China, ranks only tenth in terms of economic development, according to Wang Xiaogang (strictly protect),Deputy Director of the Sichuan Development Research Institute. While the purpose of "Scientific Development" is to bridge the gap betwe [...] | 2007-06-05 07:49:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV CH |
07CHENGDU144 | YUNNAN EARTHQUAKE -- TENS OF THOUSANDS LEFT HOMELESS [...] (U) On June 3, Southwest China's Yunnan Province experienced an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale. The quake hit Pu'er City, close to Yunnan's southern border with Burma, killing at least three, injuring 313, and leaving more than 180,000 people displaced, according to Chinese off [...] | 2007-06-05 09:48:00 | Consulate Chengdu | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON CASC CH |
07CHENGDU146 | THE "BALANCES" OF A HARMONIOUS SOCIETY: PERSPECTIVES OF A [...] (C) Summary: In a recent meeting, the Director of the Sichuan Institute of Political Science said the core of the Chinese Government's Harmonious Society guiding philosophy is the balancing of various interests so everyone can enjoy the fruits of development. In addition, Harmonious Society [...] | 2007-06-06 09:20:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SCUL CH |
07CHENGDU148 | SICHUAN RESEARCHER CLAIMS "GREAT IMPROVEMENT" IN CHINA'S [...] (C) Summary: Ruan Zhixiao (strictly protect),a researcher in the Media Research Institution of the Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences (SASS) said there has been "great improvement" in China's media environment, including the coverage of sensitive topics, but that there are still limits. He [...] | 2007-06-08 09:35:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SCUL PHUM KPAO CH |
07CHENGDU152 | LOCAL ISSUES DRIVE DISTURBANCES IN SOUTHWEST CHINA [...] (C) Summary: Early summer has seen the occurrence of several public disturbances in southwest China. Efforts by authorities to crack down on illegal vendors brought many people onto the streets in Chongqing, and a similar case in Chengdu resulted in the severe beating of a bystander. Although [...] | 2007-06-15 03:18:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU157 | CONVERSATIONS IN NORTHERN TIBET [...] (C) Summary: Consulate Chengdu recently accompanied the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on a project monitoring trip to some of the highest and most remote areas of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR). The TAR Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) said it valued U.S. NGO pr [...] | 2007-06-25 07:58:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM ECON PGOV EAID SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU158 | SOCIAL DISTURBANCES FLARE UP IN TIBETAN AREAS [...] (SBU) Summary: In recent weeks there have been three separate social disturbances in Tibetan areas inside and outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR). Accounts of the incidents were originally reported in the international press. Recently, Post was able to confirm and learn more details [...] | 2007-06-25 09:03:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM ECON PGOV SOCI SCUL CH |
07CHENGDU159 | BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILES OF TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION FOREIGN [...] (C) During a recent seven-day road trip through Nagchu Prefecture in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR),Consulate had over 40 hours of "quality" time to dialogue with the TAR Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) official assigned to accompany us to remote field sites. In the course of our trip, in [...] | 2007-06-26 03:46:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL CH |
07CHENGDU161 | CHENGDU PATRIOTIC CHURCH LEADER COOPERATING WITH AMERICAN [...] (C) Summary. A local leader of China's officially-sanctioned Three Selves Patriotic Movement (TSPM) Christian Church and two local American English teachers discussed their cooperation in using expatriate-taught "English camps" and similar programs as a means to introduce local residents to Ch [...] | 2007-06-28 08:58:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV SCUL SOCI KIRF CH |
07CHENGDU182 | TWO MORE MASS INCIDENTS IN CHONGQING [...] (C) Summary. Coming hard on the heels of a spate of recent "mass incidents," (reftel),two more demonstrations in Chongqing appear to have involved thousands of people. One was sparked by the unsolved murder of a middle school student, the other by land takings for industrial development. In [...] | 2007-07-13 08:55:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU19 | GAY AND LESBIAN CHENGDU [...] (C) Summary. Although Chengdu has been nicknamed "gay paradise," gays here still face considerable challenges, and official, social, and family pressures are often sufficiently intense to keep many local gays in the closet. The situation of lesbians is even more difficult, perhaps due to high [...] | 2007-01-22 05:46:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | SOCI EAID PGOV PHUM SCUL TBIO CH |
07CHENGDU192 | TAKING A STROLL DOWN "TIBET STREET" [...] (C) Summary: A recent visit to "Tibet Street" in the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu underscored the neighborhood's role as a magnet for a mostly transient or floating population of ethnic Tibetans, which may number as many as 300,000 during any given year. Some of the area's denizens s [...] | 2007-07-23 02:03:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU195 | TIBETAN LOCAL PARTY SECRETARY SACKED AFTER OUTBREAK OF [...] (C) According to Consulate contacts, west Sichuan Ganzi Prefecture Party Secretary Dorje Rabten was removed from his post following a violent clash on July 13 between two neighboring Tibetan townships (Sumdo and Danba) over caterpillar fungus harvesting rights. The contacts confirmed a July 18 [...] | 2007-07-24 05:40:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU203 | PRESENTING CHENGDU'S COLORFUL FIRST PAKISTANI CONSUL [...] (C) Summary: Recently arrived to assume his duties in Chengdu, Pakistan's first consul general to southwest China may have been picked for his current assignment due to his experience in Burma and military background. The JF-17 fighter aircraft jointly developed and produced by China and Paki [...] | 2007-08-03 01:01:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR MASS PK CH |
07CHENGDU206 | VIOLENCE FLARES ANOTHER YEAR AT LOCAL TIBETAN FESTIVAL [...] (C) Summary. Protests and arrests again marked the opening of a popular festival in Litang in western Sichuan's Ganzi Prefecture, with tensions between ethnic Tibetans and Han Chinese reportedly high. Travelers, local contacts, and the media also report sporadic violent incidents in other ar [...] | 2007-08-03 06:10:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON PHUM CH |
07CHENGDU210 | SECURITY FORCES STEP UP PRESENCE IN LITANG FOLLOWING [...] (C) Several local contacts in Litang told us August 6 that People's Armed Police (PAP) personnel are out in force throughout the town and its surrounding county following a protest that occurred August 1 at the annual Litang Horse Race Festival when a Tibetan nomad, Runggye Adak, seized a micro [...] | 2007-08-06 09:36:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM CH |
07CHENGDU219 | TENSIONS SPREADING FROM TIBETAN TOWN OF LITANG?; ANOTHER [...] (C) Summary: Although local officials may be keen for it not to affect the tourist trade, tensions remain high in the town of Litang in the west of China's Sichuan Province following the arrest of Runggye Adak, a Tibetan nomad who publicly called for the return of the Dalai Lama. Roadblocks a [...] | 2007-08-13 05:52:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM CH |
07CHENGDU220 | SICHUAN OFFICIALS RESPOND TO TIBETAN "LITANG AUGUST 1 [...] (C) Summary: Officials in China's Sichuan Province hope the experience and reputation for toughness of newly-appointed local Party Secretary Liu Daoping will lead to a "calm" resolution of recent ethnic Tibetan disturbances in Ganzi prefecture. In addition to Runggye Adak, another individual [...] | 2007-08-14 07:30:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM CH |
07CHENGDU230 | SOUTHWEST CHINA'S TIBETAN AREAS - SIMMERING TENSIONS AND [...] (C) Summary: Ethnic Tibetan areas of Sichuan and Yunnan are under increased security pressure from government authorities in the wake of demonstrations in the town of Litang in western Sichuan's Ganzi Prefecture that were set off by the arrest of a man calling for the return of the Dalai Lama [...] | 2007-09-06 09:26:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI SCUL CH |
07CHENGDU231 | POLITICAL CONTROL INCREASING IN SICHUAN'S GANZI PREFECTURE [...] (C) Summary: Local sources indicate that officials in Sichuan's Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture are implementing new measures directed at affirming the loyalty of government and religious figures in the prefecture following the "August 1 Litang Incident" (reftel). End summary. 2. (C) [...] | 2007-09-07 08:15:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI SCUL CH |
07CHENGDU235 | TRYING TO DISCUSS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AT TIBET'S TASHILHUNPO [...] (C) Summary: While doing everything possible to dodge our questions during a recent meeting choreographed by the Lhasa Foreign Affairs Office (FAO),a high-ranking monk/official of the Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse did acknowledge that the over decade-long dispute between Chinese authoriti [...] | 2007-09-24 03:58:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU236 | HIV/AIDS AND POLITICAL CONTROLS IN ONE OF TIBET'S MOST [...] (C) Summary: While optimistic their outreach efforts can have a positive impact, Swiss Red Cross representatives in China's Tibetan prefecture of Shigatse believe that a continued overall lack of education and awareness about HIV/AIDS, the spread of prostitution in the wake of increased number [...] | 2007-09-25 08:54:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | KHIV PGOV SOCI ECON CH |
07CHENGDU237 | DETENTION OF TIBETAN STUDENTS IN GANSU; LITANG SECURITY [...] (C) Summary: A Congen contact originally from the area confirmed up to seven ethnic Tibetan boys between the ages of 14-18 were arrested and likely remain in detention in the Ganan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of China's Gansu Province for writing pro-Dalai Lama slogans. According to the cont [...] | 2007-09-25 10:02:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV CH |
07CHENGDU239 | PORTRAIT OF A "HELP TIBET CADRE" [...] (C) Summary: A two-week road trip in remote western areas of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR),throughout which we were closely accompanied by both Tibetan and Han Chinese officials, gave the Consulate a rather unique opportunity to experience firsthand the sometimes tense working dynamic at [...] | 2007-09-27 03:13:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CH |
07CHENGDU243 | EVEREST AND BEYOND -- A RARE GLIMPSE INTO WESTERN TIBET [...] (C) Summary: The remote western areas of China's Tibetan Autonomous Region are a mixture of active military facilities, sensitive religious sites, and vulnerable archeological ruins. The Everest Base Camp, at which a People's Armed Police station was recently added, has become a rather squalid [...] | 2007-10-09 04:29:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR ECON CH |
07CHENGDU247 | CHINA RAMPS UP "PATRIOTIC EDUCATION" OF TIBETANS IN WESTERN [...] (C) Summary: Local contacts confirm Ganzi Prefecture government authorities in China's western Sichuan Province are making an all-out effort to implement a political cleanup of the majority Tibetan area in the wake of public disturbances that occurred during August. "Patriotic education" sess [...] | 2007-10-10 09:56:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM CH |
07CHENGDU252 | ETHNIC TIBETANS REACT TO DALAI LAMA'S GOLD MEDAL [...] (C) Summary: Despite stepped-up security, a number of ethnic Tibetans both inside the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) and in other areas of southwest China reacted to the Dalai Lama's Congressional Gold Medal by praying in monasteries and by setting off firecrackers. Unconfirmed reports indi [...] | 2007-10-19 09:06:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM CH |
07CHENGDU255 | FARMLAND TO FOREST IN SICHUAN: TIME FOR REEVALUATION? [...] (C) Summary. With an uneasy eye on the province's grain supply, Sichuan authorities are taking another look at the province's "Farmland to Forest Conversion" (tui geng huan lin, or FFC) program, originally implemented in 1999. Although authorities claim that the program has brought substantia [...] | 2007-10-25 09:23:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ELAB EAGR PGOV SENV SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU269 | ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL STRESSES ON THE RISE IN THREE [...] (C) Summary: The Three Gorges Reservoir area of Chongqing may be under increasing environmental and social strains. Local authorities are devoting increased attention to the problems of landslides and erosion in resettled areas and recently formed a "specialized research group" to study "geol [...] | 2007-11-26 09:14:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAGR ELAB PGOV SENV SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU272 | GUIDE TO OFFICIAL RELIGIOUS RESTRICTIONS IN SOUTHWEST [...] (SBU) Summary: The religious activities of the official 350,000 Muslims - , Protestants, Buddhists and Catholics in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in Southwest China, are organized according to both national and local religious affairs regulations. While the 2004 State Council regul [...] | 2007-11-27 11:23:00 | Consulate Chengdu | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KIRF PHUM PGOV SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU274 | KUNMING CHURCH FLOURISHES DESPITE RESTRICTIONS [...] (C) Summary: According to the co-pastors of an officially-registered church in southwest China, while person-to-person proselytizing remains severely restricted, the number of Protestants in the city is growing rapidly. The city of Kunming, including subordinate adjacent counties, has 360 a [...] | 2007-11-30 06:43:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU285 | ENCOUNTER WITH SOUTHWEST CHINA PROPAGANDA OFFICIAL [...] (C) Summary: Openly disparaging of the Communist Party's standard propaganda manual, a young Kunming City propaganda department official in southwest China told us of his hopes to work his way up to a comfortable job in a state enterprise. Among other "pearls of wisdom," the widely available [...] | 2007-12-07 09:44:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV CH SOCI |
07CHENGDU286 | KUNMING CATHOLIC NUNS TRY TO REBUILD [...] (C) Summary: According to a nun presiding over a group of ten sisters at the Kunming Sacred Heart Church in southwest China's Yunnan Province, local religious affairs authorities are in general more difficult to work with than their counterparts to the north in Sichuan. The church was able, [...] | 2007-12-07 09:57:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF CH |
07CHENGDU289 | REINCARNATION BEFORE DEATH: MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK [...] (C) Summary: The Dalai Lama's recent statement that he may choose a successor before his death drew accusations from self-styled protectors of religious orthodoxy in the Chinese Communist Party that the Dalai Lama was breaking with Tibetan tradition. According to Congen's Tibetan Buddhist relig [...] | 2007-12-12 03:39:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU290 | ALONG THE CHINA-BURMA BORDER: WWII, DRUGS, HIV, AND JADE [...] (C) Summary: Common ethnic linkages, villages that hug or even straddle the border, a visa-free regime for local residents, spotty security controls, and corruption appear to facilitate a wide-open atmosphere in areas along China's border with Burma. One stretch of road outside the Chinese po [...] | 2007-12-12 09:08:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECON PGOV SOCI SNAR CH |
07CHENGDU292 | HUKOU REFORM IN YUNNAN: BIG TALK, LITTLE ACTION [...] (SBU) Summary. Southwest China's Yunnan Province recently announced it would soon abolish the distinction between urban and rural household registrations (hukou),which if true might lead to dramatic changes in the province's migration patterns. However, financial requirements (announced with [...] | 2007-12-14 09:54:00 | Consulate Chengdu | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ELAB PGOV SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU297 | A PRC SCHOLAR LOOKS AT LHASA'S FLOATING POPULATION [...] (C) Summary: The July 2006 opening of the Qinghai-Tibet railway greatly boosted access to the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) for both tourists and migrant workers, accelerating economic growth and ethnic Han immigration to the TAR. Sichuan University Tibetology Department PhD student Bao Do [...] | 2007-12-20 02:23:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON ELAB PHUM SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU298 | THE TAR'S FLOATING POPULATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE [...] (C) Summary: The completion of the Qinghai-Tibet railroad has accelerated the outsider-driven development of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). Numerous official, academic, and other sources indicate that during at its peak the floating population is at least half of Lhasa's permanent reside [...] | 2007-12-20 03:02:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON ELAB PHUM SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU30 | SOUTHWEST CHINA LEADERSHIP CHANGES FROM THE "PRINCELING" [...] (C) Summary: Discussing the prospects of key local government leaders, a well-connected Congen contact suggested it is possible Chengdu Party Secretary Li Chuncheng's promotion hopes could be somewhat dented due to real estate-related corruption in the city. New Sichuan Party Secretary Du Qin [...] | 2007-01-31 08:22:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON PINR CH |
07CHENGDU300 | CHINA NGO PROJECTS AND STRATEGIES: THE NATURE CONSERVANCY [...] (C) Summary: While the Nature Conservancy (TNC) believes the overall environment for non-governmental organizations to operate in China has been noticeably more difficult during the last few years than during the late 1990's, the increased focus by central and local government authorities on [...] | 2007-12-20 07:43:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | SENV PGOV PHUM SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU31 | SICHUAN PARTY SCHOOL ON IMPLEMENTATION OF "HARMONIOUS [...] (C) Summary: Officials from the Sichuan Province Party School and Organization Department said the Harmonious Society doctrine represents a significant change from the "class struggle"-oriented Marxism that was the former ideological focus of Party member education. While actual implementati [...] | 2007-02-01 07:29:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV CH |
07CHENGDU32 | GUIZHOU LACKS RESOURCES TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS [...] (C) Summary: A women's issues NGO-founder and researcher from the Guizhou Academy of Social Sciences recently told Congenoff that Guizhou Province -- one of China's poorest -- lacks both human and financial resources to fight trafficking in persons. Guizhou faces a serious problem with traff [...] | 2007-02-01 07:41:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KTIP CH |
07CHENGDU33 | ORANGE GROVES AND CORRUPTION ALONG THE YANGTZE [...] (U) This cable contains business sensitive information - please protect accordingly. 2. (C) Summary. During a recent visit by Consul General and Congenoff to Chongqing's Zhongxian County, U.S. investors in a citrus cultivation project described the many trials and tribulations of trying to [...] | 2007-02-01 09:21:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAGR PGOV SENV CH |
07CHENGDU34 | SOUTHWEST CHINA MUSLIM POPULATION GROWING [...] (SBU) Summary: Poor environmental and living conditions where many Muslims live in China's northwest have contributed to the expansion the Muslim population in the country's southwest provinces. Almost all of Sichuan Province's 200 Imams receive both religious and Arabic language training fro [...] | 2007-02-02 07:04:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KIRF CH |
07CHENGDU35 | CHONGQING ATTORNEY'S FIGHT FOR WORKERS' RIGHTS [...] (SBU) Summary: During a recent discussion with us on the challenges he faces trying to advocate for the rights of migrant workers, former People's Liberation Army soldier and Chongqing attorney Zhou Litai stressed that economic and political realities are putting the viability of his law firm [...] | 2007-02-02 07:34:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB ECON PGOV PHUM CH |
07CHENGDU36 | CHONGQING STRUGGLES WITH RURAL POVERTY, RESETTLEMENT, [...] (SBU) Summary. While Chongqing officials praise their own response to last summer's drought -- the worst in the region in over a century -- and speak optimistically of development prospects, necessary funding for water conservation, education, and health care may be lacking. The city of Fulin [...] | 2007-02-03 10:04:00 | Consulate Chengdu | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAGR ELAB PGOV SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU43 | SICHUAN SCHOLARS ON HARMONIOUS SOCIETY'S ROLE IN POLITICS, [...] (C) Summary: Scholars from the Sichuan Academy of Social Science described to a visiting EAP Desk Officer how the Harmonious Society "guiding philosophy" is being implemented at the provincial level. The policy plays an important role in democratic experiments at the local level, including r [...] | 2007-02-08 09:04:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI PHUM KIRF CH |
07CHENGDU44 | GUIZHOU'S CATHOLIC CHURCH [...] (C) Summary: The Vatican has approved the upcoming ordination of a new bishop for Guiyang, according to a seminarian at the Guiyang North Catholic Church. While Guiyang has few underground Catholic churches, "patriotic" Catholic leaders in Guizhou Province hope to "unite with" underground [...] | 2007-02-09 06:27:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KIRD CH |
07CHENGDU58 | GUIZHOU GRASSROOTS NGOS FOCUS ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT [...] (C) Summary: Grassroots NGOs working on rural development in Guizhou Province have identified education of migrant children, health care, and rural governance as three primary areas of focus. One NGO trains teachers and volunteers who serve the needs of hundreds of migrant children in unregis [...] | 2007-02-27 08:57:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM EAID ELAB SOCI SCUL CH |
07CHENGDU74 | WATER AND LAND USE IN SOUTHEASTERN YUNNAN [...] (SBU) Summary. Although southeastern Yunnan boasts good soils, warm growing seasons, and adequate rainfall, its geology makes agriculture difficult in many areas. Land use patterns show a predominance of Han people in well-watered areas, with minorities tending to farm highland regions with l [...] | 2007-03-20 10:30:00 | Consulate Chengdu | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAGR ELAB PGOV SENV SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU77 | URGING TAR FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON [...] (C) Summary: The Consul General and Beijing Polmincouns urged Director General of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) Ju Jianhua to provide information on the Chinese investigation of the September 30, 2006 shooting (reftel) of border crossers by Chinese border gu [...] | 2007-03-22 01:36:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM EAID SOCI SCUL CH |
07CHENGDU83 | TIBET FEELING THE IMPACT OF RAILROAD LINK FROM QINGHAI [...] (SBU) Summary: The Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) is already feeling the impact of the Qinghai-Tibet rail link that opened in July. Inland Chinese laborers, military personnel and tourists bunk side-by-side on the train as they take advantage of rail travel at a fraction of the cost of air [...] | 2007-03-28 00:34:00 | Consulate Chengdu | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON SENV ELTN EMIN EPET PGOV SOCI CH |
07CHENGDU86 | TAR FAO RESPONSES ON SEPTEMBER 2006 SHOOTING AT NATULA PASS [...] (C) Summary: During a recent Consulate visit to Lhasa, the Director of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) promised to provide us with a written copy of an "official statement" on the September 2006 shooting of a Tibetan nun at the Natula Pass. After our return to [...] | 2007-03-29 08:56:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV CH |
07CHENGDU88 | SED ENVOY HOLMER SEES WESTERN CHINA'S DEVELOPMENT [...] No summary [...] | 2007-04-05 06:38:00 | Consulate Chengdu | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAGR EFIN KIPR PGOV SENV CH |
07CHENGDU89 | INDICATIONS OF SOCIAL TENSIONS IN TIBET [...] (C) Summary: During a recent reporting trip to the Tibetan Autonomous Region, Consulate contacts detailed several examples of religious, inter-ethnic, and Tibetan/Han business disputes. While reports of conflicts between government officials and religious believers receive more international [...] | 2007-04-06 06:31:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM ECON PGOV SCUL CH |
07CHENGDU90 | TAR OFFICIALS TOUT BENEFITS OF NOMAD RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS [...] Summary: According to government officials in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR),policies to resettle Tibetan nomads and pastoralists are not only good for the grassland, but are also good for the people because they improve living conditions and access to education and health care. In the [...] | 2007-04-06 06:43:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PHUM PGOV CH |
07CHENGDU91 | VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESETTLED [...] (C) Summary: In the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR),local Poverty Alleviation, Animal Husbandry and Labor Bureaus are responsible for carrying out the job skills and vocational training programs that complement nomadic and pastoral resettlement policies. Officials acknowledge that changing [...] | 2007-04-06 08:28:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PHUM PGOV CH |
07CHENGDU94 | DEMOLITION OF HOUSING CONTINUING AT LARGE TIBETAN MONASTERY [...] (C) Summary: A reincarnate lama from one of Sichuan's largest and fastest growing Tibetan Buddhist monasteries said local authorities are under orders to control and reduce the number of monks and nuns there. The monastery currently houses 5,000 monks and 3,000 nuns, and local work teams are [...] | 2007-04-09 05:42:00 | Consulate Chengdu | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV CH |
07CHENNAI100 | BANGALORE CALM AFTER CAUVERY RIVER WATER VERDICT [...] (SBU) Summary: Bangalore remained calm on February 6 following an interstate river water tribunal verdict on February 5 over a long-simmering dispute involving the sharing of water that flows through the southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Perceived injustice in Karnataka sparked impro [...] | 2007-02-06 11:01:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KWWT ASEC CASC SOCI KCRM ECON IN |
07CHENNAI103 | ROOTING OUT TRAFFICKING IN ANDHRA PRADESH [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On January 29, G/TIP Trafficking in Persons Coordinator Gayatri Patel and Embassy INL officer met with NGOs and law enforcement officials in Hyderabad, the capital of the south India state of Andhra Pradesh (AP),to review projects to combat the trafficking of women and children [...] | 2007-02-07 11:12:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KWMN SOCI KCRM ELAB PHUM PREL IN |
07CHENNAI143 | TAMIL TIGERS' ARMS SMUGGLING ON THE UPSWING [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Smuggling of arms and bomb-making materials by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam between the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka appears to be on the rise. Indian authorities seized three vessels last week carrying arms and bomb-making material. Most troublingly, one [...] | 2007-02-22 11:43:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PTER IN CE |
07CHENNAI15 | TERROR SUSPECT ARRESTED IN BANGALORE [...] (SBU) Summary: On January 6, Bangalore City Police announced the arrest of Bilal Ahmed Kota, a Kashmiri also known as Imran, on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack. The suspect was arrested at a Bangalore suburb from a private bus coming into the city from north Karnataka. Bangalore pol [...] | 2007-01-08 11:30:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PGOV PINR ASEC CASC IN |
07CHENNAI187 | INDIA'S SECURITY CONCERNS OVER CHINESE BIDDER FORCES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The leftist government in the southeastern Indian state of Kerala has been forced to rebid a $1 billion port project due to the Government of India's refusal - over security concerns - to authorize the participation of two Chinese corporations in the winning proposal. Kerala off [...] | 2007-03-10 11:23:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV EIND EWWT PGOV IN CN |
07CHENNAI198 | LTTE SMUGGLING AND ONGOING FISHERIES DISPUTE RAISE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The recent upswing in smuggling by Tamil Tigers has combined with an ongoing fisheries dispute to mobilize anti-Sri Lanka sentiment in Tamil Nadu. Possibly in an effort to tamp down on smuggling by the Tigers, the Sri Lankan Navy has allegedly fired on Indian fishing vessels re [...] | 2007-03-15 11:24:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PTER EFIS IN CE |
07CHENNAI214 | CHINDIA: TALES OF SYNERGY PREMATURE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: During a January swing through India's high-tech heartland, including Hyderabad and Bangalore, visiting Washington-based econoffs met with India's leading software firms and discussed the challenges these firms face in the China market. Most felt that the media hype about "Chind [...] | 2007-03-20 11:37:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV EIND ETRD IN CN |
07CHENNAI223 | CHINDIA: TALES OF SYNERGY PREMATURE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: During a January swing through India's high-tech heartland, including Hyderabad and Bangalore, visiting Washington-based econoffs met with India's leading software firms and discussed the challenges these firms face in the China market. Most felt that the media hype about "Chind [...] | 2007-03-22 08:28:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV EIND ETRD IN CN |
07CHENNAI224 | INDIA'S SECURITY CONCERNS OVER CHINESE BIDDER FORCES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The leftist government in the southeastern Indian state of Kerala has been forced to rebid a $1 billion port project due to the Government of India's refusal - over security concerns - to authorize the participation of two Chinese corporations in the winning proposal. Kerala off [...] | 2007-03-22 08:36:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV EIND EWWT PGOV IN CN |
07CHENNAI236 | NEW INDIAN URANIUM PROJECT JEOPARDIZED BY ENVIRONMENTAL [...] (U) SUMMARY: As part of a larger plan to meet the growing demand for nuclear fuel, the Government of India is planning a uranium mining project in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh. This project is part of an overall planned expansion of the nuclear sector in Andhra Pradesh. Despite India's des [...] | 2007-03-26 10:38:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EMIN SENV KNPT PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI244 | PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS USED TO DEVELOP TAMIL NADU'S [...] (U) SUMMARY: Deficit budgets and demands for more projects in Tamil Nadu have resulted in a tight funding climate for infrastructure projects. The state government has used public-private partnerships, in the form of dedicated companies known as Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs),to finance much [...] | 2007-03-29 10:43:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ETRD EINV IN |
07CHENNAI250 | QUOTA ISSUE: TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED STRIKE PASSES [...] (SBU) A government-sponsored "bandh" (close-down strike),called jointly by the ruling DMK party and its allies (including the Congress Party),paralyzed the entire state of Tamil Nadu from dawn to dusk on March 31. The government called the strike to protest the Supreme Court's March 29 deci [...] | 2007-04-02 10:19:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM SOCI CASC IN |
07CHENNAI261 | EPA ADMINISTRATOR VISIT TO HYDERABAD PROMOTES COOPERATION [...] The Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Stephen L. Johnson visited Hyderabad on March 30 - 31 to promote U.S.-India cooperation on environmental protection and sustainable economic development. The Administrator met with government officials, business leaders, a [...] | 2007-04-04 09:54:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV ENRG OVIP IN |
07CHENNAI280 | SRI LANKA CONFLICT: SPILLOVER INTO INDIA CONTINUES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The effects of the intensifying conflict between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lankan forces continue to spillover into India's southern state of Tamil Nadu. The death of five Indian Tamil fishermen on March 29, gunned down by unknown assailants, has raised [...] | 2007-04-13 11:34:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PTER EFIS MOPS IN CE |
07CHENNAI281 | CLAIMS OF CIA CONSPIRACIES ABOUND IN KERALA COMMUNIST [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Two warring factions within Kerala's deeply divided ruling party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist),accuse each other of manipulating the media and liberally use the choicest insult: that their media antagonists are bankrolled by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). [...] | 2007-04-16 10:52:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR IN |
07CHENNAI289 | BELLWETHER PROJECT: TAMIL NADU'S MANUFACTURING BOOM [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Two recently announced proposed projects - an almost $1 billion automobile joint venture between India's Mahindra & Mahindra, Nissan, and Renault and a $30 million dollar investment by Dell - highlight Tamil Nadu's continued growth as a manufacturing hub. While Tamil Nadu also [...] | 2007-04-17 10:44:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EIND EINV EFIN PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI303 | KERALA HOPES FOR OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY INVESTMENT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Kerala government officials hope the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratories will set up a research and development facility in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram (also known as Trivandrum). According to state government sources, Kerala is awaiting a forma [...] | 2007-04-24 09:21:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ETRD ETTC PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI31 | BANGALORE TOP COP CONFIDENT ON SECURITY [...] (SBU) Summary: Karnataka's new Director General of Police says multinational companies and other Western interests need not be worried about security in Bangalore, India's high-tech hub and the reported target of recently arrested terror suspects. He assured us, however, that security forces a [...] | 2007-01-12 07:30:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PGOV PINR ASEC CASC IN |
07CHENNAI314 | AFTER CLOSING COKE, KERALA ACTIVISTS TARGET PEPSI [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On April 10, Pepsi won a four-year court battle for survival in Kerala. But the legal victory has spurred a battle on another front: a virulent media campaign directed against it. A similar campaign succeeded in locking out Coca Cola in 2004, despite court verdicts in Coke's f [...] | 2007-05-01 08:51:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ETRD PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI317 | LABOR SHORTAGES EMERGE IN SOUTH INDIA [...] SUMMARY: Five years of rapid economic growth in south India has increased the demand for skilled labor. Businesses are aggressively recruiting talent from elite schools, at the same time training up recruits from lower ranked institutions in an effort to get them ready to contribute. But the [...] | 2007-05-02 07:33:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ELAB EIND EINV EFIN PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI318 | TAMIL NADU SAYS LTTE TO BLAME FOR KILLING AND ABDUCTING [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Through a surprise announcement that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (not the Sri Lankan Navy) shot five Tamil Nadu fishermen dead on March 29 (reftel),Tamil Nadu has embarrassed and silenced Tamil Tiger supporters in the state. The Tamil Nadu government also alleged that [...] | 2007-05-02 07:34:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PTER EFIS IN CE |
07CHENNAI337 | ATTACK ON NEWSPAPER OFFICES KILLS THREE AS DMK SUCESSION [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Three people were killed in an attack on a newspaper after it published a survey suggesting that the younger son of Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister has a huge lead over the older son in popular support to succeed the patriarch of the ruling DMK party. The violence, an infringement [...] | 2007-05-10 11:39:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM CASC IN |
07CHENNAI340 | TELECOM MINISTER DAYANIDHI MARAN RESIGNS; NO IMMEDIATE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Union Communication and Information Technology Minister, the high-profile Dayanidhi Maran sent his resignation to Prime Minister Singh after losing the support of his own DMK party. Maran's fall from the favor of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK party leader Karunanidhi (who als [...] | 2007-05-14 10:41:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI349 | AN ANTI-U.S. ECHO CHAMBER IN BANGALORE'S URDU SPEAKING [...] (SBU) Summary: Deeply felt Muslim resentment over the Iraq war and U.S. policies in the Middle East, as well as misperceptions of American society emerged during a planned literary discussion in Bangalore between Urdu writers and journalists and visiting American author Eddy Harris. End summar [...] | 2007-05-16 06:39:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL OEXC OIIP SCUL KPAO KISL IN |
07CHENNAI353 | ECONOMIC GROWTH DRIVES THE STORY IN SOUTH INDIA [...] SUMMARY: During a May 14-15 visit to Chennai, Charge d'Affaires Geoffrey R. Pyatt surveyed the dynamic economic climate in south India. Mr. Pyatt visited Ford India's manufacturing facility outside of Chennai, Cognizant Technology Solutions' campus in Chennai's IT corridor, and had lunch wit [...] | 2007-05-17 09:05:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EIND EINV EFIN PGOV CVIS CMGT IN |
07CHENNAI363 | BOMBING AT HISTORIC MOSQUE IN HYDERABAD KILLS FIVE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: A bomb exploded at Hyderabad's historic Mecca Masjid, the city's oldest and largest mosque, today at approximately 1:25 p.m. local time, killing five people and injuring many others. The bomb detonated during Friday prayers when the mosque was filled with up to 10,000 worshi [...] | 2007-05-18 13:39:00 | Consulate Chennai | CONFIDENTIAL | CASC IN KISL PGOV PTER |
07CHENNAI365 | HYDERABAD MOSQUE BOMBING: CITY CALM; POLICE SEE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Hyderabad was calm, but tense over the weekend after the May 18 bombing of the Mecca Masjid (ref A). Citizens heeded calls from government and religious leaders to remain peaceful, despite the news that at least five people were killed by the police as the authorities tried t [...] | 2007-05-21 12:29:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PGOV ASEC CASC KISL IN |
07CHENNAI385 | NAXALITES ATTACK POWER PLANT IN ANDHRA PRADESH [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. On May 30, Naxalites attacked a hydroelectric power plant in northeast Andhra Pradesh, causing damage to the plant's control room and injuring one employee. The attack, along with the recent killing of a Congress party functionary, demonstrates the Naxalites' continued ability [...] | 2007-05-31 09:42:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI398 | ANDHRA PRADESH SOFTWARE EXPORTS SOAR; NAIDU FOCUSES ON [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Andhra Pradesh's information technology sector continues to boom, with software exports from the state increasing by almost 50% last year. Despite the growth in IT, politicians of all stripes, including the state's influential former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, are worri [...] | 2007-06-07 11:42:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINT EINV PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI399 | CHIEF MINISTER'S DAUGHTER TO UPPER HOUSE; THE DMK'S FRESH [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi's 39 year-old daughter Kanimozhi is one of the six candidates set to be elected without contest to India's upper house of Parliament (the Rajya Sabha). Although a political novice, Kanimozhi will attract much attention as she is likely to em [...] | 2007-06-08 11:55:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI411 | HYDERABAD, LIKE BANGALORE, EXPANDS JURISDICTION TO MANAGE [...] (U) SUMMARY: Andhra Pradesh recently announced a plan to expand the limits of the state's capital Hyderabad with eye towards improving management of the city's rapid development. The primary purpose of the project, known as Greater Hyderabad, is to mitigate uneven infrastructure development by [...] | 2007-06-18 10:54:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINT EINV PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI412 | SUSPECTED CHIKUNGUNYA INFECTION HAUNTS KERALA [...] (U) SUMMARY: The southern Indian state of Kerala has been gripped by an outbreak of suspected chikungunya infection - a debilitating but non-fatal mosquito-borne viral illness that is not transmitted from human-to-human. With media reports of thousands of people hospitalized in Kerala, nea [...] | 2007-06-18 10:54:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SOCI TBIO PGOV CASC IN |
