Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09COLOMBO557, Northern Sri Lanka SitRep 78

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09COLOMBO557.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09COLOMBO557 2009-05-21 11:44 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Colombo
VZCZCXRO9927
OO RUEHBI
DE RUEHLM #0557/01 1411144
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211144Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0024
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1206
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 0280
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 3853
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1693
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 8701
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 6935
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4994
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3067
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