07CHENNAI43 | TAMIL NADU RICE FARMERS DISRUPT GM CROP TRIALS [...] Summary: Farmers in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu destroyed a trial crop of genetically modified rice grown from seeds provided by Mahyco, Monsanto's Indian affiliate, on November 12. Local farmers allege the trial did not meet Indian bio-safety standards and said they feared possible "con [...] | 2007-01-18 05:07:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ECON ETRD ECIN TBIO IN |
07CHENNAI445 | Plea from NGOs: Don't Downgrade India to Tier 3 [...] SUMMARY: During a July 3 visit to Hyderabad, Ambassador Mulford met with representatives of anti-trafficking NGOs to hear their views on India's efforts to combat trafficking in persons (TIP). The NGO representatives argued that the 2007 TIP report did not sufficiently or accurately acknowledge [...] | 2007-07-09 10:55:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED | SOCI ELAB KCRM KWMN PREL PHUM IN |
07CHENNAI475 | Nuclear-Powered Nimitz Visits Chennai: The Only Emission Is [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The July 2-5 visit of USS Nimitz to Chennai was an overwhelming success, overcoming criticism, protests, and bureaucratic hurdles to make an indelible impression on the bilateral strategic relationship. Citing the incident-free shore visits by thousands of sailors and their read [...] | 2007-07-23 10:19:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MOPS MARR MNUC PREL PGOV KPAO ASEC IN |
07CHENNAI477 | JAYALALITHAA SPLITS INDIA'S THIRD FRONT IN PRESIDENTIAL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: India's United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA),commonly known as the Third Front, failed its first test of unity on July 19 when members of Tamil Nadu's AIADMK, one of the key Third Front parties, voted in India's presidential election rather than abstaining as the Third [...] | 2007-07-24 10:43:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI486 | POLICE SHOOT AND KILL SIX IN ANDHRA PRADESH LAND PROTESTS [...] (U) SUMMARY: On July 28, police shot and killed six villagers in Mudigonda in the Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh after a political protest demanding free land for the poor turned violent. Two other protesters were killed in separate incidents with the police. The protest, sponsored by the [...] | 2007-07-30 11:34:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PHUM IN |
07CHENNAI50 | PDAS Mann in Chennai: Visas, Refugees and Politics [...] (SBU) Summary: During his December 16-17 visit to Chennai, SCA bureau Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Steven Mann met with visa staff and viewed visa processing, had talks with Sri Lankan refugee leaders and discussed politics and Indo-U.S. relations with journalist-insider Malini Parthasa [...] | 2007-01-19 10:28:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PREF PHUM CMGT IN CE |
07CHENNAI500 | SOUTH INDIAN COPS CONFIDENT THEY CAN HANDLE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Aggressive police activity in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has pushed the Maoists (also known as the Communist Party of India - Maoist and/or "Naxalites") into neighboring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, both of which historically have seen less Maoist activity. However, p [...] | 2007-08-10 09:55:00 | Consulate Chennai | CONFIDENTIAL | IN PGOV PHUM PTER SOCI |
07CHENNAI512 | KERALA PLANS LAW TO CURB CORPORATE RETAIL GIANTS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Kerala's leftist government is drafting a law to curb the entry of large corporations, whether multinational or Indian, into the retail sector. The state's Finance Minister says the law will regulate, not ban, the entry of corporations into the retail sector. Although media con [...] | 2007-08-14 11:39:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI518 | CODEL ENSIGN EXPERIENCES SOUTH INDIA'S HIGH-TECH SECTOR [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Senator John Ensign (R-NV) made his first visit to Bangalore August 5-8 to see South India's info-tech boomtown firsthand. He met with top executives from several companies, including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS),Infosys, General Electric (GE),Brickwork, Texas Instruments [...] | 2007-08-22 06:58:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OVIP ECON EINV PGOV PREL SCUL CVIS IN |
07CHENNAI52 | BANGALORE VIOLENCE: HINDU-MUSLIM CLASHES FOLLOW SADDAM [...] (SBU) Summary: Hindu-Muslim riots broke out in several Bangalore neighborhoods over the January 19-21 weekend following a meeting organized by a Karnataka-based Muslim politician to condemn the execution of Saddam Hussein. On January 19, Hindus and Muslims clashed after Muslims marching to the [...] | 2007-01-22 10:52:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR ASEC CASC IN |
07CHENNAI530 | HYDERABAD BOMBING UPDATE AND EAC MEETING REPORT [...] (SBU) On August 27, 2007 the RSO convened an EAC meeting to discuss and update members on new information surrounding the bombings in Hyderabad on Saturday, August 25. The meeting was attended by Pol/Econ, PAS, FCS, and FCS. The meeting was chaired by the Acting Consul General from PAS. The EAC [...] | 2007-08-27 12:11:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC ASEC PGOV PREL KTER IN |
07CHENNAI54 | CODEL SPECTER IN SOUTH INDIA: COMMUNISTS, COMPUTERS AND [...] (U) Summary: During a December 17-22 visit to the south Indian states of Kerala and Karnataka, Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania) viewed first-hand India's high-tech and business boom, met with judicial officials and journalists, and experienced traditional culture and politics, the latter [...] | 2007-01-22 11:09:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OVIP PREL PGOV ECON SCUL IN |
07CHENNAI541 | HYDERABAD TERROR GROUPS HAVE INTERNATIONAL LINKS [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a wide-ranging conversation only days before the August 25 bombings in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh's Police Intelligence Chief told post that his office closely monitors 40 to 50 Indian nationals in Hyderabad who have links to Islamic terrorist groups. He said many of these y [...] | 2007-08-29 10:47:00 | Consulate Chennai | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC IN KCRM KISL PGOV PREL PTER |
07CHENNAI559 | MAOIST BOMB ATTACK MISSES FORMER ANDHRA PRADESH CHIEF [...] (U) Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and current Member of Parliament N. Janardhana Reddy and his wife N. Rajyalaxmi, Minister for Women and Child Welfare in the AP state government, narrowly escaped a bomb attack on Friday, September 7 in Nellore district in southern Andhra Pradesh (approx [...] | 2007-09-11 11:01:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PINS PTER PHUM ASEC IN |
07CHENNAI565 | INDIAN AEROSPACE ORGANIZATIONS TIE "RESTRICTIVE" LICENSING [...] (SBU) Summary: High-level representatives of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) recently complained to us about delays in receiving visas and in obtaining export licenses for equipment purchased from the United States. HAL told us that it will [...] | 2007-09-13 11:34:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL CVIS ETTC KFPC ETRD ESTH BEXP EIND IN |
07CHENNAI569 | BELLWETHER PROJECT: ANDHRA PRADESH: ECONOMY BOOMING BUT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The economy of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh continues to boom. But despite strong economic growth led by the IT and pharmaceutical industries centered in the state's capital Hyderabad, the agricultural sector continues to lag and unemployment remains high. The r [...] | 2007-09-14 05:36:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV PINR PHUM PTER KISL IN |
07CHENNAI593 | KERALA COMMUNISTS WORRY ABOUT COST OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The southern Indian state of Kerala has long been known for achieving a high level of social development despite poor economic growth and low incomes. Kerala's approach, known as the "Kerala model" of development, focuses on government spending on education and health care. [...] | 2007-09-21 06:08:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EINV PGOV PINR SOCI IN |
07CHENNAI602 | KERALA COMMUNISTS FEAR LOSSES IN POSSIBLE PARLIAMENTARY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) and its allies in the southern Indian state of Kerala are apprehensive about possible parliamentary elections should India's Left Parties withdraw support from the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in New Delhi. The s [...] | 2007-09-26 11:36:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI605 | RELIGIOUS MONKEY BUSINESS ROILS INDIAN WATERS, POLITICAL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Political tempers have flared in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu as a canal project off the state's coast has turned into an unlikely source of political and religious controversy. The long-proposed Sethusamudram project will dredge a passage through the Palk Strait be [...] | 2007-09-28 09:50:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI606 | G/TIP VISITS RESCUED BONDED LABORERS IN TAMIL NADU [...] (SBU) Summary: The director of the Department's office charged with combating human trafficking visited South India to hear first-hand accounts from victims of bonded labor and to witness government and NGO programs designed to help them. He also spoke with Karnataka's Chief Secretary, who do [...] | 2007-09-28 09:50:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PHUM ECON KCRM PGOV SOCI IN |
07CHENNAI611 | TENSIONS RISE IN BANGALORE AS HANDOVER DEADLINE [...] (SBU) Summary: The south Indian state of Karnataka (and its capital, Bangalore) appears set for several months of political turmoil, which may help Congress gain more than a dozen seats if national parliamentary elections are held in 2008. The ruling BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition is crum [...] | 2007-09-28 09:56:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON IN |
07CHENNAI620 | TURMOIL IN KARNATAKA AS GOVERNING COALITION TEETERS ON [...] (SBU) Summary: Buoyed by unexpected success in the South Indian state of Karnataka's September 28 local elections, the ruling Janata Dal (Secular) party refused to hand over the position of Chief Minister (CM) on October 3 to its BJP coalition partner as required in their coalition agreement. [...] | 2007-10-05 11:27:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON IN |
07CHENNAI629 | PRESIDENTIAL RULE IMPOSED IN KARNATAKA: ADVANTAGE [...] (SBU) Summary: President Pratibha Patel imposed direct rule over the southern Indian state of Karnataka on October 9, following the recommendation of the state's governor the day before. The governor submitted his recommendation after the October 8 resignation of the Chief Minister (CM),which [...] | 2007-10-12 05:23:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM PREL IN |
07CHENNAI640 | CORRUPTION PLAGUES ANDHRA PRADESH'S BIG TICKET SPENDING [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Andhra Pradesh's ruling Congress party has been spending billions of dollars on social programs targeted at the "common man." The spending programs, though politically popular, have led to much talk that Chief Minister YSR Reddy's government is engaged in corruption beyond the [...] | 2007-10-22 11:02:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINT EINV PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI654 | TRICKLE OF SRI LANKAN REFUGEES TO INDIA COULD BECOME FLOOD [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The flow of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees to the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu has steadily declined to less than 200 a month. But the situation could quickly reverse itself: our contacts say that up to 50,000 refugees could arrive in India within a few months if war breaks out [...] | 2007-10-26 03:26:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI661 | TAMIL NADU BJP EAGER FOR ALLIANCE WITH JAYALALITHAA'S [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: India's major political parties, the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),are minor players in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Two regional parties - the DMK and the rival AIADMK - dominate the state, leaving Congress with approximately 10-15 percent and BJP wit [...] | 2007-11-01 13:07:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI662 | BJP CLAIMS A NEW MAJORITY IN BANGALORE [...] (SBU) Summary: A newly reformed BJP-JD(S) coalition now claims to have a majority in the South Indian state of Karnataka's legislature. It has demanded that the governor re-activate the state's legislative assembly and ask the coalition to form a government. The Congress-appointed governor h [...] | 2007-11-02 06:34:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM PREL IN |
07CHENNAI668 | RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN ANDHRA PRADESH [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh recently enacted a law allowing the government to identify places of worship where the propagation of any religion other than the religion traditionally practiced at the identified location is prohibited. Thus far, the state has only id [...] | 2007-11-09 08:08:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL SOCI IN |
07CHENNAI671 | BJP SET TO LEAD ITS FIRST GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH INDIA [...] (SBU) Summary: The Union Cabinet decided on November 8 to end "President's Rule" in the South Indian state of Karnataka, paving the way for the BJP to lead a governing coalition -- the first time that the BJP has led a government in a southern state. The BJP will join the JD(S) to govern, in [...] | 2007-11-09 10:41:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM PREL IN |
07CHENNAI689 | BETRAYAL ENDS THE BJP'S WEEK-LONG REIGN IN KARNATAKA [...] (SBU) Summary: The BJP's first, brief taste of power in South India ended on November 19 when Karnataka's Chief Minister B.S. Yedyurappa resigned his position after a mere seven days in office. He submitted his resignation when it became clear that his government would fail to win its initial [...] | 2007-11-20 10:56:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM ECON PREL IN |
07CHENNAI690 | TAMIL NADU CHIEF MINISTER'S TRIBUTE TO DEAD TAMIL TIGER [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's poem eulogizing a leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam killed in an attack by the Sri Lankan air force raised questions about his views on the banned group. Media reports and protests by opposition parties caused a political s [...] | 2007-11-20 11:41:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI694 | TAMIL NADU GARMENT INDUSTRY (MOSTLY) CHILD LABOR FREE BUT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Tirupur, a small city near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu's second largest city, is a remarkable economic success story. In the span of just a few decades, Tirupur's garment industry has grown to account for more than half of India's knitwear exports. With a rapid growth creating a de [...] | 2007-11-28 11:31:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PHUM ECON KCRM PGOV SOCI IN |
07CHENNAI696 | TIRUPUR GARMENT INDUSTRY: EXPORT SUCCESS STORY ANXIOUS [...] SUMMARY: Tirupur, a small city near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu's second largest city, is a remarkable economic success story. Over just a few decades, Tirupur's garment industry has grown to account for more than half of India's knitwear exports. The town's knitwear industry provides more than [...] | 2007-11-30 06:23:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EIND EINV EFIN PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI703 | NASA DISCUSSES WITH ISRO PROSPECTS FOR COOPERATION ON [...] (SBU) Summary: NASA officials visited the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Bangalore headquarters on November 6. The NASA team outlined the agency's plans for lunar exploration to an audience of 35 scientists, heard ISRO's plans for the future of India's space program, and discusse [...] | 2007-12-04 10:28:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | TSPA ETTC KNNP KSCA ECPS IN |
07CHENNAI706 | TURNING TRASH TO TREASURE IN TAMIL NADU [...] (SBU) Summary: Rapid urban growth has spawned several challenges for the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, including managing the disposal of an increasing amount of solid waste. A variety of projects are on the drawing board or already in practice to convert this mountain of waste into somet [...] | 2007-12-07 06:16:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EINV SENV ECON IN |
07CHENNAI707 | COMMUNISTS GRAB LAND IN KERALA, BUT NO NANDIGRAM THIS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Workers from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)),together with more than 700 locals, tried to grab a 127 acre piece of government land in Kerala. After pushing out a group of tribal families that had previously claimed the land for themselves, the CPI(M) cadres tor [...] | 2007-12-10 05:32:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV IN |
07CHENNAI709 | INFOSYS FOUNDER ON IPR IN CHINA, HIRING IN U.S. [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. In a wide ranging discussion with us, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Infosys Technologies Narayana Murthy discussed the state of Infosys, with particular emphasis on its expansion plans outside of India. Murthy told post that his company's expansion into China has been h [...] | 2007-12-14 10:36:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EFIN EINV CH IN |
07CHENNAI77 | TRAFFICKERS ARRESTED, GIRLS RESCUED IN ANDHRA PRADESH [...] Summary: Since mid-October 2006, the Andhra Pradesh (AP) Police, assisted by local NGOs, have rescued 80 girls and arrested 94 traffickers from four districts in the state. Most of the traffickers have been booked under non-bailable charges. Most of the rescued girls were placed in shelter h [...] | 2007-01-31 11:02:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED | KWMN SOCI KCRM ELAB IN |
07CHENNAI83 | ANDHRA PRADESH: MAOIST REVERSES ... BUT WILL THEY LAST? [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: With effect from mid-January 2007, The Communist Party of India Maoist (CPI-Maoist),also known as Naxalites, says it has suspended major activities in Andhra Pradesh (AP). The move comes after several months of Maoist setbacks in the state, including killings of several party l [...] | 2007-02-01 10:24:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PINS PTER PHUM ASEC IN |
07CHENNAI84 | US DUMPING DUTIES FORCE INDIAN SHRIMP EXPORTERS TO [...] (SBU) Summary: Elias Sait, Secretary General of the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI),contends that the imposition of U.S. anti-dumping duties on Indian shrimp and subsequent U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) bond requirements have reduced the number of seafood exporters to [...] | 2007-02-01 10:58:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD PGOV EFIS EIND SENV IN CE BR EC |
07CHENNAI86 | TAMIL NADU POLICE ARREST SUSPECTED LTTE SMUGGLERS, STEP UP [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Seizing thousands of kilos of iron ball bearings from suspected smugglers, Tamil Nadu (TN) police appear to have busted an emerging LTTE supply line. TN police believe the ball bearings were meant to be used in LTTE's explosive devices to enhance their lethality. The seizures l [...] | 2007-02-02 08:24:00 | Consulate Chennai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PTER IN CE |
07CHIANGMAI101 | ANOTHER SHAN REFUGEE SETTLEMENT CAUGHT IN NO-MAN'S LAND [...] (U) Human rights organizations have protested that a Royal Thai Army unit last month forced villagers fleeing unrest in Shan State to move from a settlement within sight of the Thai border to a location further inside Burma. Several Shan NGOs based in northern Thailand wrote to Thai Prime Minis [...] | 2007-06-06 09:18:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PINS PGOV TH BM |
07CHIANGMAI104 | BURMA EXILES AND CHINESE OFFICIALS KEEP COMMUNICATION LINES [...] (SBU) Chinese officials maintain communication with Burma exiles based in northern Thailand representing the National League for Democracy - Liberated Area (NLD-LA) and the National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB),soliciting their views on the situation inside Burma and offering advice. [...] | 2007-06-08 08:44:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL TH BM CH |
07CHIANGMAI106 | STATELESS APPLICANTS AND VISA PROCESSING [...] SUMMARY. By virtue of Thailand's large stateless population and Consulate General Chiang Mai's location near the Lao and Burma borders, visa officers here handle dozens of applications annually from those without a passport or evidence of citizenship. This cable discusses the Consulate's experi [...] | 2007-06-12 10:25:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | CVIS PGOV PHUM PREF TH |
07CHIANGMAI107 | "TARNISHED EAGLE" AFTERMATH SEEN AS EASING PETCHABUN REFUGEE [...] (U) Summary. Thai security officials see the June 4 arrests of former Laotian Gen. Vang Pao and his associates in the US as likely to have positive effects on the protracted problems of Hmong refugees and anti-Vientiane Hmong along the Thai-Lao border. End summary 2. (C) National Inte [...] | 2007-06-13 01:43:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL PREF TH LA |
07CHIANGMAI114 | PROXY POLITICS AT PLAY IN CHIANG MAI MAYORAL RACE [...] (C) Summary: Although seven candidates are on the ballot for Chiang Mai's mayoral election on Sunday, the ostensibly non-partisan race is boiling down to how well Thai Rak Thai (TRT) proxies will do against opposition from the military and other anti-Thaksin elements. The outcome and contro [...] | 2007-06-21 07:57:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV TH |
07CHIANGMAI116 | CHIANG MAI SERVES AS BASE FOR CHINA-FOCUSED CHRISTIAN GROUP [...] (C) Summary. Chiang Mai's large foreign Christian community provides a safe base for religious groups engaged in quiet work elsewhere in the region. While most do not identify their activities to the Consulate, our presence and American citizen services contribute to Chiang Mai's appeal for t [...] | 2007-06-26 06:58:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM CASC PREL KIRF SOCI OEXC TH CH |
07CHIANGMAI123 | INDUSTRIAL ZONE TRANSFORMS LITTLE LAMPHUN [...] Summary: While agriculture and tourism dominate the economy of northern Thailand, an industrial zone in Lamphun has brought in foreign investment and new employment opportunities to the region. Growth in turn has brought sprawl, hazardous waste, labor concerns and social disruption to the sle [...] | 2007-07-06 09:49:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ELAB EINV TH |
07CHIANGMAI124 | ARREST OF ANTI-COUP ACTIVISTS RAISES PROFILE OF POLITICAL [...] (U) The July 6 arrest in Chiang Rai of an anti-coup activist provided pro-democracy campaigners new fuel to attack the Council for National Security (CNS) and the continued use of martial law in 35 provinces. 2. (U) Sombat Boonngarm-anong, a member of the Democratic Alliance Against Dict [...] | 2007-07-10 09:21:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM KDEM OEXC TH |
07CHIANGMAI125 | CURFEWS, CELL PHONE RESTRICTIONS EXPOSE MIGRANT WORKERS TO [...] SUMMARY. Recent efforts by the Thai government to restrict cell phone use and movement by migrant workers, particularly in areas with significant Burmese populations, could exacerbate abuses and exploitation of vulnerable groups. RTG officials say the measures are needed to contain illegal immi [...] | 2007-07-11 17:37:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM ELAB SMIG TH |
07CHIANGMAI126 | THAI RAK THAI TESTS STRENGTH IN THE NORTH [...] Summary. A July 11 rally in Lamphun province against the draft constitution appeared aimed at testing the popularity of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party in provincial areas. With over 50 TRT former Members of Parliament in attendance, the party als [...] | 2007-07-12 10:52:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KDEM TH |
07CHIANGMAI127 | BURMESE EXILES FRET OVER SUPPOSED WEAKENING SUPPORT FOR [...] (C) Exile Burmese leaders in northern Thailand have approached ConGen staff in the past few weeks to voice concern that the U.S. might retreat from its current sanctions policy on Burma. Several prominent leaders have told PolOff they interpret recent comments by influential figures in the U.S. [...] | 2007-07-16 09:16:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EINV TH BM |
07CHIANGMAI128 | CENTRALIZED POWER REMAINS THE RULE AS BANGKOK HOLDS THE [...] Summary: While modest efforts during the past two decades to loosen central government control over local jurisdictions succeeded in devolving a few administrative functions such as road building to the local level, power has remained concentrated in Bangkok. Former Prime Minister Thaksin S [...] | 2007-07-17 06:02:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ECON TH |
07CHIANGMAI129 | AN OVERVIEW OF BURMA-RELATED CIVIL SOCIETY TRAINING PROGRAMS [...] SUMMARY. Exile political and social activists from Burma are using Chiang Mai as a base for the training and development of a new generation of leaders. Like their counterparts in the media (reftel),political exiles have found Chiang Mai to be a convenient and relatively safe harbor from which [...] | 2007-07-18 01:55:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM ECPS OEXC TH BM |
07CHIANGMAI131 | FROM POPPIES TO PEACHES: HMONG PROGRESS REMAINS MIXED [...] Summary. Despite generally low economic status, land tenure issues, and a renewed refugee inflow from Laos, the Hmong hill people today are considered among the more successful hill tribe groups in Thailand. Best known for fighting beside US forces in Laos from the 1960s to1975 while a signi [...] | 2007-07-25 18:55:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM PREF SNAR TH |
07CHIANGMAI139 | CHINA-FOCUSED CHRISTIAN GROUP SAYS GOING GETTING TOUGHER IN [...] (C) It is getting tougher to operate in western China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, according to the head of the "Friends of China" (FOC) Christian group's Chiang Mai office. Although FOC - which has been placing teachers and developmental workers in China for 20 years - has never had a [...] | 2007-08-27 08:21:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KIRF SOCI CASC TH CH |
07CHIANGMAI143 | GOVERNOR'S PROMOTION SENDS INTERESTING SIGNALS ABOUT [...] (SBU) Chiang Mai Governor Vichai Srikwan's recent promotion to head an important election administration body has caught many observers by surprise. Some of Vichai's Interior Ministry colleagues are reportedly grumbling that he is a bit junior for the job. They, and the press, attribute his [...] | 2007-08-31 03:05:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM PREL PHUM TH |
07CHIANGMAI151 | NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES: NEW ARRIVALS OUTSTRIP RESETTLEMENT [...] (C) Over 1,400 North Korean refugees are expected to cross into Thailand during 2007, according to projections by officials in Northern Thailand. This flow is outstripping the pace of resettlement of the refugees in South Korea and elsewhere, and worsening crowding conditions in Thailand's im [...] | 2007-09-14 07:49:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL KN KS CH TH |
07CHIANGMAI155 | U.S. AGROBUSINESS FIRM HINGES NORTHERN THAILAND INVESTMENT [...] The U.S. agrobusiness firm Monsanto finds northern Thailand an advantageous location for low-cost production of hybrid corn seeds for domestic and export markets. Monsanto is poised to make significant new investment here if the Thai Government lifts its moratorium on biotech crop field trial [...] | 2007-09-24 06:39:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD EAGR TBIO TH XC SF XM |
07CHIANGMAI156 | NORTHERN THAI ACTIVISTS PREDICT CRACKDOWN IN BURMA [...] (C) A violent government crackdown against ongoing protests in Burma is the likeliest scenario seen by northern Thai-based activists and NGOs who met with CG and visiting Thailand Desk Officer September 25. As a first step, they anticipate the GOB will attempt to cut off protestors' communica [...] | 2007-09-26 11:40:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM PREF KDEM MARR MOPS TH BM CH IN |
07CHIANGMAI157 | BURMESE ARMY MUTINIES REPORTED [...] (C) Three Burmese Army divisions have reportedly refused to carry out orders from army central command to fire on demonstrators, according to several northern Thailand-based sources. These units are: -- the 33rd Division, based in Meiktila (near Mandalay); -- the Mandalay Division comman [...] | 2007-09-28 10:03:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM PREF KDEM MARR MOPS TH BM LA |
07CHIANGMAI165 | THAI CIVIL SOCIETY RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT BURMA [...] (SBU) For the first time ever, Chiang Mai University (CMU) held a public meeting on Burma designed to increase awareness of the problems caused by the Burmese regime's repressive policies and encourage students to pay closer attention to the plight of the Burmese people. The gathering was well [...] | 2007-10-12 04:40:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM TH BM |
07CHIANGMAI166 | GATEWAY OR SPEED-BUMP? NORTHERN THAILAND AND THE [...] The Greater Mekong Subregion's North-South Corridor links southern China to Bangkok and foreign markets further afield. The route passes through northern Thailand, which aspires to be inner China's "golden gateway" and thereby develop its transportation and logistics sectors and expand its trad [...] | 2007-10-15 09:15:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON PREL CH TH |
07CHIANGMAI169 | BURMA ACTIVISTS CITE NEED TO "CREATE SPACE" FOR [...] (C) The outside world needs to create space for pro-democracy forces inside Burma to recover and rise up again, visiting DCM was told by Chiang Mai-based Burma activists. Specifically, high-level personal diplomacy must maintain pressure on regime leaders to ease the brutal crackdown, and con [...] | 2007-10-19 11:59:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PREF PHUM MARR ECON BM TH |
07CHIANGMAI17 | CONTINUED REFUGEE FLOWS WORRY THAI OFFICIALS [...] (U) Continued new refugee arrivals along the Burma border are of increasing concern to Thai officials, who are struggling to deal with the problems caused by the permanence of the camps as well as the steady inflows. 2. (SBU) According to Wachira Chotirosseranee, Camp Commander of Site 1 P [...] | 2007-01-26 09:20:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF TH |
07CHIANGMAI173 | THAI ARMY PROVIDES GLIMPSE ACROSS BURMESE BORDER [...] (C) A recent visit with a Thai military unit on the Burmese border showed business as usual. An uneasy truce holds among Burmese troops and two armed ethnic groups in the area. Thai drug interdiction efforts there have reportedly had success locally, but have only diverted the Burma-based tr [...] | 2007-10-26 09:58:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM PREF BM TH SNAR |
07CHIANGMAI177 | SMALLER PARTIES CASH-STRAPPED, TALK OF MERGER [...] (C) High-level representatives of the Matchima, Ruamchai Thai Chart Pattana, Pracharat, Phua Phaen Din (Motherland),and Rak Chat Thai parties are currently in discussions about their political future, according to prospective Rak Chat Thai candidate Palangkool Wongluekiat and a Phua Phaen Din [...] | 2007-11-08 05:16:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV TH |
07CHIANGMAI179 | MAE SOT: REFUGEES BEMOAN BURMESE EXILES; HUMANITARIAN NEEDS [...] (C) Political infighting among the exiles in Thailand came as a surprise to recent arrivals fleeing the violent crackdown in Burma. The number of Burmese crossing into Thailand since the regime cracked down on demonstrations in September remains steady, but several contacts pointed to signs t [...] | 2007-11-14 10:41:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PHUM BM TH |
07CHIANGMAI182 | THAKSIN LOYALISTS POISED TO RECAPTURE NORTH [...] (SBU) The pro-Thaksin People's Power Party (PPP) is expected to win 55 to 65 of the 77 constituency seats up for grabs in northern Thailand, observers report. This would be less than the 71 constituent seats swept by the former Prime Minister's Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party in the 2005 election [...] | 2007-11-15 07:42:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM TH |
07CHIANGMAI185 | NORTHERN VILLAGERS EXPECT RTG TO TRY TO LIMIT PPP SUCCESS [...] (C) While candidates prepare their campaigns in the run-up to the December 23 election, government officials are gearing up to closely monitor political activity in northern Thailand, a stronghold for the former Thai Rak Thai party. Politicians, academics, and village leaders across the north [...] | 2007-11-16 09:05:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM MOPS TH |
07CHIANGMAI187 | NORTHERNERS REMAIN LOYAL TO "THAKSINOMICS" [...] (SBU) In the run-up to the December 23 election, villagers from northern Thailand praise former Prime Minister Thaksin's populist economic policies, especially the Village Fund credit program and the 30 Baht health care plan. Villagers' admiration for these policies present a challenge for the [...] | 2007-11-23 03:41:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON KDEM TH |
07CHIANGMAI188 | FREE BURMA RANGERS: PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN RELIEF; NOT [...] (C) The Free Burma Rangers (FBR) provide humanitarian assistance and do not funnel weapons to armed groups that oppose the Burmese regime, FBR contacts told us in separate meetings on November 6 and 7. FBR's main mission is to provide assistance to civilians in conflict areas, they emphasized [...] | 2007-11-26 09:22:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM MOPS BM TH |
07CHIANGMAI192 | OPPONENTS TAKE AIM AT PRO-THAKSIN FRONT-RUNNER [...] (SBU) Competing political parties are trying to make inroads in northern Thailand, a stronghold of former Prime Minister Thaksin and the pro-Thaksin People's Power Party (PPP). The opposing parties believe PPP, lacking the advantages of incumbency and under close scrutiny by election authorit [...] | 2007-12-04 10:33:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM TH |
07CHIANGMAI193 | PLIGHT OF "LONG-NECK" KARENNI WOMEN HIGHLIGHTS [...] (U) The detention, fining, and relocation by Thai police of six ethnic Karenni women, also known as "Long-Neck" Karen, for working as entertainers at a resort in Chiang Mai highlight several shortcomings in Thai policy toward Hill Tribe and refugee populations. Had one of the women's village l [...] | 2007-12-07 01:37:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TH BM |
07CHIANGMAI20 | ANTI-CNS LEAFLETS STIR IN MUSLIM ISSUES [...] Summary. Leaflets that appear to have originated in Chiang Rai and distributed in the northern region attack the Council for National Security (CNS) for serving Muslim interests. Despite this provocative message, the leaflets have caused little concern among Consulate contacts, including the [...] | 2007-01-30 08:28:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV TH |
07CHIANGMAI200 | LOCAL MOI OFFICIAL ADMITS RAIDS IN CHIANG RAI TARGET PPP AND [...] (C) Raids in Chiang Rai Province in October and November by military and police officials targeted "old power" and vote buying, Association of Kamnan (local government leaders) and Village Heads of Northern Thailand President Inwan Bangnguen told Consulate staff on a Dec. 5 trip to Chiang Rai. [...] | 2007-12-18 04:05:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MOPS PINS TH LA CH |
07CHIANGMAI202 | ELECTION COMMISSIONS: A TALE OF TWO PROVINCES [...] (C) At provincial Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) offices in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Provinces, we heard two very different assessments of the road ahead leading up to the election on December 23 and its aftermath. While the Chiang Rai ECT's most pressing concern is natural disasters t [...] | 2007-12-21 08:09:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV TH |
07CHIANGMAI203 | BURMESE ARMY POSSIBLY PREPARING FOR KAREN STATE OFFENSIVE [...] (C) The Burma Army (BA) is deploying more soldiers than usual to Karen State in possible preparation for a new offensive, according to Free Burma Rangers (FBR) and Karen National Union (KNU) contacts. Normally, the BA maintains a 40-50-battalion strong presence in the area with new units rotat [...] | 2007-12-28 04:46:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MOPS PREL PREF BM TH |
07CHIANGMAI21 | NORTHERN HEARTS STILL BELONG TO THAKSIN [...] (U) Summary. In the four-plus months since the Sept. 19 coup, the Council for National Security (CNS) and interim government have not won many hearts and minds in northern Thailand. Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party loyalists made their feelings known at the well-attended, media-rich funeral in Ch [...] | 2007-02-02 10:03:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV TH |
07CHIANGMAI22 | KNU RIFT WIDENS [...] (U) Summary: A growing split among leaders of the Karen resistance to the Burmese military government has broken into the open in the wake of the Dec. 26 funeral of long-time Karen National Union (KNU) leader Bo Mya. Thai observers are concerned that the dispute will further weaken the KNU [...] | 2007-02-05 10:28:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINS TH BM |
07CHIANGMAI30 | REPORT DOCUMENTS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN KAREN STATE [...] A new report by the Thailand-based Karen Women's Organization provides further evidence that Burma's military government uses sexual violence against women. The KWO's report, "State Of Terror," amplifies previous reports that have documented cases of rape, murder, torture, and forced labor [...] | 2007-02-13 11:01:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM BM TH |
07CHIANGMAI33 | AN OVERVIEW OF NORTHERN THAILAND-BASED BURMESE MEDIA [...] SUMMARY. Increasing numbers of Burma-centric media organizations operate out of Chiang Mai, creating a dynamic community of exile journalists that produces a diverse and relatively reliable stream of information for Burma watchers both inside Burma and living abroad. Shut out from Burma by [...] | 2007-02-14 11:26:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM ECPS KPAO OIIP TH BM |
07CHIANGMAI34 | HORTICULTURAL HIT TRANSCENDS POLITICS, FOR A TIME [...] Summary. The three-month-long Royal Flora Ratchaphruek International Horticultural Exposition in Chiang Mai that closed Jan. 31 scored a big hit with the Thai public, drawing attendance beyond anyone's expectations. While the event managed to rise above politics thanks to its association wit [...] | 2007-02-15 03:21:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EAGR TH PGOV |
07CHIANGMAI35 | REQUIEM FOR A GENERAL [...] (SBU) Summary. The Dec. 26 funeral of former Karen National Union (KNU) leader Gen. Bo Mya provided a stage for some of the alliances and shifting relationships that characterize the longest-running resistance to the Burmese regime. Attendees included most elements of the Karen resistance [...] | 2007-02-16 10:11:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PINS TH BM PGOV |
07CHIANGMAI4 | PLANS FOR SALWEEN DAMS MOVE AHEAD DESPITE OPPOSITION [...] (U) Summary: NGOs, academics and former senators opposed to the building of dams along the Salween River predict the project will bring dire human rights, environmental and cultural disruption to the region. However, the post-coup Thai regime is sticking to the course set by the government of [...] | 2007-01-10 10:07:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG SENV PGOV PHUM BM CH TH |
07CHIANGMAI41 | CHOKING IN CHIANG MAI [...] Summary: Chiang Mai's annual bad air season is in full swing, reducing visibility to one kilometer and blocking the view of Chiang Mai's iconic Doi Suthep. A Thai government website posted a first-time-ever air pollution warning for Chiang Mai. Local scientists and medical experts have rele [...] | 2007-03-06 05:59:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV AMED EAGR TH |
07CHIANGMAI46 | SHAN MILITIA LEADER REACHES OUT TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY. Leaders of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) have invited Consulate General staff and other members of the international community in northern Thailand to visit Shan villages on the Thai-Burma border, seeking to draw attention to huma [...] | 2007-03-13 01:25:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | SECRET | PREL PHUM SNAR TH BM |
07CHIANGMAI50 | TEST DRIVING THE THAILAND-YUNNAN HIGHWAYS [...] Chinese government officials and Mekong region diplomats tested two alternate north-south routes between China and Thailand March 6-10 by driving from Jinghong in Yunnan Province to Chiang Rai via Burma and back through Laos. Although the road under construction through Laos is generally con [...] | 2007-03-15 07:22:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL ECON TH BM CH LA |
07CHIANGMAI51 | WHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE'S POLITICS [...] (SBU) Northern Thailand's continuing environmental crisis has some locals complaining about the lack of governmental action and recalling the action-oriented style of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. With the heavy haze over the north topic number one in Chiang Mai, one rumor has it [...] | 2007-03-16 09:42:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV PGOV TH |
07CHIANGMAI58 | WOMAN OF COURAGE" AND GRASS ROOTS LEADERSHIP [...] To present Thailand's "Woman of Courage" award, Consulate General Chiang Mai took advantage of a program organized by the awardee herself, a training seminar on women and the constitution for paralegals and community leaders from 17 northern provinces. The event marked the first occasion the [...] | 2007-03-23 01:18:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL KWMN KDEM KPAO TH |
07CHIANGMAI63 | TENSIONS ON THAI-BURMA FRONTIER LEAD TO BORDER CLOSINGS [...] (C) SUMMARY. Tensions have increased along the Thai-Burma border over the past few weeks, leading to the closure of most border crossings. Likely causes for the tensions include a renewed Burma Army offensive in the Karen State and a handful of altercations involving military and police forces [...] | 2007-04-03 11:45:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS TH BM |
07CHIANGMAI66 | BORDER FIGHTING HEATS UP AFTER KNU SPLIT [...] (C/NF) Summary. Shaken by a recent split in its ranks, the Karen National Union (KNU) took more battering this week, as soldiers allied with former KNU 7th Brigade Commander Htain Maung joined State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) forces in an atta [...] | 2007-04-10 09:57:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | SECRET | PREL PINS TH BM |
07CHIANGMAI67 | CNS LEADERS LOOK TO THE STARS FOR HOPE AND GOOD LUCK [...] Leaders of the Council for National Security (CNS) visited famed Chiang Mai astrologer Varin Buaviratlert April 1, suggesting that it takes more than military might and political righteousness to govern Thailand's increasingly chaotic affairs of state. Attraction to mediums and mystics cuts a [...] | 2007-04-10 10:25:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV TH |
07CHIANGMAI68 | MILITARY SOURCES EXPRESS CONFIDENCE IN POLITICAL CONTROL [...] (SBU) Summary. While keeping a close watch for any Thai Rak Thai (TRT) resurgence, military officers in the northern region are confident that the new constitution will pass in a public referendum and the TRT party will be disbanded. Former northern army head Gen Saprang Kalayanamitra, now [...] | 2007-04-12 08:26:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINS TH |
07CHIANGMAI70 | KAREN GROUPS SAY FIGHTING WON'T REACH REFUGEE CAMPS IN [...] (C/NF) Fighting along the Thai-Burma border is unlikely to spill into the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand's Tak province, according to the ethnic factions involved in recent clashes. Karen groups on both sides of the conflict share an interest in protecting the camp and other Karen settlements [...] | 2007-04-18 10:31:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINS PREF TH BM |
07CHIANGMAI76 | LONG-NECK MINORITY GROUP CAUGHT IN REFUGEE AND CITIZENSHIP [...] Summary. Northern Thailand's large population of stateless people struggles with complex and ambiguous RTG residency policies, as evidenced by the dilemma of a small group of ethnic Padaung caught between the cracks. In recent months, NGOs have criticized RTG officials for denying a group of 50 [...] | 2007-04-24 10:15:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PREF TH BM |
07CHIANGMAI78 | GROWING SUMMER WORK AND TRAVEL EXCHANGE PROGRAM RESHAPES [...] Summary. The explosive growth in the Student Work and Travel (SWT) program in Thailand has reshaped the way Consulate General Chiang Mai manages its visa workload and consular outreach strategies. SWT visa applications have quadrupled over the past three years to the point where they now accoun [...] | 2007-04-25 09:19:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED | CVIS CMGT OEXC SCUL TH |
07CHIANGMAI85 | KAREN GROUP SAYS SPDC REJECTED THAI ARMY OFFER TO NEGOTIATE [...] (C) Northern Thailand-based Burma exiles told the Consulate that Burma's ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) recently rejected a Royal Thai Army (RTA) offer to negotiate a ceasefire with the Karen National Union (KNU). Sources said that representatives of a Thai special force [...] | 2007-05-10 08:56:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINS TH BM |
07CHIANGMAI9 | CHIANG RAI RATED "SUSPECT PROVINCE" [...] (U) Summary: Chiang Rai's Thai Rak Thai connections make it the "second most suspect province" in the country, according to the provincial police chief, who claimed that vigilance has prevented the school fires and bombs that have plagued other parts of the country. Meanwhile, leaflets that [...] | 2007-01-17 03:35:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR TH |
07CHIANGMAI92 | NORTH KOREAN REFUGEE FLOW INTO THAILAND SURGES [...] (C) SUMMARY. The ever-increasing North Korean refugee flow into Thailand is disrupting the RTG's ability to handle the wave of those seeking to use Thailand as a conduit to resettlement in a third country. Many sources believe the new RTG plan to process resettlement cases with Republic of Kore [...] | 2007-05-18 08:32:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | SECRET | PREF PGOV PREL PHUM TH KN CH |
07CHIANGMAI93 | ANTI-CNS RUMORS BOIL OVER IN NORTH [...] (C) SUMMARY. Rumors of political undercurrents aligned against the Council for National Security (CNS) are percolating in northern Thailand, with northernmost Chiang Rai a hotspot for gossip on the machinations of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, his politically connected relatives, an [...] | 2007-05-21 10:39:00 | Consulate Chiang Mai | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV TH |
07CHISINAU1273 | PRESIDENT VORONIN SUPPORTS U.S. CFE PROPOSALS [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a cordial meeting with President Voronin, DAS David Kramer presented elements of our forward-leaning CFE package proposals delivered in Moscow. Arriving in Moldova after his Moscow talks, Kramer said the U.S. had presented this package to the Russians, and is waiting for the [...] | 2007-10-22 11:36:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KCFE OSCE PARM MD |
07CHISINAU1275 | TRANSNISTRIA: SMIRNOV'S POWER WEAKENING [...] (C) SUMMARY: With Transnistria's (TN) economic situation deteriorating, "President" Smirnov is showing unprecedented signs of weakness, and the previously unquestioned position of the TN leader now seems increasingly uncertain. While TN leaders formerly presented a united front, in recent mee [...] | 2007-10-22 15:08:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PBTS ECON PHUM MD |
07CHISINAU1281 | PM TARLEV UPBEAT ON USG CFE PROPOSALS [...] (C) Summary. DAS Kramer briefed Prime Minister Tarlev on U.S. efforts to persuade Russia not to suspend participation on CFE. Tarlev appreciated our efforts and stressed that getting Russian forces out of Transnistria soon would help to resolve the Transnistria conflict. Kramer's urging of [...] | 2007-10-23 14:30:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PBTS ECON MD |
07CHISINAU1282 | SPEAKER LUPU READY TO ENGAGE TRANSNISTRIAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: During his meeting with Speaker Marian Lupu, EUR DAS David Kramer briefed Lupu on the Transnistrian (TN) negotiations and recent developments in Moscow, noting Chisinau's positive public diplomacy contributions. Lupu raised his willingness to start an inter-parliamentary dialogue [...] | 2007-10-23 14:37:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MD |
07CHISINAU1283 | FOREIGN MINISTER STRATAN SUPPORTS US ON [...] (C) Summary: EUR DAS David Kramer's October 19 meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan won willing support on U.S. positions regarding Transnistria (TN),CFE and the OSCE. Stratan expressed his appreciation for U.S. transparency on talks with Russia an [...] | 2007-10-23 14:41:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | OSCE PBTS PGOV PINR PREL MD |
07CHISINAU1284 | MINISTER SOVA INSISTS PLAN NEEDS CLEAR DEADLINES [...] (C) Summary: Minister for Reintegration Sova welcomed and supported EUR DAS Kramer's outlines of the three-point proposal presented in Moscow, which looks at Transnistria in the context of the CFE treaty, but said clear timelines must be established. Sova proposed limiting to one year the tr [...] | 2007-10-23 14:55:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | KCFE OSCE PARM PBTS PREL MD |
07CHISINAU1301 | TRANSNISTRIA OPTS TO DEAL WITH MOLDOVA -- FOR NOW [...] (C) Summary: In a reversal of earlier policy, Transnistria's Foreign Minister Valery Litskai said at an informal 5 plus 2 gathering that he was open for dialogue with Chisinau and praised President Voronin's initiatives on Transnistria. Litskai said Transnistria was prepared to resolve the [...] | 2007-10-25 12:14:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | OSCE PBTS PREL PINR MD |
07CHISINAU1318 | WILL SPEAKER LUPU STAY WITH THE COMMUNIST PARTY? [...] (C) Summary: Despite widespread rumors that he may split from the Communist Party (PCRM) in the wake of his public disagreements with President Voronin, Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament Marian Lupu may stay with the PCRM in the hopes of succeeding Voronin and transforming the PCRM into a mo [...] | 2007-10-30 13:07:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PINR MD |
07CHISINAU1330 | CHISINAU ESTABLISHING SEVEN WORKING GROUPS ON [...] (C) Summary: As a follow up to President Voronin's confidence-building outreach to Transnistria (TN),the Government of Moldova is establishing seven working groups to elaborate specific projects for normalizing relations. Transnistria's "foreign minister" has already indicated interest in roa [...] | 2007-11-02 13:17:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PGOV EAID MD |
07CHISINAU1331 | IRAQ DEPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: MOLDOVA [...] (C) Summary: Because of its constitutional neutrality, Moldova sends its officers and soldiers abroad only to conduct peacekeeping and humanitarian operations under a specific mandate, such as UN or OSCE, and for a specific purpose. For Iraq, the Moldovan soldiers officially deploy at the r [...] | 2007-11-02 14:06:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PREL IZ MD |
07CHISINAU1354 | TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT: SOME PROGRESS, BUT STILL NO [...] (U) Post's interim assessment for EUR Special Watchlist countries is keyed to the questions in reftel para. 6B. 2. (SBU) According to the Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons (CCTIP),Government of Moldova (GOM) authorities opened 429 cases against traffickers (a 7.7% rise over the sa [...] | 2007-11-13 07:22:00 | Embassy Chisinau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM KWMN PHUM PGOV PREL SMIG MD |
07CHISINAU1362 | SHEVCHUK: MOLDOVA NOT A RELIABLE PARTNER [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Ambassador's November 9 meeting with Transnistria's Parliamentary Speaker Evgeny Shevchuk took place against the backdrop of a controversial decree adopted by the Government of Moldova on November 7, requiring that all TN vehicles register with Chisinau. Shevchuk charged tha [...] | 2007-11-14 05:31:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS EAID PGOV MD |
07CHISINAU1366 | SOVA: THE GOODWILL IS GONE [...] (C) SUMMARY: At a November 13 meeting we had requested to discuss the Moldovan decree on vehicle registration, Minister for Reintegration Sova lost no time in expressing his ire at Transnistrian "foreign minister" Litskai. Litskai had agreed to meet Sova by November 10, but instead had avoidin [...] | 2007-11-14 15:14:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS OSCE KCFE MD |
07CHISINAU1367 | NO VORONIN-ZUBAKOV AGREEMENT ON TRANSNISTRIA; [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting with the DCM, Presidential advisor Marc Tkaciuk categorically denied the existence of any agreement made between President Voronin and Russian Security Council Deputy Secretary Yuriy Zubakov. The meeting with Zubakov mostly concerned domestic political issues and th [...] | 2007-11-14 15:27:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PREL PGOV TN GM RS MD |
07CHISINAU1377 | VORONIN PERCEIVES KREMLIN-MFA SPLIT ON MOLDOVA, [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting with the Ambassador on November 30, President Voronin said his meeting with Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Yuri Zubakov produced little forward movement on Transnistria (TN). Instead, the meeting showed Voronin that the Russian MFA and Kremlin seeme [...] | 2007-11-20 11:23:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PREL PGOV RS TN MD |
07CHISINAU1380 | With Questionable Tactics, Communists Win Majority on [...] (SBU) Summary: November 11 district council repeat elections in Rezina saw a shift in power to the Communist Party. This victory was assisted by apparent misuse of state power, threats, and inducements. A disunited opposition is learning some hard lessons as the electorate has begun to signa [...] | 2007-11-23 06:59:00 | Embassy Chisinau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM PREL PINR MD |
07CHISINAU1382 | THE CHALLENGES OF INVESTING IN MOLDOVA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Although the Government of Moldova (GOM) has adopted measures to attract foreign investment, the business climate remains uneven. In 2006, Moldova achieved record foreign direct investment (FDI) of USD 240 million and 2007 continues to show a positive trend. However, FDI inflows [...] | 2007-11-23 14:22:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PHUM MD |
07CHISINAU1383 | MOLDOVA MEDIA MACHINATIONS [...] (C) On November 17, John Maxemchuk (protect),General Director of Sun Communications, an American joint-venture cable and internet service provider, told Econoff of a request made to his company to stop the transmission of television channels that compete with pro-President Voronin television [...] | 2007-11-23 14:29:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON PHUM MD |
07CHISINAU1384 | NEW MOLDOVAN REGULATION TO IMPEDE TRADE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Side-stepping Parliament and filters intended to give the business community a voice in new regulations effecting them, the Government of Moldova (GOM) adopted a decision requiring a state commercial stamp on all containers of non-alcoholic beverages sold in Moldova. Ostensibly [...] | 2007-11-23 14:40:00 | Embassy Chisinau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD WTO PGOV PREL MD |
07CHISINAU1393 | Marginal Moldovan Political Parties Merge. Bet on the [...] (SBU) Summary: In preparation for 2009 parliamentary elections, marginal political parties are merging to increase the vote bank of the ideologically like-minded. One center-left, social-democratic alliance has potential. One centrist agreement adds marginally to centrist strength, which is n [...] | 2007-11-26 08:05:00 | Embassy Chisinau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM PREL PINR MD |
07CHISINAU1395 | REQUEST FOR TRANSNISTRIA DROUGHT ASSISTANCE [...] (SBU) I am declaring a disaster in the Transnistrian region of Moldova due to severe drought, loss of crops, and consequent negative impact on living standards. I hereby request $50,000 from USAID/OFDA for disaster relief in Transnistria. 2. (SBU) This request follows reftel in which I requ [...] | 2007-11-26 13:42:00 | Embassy Chisinau | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON PREL MD |
07CHISINAU1400 | LITSKAI: HEADING TO MADRID [...] (C) SUMMARY: Transnistrian "Foreign Minister" Litskai intends to travel to Madrid for consultations on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial. In a November 23 meeting, Litskai told Ambassador Kirby he expected the Finns would provide much better leadership for OSCE than the Spanish had. Whi [...] | 2007-11-27 15:43:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS OSCE PGOV MD |
07CHISINAU1404 | MOLDOVA CHILD LABOR UPDATE [...] The Government of Moldova (GOM) has taken positive legislative and regulatory steps in recent years to address problems related to child labor. However, lack of government funding; poor staffing levels in monitoring agencies; customary employment of children, especially during the harvest; cul [...] | 2007-11-29 09:17:00 | Embassy Chisinau | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI MD |
07CHISINAU1406 | SEEKING TO REGAIN MOMENTUM ON TRANSNISTRIA [...] (C) Summary: In a November 27 meeting on the eve of his departure for the OSCE Ministerial in Madrid, Minister of Reintegration Sova was angry that the Spanish had given Litskai a visa and threatened a GOM walkout. Ambassador Kirby counseled a more measured diplomatic approach that would all [...] | 2007-11-29 14:56:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS OSCE PGOV MD |
07CHISINAU1435 | TRANSNISTRIAN CEMETERY HONORS ROMANIAN WAR DEAD [...] (SBU) Summary: After earlier refusals, Transnistrian (TN) authorities allowed an Embassy officer to cross into TN-controlled territory to check conflicting claims about the graves of Romanian World War II dead in Bender. A visit to the Dragalina Cemetery revealed careful and sensitive restora [...] | 2007-12-10 09:40:00 | Embassy Chisinau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PBTS PGOV PHUM PREL MD |
07CHISINAU1455 | "WHAT CAN WE DO?" FRUSTRATED ANTI-COMMUNISTS WILL BLOCKADE [...] (SBU) Summary: Frustrated by ruling-party machinations that have excluded a popular, twice-reelected mayor from running again, democratic activists in the town of Buteni are planning to boycott and blockade the fourth-round election on December 16. We are advising restraint and sending an uno [...] | 2007-12-13 07:54:00 | Embassy Chisinau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM PHUM MD |
07CHISINAU1477 | REFUSED ENTRY INTO TRANSNISTRIA [...] (U) On December 14 the Ambassador set out for Tiraspol, accompanied by MCC Director for Moldova Chris Williams, Pol/Econ Section Chief Daria Fane, Interpreter Vlad Kulminsky and a security follow car. At the Transnistrian border checkpoint the delegation was informed that the Ambassador could [...] | 2007-12-14 13:39:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS PGOV MD |
07CHISINAU1486 | LUPU: BALACED AND HELPFUL [...] (C) Sumary: In a wide-ranging meeting with the Ambassdor December 17, Parliamentary Speaker Marian Lupu continued to be very interested in visiting the .S. to meet Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He promised tohelp get a bilateral Article 98 agreement signed to take steps to have a new Moldovan TIP Co [...] | 2007-12-18 10:34:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MD |
07CHISINAU1505 | STRATAN GETTING COLD SHOULDER FROM BOTH NEIGHBORS [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a December 20 meeting, Foreign Minister Stratan complained that his Romanian counterpart, Foreign Minister Cioroianu, would be in Chisinau for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, but had not requested a meeting with him. Stratan mentioned that Moldova also faces problems with its easte [...] | 2007-12-21 13:17:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS PGOV RO UP MD |
07CHISINAU1517 | PROTESTS CANCEL REPEAT ELECTIONS IN BUTENI [...] (SBU) Summary: After three failed attempts to elect a mayor in the village of Buteni, a fourth round was scheduled for December 16. Though the very popular former mayor had won in the first and second rounds, ruling-party machinations prevented him both from taking office and from running aga [...] | 2007-12-28 10:07:00 | Embassy Chisinau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM PHUM MD |
07CHISINAU1520 | MOLDOVAN ENERGY WOES [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Moldovan energy sector continues to suffer from political manipulations, which in a society accustomed to government subsidies prevents charging full cost-recovery tariffs for increasingly more expensive natural gas, electricity, and heating. According to recent media reports [...] | 2007-12-28 15:29:00 | Embassy Chisinau | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PGOV PREL MD |
07COLOMBO100 | SRI LANKA: INTERNATIONAL NGOS FACE CLIMATE OF [...] (C) Summary: Elements of the government appear to be orchestrating a campaign against international NGOs, particularly those working in LTTE-controlled areas. On January 11, a mob led by the nationalist Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) party stormed the Colombo office of the Dutch NGO ZOA Refugee [...] | 2007-01-17 12:51:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1002 | SRI LANKA: CHARGE PRESSES MINISTER OF POWER AND ENERGY ON [...] (SBU) Summary: Charge met Power and Energy Minister Seneviratne to continue pressing for the Ceylon Electricity Board to deliver contractually-required letters of credit to U.S. independent power producer AES. The minister said that he hoped to resolve the issue by getting the cabinet to offic [...] | 2007-07-17 11:52:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ENRG PREL CE |
07COLOMBO1003 | EASTERN PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ASSASSINATED [...] (U) On July 16, unidentified gunmen shot and killed Chief Secretary of the Eastern Provincial Council H.M. Herath Abeyweera in his office in Trincomalee. The gunmen fired several rounds at point blank range before fleeing the scene. It is unclear how the assailants were able to enter Abeyw [...] | 2007-07-17 12:06:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1016 | COLOMBO CELEBRATION MARKS VICTORY IN THE EAST [...] (C) Summary. On July 19 the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) held a ceremony in Colombo's Independence Square to celebrate the military victory in the East. The U.S., United Kingdom, and India sent their Defense Attaches to observe, while many countries opted not to attend at all. The Preside [...] | 2007-07-19 12:17:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1017 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT PLANS TO RELEASE ACSA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Opposition parties are trying to make political hay out of the GSL's execution of an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with the USG. At the time it was signed on March 5, 2007, by Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa and Ambassador Blake, Embassy issued a short [...] | 2007-07-19 12:18:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1020 | MAIN OPPOSITION AND RULING PARTY SPLINTER GROUP [...] (C) Summary. On July 19, the leading opposition United National Party and the recently-formed Sri Lanka Freedom Party/Mahajana (SLFP/M) wing (ref) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The agreement stipulates that the two groups will jointly contest future elections. It outlines th [...] | 2007-07-20 10:00:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1023 | SRI LANKA: POLICE FORCES KILL TAMIL TIGER LEADER [...] (SBU) Elite Sri Lankan police officers known as Special Task Forces (STF) killed six Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres on Saturday, July 21, including the Ampara area leader known as Ravindran, recovering a cache of weapons and ammunition. The STF reported that its raid was in [...] | 2007-07-23 13:24:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1025 | SRI LANKA: REQUEST FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [...] (C) Charge and Pol Chief met Foreign Minister Bogollagama on July 20 and informed him according to reftel that the U.S. could not provide Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to the Sri Lankan military at this time. Charge explained that the U.S. interagency process had determined that the targeting and [...] | 2007-07-24 02:48:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV MASS |
07COLOMBO1029 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT MODERATES OPTIMISTIC ABOUT [...] (C) SUMMARY: The representative of the President's party on the committee to develop a consensus devolution proposal told Charge on June 23 he was confident President Rajapaksa would accept the consensus on power-sharing with the regions and the country's minorities. Foreign Minister Bogollag [...] | 2007-07-24 23:35:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO103 | BFIF FY07 PROPOSALS [...] No summary [...] | 2007-01-18 09:53:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ECON EFIC ETRD CE MV |
07COLOMBO1031 | SRI LANKA: WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT SECRETARY ENGAGES [...] (C) Summary. On July 10, Charge and Poloff called on Secretary of the Ministry of Child Development and Women's SIPDIS Empowerment Indrani Sugathadasa to brief her on Sri Lanka's Tier 2 Watch List status and discuss Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) efforts to address trafficking of women and [...] | 2007-07-25 06:00:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PHUM KWMN KPAO ELAB KCRM SOCI |
07COLOMBO1036 | SRI LANKA: CONDITIONS DETERIORATING IN JAFFNA; [...] (C) SUMMARY: Conditions in the military-controlled portion of the Jaffna peninsula are deteriorating, with eight extra-judicial killings in just three days and 21 dead in the past two weeks. Among the dead is a Tamil employee of the Danish Refugee Council, who was shot twice in the face at [...] | 2007-07-25 10:38:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1045 | SRI LANKA: CONDITIONS FOR "UP-COUNTRY" TAMILS [...] (C) SUMMARY: There are approximately 1.5 million Tamils, mostly of Indian origin and often referred to as "Up-Country" Tamils, working on tea, rubber and coconut plantations in Sri Lanka. Plantation exports account for more than 50 percent of Sri Lanka's gross domestic product, but the Govern [...] | 2007-07-27 07:27:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1046 | SRI LANKA: 1206 FUNDING JUSTIFICATION FOR FY2008 [...] (SBU) Embassy supports the allocation of fiscal year 2008 funds under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) section 1206 for installation of a high frequency surface wave (HFSW) radar near Arugam Bay (Okanda) on the southeastern coast of Sri Lanka. The total estimated cost of this p [...] | 2007-07-27 08:45:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MASS MOPS MARR PTER CE |
07COLOMBO1048 | OPPOSITION RALLY DRAWS SIGNIFICANT CROWD AND [...] (C) Summary: On July 26, the newly formed United National Party/Sri Lanka Freedom Party-Mahajana Wing alliance, now called the National Congress, held its first public rally at Colombo's Hyde Park with the theme "Country is ruined. Come forward." Rumors that the Government would try to preve [...] | 2007-07-27 09:35:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1050 | SRI LANKA: EMBASSY HELPS GLOBAL ENERGY REVIVE ITS OIL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Embassy continues advocacy for U.S. firm Global Energy and Industrial Operations, Inc., which seeks to build and operate an $800 million oil refinery near Colombo. The project has been stalled since 2004, when Global Energy thought it had a deal upon signing a memorandum of und [...] | 2007-07-30 06:35:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ENRG PREL CE |
07COLOMBO1054 | SRI LANKA: SUPREME COURT ALLOWS CASE AGAINST [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Supreme Court on July 27 allowed a case filed by the Sinhalese nationalist parties against the constitutionality of the CFA to proceed. The Court of Appeals had previously dismissed the suit. The line of questioning by Chief Justice Silva may give an indication that he inte [...] | 2007-07-30 12:22:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1055 | SRI LANKA: LITTLE PROGRESS ON COMPLIANCE WITH [...] (C) On July 26, Acting DCM and Econ Chief called on Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary for UN and Multilateral Affairs Sarala Fernando to follow up on earlier demarches (refs E and F) urging Sri Lanka to comply with UNSCR 1747. EmbOffs specifically emphasized the requirement to [...] | 2007-07-31 06:16:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | KNNP PARM PREL ETTC EFIN IR CE |
07COLOMBO1056 | SRI LANKA: CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR SAYS ECONOMY IS BETTER [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In a recent presentation trumpeting the health of the Sri Lankan economy, Central Bank governor Cabraal told heads of missions and donor agencies that return to civil war was not ruining growth or busting the government's budget. The governor predicted that GDP growth would exc [...] | 2007-07-31 08:03:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV CE |
07COLOMBO1057 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT STILL WORKING ON PLANS FOR [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The government of Sri Lanka announced soon after consolidating military control over the East (ref A) that it would ask donors to fund development of the area. The president has designated his brother Basil as the point man for the Eastern development push. Basil told UN offic [...] | 2007-07-31 10:22:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID EINV PGOV PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO1058 | SRI LANKA TO CONSIDER ADOPTING CONVENTION FOR THE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-07-31 10:23:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER KNNP MCAP PINR PINS PARM PREL CE |
07COLOMBO1067 | SRI LANKA: DEMARCHE RESPONSE ON AMERICAN RED CROSS [...] No summary [...] | 2007-08-01 10:14:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PREL PHUM ICRC CE |
07COLOMBO1071 | SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT'S SOUTHERN POLITICAL BASE [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Rajapaksa is losing support among his political base in southern coastal towns to former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, whose recent alliance with the United National Party (UNP) has re-energized the opposition. In an effort to sway public opinion in his favor, [...] | 2007-08-01 11:34:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1077 | SRI LANKA AND MALDIVES: 62ND UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY [...] (SBU) On July 26, A/DCM called on Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary for UN and Multilateral Affairs Sarala Fernando to request a list of high-level officials planning to attend the 62nd UN General Assembly (UNGA). Fernando replied that President Mahinda Rajapaksa and [...] | 2007-08-02 08:42:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ITRA OVIP KSEP UNGA CE MV |
07COLOMBO1078 | SRI LANKA: JAFFNA HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE ENDS CONTACT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Long-time Embassy interlocutors in Jaffna, including those who met with Assistant Secretary Boucher in May 2007, report that they continue to feel pressure from the government, particularly the Jaffna military commander. Contacts have told us that in addition to the GSL curtailin [...] | 2007-08-03 06:53:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1079 | SRI LANKA: DEFECTIONS REDUCE PRESIDENT'S [...] (C) SUMMARY: On August 2, the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) Party leader, Minister of Youth Empowerment and Socio-Economic Development Arumugan Thondaman, and four out of five CWC Members of Parliament announced they would no longer vote with the President's coalition. The one CWC parliam [...] | 2007-08-03 08:18:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1087 | MALDIVES: KEY GOVERNMENT REFORMERS RESIGN [...] (C) Summary. On August 5, Attorney General Hassan Saeed and Justice Minister Mohamed Jameel, both leading members of the "New Maldives" group of reform-minded ministers, resigned from Government, accusing the President of obstructing the reform process. Local press and POL section contacts [...] | 2007-08-06 13:01:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM MV |
07COLOMBO109 | SRI LANKA: DEVOLUTION PROPOSAL ON TRACK, BUT WILL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Tissa Vitharana, Chair of the All-Party Representative Committee (APRC),has culled common elements from several devolution proposals and offered a compromise document for discussion within the committee. In a January 17 meeting with the Ambassador, Vitharana explained that he ba [...] | 2007-01-19 06:05:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1093 | SRI LANKA: EAST DEVELOPMENT -- TRINCOMALEE NOT READY TO [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Trincomalee, the eastern seaboard town boasting one of Asia's finest natural harbors, is underdeveloped and depressed as a result of over two decades of civil war in Sri Lanka. The government wants to translate its recent reassertion of control over the east into development, mu [...] | 2007-08-08 11:44:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON EINV PTER CE |
07COLOMBO1103 | SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT APPEARS READY TO ACCEPT [...] (C) SUMMARY: The chair of the committee to work out a consensus devolution proposal reported that the President and all parties represented in the current government had agreed to support a compromise. This foresees the province, rather than the district, as the unit of devolution. This con [...] | 2007-08-09 10:56:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1106 | SRI LANKA: HUMANITARIAN ACCESS COMMITTEE REVIEWS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes, currently visiting Sri Lanka, attended the 11th Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance (CCHA) meeting chaired by Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe on August 7. Charg [...] | 2007-08-10 05:11:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PREF PHUM PGOV PREL CE |
07COLOMBO1113 | SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY OUTLINES PLAN FOR [...] (C) Defense Secretary (and brother of the President) Gothabaya Rajapaksa told Charge and Pol Chief on August 9 of his plans to stabilize the security environment in Sri Lanka's East, where government forces recently routed the remaining regular Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forces. [...] | 2007-08-13 10:45:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1114 | SRI LANKA: USAID LAUNCHES NATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION [...] SUMMARY: The final version of the USAID-sponsored National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP),which outlines key steps the Government and private sector can take to address corruption, was presented at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) on July 28 as part of the [...] | 2007-08-13 11:12:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID KCOR PGOV PREL ECON CE |
07COLOMBO112 | SRI LANKA: 1206 BOAT TRAINING TO SUPPORT [...] (U) Post supports PACOM's approval of $1.4 million to conduct boat training with the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) through 1206 FY07 funding. This initiative provides training and equipment necessary for the SLN to effectively conduct Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations off the coast of [...] | 2007-01-19 09:03:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO1123 | SRI LANKA: PRIME MINISTER LASHES OUT AT UN UNDER [...] (C) SUMMARY: UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes visited Sri Lanka from August 6-9, the first high-level UN visit to Sri Lanka in almost a year. Holmes met with senior Government officials, attended the first year anniversary of the killing of 17 Action Against Hun [...] | 2007-08-14 12:00:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1127 | SRI LANKA: COMPROMISE ON DEVOLUTION SHOWS SIGNS OF [...] SUMMARY: The deal the President put together on devolution (reftel) has come under fire from Sinhalese hardliners, delaying its approval for at least several days, perhaps much longer. The radical Sinhalese Buddhist monk-based party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) objected to the compromise, insi [...] | 2007-08-15 12:31:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO113 | GOVERNMENT AGREES TO TEMPORARY CEASEFIRE IN [...] (SBU) At the fourth Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Affairs chaired by Minister for Human Rights and Disaster Management Samarasinghe and Defense Secretary Rajapaksa on January 19, Samarasinghe briefed selected donors, UN agency representatives, Ambassador and AID Mission Director o [...] | 2007-01-19 09:32:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO1134 | SRI LANKA: COLOMBO PORT STRUGGLING TO KEEP ITS DOMINANCE IN [...] SUMMARY: Due to congestion, low productivity, increasing freight rates, and security concerns caused by the conflict, global shipping lines have begun bypassing Sri Lanka in favor of India's emerging ports. In the last six months, shipping costs from Colombo have nearly doubled to $600 per T [...] | 2007-08-16 11:01:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV ETRD EWWT CE |
07COLOMBO115 | SRI LANKA: MUSLIM PARTY LEADER ACCUSES GOVERNMENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakim complained to Ambassador on January 19 that the President's brother and senior political advisor Basil Rajapaksa had employed strong-arm tactics to induce members of his party to join the government. Hakim said, however, that he was s [...] | 2007-01-19 10:51:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO1161 | MALDIVES: REFORM-MINDED FOREIGN MINISTER RESIGNS; [...] (C) SUMMARY: On August 21, key Government reformer and Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed resigned from his post, joining the Attorney General and Justice Minister who resigned earlier this month (ref a). Embassy contacts tell us that Shaheed had several reasons to resign, including a scheduled [...] | 2007-08-22 12:02:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM MV |
07COLOMBO1165 | SRI LANKA: TRINCOMALEE TAMILS WARY OF GOVERNMENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: DCM met with local government officials, civil society leaders, and community members in the eastern city of Trincomalee on August 10-12th to discuss the security and humanitarian situation in the area and promote policies that will foster peace and economic development. The Gov [...] | 2007-08-24 08:07:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EAID PTER PHUM PREF MOPS PREL KMCA CE |
07COLOMBO1166 | MALDIVES: NEW FOREIGN, JUSTICE MINISTERS NAMED; [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Gayoom on August 23 appointed two new cabinet ministers, Abdullah Shahid as Foreign Minister and Mohamed Muiz Adnan as Justice Minister. Shahid and Muiz were previously both senior officials in their respective ministries. In addition to the new ministers, Gayoom has [...] | 2007-08-24 09:20:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM MV |
07COLOMBO1168 | SRI LANKA: NATIONALISTS THREATEN TO END SUPPORT [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Sinhalese nationalist Janatha Vikmuthi Peramuna (JVP) has threatened to withdraw its support from outside for the government if the All-Party Representative Committee consensus in favor of meaningful devolution to the provinces is allowed to stand. The JVP insists on retainin [...] | 2007-08-27 09:33:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1170 | FOREIGN MINISTER AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS DEVOLUTION [...] Summary: In an August 27 meeting, Foreign Minister Bogollagama and Ambassador reviewed human rights, the status of the All Parties Representative Committee (APRC) deliberations, and a request by the Foreign Minister to meet the Secretary anytime between October 4 and 8 in Washington. The Amb [...] | 2007-08-27 11:37:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM UNGA CE |
07COLOMBO1171 | SRI LANKA: EMINENT PERSONS REASSURED AFTER MEETING [...] (C) SUMMARY: The International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) held its third plenary meeting with the Commission of Inquiry (COI) August 17 - 20. The positive tone of the meeting reassured even skeptics within the IIGEP. U.S. Eminent Person Gene Dewey noted that the possibilit [...] | 2007-08-27 12:00:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1182 | SRI LANKA PROMISES RESPONSE ON UNSCR 1737 AND 1747 [...] (S) Ambassador on August 24 sent a letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama outlining US concerns about Sri Lanka's lack of compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1737 and 1747. Ambassador noted in the letter that Sri Lanka's Bank of Ceylon maintains a correspondent [...] | 2007-08-29 12:11:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1184 | "NEW MALDIVES" MINISTERS WHO RESIGNED PREDICT [...] (C) Summary: At a private dinner on 8/29 hosted by Ambassador, the three leading "New Maldives" advocates for political reform, all of whom resigned from the government in recent days, candidly discussed the bleak outlook for political reform and the unsuccessful negotiations they had with Pr [...] | 2007-08-30 11:30:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MV |
07COLOMBO1186 | MALDIVES: PRESIDENT GAYOOM SAYS REFERENDUM [...] (C) Summary: Maldives President Gayoom told Ambassador August 28 that the country's August 18 referendum had been "well-organized," "in general, free and fair," and had produced an outcome of 62 percent in favor of a "U.S.-style" presidential system. Opposition Maldives Democratic Party leade [...] | 2007-08-30 12:24:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KWWW ETRD EAID MV |
07COLOMBO1187 | SRI LANKA: DEFENSE CORRESPONDENT FEARS RETALIATION [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Defense Correspondent Iqbal Athas is preparing to temporarily leave Sri Lanka with his family following a barrage of threats and intimidation apparently orchestrated by the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL). On August 12, he wrote an article for the Sunday Times about the Ukraini [...] | 2007-08-30 12:31:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1188 | SRI LANKA OPEN TO ENGAGEMENT ON TIP ACTION PLAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: DCM and Poloff called on Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona on August 23 to deliver ref A talking points and Trafficking in Persons (TIP) action plan. DCM noted that the primary reason for watchlisting Sri Lanka was insufficient evidence of Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) efforts t [...] | 2007-08-30 12:41:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1196 | SRI LANKA - DCHA/FFP MONITORING REPORT ON WORLD FOOD [...] (U) Summary: From July 7 - 13, 2007, USAID/DCHA Food for Peace Asia Team Leader (FFP/TL) Matthew Nims and USAID/DCHA Food for Peace Officer Katey Schein (FFP/O) visited Sri Lanka to monitor the WFP Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) which receives U.S. Title II Emergency Assistanc [...] | 2007-08-31 06:49:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PGOV PHUM PREF CE PINS |
07COLOMBO12 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR ERIC B. KING, [...] Post grants country clearance to Eric B. King, Country Manager, OFO, Washington D.C. The purpose of his visit is to conduct an initial visit as the country manager with the CSI Team in Colombo, Sri Lanka from January 7-14, 2007. Embassy control officer is Mr. Richard Merrin, Commercial Attach [...] | 2007-01-04 12:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON EWWT OTRA CE |
07COLOMBO1207 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT OFFENSIVE IN SOUTHERN MANNAR [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) began a military offensive on August 27 to clear Silavaturai and neighboring villages in southwestern Mannar district of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres. About four thousand civilians are reportedly displaced by the fighting. UN interlo [...] | 2007-09-04 11:35:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1216 | MALDIVES: FINAL REFERENDUM RESULTS ANNOUNCED, BUT [...] SUMMARY: On August 28, the Election Commission announced the final results of the August 18 referendum to decide on Maldives' future system of governance. 95,619 voters endorsed the presidential system, while 58,504 supported the parliamentary system. The final results do not require the app [...] | 2007-09-05 08:30:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM MV |
07COLOMBO1218 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT REVIVES SOVEREIGN BOND ISSUE PLANS; [...] (SBU) Summary: The Government of Sri Lanka plans to issue the country's first international sovereign bond, in hopes of raising $500 million to fund infrastructure projects. However, the main opposition United National Party has announced that a future UNP government would not honor the bonds [...] | 2007-09-05 12:48:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV EFIN KMCA CE |
07COLOMBO1225 | HUMAN RIGHTS IN SRI LANKA: SOME IMPROVEMENT BUT [...] (C) SUMMARY: The period April-June 2007 showed a decline relative to the beginning of the year in Colombo and some other parts of Sri Lanka in certain categories of human rights abuses, such as abductions. However, the overall level of human rights violations compared to 2002-2005 remains e [...] | 2007-09-06 11:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1232 | SRI LANKAN PROGRESS ON ISSUES OF CONCERN TO U.S. - [...] (C) As Washington prepares for a busy fall, post thought it would be useful to provide a brief snapshot of where we stand on the key issues in our agenda with Sri Lanka; the outlook for the fall; and what specific steps the U.S. can take to advance our interests here. A number of factors have [...] | 2007-09-07 11:09:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO1233 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT TAKES CREDIT FOR INCREASED FLOW OF [...] Summary: Two weeks after returning from a visit to the northern Jaffna Peninsula, the Commissioner General of Essential Services (CGES) on August 30 briefed the diplomatic community and United Nations agency heads in Colombo on steps the Government of Sri Lanka has taken to maintain a steady [...] | 2007-09-10 02:23:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PGOV PHUM PREF CE |
07COLOMBO124 | MALDIVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AGREES TO QUIET [...] (C) During a January 16 trip to Male', Ambassador encouraged Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed to consider establishing LOW-KEY diplomatic contacts with Israeli officials with a view to establishing full diplomatic relations at a future date. (Note: The Ambassador had earlier discussed this [...] | 2007-01-22 09:11:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MV |
07COLOMBO1252 | SRI LANKA: SUCCESS IN GARMENT IPR CASES; LESS PROGRESS IN [...] Summary: US apparel brands have found some level of success in combating piracy in Sri Lankan courts. In August 2007, the Colombo Commercial High Court issued an order in settlement in favor of Polo/Lauren, LLP, the largest IPR enforcement case in the apparel sector to date. Other companies [...] | 2007-09-12 02:27:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KIPR EAID KMCA CE |
07COLOMBO1253 | SRI LANKA LIKELY TO SUPPORT US CANDIDATE FOR [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-12 06:35:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM UNGA UNHRC CE |
07COLOMBO1254 | MALDIVES: RESIGNED MINISTERS CONTINUE REFORM [...] (C) SUMMARY: Former Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed, Justice Minister Mohamed Jameel, and Attorney General Hassan Saeed, the key advocates for reform within the Government until their resignations last month (refs d and e),are reportedly considering joining the opposition Maldivian Democra [...] | 2007-09-12 06:53:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM MV |
07COLOMBO1259 | SRI LANKAN NAVY SINKS THREE LARGE LTTE SHIPS IN [...] (S) SUMMARY: On September 12, Ambassador and Defense Attache Oxley met with Sri Lanka Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda to discuss the navy's recent operational successes, including sinking three large Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) weapons supply ships (referred to by the media [...] | 2007-09-12 12:29:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1260 | SRI LANKA: CHRISTIANS FACE MOUNTING LEGAL HURDLES [...] (C) SUMMARY: On September 10, Godfrey Yogarajah of the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) called on Ambassador to provide an update on the problems faced by Sri Lanka's Christian community. Yogarajah noted that Sri Lankan churches are experiencing a growing number [...] | 2007-09-12 12:30:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1261 | SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT SHARES HIS VIEWS ON THE [...] SUMMARY: In an early September interview with Indian author and journalist Inderjit Badhwar (full text at www.tamilunitedfront.com/articles/rajapakse.h tml),President Mahinda Rajapaksa emphasized his desire for a political solution that addresses the aspirations of the Tamil people. He also [...] | 2007-09-12 12:47:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1262 | SRI LANKA: SIT-REP ON THE TSUNAMI WATCH [...] Following local and international media reports of a tsunami watch issued by the Pacific Center, Embassy issued SIPDIS the following warden message at 6:17 p.m. local time: "7.9 earthquake reported in Indonesia. Tsunami watch issued for the Indian Ocean, including Sri Lanka. People in co [...] | 2007-09-12 13:09:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | CASC AEMR PREL PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO1263 | SRI LANKA: SIT-REP FOLLOW-UP ON TSUNAMI WARNING [...] After a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck the west coast of Indonesia and the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) issued a tsunami warning, Embassy convened the Emergency Action SIPDIS Committee at 7:00 p.m. local time to discuss contingencies and preparedness measures in the event of an tsunami. [...] | 2007-09-12 14:50:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | CASC AEMR PREL PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO1266 | SRI LANKA: RESPONSE ON PRESIDENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador, Embassy staff, and Washington-based officials have made a consistent, intensive effort over the past year to engage the Sri Lankan government on improving its human rights record, and to support and defend human rights advocates in the country. Sri Lanka has recen [...] | 2007-09-13 03:56:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1267 | MALDIVES LIKELY TO SUPPORT US CANDIDATE FOR [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-13 04:13:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM UNGA UNHRC MV |
07COLOMBO127 | SRI LANKAN ARMY TAKES VAKARAI; TIGERS ATTACK [...] (C) Summary: Security forces captured the eastern LTTE redoubt of Vakarai on January 20 after almost three months of fighting. This significant victory in the east may embolden the GSL to continue its campaign to recapture LTTE-held territory in the north and east. On January 21, a cluster o [...] | 2007-01-22 12:13:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PREL PTER PHUM PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO1273 | SRI LANKA: OFFICIAL DELEGATION LIST FOR 62ND UNGA [...] (SBU) Embassy Colombo has received by diplomatic note the following list (para 2) of the official delegation and media members who are scheduled to visit the USA accompanying H.E. the President of Sri Lanka for the 62nd United Nations General Assembly. 2. (SBU) (begin list) Composition [...] | 2007-09-13 12:07:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL ITRA OVIP UNGA CE |
07COLOMBO128 | SRI LANKA: IPR RAID SEIZES 17,000 FAKE "POLO" BRAND SHIRTS [...] Summary: Sri Lankan police on January 11 raided a Sri Lankan factory manufacturing and supplying counterfeit "Polo" brand garments. The raid was the largest intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement bust since Sri Lanka began to enforce its 2003 IPR law in 2004. End Summary. 2. On [...] | 2007-01-23 03:13:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KIPR EAID CE |
07COLOMBO1284 | BUILDING A SOUTH ASIA COUNTERTERRORISM STRATEGY [...] (S) SUMMARY: Chiefs of Mission and other Embassy representatives from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan met under the auspices of the Regional Security Initiative (RSI) in Colombo on September 7 to discuss regional counterterrorism strategy with the Coordinator for Counterte [...] | 2007-09-17 11:13:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PTER PGOV PREL PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1286 | ICAO ASSEMBLY: SRI LANKA SUPPORT FOR U.S. RE-ELECTION TO [...] (U) Summary: The Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Civil Aviation Authority support re-election of the United States to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Sri Lanka plans to send a four-person delegation, including Minister of Ports and Aviation, C [...] | 2007-09-17 11:25:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR PREL AORC ICAO CE |
07COLOMBO1290 | MALDIVES: OFFICIAL DELEGATION LIST FOR 62ND UNGA [...] (SBU) Embassy Colombo has received by diplomatic note the following information (para 2) on the Maldivian official delegation to the 62nd United Nations General Assembly. 2. (SBU) (begin list) Composition of Delegation for the Official Visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Rep [...] | 2007-09-18 07:44:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL ITRA OVIP UNGA MV |
07COLOMBO13 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT AIR STRIKES KILL 16 [...] (C) Summary: On January 2 Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) jets bombed a northwestern coastal area near Mannar. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) website Tamilnet reported that 16 civilians died in the air strike. Government officials countered that the SLAF targeted and hit a known Sea Tig [...] | 2007-01-04 12:29:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PTER PHUM PREL PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO130 | SRI LANKA: OPPOSITION LEADER SEEKS TO MEND PARTY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador met opposition leader Wickremesinghe on January 22 to urge him to seek common ground with his UNP critics, including leading dissident Karu Jayasuriya. Our only interest was in supporting the peace process, Ambassador noted, but the current round of political wrangli [...] | 2007-01-23 05:22:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PHUM MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO1301 | SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT'S BROTHER BASIL TAKES A [...] (U) The President's brother, Basil Rajapaksa, took a seat in parliament today, replacing Muslim MP Anver Ismail, who died recently, reportedly from alcohol-related illness. Speaker of Parliament Lokubandara swore in Basil, whose nomination had gone the previous day to the Election Commissione [...] | 2007-09-19 12:26:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO1304 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT OUTLINES EFFORTS TO COMBAT [...] (SBU) Summary. DCM and Poloff recently met with GSL officials from the Foreign Employment Bureau, the National Child Protection Authority, the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Development, and the Sri Lanka Police to present the Department's TIP Action Plan and follow up on an Augu [...] | 2007-09-20 10:33:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1305 | SRI LANKA: 6.2% GDP GROWTH IN FIRST HALF OF 2007 AMIDST [...] (U) Summary and comment: Sri Lanka's GDP grew at an annual rate of 6.2% for the first half of 2007. The trade deficit narrowed as export growth significantly exceeded import growth. Growing remittances compensated for much of the trade deficit and boosted foreign exchange reserves to a level [...] | 2007-09-20 10:36:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ETRD KMCA CE |
07COLOMBO1308 | SRI LANKA LIKELY TO SUPPORT U.S. CANDIDATE FOR [...] DCM phoned Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona on September 20 to follow up on ref b demarche. Kohona indicated that Sri Lanka would likely support the U.S. candidate, remarking that this was "an easy decision." He said he would ask the Office of UN and Multilateral Affairs to answer the demarc [...] | 2007-09-21 07:23:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM UNHRC CE |
07COLOMBO1309 | SRI LANKAN ATTENDANCE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-21 07:24:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM UNGA CE |
07COLOMBO1313 | SRI LANKA: TOURISM INDUSTRY PINS HOPE ON NEW TOURISM ACT [...] Summary: On October 1, following a two year delay, the government will implement the Tourism Act of 2005. The law provides for greater private sector participation in government-controlled tourism regulatory, promotion and training agencies. More importantly, the private sector will now ha [...] | 2007-09-24 05:12:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD EFIN EAID KMCA CE |
07COLOMBO1322 | SRI LANKA: PROGRESS ON DEVOLUTION PROPOSAL STALLED [...] (C) SUMMARY: The All-Party Representative Committee (APRC) has made substantial progress on drafting its devolution proposal, but remains stuck on some final key issues. The President, under pressure from his Sinhalese base to stick to the "unitary state" concept, has decided to delay action [...] | 2007-09-25 10:56:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1329 | MALDIVES TO SUPPORT US CANDIDATE FOR COMMITTEE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-27 11:00:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM UNHRC MV |
07COLOMBO133 | SRI LANKA: DEATH THREATS CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF [...] (C) Summary. Death threats are aggravating the atmosphere of intimidation in Sri Lanka. Twenty-two individuals, mostly anti-war advocates and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) sympathizers, received death threats in January from a shadowy Sinhalese ultra-nationalist group called the " [...] | 2007-01-23 10:00:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO134 | SRI LANKA: FOREIGN SECRETARY ASKS FOR PATIENCE ON [...] (C) Summary: Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona called an evening meeting with Ambassador Blake on January 22. Kohona expressed concern that a pending public letter from U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone to the White House would call for a special international envoy to investigate human rights. [...] | 2007-01-23 10:06:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1348 | MALDIVES: BLAST IN MALE APPARENTLY TARGETS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: A blast in Male's Sultan Park on the afternoon of September 29 wounded 12 foreign tourists. Foreign Minister Shahid told Ambassador the same day that the Government of Maldives (GORM) was shocked by the incident and does not know who was responsible. Eleven arrests have so fa [...] | 2007-10-01 10:26:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PTER PREL CASC MV |
07COLOMBO1349 | DISCUSSION WITH PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR ON [...] (SBU) Ambassador met on September 28 with Basil Rajapaksa, the President's brother, senior political advisor, and coordinator of the stabilization and reconstruction program in the east, to discuss the opportunities and risks in the east (reftels). Rajapaksa acknowledged the need to stop ill [...] | 2007-10-01 11:18:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EAID CE |
07COLOMBO135 | MALDIVES: A NEED TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Ambassador met government officials and the leader of the opposition in Male' on January 16 to discuss the lagging democratic reform process. Ambassador also promoted the Maldives' purchase of Boeing aircraft and a potential joint venture with an American wind power firm. Int [...] | 2007-01-23 10:19:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM MV |
07COLOMBO1352 | SRI LANKA: CONFLICT CONTRIBUTES TO BRAIN DRAIN [...] (U) SUMMARY: Professionals and business people are steadily migrating out of Sri Lanka in pursuit of better living conditions and a more stable business environment. Many are Tamils and Muslims fleeing the conflict and persistent harassment. The "brain drain" is depleting a local talent pool [...] | 2007-10-02 05:31:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD ELAB KMCA CE |
07COLOMBO1355 | SRI LANKA TEXTILES AND APPAREL SECTOR: UPDATED STATS AND [...] Summary: While growth in Sri Lanka's textile and apparel export market has slowed since expiration of the Multifiber Agreement, the sector continues to maintain market share and in some cases grow in niche garment industry markets. Exports to the U.S., Sri Lanka's largest market, were flat i [...] | 2007-10-02 10:15:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD KTEX CE |
07COLOMBO1357 | SRI LANKA SUPPORTS IN PRINCIPLE DRAFT RESOLUTION [...] No summary [...] | 2007-10-02 12:34:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC PHUM KWMN SOCI UN CE |
07COLOMBO1358 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT CRITICIZES EMINENT PERSONS; [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) submitted its second Interim Report to the President on September 18 and released its third public statement on September 19. The Commission of Inquiry (COI) and Attorney General's (AG) office sent strongly-worded [...] | 2007-10-02 12:36:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1369 | FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER ASSESSES STABILITY OF [...] (C) Summary: In a lunch on October 3 with Ambassador, former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that his breakaway faction from the ruling SLFP party and the opposition UNP have not yet been able to persuade the JVP to vote against the Government in November, mostly because the JVP st [...] | 2007-10-04 08:37:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO1371 | 256TH SESSION OF THE COLOMBO PLAN COUNCIL [...] (U) SUMMARY: On September 27, 2007, The Colombo Plan Council convened for the 256th Session and discussed FY 2005/6 audited accounts, the 2006/7 draft annual report, a special paper on "Strategic Plan of The Colombo Plan 2025," and the needs assessment questionnaire. Ambassador Blake present [...] | 2007-10-04 12:04:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL SNAR SOCI ECON EAID CE |
07COLOMBO1372 | MEETING WITH NATIONALIST JVP PARTY [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador met for a spirited but cordial hour with JVP Parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa, on October 1 at the JVP Party-Headquarters. Weerawansa expressed dissatisfaction with President Rajapaksa's failure to reduce inflation and corruption but said the JVP has not decid [...] | 2007-10-04 12:15:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO1384 | SRI LANKA PROTESTS IMPROMPTU VISIT BY ICELANDIC [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: An Icelandic diplomat on a tourist visa paid an impromptu visit to the Tamil Tiger de facto capital, Kilinochchi. Icelandic FSO Bjarni Vestmann, who apparently was under consideration for a position with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM),decided to accompany the SLMM on [...] | 2007-10-05 10:42:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1385 | MALDIVES: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON DRAFT RESOLUTION [...] No summary [...] | 2007-10-05 10:43:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC PHUM KWMN SOCI UN MV |
07COLOMBO1387 | MUSLIM LEADERS VOICE CONCERNS ABOUT LAND RIGHTS [...] (U) SUMMARY: On October 2, Ambassador hosted prominent Muslim leaders for a roundtable discussion on Muslim issues to mark the holy month of Ramadan. Participants noted the absence of Al-Qaida and other radical Islamist terror groups but expressed concern about a growing Wahhabi presence, an [...] | 2007-10-09 06:28:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1391 | SRI LANKA: MIXED REACTIONS TO NEW U.S. LAW ON MARITIME [...] SUMMARY: Colombo Port authorities and managers of shipping lines expressed opposing views on the ability to meet the new U.S. law on maritime cargo scanning requirements. Authorities of the Port of Colombo maintain that the port will be able to scan all U.S.-bound shipping containers by year [...] | 2007-10-09 09:30:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | EWWT ETRD PREL PTER KMCA CE |
07COLOMBO1399 | SRI LANKA: LAGGING IN WORLD BANK EASE OF DOING BUSINESS [...] Summary: Sri Lanka rated poorly in the World Bank Group's just-released Doing Business 2008 index and in the middle of Transparency International's 2007 Corruption Perception Index. In the Ease of Doing Business index, Sri Lanka ranked 101 out of 178 economies. Notable was its ranking of 133 [...] | 2007-10-10 09:14:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EINV EAID KMCA KCOR CE |
07COLOMBO140 | SRI LANKA: ARMY COMMANDER CONSIDERS CLEARING [...] (C) Summary. Ambassador Blake met with Army Commander Major General Sarath Fonseka on January 23 following the Sri Lanka Army's (SLA) victory in the eastern Tiger (LTTE) strong hold of Vakarai (ref B). Fonseka estimated that the LTTE had been significantly weakened by two and a half months of [...] | 2007-01-24 08:53:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1400 | MALDIVES: BOMBING INVESTIGATION YIELDING RESULTS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Maldivian police have made impressive progress on investigating the bombing in Male' on September 29 (reftel). All remaining suspects in the incident are Maldivian. The site of the bombing has been reopened to the public following the completion of the crime scene investig [...] | 2007-10-10 09:26:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | ASEC PGOV PREL PHUM MV |
07COLOMBO1402 | SRI LANKA NOMINATES CANDIDATE FOR UNESCO [...] The Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Post via diplomatic note on October 1 that the Government of Sri Lanka has nominated Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha for election to the UNESCO Executive Board. A document outlining "Sri Lanka's Vision In and For UNESCO" was attach [...] | 2007-10-10 11:56:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PREL UNESCO CE |
07COLOMBO1403 | MALDIVES: SUCCESSFUL AMERICAN PAVILION AT MAJOR TRADE SHOW [...] Summary: Post is pleased to report that the American Pavilion at an international trade fair in the Maldives produced encouraging results for participating companies and strengthened U.S. economic ties with Maldives. Fifteen U.S. companies, or their local partners, exhibited as part of an Am [...] | 2007-10-11 03:18:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP BTIO ENIV ABUD ECON MV |
07COLOMBO1406 | REQUEST FOR TIFA WITH MALDIVES [...] (U) This is an action request for USTR. Please see para two. 2. (SBU) Summary and action request: Post recommends, and seeks USTR guidance on, the start of Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks with the Government of the Republic of Maldives (GoRM). Post supports the neg [...] | 2007-10-11 09:04:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECON ECIN EINV KISL CE |
07COLOMBO1407 | ARBOUR PROVIDES INTERIM READOUT OF HER VISIT TO [...] (C) Summary: At a working lunch on October 11 UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour expressed doubt that she will be able to negotiate during this trip an increase in the staff of the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombo with a broad mandate. She wants t [...] | 2007-10-11 09:51:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL AORC CE |
07COLOMBO1408 | SRI LANKA: RUMORS ABOUND ABOUT KARUNA'S [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: On October 8, the Hindustan Times reported that pro-government paramilitary Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) military commander Chandrakanthan, more commonly known as Pillaiyan, ousted the group's founder Karuna Amman from the party's Executive Committee over "financia [...] | 2007-10-11 11:38:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1421 | ARBOUR CONCLUDES DISAPPOINTING TRIP TO SRI LANKA [...] (C) Summary. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour completed a five-day visit to Sri Lanka on October 14. UN Resident Representative Neil Buhne told Ambassador that Arbour was disappointed in the outcome of her visit and disturbed by the magnitude of the human rights problems [...] | 2007-10-15 10:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1425 | SRI LANKA: TIGERS STAGE A RAID DEEP IN THE [...] (SBU) On October 15, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attacked a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) base in Yala National Sanctuary, located deep in the predominantly Sinhalese portion of the South. Tamilnet, a pro-LTTE web site, reported that Tigers took a cache of weapons and set the camp ab [...] | 2007-10-16 10:25:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1428 | TAMIL LEADER REFLECTS ON THE CONFLICT, THE EAST [...] No summary [...] | 2007-10-17 08:59:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO1439 | SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT PLANS VISIT TO IRAN TO [...] (C) Summary: President Rajapaksa plans to make a state visit to Iran, probably in December. The focus of the visit will be on trade. Iran is Sri Lanka's sixth largest trading partner -- it provides half of Sri Lanka's crude oil imports and is the fourth largest buyer of Sri Lanka's tea. With [...] | 2007-10-19 05:06:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ENRG PREL KNNP IR CE |
07COLOMBO1441 | SRI LANKA: NOMINATION FOR SECRETARY'S [...] Embassy Colombo wishes to nominate Ms. Srinithy Nandasekaran of Sri Lanka for the Secretary's International Woman of Courage Award. As one of Sri Lanka's few female attorneys from the ethnic minority Tamil population, Ms. Nandasekaran has worked tirelessly as a lawyer, judge, and human righ [...] | 2007-10-19 09:22:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM KWMN KPAO CE |
07COLOMBO1444 | SRI LANKA: TAMIL TIGERS ATTACK NORTH CENTRAL AIR [...] (C) Before daybreak on October 21, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched a ground attack on the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) base in Anuradhapura, 210 kilometers north-east of Colombo. Less than an hour later, two LTTE light aircraft dropped bombs over the base, hitting an air [...] | 2007-10-22 10:56:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1449 | SRI LANKA: PROPOSED TIP BENCHMARKS [...] In accordance with the Short Term Action Plan for Sri Lanka provided by G/TIP, post recommends the following benchmarks for use in evaluating Government of Sri Lanka progress in combating trafficking in persons: -Working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM),set up and be [...] | 2007-10-23 10:08:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1450 | SRI LANKA: AMBASSADOR LAUNCHES US-FUNDED [...] Summary. Ambassador on October 18 hosted a press event to launch a Department of State and USAID-funded anti-trafficking program implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The event received wide coverage in the Sri Lankan media. The Sri Lanka Police's Women's and Chi [...] | 2007-10-23 10:11:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1459 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT PROVIDES WEAK RESPONSE TO [...] (C) Summary. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on October 23 provided Charge with an Aide Memoire response to U/S Burns' request for additional information on the GSL's progress on human rights indictments and convictions. The GSL document, although constructive rather than defensive in [...] | 2007-10-24 15:01:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1460 | SRI LANKA UNDECIDED ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-10-25 07:33:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM KTIA UN CE |
07COLOMBO1461 | MALDIVES UNDECIDED ON IAAC ELECTION [...] No summary [...] | 2007-10-25 07:34:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL AORC UN UNGA MV |
07COLOMBO1462 | MALDIVES: POSITIONS ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-10-25 07:35:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PREL KTIA UN MV |
07COLOMBO1463 | SRI LANKA UNDECIDED ON IAAC ELECTION [...] No summary [...] | 2007-10-25 08:27:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL AORC UN UNGA CE |
07COLOMBO147 | MCC IN SRI LANKA: MAJORITY OF INDICATORS PROBABLY NOW [...] (SBU) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: Almost three years ago when Sri Lanka qualified as a Millennium Challenge Account candidate country, many of Sri Lanka's MCC indicators were on a positive trend. Since then, the government has changed hands twice and each new government has proven less commi [...] | 2007-01-24 12:31:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD PHUM SOCI EAID EAIR CE |
07COLOMBO1479 | SRI LANKA: AIR BASE ATTACK RESULTS IN HEAVY [...] SUMMARY: Reports of damage from the October 21 attack on the Anuradhapura air base (ref A) remain varied. The Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) reports 8 aircraft destroyed and 14 SLAF casualties, including two pilots. According to a U.S. defense contractor, approximately 75 percent of the SLAF's [...] | 2007-10-30 10:18:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO148 | SRI LANKA: ATTITUDE SURVEY REVEALS SINHALESE VIEWS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: A Sri Lankan think tank, the Centre for Policy Alternatives, recently released a study intended to provide a measure of public confidence in the peace process and public opinion on resolving the conflict. This attitude survey provides valuable insight into the views of the maj [...] | 2007-01-24 13:29:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1484 | SRI LANKA: UN BRIEFS AMBASSADORS ON RESULTS OF [...] (C) SUMMARY: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour did not call publicly for an international human rights monitoring mission during her recent visit here. However, she made her desire for international monitoring clear to Sri Lankan government officials in private. The GSL i [...] | 2007-10-31 09:53:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1488 | SRI LANKA: DEBUT SOVEREIGN BOND ISSUE RAISES $500 MILLION [...] (SBU) Summary and comment: International investors, 40% of them American, purchased all $500 million of Sri Lanka's first-ever sovereign bond issue, despite domestic opposition efforts to block the sale. The government offered 8.25% coupon bonds with a five-year maturity, and received orders [...] | 2007-11-01 08:53:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN EINV ECON KMCA CE |
07COLOMBO1489 | SRI LANKA: MEDIA COME UNDER NEW FIRE; FIGHT BACK [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: A series of recent government actions against media outlets or individual reporters has given rise to concern that the government may again be trying to muzzle or intimidate media critics. The Information Ministry has withdrawn the broadcasting license of a radio network on the [...] | 2007-11-01 10:06:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PINS KPAO KDEM CE |
07COLOMBO1492 | SRI LANKA TO ENDORSE UNGA RAPE RESOLUTION [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-01 11:36:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM UNGA CE |
07COLOMBO1504 | SRI LANKA TO ENDORSE US CANDIDATE FOR IAAC ELECTION [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-02 08:47:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM AORC UNGA CE |
07COLOMBO1505 | SRI LANKA CONFIRMS PARTICIPATION IN THE 4TH [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-02 08:49:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM UNGA CE |
07COLOMBO1506 | SRI LANKA: DELIVERY OF FATF GUIDANCE REGARDING IRAN REF: A. SECSTATE 149648 B. COLOMBO 1439 C. COLOMBO 1307 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-02 08:51:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | EFIN KNNP UNSC IAEA IR CE |
07COLOMBO1509 | SRI LANKA: TIGER POLITICAL WING HEAD KILLED IN AIR [...] (U) LTTE Headquarters announced in a press release on November 2 that LTTE political chief and lead peace negotiator S.P. Thamilchelvan was killed at about 6 a.m. in a Sri Lankan Air Force attack near the LTTE de facto capital of Kilinochchi. Five other LTTE officers, including Lt Col. Anpun [...] | 2007-11-02 09:49:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER MOPS PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO152 | SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT STRUGGLING IN ATTEMPT TO WOO [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Rajapaksa has yet to announce his anticipated cabinet reshuffle, leading to confusion and speculation in the media and among our political contacts. The Rajapaksa team is struggling to eke out a bare majority of the parliamentary seats. Both the governing Sri Lanka Fre [...] | 2007-01-25 05:53:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL CE |
07COLOMBO1523 | SRI LANKA: TAMILCHELVAN'S DEATH - AFTERMATH AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: LTTE Police Chief Nadesan has replaced the deceased Tamilchelvan as head of the LTTE political wing, but will continue to serve as head of the LTTE "police." A former Sri Lankan government peace negotiator noted that Nadesan has little experience in the negotiating field. A No [...] | 2007-11-07 13:04:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PHUM MOPS PREL PINR CE |
07COLOMBO1526 | SRI LANKA: GSL HELPED KARUNA ENTER UK ON FALSE [...] (C) SUMMARY: UK High Commissioner Dominic Chilcott briefed Co-Chair Ambassadors on November 7 on the arrest of TMVP leader Karuna Amman for entering the UK on a false Sri Lankan diplomatic passport. Chilcott said there is no question that the GSL, with high-level authorization, knowingly iss [...] | 2007-11-08 11:33:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CVIS CE |
07COLOMBO1527 | SRI LANKA: CO-CHAIRS SEE LITTLE PROSPECT OF A [...] (C) SUMMARY: A meeting of Co-Chair Ambassadors in Colombo on November 5 concluded there will be little scope for promoting new peace talks in the next several months. Participants agreed to propose to capitals that the Co-Chairs principals meet during the first quarter of 2008 in Tokyo. Sever [...] | 2007-11-08 11:43:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS PINR CE |
07COLOMBO1528 | SRI LANKAN FOR MIN TO TRY TO DISSUADE PRESIDENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Tourism Minister Moragoda told Ambassador that he was traveling to Tehran in mid-November to advance the President's trip to Iran. Embassy has continued to underline our concerns about Iran's proliferation programs and sponsorship of terrorist activities known to the most senior [...] | 2007-11-08 12:23:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS IR CE |
07COLOMBO153 | SRI LANKA: TAMIL PARLIAMENTARIANS FEAR "ETHNIC [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador met with three Members of Parliament from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA),a party which shares the political goals of the LTTE, on January 24. The Tamil representatives said they feared an "ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing" of Tamils from the east. Ambassador ex [...] | 2007-01-25 10:52:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1532 | MALDIVES: ENCOURAGING PROGRESS ON CONSTITUTION; [...] (C) SUMMARY: On the margins of U.S.-Maldives Friendship Week from November 4-6, Ambassador and Poloffs met a number of contacts to discuss the progress of democratic reform in Maldives. Most contacts reported a renewed sense of cooperation between the government and opposition and encoura [...] | 2007-11-09 09:12:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM MV |
07COLOMBO1533 | SRI LANKA: AMBASSADOR PRESSES FOREIGN MINISTER ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Bogollagama requested a meeting with Ambassador on November 7 to follow up on Under Secretary Burns's October meetings with President Rajapaksa SIPDIS in New York and the Foreign Minister in Washington (reftel). He and his staff expressed frustration at their l [...] | 2007-11-09 09:29:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1534 | AMBASSADOR PRESENTS RADARS AND RIB BOATS TO SRI LANKAN [...] (SBU) Summary: Ambassador handed over to the Sri Lankan Navy Commander a radar-based maritime surveillance system and ten Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats in a ceremony on November 8 at the Trincomalee Base today. In his public remarks, the Ambassador explained that the equipment was transferred u [...] | 2007-11-11 07:19:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MOPS PREL PTER PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO154 | SRI LANKA: HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN CLERGY FACE [...] (C) Summary: Catholic and Protestant clergy engaged in human rights work in the predominantly Tamil North and East report they have received death threats from elements of the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) security forces and their allied paramilitaries, including that of Social Development M [...] | 2007-01-25 10:56:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1542 | MEETING WITH SRI LANKAN DEFENSE SECRETARY ON [...] (C) Ambassador and EU Head of Mission Wilson met with Defense Secretary Rajapaksa on November 13 to present a list of incidents reported by NGOs operating in eastern Sri Lanka in the last year perpetrated by the paramilitary Karuna Group. Secretary Rajapaksa admitted such incidents were stil [...] | 2007-11-14 13:09:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO1546 | SRI LANKA: TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT [...] (SBU) After meeting with numerous officials from throughout the GSL, Post assesses that the Government acknowledges the trafficking problem in Sri Lanka and is committed to addressing it. However, resource constraints, a lack of coordination among concerned ministries, and systemic problems [...] | 2007-11-15 10:13:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KCRM KWMN PHUM SMIG CE |
07COLOMBO1550 | IMO COUNCIL ELECTIONS - SRI LANKA AND MALDIVES SUPPORT FOR [...] (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel demarche to Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Director for the United Nations and Multilateral Affairs Division, Satya Rodrigo. Rodrigo told Econoff that Sri Lanka will support the U.S. candidacy in the upcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO [...] | 2007-11-15 11:43:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC EWWT PHSA PREL CE MV |
07COLOMBO1551 | SRI LANKA: BUDGET VOTE A CLIFFHANGER AS JVP [...] (C) SUMMARY: The leader of the principal Sinhalese nationalist party, the JVP, with 37 seats in Parliament, told a rally of supporters on November 13 that the party would not support the government on the crucial budget vote unless its conditions were met. He demanded that the President agree [...] | 2007-11-15 12:20:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1554 | SRI LANKA: TRO DESIGNATION WELCOMED BY GOVERNMENT [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-16 10:55:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | KTFN PTER PREL SL |
07COLOMBO1560 | MALDIVES FEEDBACK ON EAST AFRICA SOUTH WEST INDIAN OCEAN [...] (U) Econoff thanked Maldives for their participation in the 2007 East Africa South West Indian Ocean Maritime Security (EASWIO) Conference, and discussed reftel with Maldives Ministry of Transport and Communication's Director of Ports and Maritime, Mohamed Latheef. Latheef led the five-person [...] | 2007-11-19 10:43:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EWWT MARR PREL MV |
07COLOMBO1562 | SRI LANKA: GSL ARM-TWISTING SUCCEEDS IN GETTING [...] (C) SUMMARY: The government came to its own rescue in a must-win budget vote, using every means at its disposal to ensure passage of its budget in the second reading. President Rajapaksa was once again able to outmaneuver opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. In the process, Rajapaksa repo [...] | 2007-11-19 12:12:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1564 | SRI LANKA: TRO ASSET FREEZE ALIENATES TAMILS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Tamils and some non-Tamil Sri Lankans have conveyed to post predictably negative reactions to the U.S. Government's Executive Order 13224 designation of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO)(ref A). They assert the move will hurt Tamils and embolden the government to ta [...] | 2007-11-19 12:27:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KTFN PTER PREL PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO1565 | SRI LANKA: TRO DESIGNATION WELCOMED BY GOVERNMENT [...] (C) Summary and comment: Ambassador informed the Government of Sri Lanka the evening of November 15 of the forthcoming U.S. designation of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation shortly before Treasury's Washington announcement of the Executive Order 13224 designation. The government welcomed [...] | 2007-11-20 10:42:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | KTFN PTER PREL SL |
07COLOMBO158 | Respected NGO Analyst Tells Donor Ambassadors to Expect Protracted Conflict in Sri Lanka [...] No summary [...] | 2007-01-25 12:30:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL MOPS PTER EAID CE PHUM |
07COLOMBO1580 | SRI LANKA: INCSR PART II 2007-2008 SUBMISSION [...] The following is Embassy Colombo's International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) Part II regarding money laundering and financial crimes, per request in reftel. 2. Begin text: Sri Lanka Sri Lanka is neither an important regional financial center nor a preferred center for money [...] | 2007-11-21 11:34:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | KCRM EFIN KTFN SNAR KMCA CE |
07COLOMBO1581 | SRI LANKA AND MALDIVES: UPDATED CONTACT INFORMATION [...] Contact information for Embassy Sections. a. AMB: Robert O. Blake, Jr. Office: 94-11-249-8640 Cell: 94-77-347-6592 b. DCM: James Moore Office: 94-11-249-8640 Cell: 94-77-770-9571 c. POL: Michael DeTar Office: 94-11-249-876 [...] | 2007-11-23 05:50:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV AMGT CE |
07COLOMBO1582 | SRI LANKA: EMINENT PERSONS FRUSTRATED, DECIDE TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: The members of the International Independent Panel of Eminent Persons assisting the Sri Lankan Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Abuses feel their efforts have been stymied and concluded they can do little more to influence events in a positive way. A letter [...] | 2007-11-23 11:42:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1588 | MALDIVES: CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSAL TO DISQUALIFY [...] (SBU) On November 24, pro-government members of the Special Majlis (constituent assembly charged with drafting a new constitution) put forward two proposed changes which would effectively bar former Attorney General Hassan Saeed from running in the country's first multi-candidate Presidential [...] | 2007-11-26 11:37:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM MV |
07COLOMBO1601 | LTTE CHIEF SAYS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In his annual "Heroes' Day" speech, LTTE supremo Prabhakaran reiterated his litany of charges against the majority Sinhalese community in Sri Lanka. However, Prabhakaran went further than he has before in condemning what he sees as the international community's passivity in the [...] | 2007-11-28 13:38:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER MOPS PGOV PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO1603 | SRI LANKA: WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR UPDATE - NOV 2007 [...] As requested by Ref A, below is an update of the worst forms of child labor information for Sri Lanka. Child Labor Legislation ----------------------- 2. Sri Lanka ratified International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 138 on Minimum Age for Employment on November 2, 2000, and ILO [...] | 2007-11-29 11:01:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI CE |
07COLOMBO1604 | SRI LANKA: TIGERS RESUME ATTACKS IN COLOMBO [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: A bomb exploded near a clothing store in a crowded shopping mall in Nugegoda, a southern suburb of Colombo, at 5:55 p.m. on November 28. The attack may have been a reprisal for an alleged attack on a bus transporting schoolchildren near the Tamil Tiger de facto capital of Kil [...] | 2007-11-29 12:02:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1616 | SRI LANKA: ARMY, POLICE ROUND UP TAMILS WHILE [...] (C) SUMMARY: On November 30 - December 3, Sri Lankan security forces conducted random arrests and cordon and search operations, rounding up approximately 2500 Tamils in Colombo and suburbs and perhaps 3500 island-wide. Some of the detainees were released within hours, others were transported [...] | 2007-12-04 13:51:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1618 | SRI LANKAN ARMY HOLDS HUMAN RIGHTS SEMINAR FOR [...] Summary: The Sri Lankan Army organized on December 4-7 a three-day seminar on "Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law, Disaster Response and Military Civilian Relations" for all of its battalion field commanders in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka (where fighting is heaviest [...] | 2007-12-05 02:31:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM MARR PTER PREL CE |
07COLOMBO162 | SUPPORTING A BELEAGUERED TAMIL PRESS [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador and PAO called on beleaguered Tamil dailies "Tinakkural" and Sudar Oli" to demonstrate support for a free press. Ambassador agreed to try to help solve specific problems with their Jaffna editions, in immediate danger of closing due to lack of newsprint and other suppli [...] | 2007-01-26 09:10:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | KPAO PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO1627 | BUSINESS FACILITATION INCENTIVE FUND: SRI LANKA [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-05 11:54:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP BTIO ENIV ABUD CE |
07COLOMBO1640 | CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSA ON THE WAY [...] (S) Summary: In a series of short conversations with Ambassador on December 6 during a trip to his home town of Tangalle, President Rajapaksa expressed confidence his government would win the third and final budget vote on December 14, but was less clear on the way forward after that. Rajapa [...] | 2007-12-07 11:32:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PREL PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO1641 | ISRAELI AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ISRAELI RELATIONS [...] (C) In an introductory meeting on December 7, Israel's new Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mark Sofer (who is resident in New Delhi) told Ambassador that after presenting his credentials to President Rajapaksa and several days of consultations in Colombo he had noted considerable pessimism about the [...] | 2007-12-07 11:32:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER CE IR IS |
07COLOMBO1651 | IIGEP INFORMS DONORS IT IS LEAVING IN MARCH [...] (SBU) As reported reftel, the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) has decided to end its work in Sri Lanka by March 2008. IIGEP informed the Government of Sri Lanka of this on December 7. Ambassador received the following letter dated December 4 from IIGEP. BEGIN ME [...] | 2007-12-12 09:47:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM MOPS PTER CE |
07COLOMBO1652 | SRI LANKA'S RELATIONS WITH UN DETERIORATING [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The last month has seen a deterioration in the UN's already shaky relations with Sri Lanka. On November 12, JVP parliamentary floor leader Wimal Weerawansa made a speech to parliament in which he accused UNICEF of supporting the LTTE through contributions of money and vehicles. [...] | 2007-12-12 10:53:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL AORC PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1656 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT STRUGGLES FOR SURVIVAL ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: The third and final reading of the budget on December 14 is shaping up as a battle royal for the government's survival -- and the government is losing ground in the count. On December 12, Sri Lankan Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem and three of his five Members of Parliament [...] | 2007-12-12 12:04:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1661 | SRI LANKA: 2008 BUDGET WOULD BOOST DEFENSE AND TRANSFERS TO RAJAPAKSA CONSTITUENTS [...] (SBU) Summary and comment: The Rajapaksa government could survive or fall depending on the outcome of a December 14 final vote on its 2008 budget. The proposed budget continues the president's emphasis on high taxes to fund big government and transfers to his primary constituents: civil servan [...] | 2007-12-13 10:55:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN KMCA PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO1666 | MALDIVIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES JOIN FORCES, ENDORSE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Opposition parties and other political groups in Maldives have formed a National Unity Alliance (NUA) and called for a transitional government that would run Maldives from the time the new constitution comes into effect until new officials can be elected. Member parties, includ [...] | 2007-12-14 11:25:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM MV |
07COLOMBO1667 | SRI LANKA: FOREIGN SECRETARY COMPLAINS ABOUT U.S. [...] (C) DCM and Pol Chief were summoned by Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona on December 13 to discuss proceedings at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Kohona expressed the government's objection to the U.S. delegation's statement in support of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbo [...] | 2007-12-14 11:49:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1676 | MALDIVES: AHMED KHALEEL NEW PERMREP IN NEW YORK [...] On December 13, Embassy received a diplomatic note dated December 10, 2007, announcing the appointment of Ahmed Khaleel as Maldives' Permanent Representative to the United Nations. [begin text] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives presents its compliments to the Emb [...] | 2007-12-18 09:11:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OVIP PINR UN MV |
07COLOMBO1677 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT SCRAPES TOGETHER A FINAL [...] SUMMARY: On December 14, the United People's Freedom Alliance passed its budget with a majority of 47 votes. The Government's victory was not assured until the JVP decided, in the final hours before the vote, to abstain. The decision to abstain, after voting against the budget in the first tw [...] | 2007-12-18 11:04:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO168 | SRI LANKA: NAVY CLAIMS IT AVERTS TAMIL TIGER [...] (S) Summary: Government of Sri Lanka military sources described to DATT on January 27 an attempted Tamil Tiger (LTTE) attack on the Colombo Port that morning in which the Navy destroyed three suspected "Sea Tiger" vessels, two of them suicide boats, disguised as fishing craft. Local weekend [...] | 2007-01-29 12:40:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO1680 | Sri Lanka - DCHA/FFP Monitoring Report on WFP [...] Summary: From November 25 to December 4, 2007 USAID/DCHA Food for Peace Officer (FFP/O) visited Sri Lanka to monitor the UN World Food Program (WFP) Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO),which receives U.S. Title II Emergency Assistance. FFP/O visited multiple sites in the conflict [...] | 2007-12-19 03:55:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PGOV PHUM PREF PINS CE |
07COLOMBO1687 | MCC DECISION NOT TO RE-SELECT SRI LANKA FOR COMPACT [...] (SBU) Sri Lanka's national focal point for Millennium Challenge Account issues, Secretary of Ministry of Plan Implementation Dhara Wijayatilake, contacted Econoff December 20 to seek clarification regarding the MCC board's December 12 decision regarding Sri Lanka. Wijayatilake had seen a local [...] | 2007-12-20 10:58:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID KMCA PREL CE |
07COLOMBO1688 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT HOLDS SUCCESSFUL TIP [...] On December 13, the Ministry of Child Development and Women's Empowerment hosted a four-hour roundtable discussion on trafficking in persons (TIP) with key stakeholders in the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL). The goal of the meeting was to share information and best practices, foster more effe [...] | 2007-12-20 11:43:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | KCRM KWMN PHUM PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO1689 | GOVERNMENT ISSUES PUBLIC STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF [...] Summary: At the urging of the U.S., EU and UN in Sri Lanka, the Government of Sri Lanka issued a public statement on December 15 expressing its "support for, and confidence in, United Nations operations in Sri Lanka" and "the efforts of the international agencies in humanitarian assistance and [...] | 2007-12-20 12:00:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC PREL CE |
07COLOMBO1698 | MINISTER PEIRIS PREVIEWS PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVE [...] (C) Summary: In a one-on-one meeting with the Ambassador on December 20, Trade Minister GL Peiris (who was one of the Government's former chief negotiators in the 2002-3 talks with the LTTE) previewed a new initiative the President has asked him to draft to begin to redress Tamil grievances. [...] | 2007-12-21 08:42:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO170 | SRI LANKA: CABINET RESHUFFLE NARROWS MAJORITY FOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Mahinda Rajapaksa reshuffled his cabinet on January 28. Joining the government ranks were 18 "dissident" MPs from the opposition United National Party (UNP) and all 6 MPs from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). This gave the government, which previously had 98 seat [...] | 2007-01-29 15:15:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS ETRD EINV CE |
07COLOMBO1707 | SRI LANKA: IRAN REFINERY OFFER COMPLICATES PICTURE FOR US [...] (SBU) Summary: Iran's recent promise to finance a $750 million expansion of Sri Lanka's sole oil refinery complicates the ambitions of U.S. firms Global Energy and ENGlobal to secure contracts for similar refinery investments. The head of the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation doubts Ira [...] | 2007-12-31 08:33:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ENRG PREL CE IR |
07COLOMBO1708 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT UPS WAR RHETORIC, FIGHTING [...] (C) Summary. In late December, Sri Lanka's Defense Secretary, Prime Minister, and Army Commander spoke out SIPDIS confidently on the GSL's prospects of defeating the LTTE militarily. Meanwhile, heavy fighting continued in several areas in the North. The GSL's statements and actions conf [...] | 2007-12-31 08:45:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO175 | SRI LANKA: NEW FOREIGN MINISTER TO MAKE INDIA HIS [...] (C) Summary. Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad informed the Ambassador on January 30 that new Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama is traveling this evening to New Delhi for introductory calls on the Government of India (GOI). Prasad suggested the U.S. and India should combine efforts t [...] | 2007-01-30 14:43:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO176 | SRI LANKA: HUMAN RIGHTS MINISTER VOWS NOT TO TAKE [...] (C) Summary. Ambassador met with Minister of Disaster Relief and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe January 30 to share with him a list of suggested actions the Government could take to address the human rights situation. The deeply frustrated Minister (strictly protect throughout) expressed [...] | 2007-01-30 14:43:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO181 | SRI LANKA TO SIGN ACQUISITION AND CROSS SERVICING [...] On December 7, 2006, Ambassador and Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) Chief met with Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa to provide background information (see para 4) on a Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) and a the draft ACSA proposed for signature. See paragra [...] | 2007-01-31 10:27:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | MARR PREL MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO186 | SRI LANKA: RULING PARTY LURES 8 MORE CROSSOVERS [...] (C) Eight out of nine Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Buddhist monk-based Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) announced on January 31 that they have joined the Government. JHU MP Venerable Omalpe Sobitha Thero resigned to allow the party's Policy Formulator, Champika Ranawaka, to become an MP. R [...] | 2007-01-31 11:51:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO188 | SRI LANKA: RULING PARTY LURES 8 MORE CROSSOVERS [...] (C) Eight out of nine Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Buddhist monk-based Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) announced on January 31 that they have joined the Government. JHU MP Venerable Omalpe Sobitha Thero resigned to allow the party's Policy Formulator, Champika Ranawaka, to become an MP. R [...] | 2007-01-31 12:08:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO189 | SRI LANKA: NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR SAYS TIGERS WILL [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador met Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar on January 31 to discuss the January 28-29 Sri Lanka Development Forum and the ramifications of the Government of Sri Lanka's (GSL) military victories in Vakarai and elsewhere in the east. The Ambassadors shared concerns over sp [...] | 2007-01-31 12:24:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO20 | SRI LANKA: NEW HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CHAIR - A [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Rajapaksa has named former Sri Lankan Supreme Court justice Anandacoomaraswamy chair of the national Human Rights Commission (HRC),circumventing a constitutional requirement that an independent council appoint the heads of national commissions. Sri Lanka's human right [...] | 2007-01-05 06:30:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PTER CE |
07COLOMBO200 | IMI - OIL EXPLORATION IN SRI LANKA [...] Sri Lanka is hoping to begin offshore oil prospecting soon. Seismic surveys and airborne gravity surveys have confirmed the possible existence of petroleum resources in Sri Lanka's territorial waters off the northern and western coasts, in the Cauvery basin in the Palk Straits (between Sri Lan [...] | 2007-02-05 09:46:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | KTDB ECON ETRD ENRG CE |
07COLOMBO211 | REQUEST FOR NIH ACCOUNTS TO ACCESS MALDIVES DATA [...] No summary [...] | 2007-02-05 12:14:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO SENV PREL CE MV |
07COLOMBO212 | SRI LANKA AND MALDIVES - NO TOBACCO-RELATED ACTIVITIES [...] No summary [...] | 2007-02-05 12:15:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EAGR ETRD CE MV |
07COLOMBO214 | SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY RECKONS TIGER GROUND [...] (C) Summary: Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa offered his interpretation of the government security forces' January victory in Vakarai to Ambassador and DATT on February 5 and explained the government's current military strategy. Gothabaya noted that the security forces encountered pred [...] | 2007-02-05 13:12:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO215 | SRI LANKA: MONK-BASED JHU INSISTS GSL SHOULD SEEK [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On February 2, Ambassador met with several members of the Buddhist monk-based Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU),including newly appointed environment minister Champika Ranawaka (reftel). JHU representatives said the government should crush the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) [...] | 2007-02-05 13:15:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM PTER CE |
07COLOMBO221 | NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR'S VISIT TO "TENSE" KILINOCHCHI [...] Summary: In a February 5 readout of his February 1-2 visit to Kilinochchi, Norwegian Ambassador Brattskar described the mood in the area as very tense. LTTE spokesman and chief negotiator Tamilselvan complained to Brattskar that the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) had gone to war by occupying V [...] | 2007-02-06 08:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO227 | MALDIVES: AMBASSADOR ADVOCATES BOEING AND WINDPOWER SALES [...] (U) SUMMARY: Ambassador Blake advocated for the purchase of Boeing aircraft by a Maldivian airline and the expansion of an upcoming wind power pilot project utilizing US-made wind turbines during his January 16 visit to the Maldives. Either of these sales could significantly boost US exports [...] | 2007-02-06 11:37:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV ENRG EAIR ETRD MV |
07COLOMBO228 | SRI LANKA: LIMITED EFFORTS TO ADDRESS INDOOR AIR POLLUTION [...] Summary: Government involvement in Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) issues in Sri Lanka is at an early stage. Although IAP was discussed at the country's first national symposium on air resource management in 2004, limited progress has been made in this area. The Ministry of Environment and Natural [...] | 2007-02-06 11:38:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON SENV ETRD PHUM SOCI EAID CE |
07COLOMBO229 | SRI LANKA: OPPOSITION LEADER SAYS PROGRESS ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Ambassador met with Ranil Wickremesinghe, leader of the major opposition United National Party (UNP),on February 5, soon after 18 UNP parliamentarians joined the government to accept ministerial posts (ref). Wickremesinghe said he would not attempt to expel the "crossovers" f [...] | 2007-02-06 11:48:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PTER CE |
07COLOMBO23 | NEW ECONOMIC COUNCIL APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT [...] (U) SUMMARY: On December 26, 2006, President Mahinda Rajapaksa chaired the inaugural meeting of Sri Lanka's new Economic Council. The President appointed this council, comprised of the nation's top economic experts to advise the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) on economic affairs, and to engage [...] | 2007-01-08 05:51:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ETRD CE |
07COLOMBO230 | SRI LANKA: NEW MEGA-CABINET BOOSTS RAJAPAKSA [...] (C) Summary. President Mahinda Rajapaksa's recent cabinet reshuffle has served to consolidate his and his brothers' control, particularly over the all-important defense portfolio. The new United National Party (UNP) ministers have settled for distinctly secondary ministries, while their de [...] | 2007-02-06 12:43:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO231 | FOREIGN MINISTER OUTLINES INITIAL PRIORITIES AND [...] (SBU) Sri Lanka's new Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama convoked diplomatic heads of mission on February 6 to outline his initial priorities and travel plans. Noting his prior experience as Minister of Industries, then Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion, Bogollagam [...] | 2007-02-06 13:02:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO232 | FOREIGN MINISTER OUTLINES INITIAL PRIORITIES AND [...] (SBU) Sri Lanka's new Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama convoked diplomatic heads of mission on February 6 to outline his initial priorities and travel plans. Noting his prior experience as Minister of Industries, then Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion, Bogollagama [...] | 2007-02-07 02:46:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO241 | PRESS CONFERENCE TO PUBLICIZE POSITIVE WORK OF [...] The Ambassador and EU Head of Mission Wilson organized on February 7 a press conference to publicize the positive work that international NGOs are performing in Sri Lanka and condemn the recent campaign to discredit international NGOs. The German Ambassador (and EU President),the U.S. Ambass [...] | 2007-02-08 06:55:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID PREL PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO244 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR GEOFF MOYLE, ANURA [...] Post grants country clearance to consultants Geoff Moyle, Anura Widananpathirana, Ed Ely and John Standingford of URS Corporation to travel to Sri Lanka from January 23 to February 23, 2007. The purpose of the trip is to continue due diligence on the Infrastructure and ESA portions of the GOSL' [...] | 2007-02-08 11:30:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID KMCA ECON ORTA KPAO AFIN OVIP CE |
07COLOMBO249 | SRI LANKA: NEW FOREIGN MINISTER AFFIRMS COMMITMENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador paid his initial call on new Foreign Minister Bogollagama on February 8. Ambassador reviewed U.S. support for Sri Lanka in its fight against LTTE terrorism. He also underlined serious U.S. concerns about Sri Lanka's deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situati [...] | 2007-02-09 09:06:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO25 | SRI LANKA'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM FAILING TO MEET STUDENT AND [...] SUMMARY: Sri Lanka's government-run university system is able to accommodate about 15 percent of eligible secondary school graduates, and the population of potential students is growing much faster than the universities can expand. The University Grants Commission (UGC),a government body, de [...] | 2007-01-08 09:35:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ELAB EIND ETRD CE |
07COLOMBO250 | SRI LANKA: GROWING COUT AND APPEAL OF NON-WESTERN [...] (SBU) Summary and comment: Sri Lanka is increasingly looking to non-Western partners like China, India, Korea, Malaysia, and even Iran to fund major infrastructure projects. These donors are promising aid without conditions, while the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European donors and t [...] | 2007-02-09 09:42:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID EINV PREL CE CH IN IR JA KS MY |
07COLOMBO251 | INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT, 2007 - MALDIVES [...] Per reftel, below is the investment climate statement for Maldives for 2007. INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT-MALDIVES FEBRUARY 2007 Investment Climate --Introduction Maldives is comprised of over 1,190 islands, of which 198 are inhabited and 87 are exclusive resort islands. Populati [...] | 2007-02-09 09:47:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | KTDB OPIC ECON USTR EINV EFIN ETRD ELAB PGOV |
07COLOMBO254 | SRI LANKA: NEW FOREIGN MINISTER AFFIRMS COMMITMENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador paid his initial call on new Foreign Minister Bogollagama on February 8. Ambassador reviewed U.S. support for Sri Lanka in its fight against LTTE terrorism. He also underlined serious U.S. concerns about Sri Lanka's deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situati [...] | 2007-02-09 10:14:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO255 | SRI LANKA: NEW FOREIGN MINISTER AFFIRMS COMMITMENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador paid his initial call on new Foreign Minister Bogollagama on February 8. Ambassador reviewed U.S. support for Sri Lanka in its fight against LTTE terrorism. He also underlined serious U.S. concerns about Sri Lanka's deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situati [...] | 2007-02-09 10:14:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO256 | UN A/SYG KANE PROPOSES HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORS TO [...] (C) Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Angela Kane briefed on February 9 Co-Chair Ambassadors regarding her current visit to Sri Lanka. She has met with Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister, Human Rights Minister, political party leaders and other senior government officials to gain a [...] | 2007-02-09 10:44:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM AORC PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO257 | SRI LANKA: AMBASSADOR URGES PRESIDENTIAL [...] (C) Summary: In a candid, hour-long meeting with President Rajapaksa on February 9, Ambassador pressed the President to show personal leadership in taking concrete steps to improve his government's human rights performance. Rajapaksa weighed in against a proposal by members of Congress to app [...] | 2007-02-12 11:16:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO263 | SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT SACKS THREE MINISTERS, [...] (U) On February 9, President Rajapaksa dismissed Ministers Anura Bandaranaike (National Heritage portfolio) and Mangala Samaraweera (Ports and Aviation portfolio and Foreign Minister until the January 28 cabinet reshuffle),as well as non-cabinet Minister Sripathi Sooriarachchi (Ports portfoli [...] | 2007-02-12 12:39:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO264 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT ROUNDS UP ALLEGED SINHALESE [...] (C) SUMMARY: On February 5, three Sinhalese members of the Railway Services Trade Union disappeared. Three days after the abduction, Defense Spokesman Rambukwella announced that the Army had arrested the three men on allegations that they had links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (L [...] | 2007-02-12 13:12:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO265 | SRI LANKA: MILITARY VICTORIES IN THE EAST PAVE WAY [...] (C) Summary: The military victories of the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) security forces against the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in Vakarai, Sampur and elsewhere in the eastern province mark a significant change in the balance of power. The consensus, with which we agree, is that the capture of Vakara [...] | 2007-02-12 13:20:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM ECON MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO266 | ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On February 7 the Ambassador hosted a round-table discussion on trafficking in persons with 12 NGO representatives and three government officials working in related fields. Although there was no single working definition of "trafficking" or common assessment of the scope of th [...] | 2007-02-12 13:26:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM ELAB ASEC PREF KCRM KWMN SMIG KFRD CE |
07COLOMBO274 | MODERATE TAMILS SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES [...] (C) Summary. Ambassador MET on February 9 with Ahilan Kadirgamar of the Sri Lanka Democracy Forum, a group of moderate Tamil expatriates. Kadirgamar, who is based in the U.S., was critical of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) monopoly over Tamil politics and saw the breakaway [...] | 2007-02-13 12:31:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO28 | SRI LANKA: TWO BUS BOMBS KILL 21 IN SINHALESE [...] (C) Summary: A January 5 bomb blast on a passenger bus in the Western Province town of Nittambuwa killed five and injured 50. On January 6, a second bus bomb near the southern coastal town of Hikkaduwa killed at least 15 people, and injured 42. Both buses originated in Colombo. The indepen [...] | 2007-01-08 11:49:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV MOPS PREL PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO281 | UNP WITHDRAWS FROM APRC BUT PLEDGES TO SUPPORT [...] (C) Upon receipt of press reports that the opposition UNP party planned to abandon the all-parties committee process, Ambassador called UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to express concern and reaffirm the crucial role the UNP has to play in working with the government to develop a strong and [...] | 2007-02-14 10:37:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO286 | CO-CHAIR AMBASSADORS DISCUSS POLICY IMPLICATIONS [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador hosted on February 14 a meeting with Co-Chair Ambassadors and Indian High Commissioner Prasad to agree on positions we should recommend that capitals take on the key policy issues that Co-Chairs now face as a result of the Sri Lankan military's victories in the east [...] | 2007-02-14 13:01:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO289 | MALDIVES: STRATEGY FOR ENGAGING ONE OF ISLAMIC [...] (SBU) Maldives is a moderate, pro-American Islamic country that cooperates on American military objectives and is responsive to US advice on reform and openness. In a generation, it has gone from being South Asia's poorest country to that with the region's highest per-capita income. However, [...] | 2007-02-15 10:48:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL MASS MARR ECON ETRD AMGT OEXC KPAO |
07COLOMBO290 | SRI LANKA: PRODUCTIVE KICKOFF FOR IIGEP [...] (C) Summary. The eleven members of the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) met February 12 for the first time with each other and with the Government of Sri Lanka's (GSL) recently established Commission of Inquiry (COI) into human rights abuses, which they will be obse [...] | 2007-02-15 11:51:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO292 | SRI LANKA: TWO SACKED MINISTERS CRITICIZE [...] (U) Recently dismissed ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathy Suriyarachchi (reftel) strongly criticized President Mahinda Rajapaksa at press conference they held at the Parliament building on February 15. Ex-Foreign Minister Samaraweera said he would not accept any ministerial post under [...] | 2007-02-15 12:16:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PTER CE |
07COLOMBO294 | SRI LANKA: GERMAN EMBASSY PROTESTS HARASSMENT OF [...] (C) SUMMARY: The German Ambassador has lodged a protest with Foreign Minister Bogollagama regarding separate recent incidents in Trincomalee and Batticaloa involving their aid agency and, apparently, members of the LTTE splitoff "Karuna group." German Technical Cooperation (GTZ),the German [...] | 2007-02-16 08:58:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS EAID CE |
07COLOMBO302 | SRI LANKA: AFTER THE FALL OF VAKARAI, GOVERNMENT [...] (C) Summary: An Embassy team that visited Vakarai on February 14 was the first group of foreign diplomats into the area since the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) retook the strategic coastal town from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) last month. Demining operations and infrastruct [...] | 2007-02-20 13:39:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PHUM MOPS EAID CA |
07COLOMBO303 | SRI LANKA: PRESS COVERAGE FOR SIGNING OF ACQUISITION AND [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: With Department concurrence, Post plans to sign an Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with the government of Sri Lanka on or about February 28, 2007. Because of the risk that the agreement could be misconstrued by local parties pursuing domestic political agendas, [...] | 2007-02-20 13:55:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KPAO PREL MOPS MASS CE |
07COLOMBO304 | SRI LANKA: PRESS COVERAGE FOR SIGNING OF ACQUISITION AND [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: With Department concurrence, Post plans to sign an Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with the government of Sri Lanka on or about February 28, 2007. Because of the risk that the agreement could be misconstrued by local parties pursuing domestic political agendas, [...] | 2007-02-20 13:56:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KPAO PREL MOPS MASS CE |
07COLOMBO316 | SRI LANKA: 5-YEAR CEASEFIRE ANNIVERSARY INSPIRES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: February 22 marks the five-year anniversary of the Cease-fire Agreement (CFA),which has inspired renewed calls to abandon the peace process. A group of Buddhist monks from the National Bhikku Front, officially backed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP),mounted a hunger [...] | 2007-02-22 11:57:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO322 | SRI LANKA: UK CONSIDERING CANCELING TSUNAMI DEBT RELIEF [...] (SBU) Summary: The UK is considering canceling $80 million in debt relief provided to Sri Lanka following the 2004 tsunami because of concerns that Sri Lanka is not meeting pro-peace conditions of the debt relief agreement. The UK's privately-conveyed concerns were leaked to the Sri Lankan pre [...] | 2007-02-23 09:42:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO324 | SRI LANKA: CABINET RESHUFFLE AND SACKING OF [...] (C) Summary. The effects of the President Rajapaksa's strategy of luring crossovers and reshuffling the Cabinet are still rumbling through both of Sri Lanka's main political parties. Senior Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Vice President D.M. Jayaratne held talks on February 21 in an attempt [...] | 2007-02-23 12:28:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO326 | SRI LANKA: FORMIN PROMISES DEVOLUTION PROPOSAL; [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador called on Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona on February 23 at their request. Bogollagama assured us that the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) devolution proposal would be ready soon, perhaps before Bogollagama's propo [...] | 2007-02-26 12:18:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO327 | SRI LANKA: NO DECISION YET ON U.S. WTO TAFT GOODS [...] Summary: The Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) will not make a decision on the U.S. WTO textiles, apparel, footwear and travel goods (TAFT) negotiating text until it meets with apparel producers later this week. End summary. 2. Econoff delivered the TAFT negotiating text to senior government o [...] | 2007-02-26 12:54:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD WTO CE |
07COLOMBO328 | ATTACK ON AMBASSADOR'S CONVOY IN BATTICALOA [...] On February 27, 2007 Ambassador Blake and the German, Italian, Japanese and French Ambassadors accompanied Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe and representatives of the United Nations and international non-governmental organizations on a day trip to observe [...] | 2007-02-27 09:49:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC PTER PREL PGOV MOPS |
07COLOMBO332 | R/V ROGER REVELLE CLEARANCE REQUEST SUBMITTED [...] No summary [...] | 2007-02-28 03:29:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | KRVC TPHY EWWT CE |
07COLOMBO333 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR OPIC OFFICIALS DIANA JENSEN [...] Post grants country clearance to OPIC officials Diana Jensen, Senior Investment Officer and Barbara Gibian, Assistant General Counsel to travel to Colombo, Sri Lanka, arriving on or about March 7, 2007 and departing on or about March 13, 2007. Embassy control officer is Mr. Richard Merrin, Com [...] | 2007-02-28 05:26:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EINV EFIN CE |
07COLOMBO337 | SRI LANKA:EX-FOREIGN MINISTER COMPLAINS OF [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador called on Ex-Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera at his residence on February 26, at Samaraweera's request. Samaraweera reported that following his petition to the Human Rights Commission on Friday regarding his personal security, a senior official from the Ministe [...] | 2007-02-28 12:17:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO338 | SRI LANKA: FORMER PRESIDENT KUMARATUNGA EXCORIATES [...] (C) SUMMARY: Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga expressed strong disapproval of President Rajapaksa's approach to governance in a meeting with Ambassador on February 26. She feared that the current government was committed to trying to resolve the country's ethnic conflict through purel [...] | 2007-03-01 02:52:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS ECON CE |
07COLOMBO341 | CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS IN BATTICALOA DECRY HUMAN [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador participated in a visit to Batticaloa led by Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights Samarasinghe. Although the visit was disrupted by a mortar attack as the delegation arrived in Batticaloa (reftel),the delegation met with civil society leaders. The Amba [...] | 2007-03-01 08:18:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL PTER PGOV MOPS KHDP CE |
07COLOMBO342 | LTTE HEAD REGRETS ARTILLERY FIRE ON AMBASSADOR [...] (S) SUMMARY: On February 28, Ambassador Blake received a faxed letter (full text para 2) dated February 27, 2007, from S.P. Tamilselvan, Head of the Political Division, LTTE, apologizing for the February 27 artillery attack on the delegation in which the Ambassador was traveling to Battical [...] | 2007-03-01 08:42:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PTER ASEC PREL CE |
07COLOMBO35 | SRI LANKAN MONITORING MISSION ADAPTING TO RESUMED [...] No summary [...] | 2007-01-09 12:17:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO350 | SRI LANKA: SCENESETTER FOR SCA PDAS MANN'S VISIT [...] (C) Your visit to Colombo comes at a critical time. There is a substantial risk of a return to fighting in the east and north in the next few weeks. Prospects are uncertain that the ruling Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) will present a viable devolution proposal to the All-Party Representati [...] | 2007-03-01 12:42:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO352 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR DARIUS NASSIRY, EILEEN BURKE, [...] Post grants country clearance to Darius Nassiry, Eileen Burke, Carlton Bennett, Doris McMahon, Mary Jo Johnson, Thomas Hohenthaner, Berry Deren and Amanda Beatty of Millennium Challenge Corporation to travel to Sri Lanka from March 11 - 30, 2007. The purpose of the trip is to continue due dilig [...] | 2007-03-02 06:46:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID KMCA ECON ORTA KPAO AFIN OVIP CE |
07COLOMBO36 | SRI LANKAN MONITORING MISSION ADAPTING TO RESUMED [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: SLMM head of mission Lars Solvberg briefed Co-Chair Ambassadors and new Indian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alok Prasad on January 8 regarding SLMM plans to reconfigure the mission. Because of their limited numbers and various constraints on their operations, but especially because [...] | 2007-01-09 12:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO367 | SRI LANKA: THE SEVENTH ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS [...] (U) Mission's submission for the seventh annual Anti-Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for Sri Lanka follows. Responses are keyed to questions in Reftel. Mission point of contact is poloff Anamika Chakravorty, telephone +94-11-249-8822, fax +94-11-249-8820. Paragraph 27: Sri Lanka Overvi [...] | 2007-03-05 12:04:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM ELAB ASEC PREF KCRM KWMN SMIG KFRD CE |
07COLOMBO368 | AMBASSADOR AND FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSS FOREIGN [...] (C) Ambassador called on Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama on March 5th to brief him on the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement that Ambassador signed earlier in the day with Defense Secretary RajapaksA(septel). Bogollagama expressed appreciation for the briefing. Neithe [...] | 2007-03-05 12:35:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OVIP CE |
07COLOMBO37 | SRI LANKAN SECURITY FORCES CAPTURE KEY TIGER BASE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-01-09 12:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO370 | SRI LANKA: PARA-TARIFFS BOOST REVENUE AND INCREASE [...] Summary: Tariffs and para-tariffs have hiked Sri Lanka's effective tariff rates to 50-85 percent. The para-tariffs include at least seven different levies, taxes, and surcharges, the rates of which frequently change (generally upward). These fees have added complexity and unpredictability to [...] | 2007-03-06 10:05:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD CE |
07COLOMBO375 | SRI LANKA: 2006 U.S. EXPORTS UP, BUT BARELY DENT USD 1.9B [...] (U) Summary: The United States-Sri Lanka goods trade balance narrowed to nine-to-one in Sri Lanka's favor in 2006, from over ten-to-one in recent years. The improvement came from 20 percent growth in U.S. exports to Sri Lanka, while U.S. imports from Sri Lanka rose by only 3 percent. Neverth [...] | 2007-03-06 12:22:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EFIN EAID CE |
07COLOMBO376 | TERRORIST FINANCE: SRI LANKA ENFORCING AGAINST ILLICIT CASH [...] (SBU) Summary: Sri Lanka Customs and the Central Bank's Financial Intelligence Unit are actively attempting to prevent illicit cash courier activity and are aware of the issues raised in reftel. They have had some success in disrupting transactions, but have been less effective in figuring ou [...] | 2007-03-06 12:39:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ETTC KFTN LE PREL PTER CE |
07COLOMBO379 | MUSLIM MINISTER SAYS PRESIDENT WAVERING ON [...] (C) On March 4 Ambassador paid an initial courtesy call on the President of the Sri Lanka Muslim Council (SLMC) Rauff Hakeem in his new capacity as SL Minister of Posts and Telecommunications. After a brief discussion on his new portfolio which Hakeem admitted he was still learning about, A [...] | 2007-03-06 13:14:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO38 | SRI LANKAN SECURITY FORCES CAPTURE KEY TIGER BASE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) security forces captured the Tamil Tigers' (LTTE) main military camp in the eastern district of Ampara on January 7, where they reportedly uncovered an explosive-laden truck and three motorbikes fitted with explosive detonators. The military alleged [...] | 2007-01-09 12:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO383 | LTTE LEADER BREAKS NO NEW GROUND IN MEETING WITH [...] (C) Summary: The Norwegian Ambassador briefed Co-Chair ambassadors March 7 on his visit to Killinochi earlier this week. LTTE political chief Tamilselvan warned that a push by the Sri Lankan military in the North would produce aggressive retaliation by the LTTE. He criticized the internat [...] | 2007-03-07 14:23:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER ASEC PREL CE |
07COLOMBO386 | POLICE CHIEF DISCLOSES ARRESTS OF SECURITY FORCES [...] (SBU) Police Inspector General Victor Perera told selected members of the press on Tuesday, March 6, that "a large number" of police officers and troops had been arrested on charges of abduction and extortion. In some instances, he said, ransoms had been paid abroad. He indicated that among [...] | 2007-03-08 10:23:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO388 | SRI LANKA: CRUNCH TIME COMING ON DEVOLUTION [...] (C) SUMMARY: Two months after the release of the All-Party Representative Committee (APRC) Experts Panel "Majority Report," the President's party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP),has yet to put forward its own proposals on devolution. The President reportedly has told his party's ad-ho [...] | 2007-03-08 11:08:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO394 | SRI LANKA: ALLEGATIONS OF IMPROPRIETY IN CONNECTION WITH [...] (SBU) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: The Government of Sri Lanka plans to launch in March 2007 a state-run airline aimed at providing low-cost travel for migrant workers and tourists to the Middle East and India. The budget carrier, called Mihin Lanka, has elicited criticism from politicians, the press [...] | 2007-03-09 10:26:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EIND ETRD EAIR EINV KCOR CE |
07COLOMBO398 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR USDA JOHN GROSMAN TO TRAVEL [...] Post grants country clearance to USDA Wildland Fire Training Officer, John Grosman, an employee of the US Forest Service, to travel to Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 17-25, 2007. The purpose of the visit is the development of a Disaster Simulation Exercise. Embassy control officer is Mr. Richard Me [...] | 2007-03-12 11:34:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ECON OTRA CE |
07COLOMBO399 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR TRUDIE MAHONEY TO TRAVEL TO [...] Post grants country clearance to Trudie Mahoney, Emergency Management Specialist, an employee of the US Forest Service, to travel to Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 18-27, 2007. The purpose of the visit is to provide technical assistance for a program to integrate Incident Command System into the Di [...] | 2007-03-12 11:34:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ECON OTRA CE |
07COLOMBO402 | SRI LANKA: EARLY ROADBLOCKS FOR IIGEP [...] (C) Summary: Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe called a meeting on March 6 to brief donor country Heads of Mission on the status of the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP). Samarasinghe acknowledged a lack of clarity on the responsib [...] | 2007-03-12 13:14:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO410 | SRI LANKA WILL CO-SPONSOR U.S. WTO TAFT GOODS NEGOTIATING [...] Summary: Sri Lanka will co-sponsor the U.S. WTO textiles, apparel, footwear and travel (TAFT) goods proposal on labeling. End Summary. 2. Department of Commerce Director of Multilateral Trade Affairs Gomi Senadheera informed Post that he has instructed the Sri Lanka Mission to the WTO in G [...] | 2007-03-13 12:30:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD WTO CE |
07COLOMBO411 | SRI LANKA: PDAS MANN'S MEETING WITH FINANCE SECRETARY [...] (SBU) Summary: SCA PDAS Steven Mann raised the Millennium Challenge Account, the payment dispute between Sri Lanka and U.S. power producer AES, and prospects for offshore oil exploration with Finance Secretary P.B. Jayasundera March 8. Jayasundera remains optimistic about the health of the Sri [...] | 2007-03-14 03:14:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON EINV ETRD PREL CE |
07COLOMBO412 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR NOAA FISHERIES EMPLOYEES [...] Post grants country clearance to NOAA fisheries employees, Lawrence Biondo and Rodney Platt to travel to Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 24-28, 2007. The purpose of the visit is to conduct audits for the USDOC Seafood Inspection Program. Embassy control officer is Mr. Richard Merrin, Commercial Atta [...] | 2007-03-14 03:28:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | TPHY ECON OTRA KSCA EFIS CE |
07COLOMBO413 | SRI LANKA: PDAS MANN PRESSES PRESIDENT ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Rajapaksa told visiting PDAS for South and Central Asia Steven Mann that the Sri Lankan Freedom Party would present its proposals for devolution by March 14. He outlined a multi-tiered process for reconciling this with proposals of other parties, submitting the proposal [...] | 2007-03-14 03:57:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO414 | SRI LANKA: PDAS MANN URGES FOREIGN SECRETARY TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: PDAS Mann, accompanied by Ambassador Blake, met Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona on March 10 to press the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) to put forward a viable devolution proposal and to address human rights concerns. Kohona acknowledged the need to do more, but said constraints [...] | 2007-03-14 03:57:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PTER CE |
07COLOMBO416 | SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY OUTLINES SIX-MONTH [...] (C) SUMMARY: Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa told visiting SCA PDAS Steven Mann that the government was certain that the LTTE was not interested in a political solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict. Nevertheless, he said, the government would try to reach out to the Tamil populations, [...] | 2007-03-14 05:42:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO423 | MALDIVES: U/S FORE MEETS WITH WOMEN LEADERS ON THE EVE OF [...] (U) Summary: On March 7, the eve of International Women's Day, visiting Under Secretary of State for Management Henrietta Fore held a round-table discussion with female political and business leaders in Male'. The participants said that female contributions to civil society and the economy a [...] | 2007-03-15 03:14:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KWMN PREL PHUM MV |
07COLOMBO424 | SRI LANKA: U/S FORE COMMEMORATES INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY [...] SUMMARY: During a March 8 visit to Colombo, Under Secretary for Management Henrietta Fore marked International Women's Day by meeting with a group of leading female entrepreneurs and senior executives. Most participants offered their perspectives on the conflict in Sri Lanka and were unequivoc [...] | 2007-03-15 03:15:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | KWMN PREL PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO428 | SRI LANKA: MILITARY STRIKES LTTE BASES IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: On March 12, the Sri Lankan military launched its latest campaign in Thoppigala. Thoppigala, roughly between Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa, is home to a cluster of LTTE bases, which are among the last significant LTTE camps remaining in the east. Sri Lanka's air force used Kfir [...] | 2007-03-15 12:47:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO429 | U/S FORE ENCOURAGES MALDIVIAN PRESIDENT TO PROCEED [...] (c) Summary: In a friendly 30-minute meeting on March 7, Under Secretary of State for Management Henrietta Fore urged Maldivian President Gayoom to support the political reform efforts of the Foreign Minister and Attorney General. Gayoom expressed confidence that his government's dialogue wi [...] | 2007-03-16 02:00:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MV |
07COLOMBO434 | SRI LANKA WILL CONSIDER ENDORSING HAGUE CODE OF [...] No summary [...] | 2007-03-16 09:57:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PTER MOPS PARM ETTC MTCRE KSCA CE |
07COLOMBO435 | SRI LANKA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON INTERNAL UN REFORM [...] No summary [...] | 2007-03-16 09:57:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ACABQ AORC APER UNGA |
07COLOMBO436 | SRI LANKA TO CONSIDER ENDORSING THE GLOBAL [...] No summary [...] | 2007-03-16 09:59:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PTER KNNP MCAP PINR PINS PARM CE |
07COLOMBO439 | MEETING WITH DEFENSE SECRETARY ON KARUNA PROBLEMS [...] (C) Ambassador, EU Head of Mission Wilson and UNHCR Head Awad met on March 16 with Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa and Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe. Wilson shared with Rajapaksa a list developed by the EC Humanitarian Office of concrete example [...] | 2007-03-16 12:29:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF CE |
07COLOMBO45 | SRI LANKA: MINISTER'S "THUGS" BEAT JOURNALIST AT [...] (C) Summary: The BBC and several local independent news agencies reported that on January 9 a mob led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Deputy Minister of Labor Mervyn Silva attacked participants at a peace rally in Colombo organized by the United People's Movement (UPM),an organization repr [...] | 2007-01-10 12:29:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO451 | SRI LANKA: OUTSPOKEN FORMER MINISTER, NOW A [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Former Minister of Port Development, Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, was arrested Saturday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on charges of corruption for failing to return his government assigned vehicle after his dismissal as a minister. Sripathi alleges that he retur [...] | 2007-03-20 02:23:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO455 | MALDIVES: DRUGS, EDUCATION, ISLAMIC EXTREMISM AND WOMEN'S [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. This cable contains an Action Request in Paragraph 14. During Under Secretary of State for Management Fore's March 7 visit to Maldives, in addition to discussions with President Gayoom (Ref A) and female political and business leaders (Ref B),she met separately with the Forei [...] | 2007-03-20 04:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ECON ELAB ETRD MARR PHUM KDEM KISL EAID MV |
07COLOMBO46 | SRI LANKA: CABINET RESHUFFLE IMMINENT; PRESIDENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Rajapaksa told media representatives on January 9 that he will reshuffle his cabinet. A source in the presidential secretariat told pol FSN Rajapaksa may offer ministerial posts to opposition United National Party (UNP) members while allowing them to retain their presen [...] | 2007-01-10 12:34:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PTER CE |
07COLOMBO460 | SRI LANKA: KARUNA GROUP EMBOLDENED IN THE EAST [...] (C) SUMMARY: As ref A reported, Karuna, leader of a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) breakaway faction in the East, is engaging in serious human rights violations and criminal activities, often under the protection of the Sri Lanka security forces. This cable provides additional det [...] | 2007-03-20 12:48:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO463 | AMBASSADOR PRESENTS LIST OF ALLEGED ABDUCTIONS TO [...] (C) Ambassador met with Presidential Secretary (National Security Advisor equivalent) Lalith Weeratunga on March 20 to present a list of 350 Sri Lankans who are alleged by Sri Lankan NGOs to have been abducted in Colombo and Jaffna between January 2006 and February 2007. Ambassador explained [...] | 2007-03-21 03:39:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO464 | SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY CANDIDLY BRIEFS FOREIGN MEDIA [...] (SBU) Summary: Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa held a closed door, off-the-record meeting with members of the Foreign Correspondents Association and some foreign diplomats. In response to pointed questions, Rajapaksa gave blunt answers, revealing a different side to that usual [...] | 2007-03-21 04:16:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO475 | SRI LANKA: SLOW STRANGULATION OF MEDIA FREEDOM [...] (C) Summary: Since the inauguration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in November 2005, Sri Lanka's vibrant media has been slowly smothered by attacks on journalists, publishers and broadcasters by the LTTE and armed paramilitary groups with alleged links to the government security forces. The [...] | 2007-03-22 11:28:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER KPAO KDEM CE |
07COLOMBO476 | SRI LANKA TO "SERIOUSLY CONSIDER" U.S. POSITIONS [...] (C) On March 22, Ambassador met Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona regarding reftel demarches concerning votes on Sudan, Zimbabwe, and the Occupied Territories at the UN Human Rights Council. The Ambassador delivered all key points in reftels. He suggested that if Sri Lanka found it could not [...] | 2007-03-22 11:45:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL PGOV ZI SU IS CE |
07COLOMBO477 | FORCED RESETTLEMENT CONTINUES; UNHCR DISSOCIATES [...] (SBU) UNHCR Representative Amin Awad informed Ambassador on March 22 that UNHCR had formally disassociated itself from all resettlement efforts in the east because of continued forcible resettlement of internally displaced people by the government. Awad said that even after the somewhat tense [...] | 2007-03-22 12:12:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PREL AORC CE |
07COLOMBO481 | MALDIVES: GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION NEGOTIATE ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ibrahim Hussein Zaki, the acting President of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP),met the Ambassador in Colombo on March 20 to offer an update on the ongoing talks between his party and the governing DRP (Maldivian People's Party). The two parties meet regularly and [...] | 2007-03-23 02:18:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM MV |
07COLOMBO483 | SRI LANKA: MANNAR COULD FACE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador met with military personnel and civil society members in Mannar on March 21, 2007, to discuss the humanitarian and security situation in the area. Over 8,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are living on Madhu Church grounds in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTT [...] | 2007-03-23 09:55:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM MOPS PTER PREL EAID CE |
07COLOMBO484 | SRI LANKA: FRESH FIGHTING IN NORTHWEST COASTAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: On March 23, Government security forces attacked Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) mortar positions inside LTTE territory. The activity took place at approximately 10:00 am in an area east of Mannar on the northwest coast. The attacks penetrated about two kilometers int [...] | 2007-03-23 11:35:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PTER PHUM PGOV PREL CE |
07COLOMBO491 | SRI LANKA: LTTE ATTACKS AIR BASE USING LIGHT [...] (SBU) At approximately 12:45 am on March 26, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) conducted their first known aerial attack on Sri Lankan military targets. The LTTE used two small fixed-wing aircraft to drop four bombs on Katunayake Air Force Base adjacent to Colombo's Bandaranaike I [...] | 2007-03-26 11:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PHUM MOPS EAIR CE |
07COLOMBO493 | SRI LANKA: FIU, MAKING LITTLE PROGRESS, WILL BE MERGED INTO [...] (SBU) Summary and comment: Sri Lanka's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU),which began operations about a year ago, has made little progress towards becoming an effective, independent operation. Sri Lanka's Central Bank Governor, who currently supervises the nominally autonomous FIU, plans to m [...] | 2007-03-26 12:18:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON PREL PTER CE |
07COLOMBO496 | SRI LANKA: LTTE SUICIDE BOMBER EXPLODES TRACTOR [...] (SBU) At 7:15 am on March 27, a LTTE suicide bomber detonated a tractor with an attached trailer just outside the entrance to Chenkalady Army camp near Batticaloa. Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told us that the LTTE initiated a mortar attack on the south side of Chenkalady [...] | 2007-03-27 10:58:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER MOPS PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO498 | SRI LANKA REQUESTS CO-CHAIR STATEMENTS CONDEMNING [...] (C) SUMMARY: Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Bogollagama convoked Co-Chair Ambassadors on March 27 to brief them on the March 26 LTTE air attack on the military airbase adjacent to Colombo's international airport (ref),and to request that Co-Chair countries issue a statement condemning the attac [...] | 2007-03-27 11:33:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER MOPS CASC CE |
07COLOMBO50 | PROPOSED TRANSHIPMENT PORT IN MALDIVES [...] Summary: Maldives is hoping to use its strategic location on major shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean to build a transshipment port. The first phase of the project to develop a container terminal with a capacity of 1.2 million twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually is estimated to cost [...] | 2007-01-11 08:52:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | KTDM EWWT ECON EINV CE |
07COLOMBO500 | SRI LANKA: IMPLICATIONS OF THE LTTE AIR ATTACK FOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: There are indications that the damage to the Sri Lankan Air Force's fleet of attack aircraft may be more serious than the GSL has conceded. The military have clamped a virtual news blackout over the incident, refusing reporters and even the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission access to [...] | 2007-03-27 12:08:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO502 | SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT'S STATE VISIT TO CHINA FOCUSES ON PORT [...] (SBU) Summary and comment: Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa visited China February 26 - March 4 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and China. For Sri Lanka, key deliverables from the visit were economic, in the form of a Chinese government commitment to [...] | 2007-03-28 07:04:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON EINV ETRD PREL CE |
07COLOMBO508 | UNSCR 1747: SRI LANKA'S TIES WITH IRAN [...] (C) DCM and poloff delivered reftel demarche to MFA Additional Secretary for Multilateral Affairs T B Maduwegedera and Deputy Director of United Nations and Multilateral Affairs Division Satya Rodrigo on March 28. Maduwegedera and Rodrigo were familiar UNSCR 1747 and stated that the GSL inte [...] | 2007-03-29 08:16:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP EFIN IAEA PARM MNUC TRGY AORC UNSC PREL |
07COLOMBO509 | AMBASSADOR AND UN REACH AGREEMENT WITH GSL ON [...] (SBU) Ambassador hosted a meeting on Thursday, March 29 with UN Resident Coordinator Frederick Lyons and Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights Samarasinghe to brief Samarasinghe on donor concerns about the current structure of the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance ( [...] | 2007-03-29 08:42:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PREF AORC CE |
07COLOMBO51 | PROPOSED TRANSHIPMENT PORT IN MALDIVES [...] Summary: Maldives is hoping to use its strategic location on major shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean to build a transshipment port. The first phase of the project to develop a container terminal with a capacity of 1.2 million twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually is estimated to cost [...] | 2007-01-11 08:54:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | KTDM EWWT ECON EINV MV |
07COLOMBO511 | SRI LANKA: FOREIGN MINISTER PROMISES [...] (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Bogollagama called in Ambassador on March 29 to request Embassy cooperation in overcoming human rights-based concerns about Sri Lanka's eligibility for a Millennium Challenge Compact. Ambassador explained that MCC eligibility is based on a country's governance r [...] | 2007-03-30 05:25:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID PHUM PGOV PTER MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO513 | RESPONSE RE OPIC FINANCE: MATH HYDRO (PVT) LTD. [...] No summary [...] | 2007-03-30 06:43:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV EFIN CE |
07COLOMBO515 | UNSCR 1747: SRI LANKA FIU WILL ACT ON ANY LOCAL [...] (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel demarche to the new director of Sri Lanka's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU),G. Karunaratne, and his deputy, Ravindra Jayaratne, on March 30. Econoff noted that, according to the Bankers' Almanac, Bank Sepah is believed to maintain either a branch, subsidiary, [...] | 2007-03-30 11:17:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN KNNP PARM IR CE |
07COLOMBO516 | SRI LANKA REQUESTS US MILITARY TEAM TO ASSESS AIR DEFENSE FOLLOWING LTTE AIR ATTACK [...] (C/NF) Summary: Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa convoked Ambassador and Defense Attache on March 30 to request the visit of a U.S. military team to assess how Sri Lanka can improve its air defense capabilities to defend against possible future LTTE air attacks. Rajapaksa outlined the countr [...] | 2007-04-01 05:33:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | MASS PTER PREL CE IN |
07COLOMBO521 | SRI LANKA: CONTINUED VIOLENCE IN THE EAST [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Recent violence in Sri Lanka's east included an April 2 blast on a civilian passenger bus in Amara district that killed 15 and injured 20. On Apil 1, in Batticaloa district, six Sinhalese consruction workers were gunned down. The Sri Lanka government blamed the Liberation Tige [...] | 2007-04-03 13:29:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO523 | SRI LANKA: OPPOSITION LEADER OUTLINES AGGRESSIVE [...] (C) SUMMARY. Ambassador met United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on March 30 to press Wickremesinghe to stay involved in working towards a political solution to Sri Lanka's widening conflict. Wickremesinghe outlined the UNP's new aggressive strategy toward the ruling Sri [...] | 2007-04-04 12:02:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO524 | SRI LANKA: DEVOLUTION COMMITTEE CHAIR OPTIMISTIC [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a March 30 meeting with Ambassador, Tissa Vitharana, chair of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) convened to draft a devolution proposal, was optimistic the process would yield positive results. Vitharana said he expected the governing Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) [...] | 2007-04-04 12:16:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO525 | SRI LANKA: PUSH FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING [...] (C) SUMMARY: In October-November 2006, senior UN officials proposed establishing a UN-sponsored human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka. However, the GSL has consistently resisted the idea, most recently citing the existence of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Human Right [...] | 2007-04-04 12:49:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL PTER CE |
07COLOMBO526 | UNHCR ASSESSES HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN THE VAKARAI [...] (U) Summary: Ambassador and USAID Program Officer attended the seventh Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance (CCHA) meeting, chaired by the Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights and attended by the Secretary of Defense and representatives of UN agencies, the ICRC, and o [...] | 2007-04-04 13:03:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREF CE |
07COLOMBO528 | SRI LANKA: NO RELATIONS WITH IRAN'S DEFENSE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-04-05 05:44:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KNNP PARM KN IR CE |
07COLOMBO534 | SRI LANKA: TAMIL PARLIAMENT MEMBERS PRESS [...] (C) SUMMARY. In an April 3 meeting with Ambassador, opposition party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan and three TNA members of Parliament pressed the U.S. to be a more vocal critic of the Rajapaksa administration. Speaking of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party's (SLFP) an [...] | 2007-04-05 12:30:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM MOPS PGOV PREL CE |
07COLOMBO535 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR NOAA AND NWS EMPLOYEE KENNETH [...] Post grants country clearance to Physical Science Technician, Kenneth Clark of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Weather Service(NWS)to travel to Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 18-22, 2007 and to the Maldives April 22-26, 2007. The purpose of the visit is for s [...] | 2007-04-06 03:49:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | TPHY OTRA KSCA SENV EFIS AU CE |
07COLOMBO536 | SRI LANKA: 2006 GDP GREW 7.4 PERCENT; 2007 GROWTH LIKELY TO [...] (SBU) Summary and comment: Sri Lanka's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 7.4 percent in 2006, its highest annual growth rate since 1978. The Central Bank Governor announced that he expects 2007 growth to come in between and 7.5 and 8 percent. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts only [...] | 2007-04-06 06:15:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON EINV ETRD PREL CE |
07COLOMBO539 | LEADING PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR DISCUSSES GSL [...] (C) Summary: President Rajapaksa's senior political advisor and brother Basil Rajapaksa told the Ambassador on April 4 that once the All Parties Representative Committee (APRC) reaches agreement on a consensus devolution proposal, the GSL would need the approval of the Supreme Court and two [...] | 2007-04-06 07:18:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO54 | SRI LANKA - DEAD BIRDS DID NOT HAVE AVIAN FLU [...] SUMMARY: Approximately 150 birds were found dead on January 5 in the town of Nikawaratiya, in Sri Lanka's North Western Province. Others were reported in the eastern part of Pollonaruwa Province on January 10. Salmonella caused the Nikawaratiya deaths. The Pollonaruwa deaths are still under [...] | 2007-01-11 11:38:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON SOCI EAID WHO KFLU KSCA CE |
07COLOMBO540 | SRI LANKA: JVP MAINTAINS PRO-WAR STANCE [...] (C) SUMMARY: On April 5, the Ambassador met with Somawansa Amarasinghe, chairman of the Marxist, Sinhalese chauvinist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP),to discuss the prospects for a peaceful solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict. The JVP, long critical of U.S. foreign policy, has made public [...] | 2007-04-06 10:44:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO541 | SUMMARY OF UNITED NATIONS COMMON HUMANITARIAN [...] Summary: On March 30, UN agencies involved with the Sri Lanka Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) gave presentations on the status of their activities and funding levels. Additional funds are sought in all areas. During introductory remarks, UN Country Representative Frederick Lyons sta [...] | 2007-04-09 03:17:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PREF CE |
07COLOMBO545 | SRI LANKA: INTENSIFIED FIGHTING LEADS TO [...] (SBU) Summary. Fighting between the Sri Lankan military and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) intensified over the weekend. An April 8 claymore mine attack 12 kilometers northwest of Jaffna city killed at least one SLA soldier and wounded six others. A bus bomb the morning of April 7 [...] | 2007-04-09 11:25:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO56 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR NANDA KUMAR RANGANATHAN AND [...] Post grants country clearance to Nanda Kumar Ranganathan and Gail Chambers of Millennium Challenge Corporation and URS consultant Michael Jacobs to travel to Sri Lanka from January 21 to February 1, 2007. Embassy control officer is Mr. Richard Merrin, Commercial Attache and Economic Officer, t [...] | 2007-01-11 12:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID KMCA ECON ORTA KPAO AFIN OVIP CE |
07COLOMBO561 | SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSA APPOINTS NEW [...] (C) Summary. President Rajapaksa has tasked Justice Mahanama Tilakaratne to oversee the GSL's response to concerns about abductions, including the list of 347 names Ambassador presented to Presidential Chief of Staff Lalith Weeratunga. Prior to this assignment, Rajapaksa formally appointed [...] | 2007-04-11 12:35:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO563 | IIGEP'S GLACIAL PROGRESS DISCOURAGING [...] (C) Summary. International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) Assistants Rohan Titus and David Savage called on the DCM on April 10 to give an update on IIGEP's progress. The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) plans to finally hold public hearings for several days in May, June, and July. [...] | 2007-04-12 07:49:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO564 | SRI LANKA: BUSINESS LEADERS WANT PEACE, BUT [...] (SBU) Summary and comment: Sri Lankan business leaders are concerned that increased fighting could provoke an LTTE attack that would seriously hurt the economy. While normally hesitant to question the government's handling of the conflict, a small group of American Chamber of Commerce members [...] | 2007-04-12 08:14:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV ETRD PREL PGOV PTER CE |
07COLOMBO57 | SRI LANKAN DEFENSE SECRETARY REITERATES COMMITMENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa told Ambassador on January 10 that Army Commander Fonseka had been misquoted, and that the GSL would not take the fight to North after pushing the LTTE out of the East. Gothabaya insisted the GSL wants a peaceful solution to the conflict, not [...] | 2007-01-11 12:56:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO58 | SRI LANKA: INDIAN FOR MIN URGES GOVERNMENT TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: Indian Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee, in Colombo ostensibly to invite President Rajapaksa to the next SSARC summit in April, expressed India's concern to the President and other senior leaders over civilian casualties in the two-decade old ethnic conflict. He ga [...] | 2007-01-11 13:06:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PHUM PGOV MOPS IN CE |
07COLOMBO59 | KARUNA GROUP AGGRAVATING TAMIL-MUSLIM TENSIONS [...] (C) Summary. A land dispute near Batticaloa led to violence between the Tamil and Muslim communities on January 8 and 9. At a meeting on January 10, political party, community, and government representatives agreed to allow the Batticaloa Government Agent to take control of the disputed lan [...] | 2007-01-12 02:33:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO591 | SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY THREATENS THE PRESS, [...] (S) SUMMARY: Defense Secretary Rajapaksa reportedly threatened Daily Mirror Editor Champika Liyanarachchi following the publication of a series of articles on the activities of the LTTE-breakaway Karuna group in the East. After the call from Gothabaya, Liyanarachchi contacted Karuna directl [...] | 2007-04-19 12:53:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO592 | SRI LANKA: AIR FORCE HITS LTTE POSITIONS IN JAFFNA [...] (SBU) The local wire service reported April 19 that the Sri Lanka Air Force bombed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) gun positions in Palai (in the Jaffna peninsula, near the Forward Defense Line, or FDL) and in Mullaitivu in the East. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission also reported the [...] | 2007-04-19 12:55:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO593 | SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY THREATENS THE PRESS, [...] (S) SUMMARY: Defense Secretary Rajapaksa reportedly threatened Daily Mirror Editor Champika Liyanarachchi following the publication of a series of articles on the activities of the LTTE-breakaway Karuna group in the East. After the call from Gothabaya, Liyanarachchi contacted Karuna directl [...] | 2007-04-19 13:05:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO595 | SRI LANKA WILL ENDORSE THE GLOBAL INITIATIVE [...] (U) Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 17 informed the Embassy via diplomatic note that Sri Lanka wishes to endorse the Statement of Principles of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism and to signify its continuing commitment to support all global efforts to combat [...] | 2007-04-20 09:28:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PTER KNNP MCAP PINR PINS PARM CE |
07COLOMBO600 | HUMANITARIAN COORDINATION MEETING FOCUSES ON [...] (SBU) Summary: At the eighth meeting of Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance on April 23 with Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Samarasinghe and Defense Secretary Rajapaksa, UN chief Lyons briefed on his April 20 trip to Killinochchi in which he expressed the UN's [...] | 2007-04-23 10:40:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER AORC EAID CE |
07COLOMBO603 | SRI LANKA: GSL DENIES TRAVEL CLEARANCE TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: On April 23, the Ministry of Defense denied clearance for Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar to travel to Kilinochchi for a previously scheduled, regular meeting with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). On April 22 Associated Press correspondent Matthew Rosenberg (stri [...] | 2007-04-23 12:13:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO604 | SRI LANKA: FOREIGN SECRETARY ASKS FOREIGN PARTNERS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona called in the Ambassador on April 20 to provide an update on Government of Sri Lanka's (GSL) progress on human rights. He said the GSL's new Inter-Ministerial Committee on Promoting Sri Lanka's Image Abroad, which he chairs, is so far succeeding [...] | 2007-04-23 12:23:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO608 | SRI LANKA: INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO RECOMMEND TRO [...] (C) Embassy Colombo would support a designation of the Tamils Relief Organization (TRO) if convincing evidence of TRO financial links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeleam (LTTE) exists. Post has not seen solid evidence against the TRO and is therefore not in a position to make the case for [...] | 2007-04-24 11:12:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | KTFN PTER CE |
07COLOMBO609 | SRI LANKA: MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY KICKS OFF NEW [...] (C) SUMMARY: United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe met Ambassador on April 23 to outline the UNP's latest efforts (ref a) to push the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) on human rights and media freedom. On April 22, the UNP launched a new website, www.unp.lk, which will serve [...] | 2007-04-24 11:58:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO610 | SRI LANKA: GE TURBINES PART OF $90M U.S. CONTENT IN [...] SUMMARY: Negotiations continue between the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) and Lakdhanavi Private Limited (Lakdhanavi) for a 300 megawatt power plant in Kerawalapitiya described in reftels. The project plan anticipates that the Export Import Bank will provide guarantees and insurance for suppl [...] | 2007-04-24 12:35:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ENRG ETRD PREL CE |
07COLOMBO611 | SRI LANKA: LTTE CLAIMS SECOND SUCCESSFUL AIR [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) reported on their website Tamilnet that two small LTTE aircraft bombed the Palaly military complex in Jaffna at approximately 1:30 a.m. on April 24, "inflicting heavy damage and casualties." Sri Lankan government military spokesmen so [...] | 2007-04-24 12:45:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO616 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT MAKES HUMAN RIGHTS EFFORTS [...] (C) The Foreign Ministry on April 24 issued a media statement highlighting the April 12 re-issuance of the President's directive to the security forces on respecting human rights and outlining the Government of Sri Lanka's (GSL) progress on human rights issues. Essentially, the order on det [...] | 2007-04-25 12:04:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO622 | SRI LANKA: AMBASSADOR URGES MINISTER OF POWER AND ENERGY TO [...] (SBU) Summary: U.S. company AES, operating a 163 megawatt power plant in Sri Lanka since 2003, has never received two contractually-required letters of credit from the state-owned Ceylon Electricity Board as protection against non-payment of AES's fuel costs. Ambassador, joined by AES project [...] | 2007-04-26 12:36:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ENRG PREL CE |
07COLOMBO625 | SRI LANKA, COUNTING ON RISING REMITTANCES, TRIES TO [...] Summary: Sri Lankans abroad formally remitted a record $2.3 billion in 2006, up 21 percent from 2005. Higher salaries in the Middle East, where a majority of Sri Lankan migrant workers go, partially drove this rise. A higher share of remittances sent through formal, rather than informal, chan [...] | 2007-04-27 06:11:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ELAB EFIN PGOV PHUM SOCI SMIG CE |
07COLOMBO629 | MALDIVES: SCENESETTER FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Your visit to Maldives comes as this moderate Islamic nation is experiencing the political strains of an indigenous push toward democracy that began in 2004. Tensions between the government and opposition have slowed the pace of constitutional reform, frustrating many. There is [...] | 2007-04-27 10:07:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM PTER EINV MV |
07COLOMBO630 | SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY OUTLINES MILITARY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador called on Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa on April 26 to inquire about the military's future ambitions in the North. Ambassador reasserted the U.S. position that only a political solution will resolve Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict. In a candid discussion, Gothab [...] | 2007-04-27 11:31:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO631 | SRI LANKA: SCENESETTER FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY [...] (C) INTRODUCTION: Your visit comes at a time when the environment for human rights, civil liberties, and media freedom is declining broadly as the conflict escalates. Our top priority is to press the government to put forward a serious power-sharing proposal that can help it win back the sy [...] | 2007-04-27 11:39:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS ECON EAID SL |
07COLOMBO632 | SRI LANKA: OIL EXPLORATION PROSPECTS REAL, BUT CONSTRAINED [...] (SBU) Summary: U.S. experts who have looked at recent geological survey data believe that significant petrochemical deposits lie off the coast of Sri Lanka. On May 1, the Ambassador will join Sri Lanka's Petroleum minister and others at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston to describ [...] | 2007-04-27 12:29:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAID ENRG EPET ETRD CE |
07COLOMBO635 | MALDIVES: POLITICAL TURMOIL FOLLOWS PUBLIC [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The discovery of a dead body floating in a lagoon near Male' on April 15 led to political controversy, as the deceased's family and opposition charged the victim was killed in custody -- and government authorities denied it. A demonstration erupted outside the cemetery. Police [...] | 2007-04-30 10:58:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM MV |
07COLOMBO636 | SRI LANKA: AIR TIGERS BOMB OIL STORAGE FACILITIES [...] (C) SUMMARY: Between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 29, while most people were watching Sri Lanka play in the Cricket World Cup finals, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) carried out their third confirmed air attack, damaging Ceylon Petroleum Company oil and gasoline facili [...] | 2007-04-30 14:20:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO637 | SRI LANKA: LTTE AIR ATTACKS HITTING THE ECONOMY [...] (SBU) Summary: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attack early Sunday morning on oil storage facilities outside Colombo (septel) was the terrorist organization's first aerial strike aimed at an economic target. Whether by directly hitting economic infrastructure or by indirectly raisi [...] | 2007-04-30 14:22:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV ETRD EAIR PREL PTER CE |
07COLOMBO643 | SRI LANKA: RULING PARTY'S DEVOLUTION PROPOSAL [...] (C) SUMMARY. The ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) on May 1 released its devolution proposal, which will now move to the All Party Representative Committee (APRC). Unlike most previous APRC drafts, which recommend devolution to the provinces, the SLFP proposal recommends that the unit o [...] | 2007-05-02 11:12:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO646 | COLOMBO EAC MEETING: APRIL 29 ATTACK ON PETROLEUM [...] (SBU) On May 2, 2007, Charge chaired a meeting of the Colombo Emergency Action Committee. Representatives from RSO, Consular, Management, Political, Econ, Public Diplomacy, IPC, USAID, DAO, ODC, IBB, and CSI attended. The EAC was convened to discuss the April 29 attack by LTTE light aircraf [...] | 2007-05-02 14:28:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PREL AORC CE |
07COLOMBO660 | SRI LANKA: COLOMBO AIRPORT TO SUSPEND NIGHT OPERATIONS IN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Sri Lanka's Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) will suspend nighttime operations following a series of air attacks by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),including two in Colombo. Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa made the decision, seeking to reduce the poss [...] | 2007-05-04 11:40:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAIR ECON EINV ETRD PTER CE |
07COLOMBO661 | SRI LANKA: CRITICISM OF RULING PARTY DEVOLUTION [...] (C) SUMMARY: Most parties represented in parliament, including several elements of the ruling coalition, have come out publicly or privately against the governing Sri Lankan Freedom Party draft devolution proposals. The Sinhalese nationalist JVP has also attacked the plan, saying it is contr [...] | 2007-05-04 11:45:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO676 | UNSCR 1747: SRI LANKA CITES ASIAN CLEARING UNION [...] (SBU) Summary: Sri Lanka has not yet taken any action to sever the correspondent bank relationship between the state-owned Bank of Ceylon and Bank Sepah of Iran, as required by UNSCR 1747. Central Bank officials say that Sri Lanka's membership with Iran in the eight-country Asian Clearing Uni [...] | 2007-05-10 08:17:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ETRD KNNP PARM IR CE |
07COLOMBO68 | SRI LANKA: CATHOLIC BISHOPS ASSESS DIRE HUMAN [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador Blake met the Catholic Bishops of Jaffna and the northwestern district of Mannar on January 11. Political Chief and Poloff followed up with Jaffna Government Agent Ganesh on January 12. The bishops expressed deep concern regarding the humanitarian situation in the n [...] | 2007-01-12 13:29:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO683 | NORTHERN TAMILS LOSING FAITH IN THE LTTE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador met Reverend S. Jeyanesan, a Tamil priest from Batticaloa, in late April. Jeyanesan reported that there are 172,000 internally displaced persons (IDP) in Batticaloa, and that those who were sent back to Vakarai have been relocated, not resettled in their original ho [...] | 2007-05-10 10:39:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO686 | SRI LANKA: NO DECISION YET ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (C) PolOff delivered ref B demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Director for UN and Multilateral Affairs Satya Rodrigo on May 4. Rodrigo agreed that electing Belarus to the Human Rights Council (HRC) would send a signal that human rights are of little concern to the international c [...] | 2007-05-10 12:41:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS UNHRC CE |
07COLOMBO689 | SRI LANKA - NO RESPONSE TO US PROPOSALS ON SPECIES [...] Summary: Sri Lanka has no comments on the proposals submitted by the United States for consideration at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in The Hague from June 3 through 15, 2007 and summarized reftel. End Summary. 2. EconFSN sp [...] | 2007-05-11 06:09:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV KSCA ETRD CE |
07COLOMBO69 | SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY AND AMBASSADOR REVIEW [...] No summary [...] | 2007-01-12 13:34:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PTER PREL PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO698 | PRESIDENT RELIES ON BROTHERS FOR POLICY ADVICE AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Rajapaksa relies on his brothers, Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa and Senior Advisor to the President Basil Rajapaksa, for advice on security matters and political affairs respectively. Fear that Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) stalwarts are disloyal has caused [...] | 2007-05-15 05:32:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO699 | HUMANITARIAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN THE [...] (U) Summary: USAID Program Officer traveled to Trincomalee District April 22-26, 2007 to assess the humanitarian and human rights situation. The following organizations and locations were visited: the Human Rights Commission?s field office, ICRC, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNOCHA, World Food Program (W [...] | 2007-05-15 10:40:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREF CE |
07COLOMBO70 | SRI LANKA: CROSSOVERS ENDANGERING COOPERATION [...] (C) SUMMARY: Opposition leader Wickremesinghe told Ambassador on January 11 that a large-scale defection of members of Parliament from his UNP to the government ranks would force him to end cooperation with President Rajapaksa. He was concerned about the negative fallout for the peace proces [...] | 2007-01-12 14:16:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO700 | SRI LANKA: NO NAS PERSONNEL IN COUNTRY [...] No summary [...] | 2007-05-15 11:06:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR KRCM CE |
07COLOMBO702 | SRI LANKA: BOUCHER TELLS GOVERNMENT TO GET HUMAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: After meeting with human rights and non-governmental organization leaders in Jaffna, Assistant Secretary Boucher urged Sri Lankan officials to control SIPDIS paramilitary groups' human rights abuses and encourage greater freedom of the press. The Government asserted that it [...] | 2007-05-15 11:43:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO703 | MALDIVES: ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER URGES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On a May 7-8 trip to Maldives, Assistant Secretary Boucher, accompanied by Ambassador, met with SIPDIS President Gayoom, government officials, members of the opposition, and women active in politics and civil society. Discussions covered the need for more concrete steps on [...] | 2007-05-15 11:48:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PTER SNAR MARR ETRD SENV ENRG |
07COLOMBO708 | SRI LANKA: KARUNA FACTION FRACTURES; EPDP [...] No summary [...] | 2007-05-16 08:38:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO709 | SRI LANKA: KARUNA FACTION FRACTURES; EPDP [...] (S) SUMMARY: The Karuna faction is experiencing a split between its political wing and its military wing. Some observers speculate this will result in Karuna leaving Sri Lanka again. Some Karuna members have requested asylum, fearing retribution from the breakaway faction led by Karuna's [...] | 2007-05-16 08:47:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO71 | SRI LANKA: DEMARCHE ON PSI PARTICIPATION DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] | 2007-01-13 10:12:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KNNP EWWT PARM CE |
07COLOMBO712 | SRI LANKA TO SUPPORT SLOVENIA AND BOSNIA FOR HUMAN [...] (C) Ambassador spoke today with Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona to urge that Sri Lanka vote on May 17 in the UN General Assembly for Bosnia and Slovenia -- and not for Belarus -- as members of the UN Human Rights Council. Several other western embassies also demarched the GSL on this issue. [...] | 2007-05-16 12:27:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS UNHRC CE |
07COLOMBO719 | SRI LANKA: MALDIVES MILITARY SINKS SUSPECTED LTTE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: At approximately 8:25 a.m. on May 17, the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) fired on a 75 foot-long vessel suspected of trafficking weapons for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The MNDF's actions came after a 12-hour standoff with the vessel near the Gaaf Al [...] | 2007-05-17 11:28:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO720 | SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT APPOINTS BROTHER AS MINISTER OF PORTS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: President Rajapaksa has appointed his older brother, Chamal, as Minister of Ports and Aviation. The position makes Chamal responsible for oversight of several multi-million dollar ventures that the President has pushed, including an international port and airport in his home d [...] | 2007-05-17 11:31:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV KCOR PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO722 | SRI LANKA: IN JAFFNA, STUDENTS TARGETED FOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: Two armed, masked men entered the University of Jaffna campus in broad daylight on May 16 and delivered a note threatening eight named students with summary execution for working with the LTTE. Ambassador, following a request by the university's Vice Chancellor, spoke with both t [...] | 2007-05-17 12:18:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PTER CE |
07COLOMBO728 | SRI LANKA: GSL COMPLICITY IN PARAMILITARY [...] (S) SUMMARY: Allegations of government complicity in crimes committed by organized paramilitary groups have mounted in the last year. Paramilitaries such as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)-breakaway Karuna group and Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) have helped the Government of Sr [...] | 2007-05-18 09:22:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO733 | SRI LANKA: ATTEMPTS AT TMVP RECONCILIATION FAIL [...] (S) SUMMARY: On May 18, PolOff met Kanagasabai "Mahesh" Prabhakaran, the Head of the Peace Secretariat of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP or "Karuna group") and "Pathmini" Devananda, also known as Sivageetha Prabhakaran, the TMVP Political Secretary. The two described the cause of [...] | 2007-05-21 10:51:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM PINR KVPR CE |
07COLOMBO734 | SRI LANKA: ARMY COMMANDER REQUESTS REVIEW OF A [...] (C) Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka asked Ambassador on May 18 to reconsider the case of a Sri Lanka Army intelligence officer rejected for U.S.-funded counterterrorism training under Leahy Amendment provisions. Ambassador explained the application of the Leahy Amendment, and said the E [...] | 2007-05-21 10:52:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO736 | MALDIVES FLOODING: TEXT OF PRESIDENT GAYOOM'S [...] Summary: The Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered a diplomatic note to Embassy Colombo May 21 conveying a May 18 letter from Maldives President Gayoom to President Bush stating that widespread flooding caused by heavy sea swells had damaged a third of Maldives' 194 inhabited islands [...] | 2007-05-21 12:46:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | OPDC EAID PREL SENV MV |
07COLOMBO742 | SRI LANKA: SECOND "EMINENT PERSONS" PLENARY [...] (C) SUMMARY: The second plenary meeting of the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) and the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) took place May 12. This was followed the same week by the CoI's first hearing, a meeting hosted by the Human Rights Minister to update donor countrie [...] | 2007-05-22 09:41:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO743 | DISASTER DECLARATION FOR MALDIVES FLOODING [...] Summary and Action Request for USAID/OFDA: In response to recent flooding in Maldives, Ambassador Blake is making a disaster declaration and is exercising his authority to provide $50,000. In consultation with Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) regional advisor, Ambassador requests [...] | 2007-05-22 11:50:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID SENV PREL MV |
07COLOMBO746 | SRI LANKA: EMINENT PERSON DEVELOPS EYEWITNESS [...] (S) SUMMARY: In a May 21 meeting, U.S.-funded International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) Assistant David Savage told PolOff that a witness to the January 2006 killing of 5 youths in Trincomalee approached the United Kingdom's Eminent Person (EP) Sir Nigel Rodley in the UK wi [...] | 2007-05-23 12:19:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PHUM PGOV PTER MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO747 | SRI LANKA: OPPOSITION "CROSSOVERS" PRESENT THEIR [...] (C) SUMMARY: On May 22, a group of "crossover" United National Party (UNP) Members of Parliament (MP) held a press conference to release their own devolution proposal. The UNP defectors are not members of the All Parties Representative Committee (APRC),but APRC Chairman Tissa Vitharana h [...] | 2007-05-23 12:47:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO748 | SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT SEEKS TO NEUTRALIZE SINHALESE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Since the extremist Sinhalese party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) withdrew official support for the President in April 2006, President Rajapaksa has been working to establish a measure of indirect control over the party and sap its ability to challenge his policies. The Presid [...] | 2007-05-24 08:42:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO753 | SRI LANKA: LTTE ACTIVITY IN COLOMBO, JAFFNA, AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: On May 22 and 23, rounds from LTTE weapons fire fell in the vicinity of the ICRC compound at the crossing point at Omanthai on the A-9 highway and came close to hitting an ICRC vehicle with an expatriate ICRC worker inside. The checkpoint along the A-9 road to Jaffna was then [...] | 2007-05-24 13:26:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER MOPS PGOV PREL CE |
07COLOMBO754 | PROJECT PROPOSALS, 2007 IPR ENFORCEMENT TRAINING FUNDS [...] SUMMARY: Post is pleased to submit a proposal to obtain funds to conduct three IPR law enforcement training sessions for magistrates and customs officials at a total cost of USD 16,500. The training sessions will repeat as well as expand a highly successful workshop recently developed by the [...] | 2007-05-25 03:45:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KIPR CE |
07COLOMBO755 | SRI LANKAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S. ALLEGES LTTE SOLD NORWEGIAN [...] (SBU) Summary: Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States, Bernard Goonetilleke, stated in a May 17 radio interview that 130,000 Norwegian passports were in the hands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),who were selling them to Middle Eastern terrorist groups. On May 21, the Norw [...] | 2007-05-25 05:09:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER PGOV KFRD CVIS CMGT CPAS CE |
07COLOMBO756 | SRI LANKAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S. ALLEGES LTTE SOLD NORWEGIAN [...] (SBU) Summary: Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States, Bernard Goonetilleke, stated in a May 17 radio interview that 130,000 Norwegian passports were in the hands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),who were selling them to Middle Eastern terrorist groups. On May 21, the Norw [...] | 2007-05-25 05:09:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER PGOV KFRD CVIS CMGT CPAS CE |
07COLOMBO758 | SRI LANKA: SOLID WASTE ACCUMULATES AS AUTHORITIES FAIL TO [...] Summary: Solid Waste Management in Sri Lanka, particularly in urban areas, is a severe environmental issue. Around 6,400 tons of waste is generated each day in Sri Lanka, and only 40% of this volume is collected. Sri Lanka has not created sufficient landfill space to keep up with the volume [...] | 2007-05-25 09:01:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EAID SENV CE |
07COLOMBO768 | SRI LANKA: LTTE DETONATE MINE DURING RUSH HOUR ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: On May 28, 2007, at approximately 5:40 p.m. local time, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) detonated a claymore mine on Galle Road near Ratmalana military base. The attack was clearly an attempt to kill Special Task Force (STF) soldiers traveling on a bus after comple [...] | 2007-05-29 12:16:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO769 | SRI LANKA: EU HUMANITARIAN AID REPORT ON [...] (C) Summary: The EU Delegation to Sri Lanka, passed to us on May 28 a confidential report describing a recent European Commission Humanitarian Assistance (ECHO) visit to Sri Lanka's Vanni region, the heart of the northern area controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The repo [...] | 2007-05-29 13:05:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID ECON MOPS PHUM PTER CE |
07COLOMBO777 | SRI LANKA SUPPORTS ZOELLICK NOMINATION [...] No summary [...] | 2007-05-30 11:48:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON EFIN IBRD CE |
07COLOMBO778 | SRI LANKA: NATIONAL DECLARATION ON PREVENTION OF HIV/AIDS [...] Summary: An International Labor Organization-initiated National Tripartite Declaration on Prevention of HIV/AIDS at workplaces in Sri Lanka was signed recently. Partners in this new program include government agencies, trade unions, trade chambers and employers. The Declaration describes plans [...] | 2007-05-30 12:01:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON TBIO CE |
07COLOMBO779 | SRI LANKA: CORRUPTION PANELISTS TELL AMBASSADOR POLITICAL [...] (SBU) Summary: At a recent roundtable hosted by Ambassador, participants from government, civil society organizations, the private sector, and the media described corruption as endemic at all levels of Sri Lankan government, and also widespread in dealings between business and government. Most [...] | 2007-05-30 12:17:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAID KCOR PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO785 | GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM [...] (U) As requested ref A, post passed the information sheet on the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism Third Meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan to the Government of Sri Lanka on May 3, 2007. 2. (SBU) Pursuant to ref D, Ambassador Blake and the Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka demarched [...] | 2007-06-01 06:33:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PARM PREL KGIC |
07COLOMBO787 | SRI LANKA: TAMIL HOSTEL OWNERS TOLD TO EXPEL ALL [...] (C) At approximately 5:30 p.m. on May 31, a local holiday, police in the central Colombo business district of Pettah summoned more than 60 Tamil hostel owners and ordered them to expel all occupants from their lodging that night. The police warned that they would do so forcibly the next morni [...] | 2007-06-01 10:35:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PHUM MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO788 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT ARRESTS ANOTHER FORMER [...] (C) SUMMARY: On May 30, 2007, the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) arrested the Chairman of Standard Newspapers Ltd. and former Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, Tiran Alles, on allegations of "aiding terrorists." The arrest occurred as Alles was receiving treatment in a priv [...] | 2007-06-01 10:36:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO789 | SRI LANKA: CONSULTATIONS ON DEVOLUTION PROPOSAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: All-Party Representative Committee (APRC) chair Vitharana told Ambassador that discussions on devolution were proceeding constructively, and should be finished within two months, or by the end of July. He agreed with Ambassador's assessment that President Rajapaksa was prepared [...] | 2007-06-01 11:11:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO805 | SRI LANKA: EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS OF RED CROSS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The issue of abductions has again taken center stage in Sri Lanka as President Rajapaksa prepares to travel to Geneva to deliver a speech to the International Labor Organization on June 15 and meet with Louise Arbour. On June 1, President Rajapaksa announced a new committee desi [...] | 2007-06-06 11:08:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO809 | SRI LANKAN SECURITY FORCES IMPOSE TRAVEL [...] (C) SUMMARY: On June 2, the Defense Ministry issued verbal directives to police stations in Colombo to evict from the city Tamils whose identification cards indicate they are from areas outside Colombo. According to local news media and Embassy sources, on June 6 and 7, police evicted Tamils [...] | 2007-06-07 11:42:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO82 | INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT, 2007 - SRI LANKA [...] No summary [...] | 2007-01-16 12:01:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | CE EFIN EINV ELAB ETRD KTDB OPIC PGOV USTR |
07COLOMBO820 | SRI LANKA: SUPREME COURT STAYS ORDER EXPELLING [...] (S) SUMMARY: On June 8 the Sri Lanka Supreme Court stayed the removal of non-Colombo based Tamils temporarily residing in Colombo lodges and hostels (ref A). The Court ruled in favor of a Fundamental Rights Application filed by the NGO Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA). Military spokesm [...] | 2007-06-08 10:20:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO824 | SRI LANKA: PRIME MINISTER EXPRESSES REGRET FOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: Over the weekend, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake publicly expressed "regret" for the deportation of Tamils from Colombo lodges and hostels. On Saturday June 9, approximately 160 Tamils who were forcibly deported from Colombo to Vavuniya returned to Colombo on the same [...] | 2007-06-11 10:32:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO825 | COLOMBO RESPONSE TO TSUNAMI, EARTHQUAKE WARNINGS [...] Per reftel, Embassy Colombo provides the following responses to listed questions. 2. Question: Does a duty officer or Mission Disaster Relief Officer (and alternate MDRO) receive tsunami and earthquake warnings on a 24-hour basis from the Ops Center or other service? --Response: To date [...] | 2007-06-11 11:34:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | TPHY AORC EAID AMGT CASC |
07COLOMBO829 | AKASHI PLEDGES CONTINUED JAPANESE AID TO SRI LANKA [...] (C) Summary: In a briefing to Co-Chair Ambassadors on June 8, Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi found Colombo more polarized and pessimistic when he arrived on June 5 than he had seen in any of his 14 previous visits. By the end of his visit, he was only slightly more optimistic. In respo [...] | 2007-06-12 02:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PREF CE |
07COLOMBO830 | SRI LANKA: TAMIL TIGERS SIPHON OFF PART OF [...] (S) SUMMARY: In late May PolOff met the XXXXXXXXXXXX described the LTTE's complete control of all activities that take place in Tiger-controlled territory, including forced conscription and the use of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) to extract money from XXXXXXXXXXXX. XXXXXXXXXXXX also [...] | 2007-06-12 03:23:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PTER PHUM MOPS PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO833 | SRI LANKA: AMBASSADAR HIGHLIGHTS U.S.EFFORTS AT [...] Ambassador addressed an event organized by the U.S. Embassy, USAID and the Sri Lanka Energy Managers Association (SLEMA) to commemorate Earth Day 2007. Over 300 school children, government officials, representatives of the private sector and local NGOs participated in this half day seminar. [...] | 2007-06-12 11:54:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG PREL SENV CE |
07COLOMBO834 | UNSCR 1747: SRI LANKA HAS NOT YET SEVERED BANK [...] (SBU) Summary: Sri Lanka has not yet taken steps to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1747, but says it will do so soon. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Bogollagama visited Iran May 25-28. With that visit past, Sri Lanka is likely to take steps to implement UNSCR 1747 in the near future. [...] | 2007-06-12 12:22:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN KNNP UNSC IAEA IR CE |
07COLOMBO835 | SRI LANKA: IIGEP'S FIRST PUBLIC STATEMENT CRITICAL OF GSL [...] (U) SUMMARY: The first International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) public statement, released on June 10, outlines the group's key criticisms of the Commission of Inquiry's (CoI) progress to date and notes that the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) has done little to address IIGEP's [...] | 2007-06-12 12:43:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PREL CE |
07COLOMBO836 | INTERVIEW PANEL SELECTS MALAYSIAN CANDIDATE FOR NEXT [...] On Monday, June 11, the Colombo Plan Council Selection Panel, comprised of representatives from Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand, and the United States, met to interview candidates for the position of Colombo Plan Secretary General. The four candidates [...] | 2007-06-13 02:31:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL SNAR KJUS ASEC CE |
07COLOMBO837 | LEAHY VETTING FOR SRI LANKAN PARTICIPANT IN [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4. 2. (SBU) The following Sri Lankan official has been nominated to attend the following course of instruction: Funding Source: ODC Course Name: Pacific Army Chiefs Conference Course Dates: August 4-10, 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia [...] | 2007-06-13 03:43:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM MASS CE |
07COLOMBO838 | SRI LANKA: INDIAN NAVY REPORTEDLY LIFTS OBJECTIONS [...] (C) On June 5, Sri Lanka Director of Naval Projects and Plans (DNPP) Commodore Lakshman Illangakoon contacted Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) to provide a readout of a meeting in New Delhi with the Indian Navy Commander and others (no further information) on the proposed U.S.-provided [...] | 2007-06-13 06:18:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL MASS MOPS IN CE |
07COLOMBO841 | SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY CRITICIZES [...] (U) SUMMARY: Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, in an interview with Reuters and BBC correspondents, accused the international community, particularly the UK, of "bullying" Sri Lanka over human rights. He maintained that in fighting terrorism "anything is fair." He also charged that the [...] | 2007-06-13 12:51:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO842 | FOREIGN MINISTER FOLLOWS UP WITH AMBASSADOR ON [...] (S) Summary: Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama invited Ambassador for a one-on-one meeting the evening of June 13th to discuss his requests to Secretary Gates at their recent meeting in Singapore for enhanced US-Sri Lankan maritime surveillance cooperation, UAVs, and enhanced i [...] | 2007-06-14 09:18:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PREL MASS PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO843 | SRI LANKA: WAR, AIR ATTACKS HIT BUSINESS CONFIDENCE [...] (SBU) Summary: The resumption of war in Sri Lanka is hurting the economy both in the short term and the long term, by driving up day-to-day business costs and by making firms nervous about new investments. Veteran Sri Lanka business people say the current investment environment is as bad as th [...] | 2007-06-14 10:33:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV ETRD CE |
07COLOMBO844 | SRI LANKA: OPPOSITION LEADER CALLS FOR ARREST OF [...] (S) SUMMARY: United National Party (UNP) Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, citing the same grounds used by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) to arrest Tiran Alles (ref A),has called for the arrest of the President's brother Basil Rajapaksa and other members of the President's [...] | 2007-06-14 10:36:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO845 | OPPOSITION LEADER BLASTS RAJAPAKSA GOVERNMENT IN [...] (C) Summary: In a June 13 briefing to the diplomatic corps, Opposition Leader Wickremesinghe criticized the Rajapaksa government for being "at war with the LTTE, the international community, and with Sri Lankan values." He said the UNP party would soon start a campaign to bring the failures [...] | 2007-06-14 11:16:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO847 | SRI LANKA: EASTERN MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE ON THE [...] (SBU) Summary: USAID Mission Director met with community leaders representing the Peace Secretariat for Muslims from the three districts of the Eastern Province -- Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara. Participants in the the meeting, chaired by Mr. M.I.M. Mohideen, the body?s Secretary-Genera [...] | 2007-06-14 11:47:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID SOCI PHUM PINS PREF PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO848 | SRI LANKA: INVESTMENT DISPUTES AND EXPROPRIATION CLAIMS [...] (SBU) The following three claims are hereby submitted for 2007, in accordance with reftel request: 2. (SBU) a. Claimant A b. 2004 c. Claimant A had been contracted in June 2000 to provide power to the national grid under a combined cycle agreement signed with the state-owned Cey [...] | 2007-06-14 13:02:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC EINV KIDE OPIC PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO849 | MALDIVES: NO INVESTMENT DISPUTES OR EXPROPRIATION CLAIMS [...] No summary [...] | 2007-06-14 13:03:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC EINV KIDE OPIC PGOV MV |
07COLOMBO851 | SRI LANKA - NOMINATION OF VIRTUSA FOR CORPORATE EXCELLENCE [...] I am pleased to nominate Virtusa for the Secretary's Award for Corporate Excellence in the small and medium enterprise category. While meeting all eligibility requirements for this award, Virtusa has demonstrated outstanding corporate citizenship by assisting disaster-ridden countries with an [...] | 2007-06-15 03:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON BEXP ETRD ELAB KSEP SENV AMGT CE |
07COLOMBO852 | SRI LANKA - NOMINATION OF MICROSOFT FOR CORPORATE [...] I am pleased to nominate Microsoft-Sri Lanka for the Secretary's Award for Corporate Excellence in the multinational enterprise category. While meeting all eligibility requirements for this award, Microsoft-Sri Lanka has demonstrated outstanding corporate citizenship by enabling reformed drug [...] | 2007-06-15 03:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON BEXP ETRD ELAB KSEP SENV AMGT CE |
07COLOMBO854 | AMBASSADOR AND OFDA DIRECTOR VISIT TO BATTICALOA, SRI [...] (SBU)Summary: On June 4 and 5, Ambassador and USAID Mission Director joined an OFDA assessment mission led by OFDA Director Ky Luu to Batticaloa District in eastern Sri Lanka. Also on the mission were William Berger, OFDA Regional Advisor and John Lee Park, USAID HA Program Manager. The team as [...] | 2007-06-15 05:46:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PINS PREF PGOV EAID CE |
07COLOMBO861 | SRI LANKA: ABDUCTIONS PLAGUE MUSLIM COMMUNITY [...] (S) SUMMARY: Muslim businessmen have been subjected to abductions for the first time in recent weeks, marking a new and disturbing trend. Following numerous complaints from Muslim community groups, Ambassador called on Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem (strictly protect),who st [...] | 2007-06-19 05:44:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO867 | IRAN DELAYS APPROVAL OF NEW COLOMBO PLAN HEAD [...] (C) On June 18, the Colombo Plan Council held a special session to confirm the nomination of Malaysian candidate Patricia Yoon-Moi Chia as the new Secretary-General. Chia had been selected by the Colombo Plan Selection Committee on June 11 (ref) from a short-list of four candidates. 2. [...] | 2007-06-19 12:36:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO868 | SRI LANKA: EMBASSY SUPPORTS SECTION 1206 POPOSAL [...] (S) Post hereby indicates its support for roviding the CENTRIX Communication package ($56,00) and Aircraft Command and Control Integrationpackage ($4.5 million) to the Government of Sri anka under Section 1206 of the National Defense uthorization Act for fiscal year 2007. BLAKE [...] | 2007-06-19 13:01:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO873 | SRI LANKA: SCENESETTER FOR TRADE MINISTER GL PEIRIS VISIT [...] (SBU) Summary: Sri Lankan Trade Minister Peiris will visit Washington June 22-26 to meet with senior officials including Assistant Secretary Boucher and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Bhatia. Peiris will be accompanied by representatives of Sri Lanka's main garment exporter association, whic [...] | 2007-06-20 08:26:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV ELAB ETRD PGOV PREL CE |
07COLOMBO88 | SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY AND AMBASSADOR REVIEW [...] (S) On January 10, Ambassador and Pol Chief met Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa (ref a). Ambassador noted that SIPDIS the U.S. and Sri Lanka wanted to work with each other and with India on interdiction of arms shipments to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (ref b). He said the U [...] | 2007-01-16 13:45:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | MARR MOPS PTER PREL PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO882 | SRI LANKA GOVERNMENT CREATES HIGH SECURITY ZONE [...] (C) SUMMARY: On June 18 media outlets reported that the Government of Sri Lanka has designated Sampur and Muttur in the Trincomalee district as a High Security Zone (HSZ) by formal "gazette notification." Some NGOs expressed concern that the move could prevent thousands of Tamils, displaced [...] | 2007-06-20 13:09:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO883 | TWO EX-MINISTERS JOIN THE OPPOSITION, FORM NEW [...] (C) Summary. On June 19, two high profile ex-ministers, Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, crossed over from the President,s party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP),to the opposition. In a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Samaraweera announced his and Sooriyarachchi,s [...] | 2007-06-20 13:19:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO889 | SRI LANKA: ACCESS TO TAMILNET RESTRICTED IN SRI [...] (C) SUMMARY: On June 19 TamilNet, a pro-Tamil website accused by the Government of posting propaganda for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),was blocked by the major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Sri Lanka. TamilNet has accused the GSL of ordering ISPs to restrict access, a [...] | 2007-06-21 12:06:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO890 | SCENESETTER FOR JUNE 25-26 CO-CHAIR MEETING IN OSLO [...] Summary: The June 26 Co-Chair meeting in Oslo marks a good opportunity to think through our strategy to get the parties back to the negotiating table and into a more sustained process that could produce a breakthrough. In a June 15 meeting with Norwegian Minister Solheim in Geneva, President [...] | 2007-06-21 13:29:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO893 | SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT'S SUPPORT IN PARTY AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: Since Mahinda Rajapaksa was selected as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party's (SLFP) candidate for the 2005 presidential election, tensions have been building within the party. Embassy contacts tell us that several SLFP stalwarts have tired of defending the Rajapaksa government's poor p [...] | 2007-06-22 05:22:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO898 | SRI LANKA REQUESTS U.S. HELP ON THAI EXTRADITION [...] (C) Further to a June 13 conversation the Ambassador had with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Bogollogama in which the Minister briefed on the GSL's efforts to work with partners in Southeast Asia to stop LTTE weapons procurement and transfer (reftel),Acting Foreign Secretary Maduwegedera contac [...] | 2007-06-22 09:50:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KJUS PTER CE |
07COLOMBO899 | SRI LANKA: POLICE ARREST SUSPECTED ABDUCTIONS [...] (C) SUMMARY: On June 21, a special unit of the Police Department's Criminal Investigation Unit (CID) arrested former Air Force Squadron Leader Nishantha Gajanayake in connection with an ongoing probe into abductions, extortion and extra-judicial killings. Among other crimes, Gajanayake is [...] | 2007-06-22 10:25:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO903 | SRI LANKA: FEW DONORS HAVE CUT AID DESPITE WIDESPREAD [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The resumption of conflict and a deteriorating human rights climate have caused relatively few donors to reconsider parts of their planned aid to Sri Lanka. However, out of reluctance to penalize the intended recipients of development assistance, both multilateral and bilateral [...] | 2007-06-25 05:20:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON PHUM CE |
07COLOMBO913 | SUMMARY OF UNITED NATIONS REVISED COMMON [...] (U) The Interagency Standing Committee Country Team held a mid-year review meeting on the revised Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) 2007 for the international donor community on June 14, 2007. The U.S., Japan, UK, South Korea, Australia, Canada, India, France, Sweden, and others other don [...] | 2007-06-26 03:28:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PINS PREF PGOV EAID CE |
07COLOMBO920 | AMBITIOUS CHIEF JUSTICE BREAKS AWAY FROM PRESIDENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a shift from regularly supporting the President in its rulings, the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Sarath De Silva, made several decisions this month that the public widely hailed as justice served by a newly independent judiciary. Legal experts say, however, that whi [...] | 2007-06-27 13:29:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO923 | ICAO ASSEMBLY: SRI LANKA SUPPORT OF U.S. POSITIONS [...] (U) SUMMARY: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Sri Lanka generally supports all the U.S. positions on aviation safety and security for presentation at the upcoming International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly. The Director General of the CAA, however, wanted more information [...] | 2007-06-28 04:46:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAIR ECON ETRD SENV CE |
07COLOMBO924 | ICAO ASSEMBLY: SRI LANKA NON-COMMITTAL ON U.S. [...] (U) Summary: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) does not support nor oppose the U.S. environmental positions for the September 2007 International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly. The Director General of the CAA cited that the CAA is not sufficiently knowledgeable of the issues to s [...] | 2007-06-28 06:12:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAIR ETRD SENV ECON CE |
07COLOMBO927 | AMBASSADOR AND OFDA DIRECTOR VISIT TO BATTICALOA, [...] (SBU) Summary: OFDA recently completed a mission to Sri Lanka that was highlighted by the participation of OFDA Director, Ky Luu. While in Sri Lanka Mr. Luu, along with the Ambassador and USAID Director, spent two days in Batticaloa District assessing the situation of IDPs and returnees. The [...] | 2007-06-29 04:03:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PINS PREF PGOV EAID CE |
07COLOMBO933 | SRI LANKA: TIGERS ATTEMPT TO ORCHESTRATE MASSIVE [...] (C) SUMMARY: On Friday June 29, the Sri Lanka Navy seized a truck laden with more than 1,000 kilograms of C4 explosives in the Panikkar district of Trincomalee. This find follows police confiscation on June 1 of a truck traveling towards Colombo containing 1,054 kilograms of explosives. T [...] | 2007-07-02 12:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO934 | IRAN ENDORSES NEW COLOMBO PLAN HEAD [...] No summary [...] | 2007-07-02 12:21:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO944 | OPPOSITION COOPERATING TO PRESSURE PRESIDENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Ambassador met with Former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera on July 2 to discuss the goals of his newly formed Sri Lankan Freedom Party-Mahajana Wing (SLFP-M) and its new informal partnership with the main opposition United National Party (UNP). Samaraweera told us he h [...] | 2007-07-03 11:51:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO946 | SRI LANKA: AMBASSADOR PRESSES PRESIDENTIAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: On July 2 Ambassador met with President Rajapaksa's brother and chief political advisor Basil Rajapaksa to discuss the GSL's development plans in the East. Ambassador inquired about ongoing efforts to resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs),the concerns surrounding the cr [...] | 2007-07-03 12:09:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO947 | MALDIVES REPORTS PROGRESS ON NEW CONSTITUTION AND [...] (C) Summary. Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed called on Ambassador and DCM on June 29 to report positive progress on political reform. Shaheed and opposition contacts tell us that most of the draft of the new constitution is complete and that the Special Majlis, the committee drafting the new [...] | 2007-07-03 12:26:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO948 | SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY AGREES TO APPOINT [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador, Swiss Ambassador Flint and the Head of the European Commission Humanitarian Office Verboom presented Defense Secretary Rajapakse on June 29 the findings and recommendations of the Bilateral Donor Group (BDG) visit in May to the Vanni (the LTTE-controlled area of north [...] | 2007-07-03 13:02:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS EAID CE |
07COLOMBO957 | SRI LANKA: NO OBJECTION TO PROPOSED TRO DESIGNATION [...] (C) Embassy Colombo would support an E.O. 13224 designation of the Tamil Relief Organization (TRO) if the USG determines that there is sufficient evidence to establish that the TRO is channeling funds to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for arms purchases or terrorist activities. [...] | 2007-07-06 05:23:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | KTFN PTER CE |
07COLOMBO959 | SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT TAKES STEPS TO ADDRESS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) has recently made several announcements about its efforts to eliminate abductions in Sri Lanka. On July 4 Defense Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella announced the arrest of 10 suspected abductors in the GSL's efforts to eliminate abductions-for-ra [...] | 2007-07-06 07:35:00 | Embassy Colombo | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO962 | SRI LANKA: COLOMBO AIRPORT RESUMES NIGHT OPERATIONS [...] SUMMARY: Sri Lanka's Bandaranaike International Airport resumed night operations on July 1 after the airport suspended night flights in early May following a series of air attacks near the airport by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. However, only one airline operating through Colombo has [...] | 2007-07-09 10:45:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAIR ECON EINV ETRD PTER CE |
07COLOMBO966 | IIGEP DISPUTE WITH GSL DIFFUSED FOR NOW [...] (C) SUMMARY: On June 20, the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) received a harshly worded letter from the Attorney General (AG) accusing IIGEP of over-extending its mandate, relying too much on its assistants, and insulting the members of the Commission of Inquiry (C [...] | 2007-07-10 11:22:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO971 | SRI LANKA: MILITARY TAKES LAST REMAINING LTTE [...] (C) On July 11 military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe announced that the military had taken Baron's Cap, the last remaining high point in Thoppigala, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) last stronghold in the East. Later that evening, LTTE defense spokesman Irasiah Illanthirayan is [...] | 2007-07-12 10:49:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO973 | SRI LANKA: DEVOLUTION PROCESS MAY BE RUNNING OUT [...] (C) Summary. The opposition United National Party (UNP) leadership has grown increasingly frustrated with the All Parties Representative Committee (APRC) process and is threatening to withdraw completely by August 15. UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe admits that he is staying out of the AP [...] | 2007-07-12 11:45:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO977 | SRI LANKA: INSTABILITY IN THE EAST MAKES FREE AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: After more than a year of fighting to rid the eastern province of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),the Government is making preparations to hold elections as a concrete sign that order has been restored. However, significant obstacles remain that could jeopardize th [...] | 2007-07-13 11:05:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO978 | SRI LANKA: LTTE SOMBER IN LATEST TALKS WITH [...] (C) Summary: Norwegian Ambassador Brattskar met with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leadership in Kilinochchi July 11. In a briefing for Co-Chair Ambassadors, he described their mood as serious, somber, and determined. No new ground was broken. Political wing head Thamilselvan wa [...] | 2007-07-13 11:25:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV CE |
07COLOMBO98 | SRI LANKA: ARMY MAKES GAINS IN CAMPAIGN TO TAKE [...] (C) Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe confirmed to pol FSN on January 16 that the security forces, through air strikes and ground movements, made progress against LTTE defenses both north and south of Vakarai on January 16. However, they have not yet captured the strategic brid [...] | 2007-01-17 12:39:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE |
07COLOMBO980 | SRI LANKA: REQUEST TO STATE/DRL AND STATE/INL FOR SUPPORT [...] (SBU) Summary: The Government of Sri Lanka's Presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI) has begun investigations into serious human rights violations. The COI began hearings on one of the cases but a dispute between scientific experts regarding the forensic evidence is becoming a major impedimen [...] | 2007-07-16 10:53:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PINS PREL PREF PGOV EAID ASEC CE |
07COLOMBO982 | SRI LANKA LIKELY TO SUPPORT U.S. IOM CANDIDATE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-07-16 11:12:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL AORC EUN PREF SMIG CE |
07COLOMBO983 | COLOMBO PLAN MONEY RETURNED [...] No summary [...] | 2007-07-16 11:13:00 | Embassy Colombo | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC PREL CE |
07COLOMBO986 | SRI LANKA: FIGHTING SHIFTS TO THE NORTH [...] (C) SUMMARY: On July 14, the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) battled with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Vavuniya district in northern Sri Lanka, resulting in at least 14 SLA deaths. The Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) is planning a large celebration on July 19 in downtown Colombo to c [...] | 2007-07-16 11:20:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE |
07COLOMBO99 | SRI LANKA: OPPOSITION WILL COOPERATE WITH [...] (C) The Ambassador met with Karu Jayasuriya, former deputy leader of the opposition United National Party (UNP),on January 17 to discuss whether the likely "cross-over" of UNP members to accept cabinet slots in the government would damage the MoU between the UNP and governing Sri Lanka Freedo [...] | 2007-01-17 12:50:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PTER CE |
07CONAKRY1004 | BOOMING MINING SECTOR MAY BRING NEW RAILROAD [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Long-time bauxite and iron ore mining investors are stepping up operations in Guinea, while Chinese and Brazilian companies are looking to carve out niches for themselves. Meanwhile, one company is looking to build a multi-billion dollar tran-Guinea railroad in order to transpo [...] | 2007-09-06 07:12:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EMIN ECON ETRD PGOV GV |
07CONAKRY1018 | GUINEA HOLDS SUCCESSFUL AGOA DAY IN KINDIA [...] (U) SUMMARY. On September 6, the Conakry AGOA Network sponsored an inspiringly successful AGOA day in Kindia, a few hours north of the capital. The event, the first of six planned throughout the country, was organized in order to promote the benefits of AGOA to local businesspeople. END SUMM [...] | 2007-09-10 10:24:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD PGOV SOCI BEXP GV |
07CONAKRY1021 | UNCONFIRMED REPORT OF DEATH OF GENERAL KERFALLA CAMARA [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-10 15:23:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINS ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1023 | DIVISIVE STRATEGIES AMIDST RUMBLINGS OF POLITICAL [...] (C) SUMMARY. Rumblings of political discontent have become increasingly audible in recent weeks throughout Guinea, spurring a spate of demonstrations, meetings, and public debate. These various events serve as a backdrop to troublesome political maneuverings, slanderous rumors, and potentia [...] | 2007-09-10 15:48:00 | Embassy Conakry | SECRET | PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1025 | LAYING GROUNDWORK FOR MULTILATERAL PUSH ON ELECTIONS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. In anticipation of Ambassador Carter's imminent arrival, Embassy began laying the groundwork for a multilateral strategy to engage the Government of Guinea (GoG) and advance legislative elections. Counterparts from the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (UN) agreed tha [...] | 2007-09-11 10:34:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KDEM ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1033 | HOW MUCH GAS IS THERE REALLY? [...] (SBU) On September 11, Econoff met with Bechtel employee Rick Wickwire, the Construction Manager for the Sangaredi alumina refinery project near Boke. During the course of the meeting, Mr. Wickwire said he has worked for Bechtel for 32 years, and is very experienced with major projects, havin [...] | 2007-09-14 07:31:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EMIN ECON ETRD GV |
07CONAKRY1034 | GUINEA ONBOARD WITH MARITIME SCANNING REQUIREMENT [...] (U) On August 30, per reftel, Econoff met with Mme Olga Syradin, Director of Customs, to discuss the 9/11 Act requirement for scanning of all U.S. bound containers. The Director stated that currently all outbound containers are scanned, and that she did not expect any problems with compliance [...] | 2007-09-14 07:31:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EWWT AMGT PTER ECON GV |
07CONAKRY1035 | HOW MUCH GAS IS THERE REALLY? [...] (SBU) On September 11, Econoff met with Bechtel employee Rick Wickwire, the Construction Manager for the Sangaredi alumina refinery project near Boke. During the course of the meeting, Mr. Wickwire said he has worked for Bechtel for 32 years, and is very experienced with major projects, havin [...] | 2007-09-14 07:31:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EMIN ECON ETRD GV |
07CONAKRY1036 | GUINEA ONBOARD WITH MARITIME SCANNING REQUIREMENT [...] (U) On August 30, per reftel, Econoff met with Mme Olga Syradin, Director of Customs, to discuss the 9/11 Act requirement for scanning of all U.S. bound containers. The Director stated that currently all outbound containers are scanned, and that she did not expect any problems with compliance [...] | 2007-09-14 07:32:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EWWT AMGT PTER ECON GV |
07CONAKRY1038 | GUINEA'S ELECTION PILOT COMMITTEE BEGINS WORK [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The piloting committee for the upcoming legislative elections met for the first time on Thursday, September 13. The government provided a budget and partial schedule for pre-election activities. The Interior Minister requested more money to fund voter registration and electi [...] | 2007-09-17 07:31:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KDEM ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1054 | VISIT TO GUINEA'S BAUXITE HEARTLAND [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. In the Boke region, Guinea's bauxite companies operate around the clock, mining and exporting thousand of tons of high quality ore, while spinning off benefits to the local population. Testifying to bauxite's importance to the new government, a close friend of the prime minist [...] | 2007-09-20 06:56:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EMIN ECON ETRD PGOV GV |
07CONAKRY1056 | GLOBAL ALUMINA'S MINING PROJECT VALUED AT $7 BILLION [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Contrary to press reports and statements by Guinean government officials, econoff's visit to Global Alumina revealed that with a $7 billion investment planned, the company's proposed bauxite refining project is twice as big as anticipated. The project is still in the feasibilit [...] | 2007-09-20 07:15:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EMIN ECON ETRD PGOV GV |
07CONAKRY1061 | LACK OF ELECTIONS PROGRESS - STALL TACTICS? [...] (S) SUMMARY. The international donor community is becoming increasingly frustrated with the Government of Guinea,s (GOG) lack of progress on elections, raising questions as to whether political will actually exists. Within the government, several different elements appear to be intentionally [...] | 2007-09-21 13:35:00 | Embassy Conakry | SECRET | PGOV PREL ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1065 | KOUYATE APPOINTS COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE HUMAN [...] (U) According to both private and government-owned radio reports, Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate officially established a commission to investigate alleged human rights abuses committed during the January/February strike. The Ministry of Interior and Security reportedly submitted a list of a [...] | 2007-09-24 14:04:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL GV |
07CONAKRY1066 | PRESIDENT DISMISSES CONTROVERSIAL MILLIONAIRE [...] (SBU) Reportedly, President Lansana Conte dismissed controversial millionaire Mamadou Syllah from his post of honorary president of the majority Party for Unity and Progress (PUP) on September 22. In March 2007, Conte appointed Syllah to the position, a post he had held himself until then. [...] | 2007-09-24 14:21:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL GV |
07CONAKRY1079 | GUINEA'S ELECTIONS - FURTHER DELAYS LIKELY [...] (C) SUMMARY. A meeting with the Government of Guinea,s point person on elections seems to illustrate the GoG,s lack of political will and/or capacity to organize legislative elections in a timely manner. While the 25 names for the electoral commission were finally submitted, further delays [...] | 2007-09-27 14:40:00 | Embassy Conakry | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1082 | GLOBAL ALUMINA CONFIRMS $7 BILLION INVESTMENT IS A [...] (SBU) Global Alumina privately confirmed that the company has approved the proposed $7 billion mining investment project in Sangaredi (reftel). Haskell Sears Ward, U.S.-based Senior Vice President in charge of government relations, told poloff in a brief meeting on September 28 that that the [...] | 2007-09-28 12:33:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EMIN ECON ETRD GV |
07CONAKRY1083 | GUINEAN GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO ENFORCE BAN OF [...] (U) In response to several street demonstrations in Conakry over the last month, the Minister of Interior and Security (MIS),Mamadou Beau Keita, announced on September 21 that the Government of Guinea (GoG) has banned all unauthorized demonstrations in certain districts of the capital. Alth [...] | 2007-09-28 12:34:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1084 | GUINEA MOVES TO EXPAND POLICE FORCES BEFORE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Guinean government officials report that the government has recruited 4,617 new police officers although none have started training and funding has not been allocated. Government contacts expressed hope that these new police forces be fully operational and deployed before the [...] | 2007-09-28 12:38:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM GV |
07CONAKRY1090 | GUINEA'S NEWEST POLITICAL PARTY - REPRESENTING [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Guinea,s newest political party is a multi-ethnic party of youth, according to party founders. Claiming about 1000 members, the party plans to participate in the upcoming legislative elections with the goal of winning at least five National Assembly seats. Party leaders denou [...] | 2007-10-01 14:51:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM GV |
07CONAKRY1091 | WITHOUT SYLLAH, MAJORITY PARTY IS STRONG AND UNITED [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Majority party members report that the dismissal of Mamadou Syllah as honorary president of the PUP was necessary in order to ensure party unity. With him gone, contacts say the party is stronger than ever. END SUMMARY. 2. (SBU) Poloff met separately with two senior membe [...] | 2007-10-01 14:54:00 | Embassy Conakry | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM GV |
07CONAKRY1099 | ELECTIONS TOO EXPENSIVE - MAYBE WE SHOULD WAIT [...] (C) SUMMARY. A senior contact within the majority party revealed that certain unidentified elements may be exploring the possibility of delaying legislative elections until 2010. Citing concerns over the $21 million budget line item for election preparations, some individuals are reportedly [...] | 2007-10-03 14:54:00 | Embassy Conakry | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM GV |
07CONAKRY1106 | GUINEA MAKES ANOTHER GOOD IMPRESSION ON IMF [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. IMF team leader, Jean Le Dem, was optimistic with respect to Guinea's progress towards a return to an IMF funded program. After a ten-day visit, which ended October 3, Le Dem said that Guinea is essentially on track, but expressed concern over Central Bank operations and exter [...] | 2007-10-04 13:54:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ECON IMF PGOV GV |
07CONAKRY1109 | WORD FROM THE STREET - ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IS BETTER [...] SUMMARY. Interviews with street vendors and merchants throughout the capital city revealed that the availability of electrical power has significantly improved in recent weeks despite several unauthorized demonstrations protesting lack of public utilities. Many citizens attribute the improv [...] | 2007-10-05 08:58:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ENRG PGOV GV |
07CONAKRY1114 | MINISTER OF ENERGY ANNOUNCES IMPROVED ELECTRICITY [...] Over national television the evening of October 4, the Minister of Energy and Hydrology, Goumou Gnanga Koumata, announced that the electricity supply in Conakry has improved. He stated that the government is doing everything it can to make electricity available despite the significant techni [...] | 2007-10-05 12:01:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV GV ENRG |
07CONAKRY1136 | UNION LEADER SAYS NO STRIKES PLANNED, BUT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The leader of Guinea,s largest labor union painted a grim picture of the country,s political and economic situation in a meeting with poloff, but said that the unions are not planning any strikes in the near future. She added that the international community can play an import [...] | 2007-10-11 14:29:00 | Embassy Conakry | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ELAB ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1139 | PRIME MINISTER ADDRESSES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY - [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. In his first official policy speech since his appointment in March, Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate outlined his government,s accomplishments over the last six months before the National Assembly on October 11. Despite Kouyate,s 80 minutes discourse, deputies were reportedly d [...] | 2007-10-12 14:27:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON KDEM GV |
07CONAKRY114 | Influential Women -- Guinea [...] (SBU) Post identifies the following leaders as the five most influential women in Guinea: A. Rabiatou Serah Diallo, General Secretary National Federation of Guinean Workers CNTG Bourse de Travail BP 237 Conakry, Guinea (224) 60-26-20-62 or 60-22-19-59 Email: nenefoune@yahoo.fr or aissa [...] | 2007-01-31 13:37:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KWMN PHUM PREL GV |
07CONAKRY1140 | GUINEAN GOVERNMENT HALTS ELECTIONS PREPARATIONS [...] (SBU) The Minister of Interior and Security (MIS) has decided to halt all preparations for legislative elections until the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) is operational. In a telephone conversation with poloff on October 12, Elhadj Amadou Bailo Diallo, MIS Secretary General [...] | 2007-10-12 14:35:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1146 | UFDG SEEKS ALLIANCES WITH OTHER OPPOSITION PARTIES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Leaders of the extremist opposition party, Union Forces Democratic Guinean (UFDG),told poloff that they are seeking to ally with like-minded opposition parties in order to present a single candidate list for the upcoming legislative elections. The UFDG commented on the Guine [...] | 2007-10-15 15:06:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM GV |
07CONAKRY1161 | GUINEA'S 2008 BUDGET [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. On October 11, Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate submitted his administration's FY2008 budget to the National Assembly. The budget was submitted on-time, and forecasts significant growth in revenue and spending; however, the projections are based upon best-case assumptions. The [...] | 2007-10-22 06:44:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECIN EFIN ECON EMIN PGOV GV |
07CONAKRY1175 | TRIP REPORT - MIDDLE GUINEA VIEWS ON ELECTIONS AND [...] A four-day journey into Middle Guinea, home to approximately four million Guineans, revealed that this part of the country is generally willing to wait for elections in order to allow sufficient time to prepare the population and guarantee transparency. People were more concerned about impro [...] | 2007-10-24 15:01:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM ECON GV |
07CONAKRY1176 | MIDDLE GUINEA - INSIGHTS INTO ELECTRICITY AND [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Conakry is not the only city in Guinea suffering from electricity and water shortages as a trip to Middle Guinea revealed. In Labe, a city of approximately 250,000 people, residents endure rolling blackouts and can only access running water once every two days. Although a mu [...] | 2007-10-24 15:04:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG PGOV ECON GV |
07CONAKRY1177 | MIDDLE GUINEA'S YOUTH SAY THEY ARE POLITICALLY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Meetings with several representatives of youth associations in Mamou and Labe, the regional administrative capitals in Middle Guinea, suggest that this segment of the population is politically marginalized. Youth contacts said that the current political system does not repres [...] | 2007-10-24 15:26:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM GV |
07CONAKRY1180 | INFORMAL PRICE SURVEY - GUINEA'S PRICES ON THE RISE [...] (U) SUMMARY. Based on an informal market survey conducted weekly by Embassy staff over a three-month period, prices for basic goods fluctuated significantly since August 1. Although the Government of Guinea attempted to control prices through a wide range of tools, including moral suasion and [...] | 2007-10-24 17:06:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED | ECIN EFIN ECON GV |
07CONAKRY1190 | RPG OPPOSITION PARTY EAGER FOR ELECTIONS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Leaders of the opposition Rally for the Guinean People (RPG) party told poloff that they are eager for legislative elections and see them as a viable mechanism for affecting political change. Contacts were frustrated with election delays, but optimistic that elections could t [...] | 2007-10-29 13:32:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1196 | GUINEAN GOVERNMENT TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS LOCAL NEWSPAPER [...] (SBU) According to an October 30 local radio report, the Guinean National Council on Communication (CNC) suspended operation of the La Nouvelle newspaper for a period of one month. The suspension went into effect October 29 and ends November 29. The newspaper's publisher, Mr. Moussa Iboun Co [...] | 2007-10-31 12:58:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM GV |
07CONAKRY120 | Presidential Decree Creating Prime Minister, [...] (U) On January 31, President Lansana Conte signed a decree setting forth, by delegation, the powers, duties, and functions of the Prime Minister, Head of Government (reftel). 2. (U) Begin text of informal embassy translation: The President of the Republic, considering the Constitution, n [...] | 2007-02-01 11:32:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ASEC PINS GV |
07CONAKRY1202 | GUINEA COOPERATIVE PLANTATION EYES AGOA BENEFITS [...] (U) SUMMARY. On October 16, a representative of the West African Trade Hub in Dakar, Marlene Gummo, gave a presentation at the AGOA Day held in Conakry. The next day, she toured a fruit and vegetable plantation in the Kindia region of Guinea. The plantation is literally 'growing', and hopes [...] | 2007-11-01 15:32:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD PGOV GV |
07CONAKRY1203 | GUINEA BUSINESSMEN REFORM WITHOUT CONTE CRONY [...] (U) SUMMARY. On October 25, the Conseil National du Patronat Guineen (Patronat),the organization of employers in Guinea, unanimously reorganized their organizational structure to solidify the legitimacy of its current president, Youssouf Diallo. END SUMMARY. 2. (U) Earlier this year, the [...] | 2007-11-01 15:34:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN PGOV GV |
07CONAKRY1210 | RESPONSE TO TERRORISM FINANCE DEMARCHE: DESIGNATION OF [...] (U) On November 2, Econoff met with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, Karamokoba Camara, to deliver reftel demarche list of three individuals designated by the U.N. as supporters of terrorist financing. 2. (U) In response to the demarche, Mr. Camara confirmed Guinea's cont [...] | 2007-11-05 10:25:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED | KTFN EFIN ETTC PTER PREL GV |
07CONAKRY1214 | RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON INTERPOL APPROVAL OF RED [...] (S) According to contacts, the Government of Guinea (GoG) sent two delegates to the Interpol General Assembly in Marrakech, Morocco, which included Guinea's Chief of Interpol. In response to reftel request, DCM contacted counterparts at the Brazilian, German and U.K. embassies regarding Arge [...] | 2007-11-05 14:01:00 | Embassy Conakry | SECRET//NOFORN | PTER IR ASEC KJUS PREL PGOV GV |
07CONAKRY1215 | TEACHERS UNION WARNS OF POSSIBLE STRIKES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. While Guinea,s teacher union is not planning any formal strike, union officials report that 30,000 contractor teacher members could organize an unofficial strike if the Minister of Education does not address specific concerns. According to contacts, the teachers' chief compla [...] | 2007-11-05 14:26:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV PREL ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1217 | GOG OFFICIAL CLAIMS REDUCTION IN SMUGGLING THROUGH PORT OF [...] (U) SUMMARY. The National Director of the Merchant Marine reported a reduction in smuggling through the port of Conakry due to improved internal procedures and a new container scanner. END SUMMARY 2. (U) On November 1, Econoff met with the National Director from the Office of the Mercha [...] | 2007-11-07 07:44:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PTER EWWT GV |
07CONAKRY1219 | ORANGE ENTERS GUINEA'S CELL PHONE MARKET [...] (U) SUMMARY: Orange, Guinea's newest telecom operator, launched its operations on November 5 with a ceremony and short welcoming speech by Prime Minister Kouyate. Representing a joint partnership with Orange Groupe France Telecom, Orange's local business partner has big plans for Guinea. Loc [...] | 2007-11-07 12:24:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED | ECPS EIND ECON GV |
07CONAKRY122 | GUINEAN FOREIGN MINISTER UNDERESTIMATES [...] (C) On February 1, Foreign Minister Mamady Conde and the Ambassador met over lunch at the latter's residence. The discussion focused mainly on Guinean domestic politics in the wake of the recent general strike. Young compared to most members of President Lansana Conte's government and entou [...] | 2007-02-01 15:41:00 | Embassy Conakry | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM GV |
07CONAKRY1220 | UNION LEADER SUGGESTS REOPENING POLITICAL DIALOGUE [...] (C) SUMMARY. Dr. Ibrahim Fofana, one of Guinea,s key union leaders is frustrated by Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate,s lack of progress on the January 27 Accords and plans to urge him to take a more aggressive approach. Dissatisfied with declining political momentum, Fofana suggested reopening [...] | 2007-11-07 13:46:00 | Embassy Conakry | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB PGOV PREL ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1225 | CONTE SIGNS LAW CREATING CENI [...] (SBU) On November 8, President Conte signed the law that the National Assembly passed in May 2007 to create a new National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) to administer the country's elections. Under Guinean law, once legislation is passed, the President should sign it or reject it w [...] | 2007-11-08 14:52:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KDEM ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1228 | CIVIL SOCIETY LEADER PUSHING FOR ELECTIONS AND [...] (SBU) Although contacts report that civil society is looking to change Guinea,s electoral code before holding legislative elections, a prominent civil society leader told poloff that the country needs to focus on elections first and the electoral code later. Recognizing growing divisions wit [...] | 2007-11-09 12:46:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SOCI ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1229 | YES WE WANT ELECTIONS - BUT ON OUR OWN TIMETABLE [...] (C) SUMMARY. In the wake of the January/February strikes, Guinea,s political situation is complex and dynamic. Slow progress on elections preparations is partly due to lack of political will, but also due to intense scrutiny by Guinean citizens who are committed to ensuring that the electio [...] | 2007-11-09 12:47:00 | Embassy Conakry | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1234 | GAS STATION WORKERS STRIKE IN GUINEA [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Unionized gas station workers started a nation-wide strike on November 11 in protest of low wages, long working hours, and a lack of contracts and basic benefits. Business owners say they cannot increase wages due to an already too low profit margin resulting from government [...] | 2007-11-13 15:43:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KDEM ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1238 | CENTRAL BANK REVEALS RESERVES, REFORM PROGRESS, AND A NEW [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The Director General at the Central Bank revealed that currency reserves are down to about 12 days of imports. However, he expressed optimism that return to a funded IMF program would improve the exchange rate, which subsequently hit a new low since the January/February strike [...] | 2007-11-14 13:58:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECIN EFIN ECON EMIN GV |
07CONAKRY1239 | GUINEAN POLICE SEIZE 278 KILOS OF COCAINE OVER TEN [...] (C) The new director of Guinea,s police anti-drug unit reports that his unit has seized 278 kilos of cocaine since January 2007. The director said that Guinea,s drug trafficking problem has worsened significantly in recent years and the anti-drug unit is ill equipped to effectively stem the [...] | 2007-11-14 15:10:00 | Embassy Conakry | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR PGOV PREL ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY124 | FIRST LADY HENRIETTE CONTE PLAYING MATERNAL [...] (C) First Lady Henriette Conte says that her husband will follow through on his agreement to the deal struck between the unions, government and Patronat January 27. In a February 1 meeting with DCM, however, she left hanging the question of when he might appoint a prime minister. Madame Con [...] | 2007-02-01 16:51:00 | Embassy Conakry | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR ASEC CASC GV |
07CONAKRY1243 | GROWTH OF RESOURCE NATIONALISM IN GUINEA [...] (C) SUMMARY. The information and analysis provided herein is in response to reftel request regarding resource nationalism in Guinea. END SUMMARY. 2. (C) Over the last year, resource nationalism has become increasingly evident in Guinea since the country,s new consensus government declar [...] | 2007-11-15 11:28:00 | Embassy Conakry | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET GV |
07CONAKRY1244 | GUINEA 2007-8 INCSR REPORT DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-15 14:13:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN KCRM KTFN SNAR ECON GV |
07CONAKRY1245 | PM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ELECTIONS DURING AMBASSADOR'S [...] SUMMARY. (SBU) In the Ambassador,s initial courtesy call on the prime minister, Kouyate was relaxed and upbeat. He was optimistic about progress on elections and said that he expects the CENI decree to be signed before the end of November. However, Kouyate noted that USG assistance for trai [...] | 2007-11-15 15:20:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV KDEM ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1248 | GUINEAN FUEL WORKERS WIN SOME CONCESSIONS [...] (SBU) Following a November 11 nation-wide labor strike by gas station workers (reftel),leaders of the Independent Union of Guinean Labor Forces (SIFOG) report that they have successfully negotiated an initial, signed protocol with the industry,s employers. According to the agreement, which w [...] | 2007-11-19 13:18:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV KDEM GV |
07CONAKRY1249 | AMBASSADOR,S MEETING WITH MINISTER OF INTERIOR AND [...] (C) SUMMARY. Guinea,s Minister of Interior offered a number of assurances to the Ambassador during his initial courtesy call on November 16, although he was not necessarily convincing. The Minister said that elections should move forward soon and that the Guinean Government will assure non- [...] | 2007-11-19 15:28:00 | Embassy Conakry | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ASEC GV |
07CONAKRY1256 | EDUCATION MINISTER PLANS TO TEST CONTRACT TEACHERS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. During a November 16 poloff courtesy call, the Minister of Education was enthusiastic about his job and optimistic about his program to improve education in Guinea. In response to teacher demands to address contractor problems, the Minister said he plans to hold a national exa [...] | 2007-11-21 11:40:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV SOCI GV |
07CONAKRY1264 | AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH MIN OF JUSTICE - TRYING TO DO [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The Minister of Justice discussed her ministry's needs with the Ambassador at a meeting held November 20. The Minister emphasized ongoing difficulties with implementation of her program due to lack of funding and the difficulties with human rights abuses in prisons. She also [...] | 2007-11-26 11:40:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECIN EFIN ECON PGOV GV |
07CONAKRY1267 | AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH MIN OF FINANCE ON GAS SUBSIDY AND [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. On November 16, the Ambassador met with the Minister of Finance. The Minister discussed the budget for the CENI, ongoing difficulties with implementation of program budgeting without a supportive budget director, the profoundly negative effects of the gasoline subsidy, and the [...] | 2007-11-26 15:28:00 | Embassy Conakry | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECIN EFIN ECON GV |
07CONAKRY1268 | EIGHT MONTHS IN - A LOOK AT KOUYATE,S [...] (C) SUMMARY. Eight months into his administration, Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate remains popular, but a number of civil society leaders are frustrated with his slow pace of reform. He continues to walk a delicate balancing act between the demands of his political mandate and his need to ma [...] | 2007-11-26 15:29:00 | Embassy Conakry | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC GV |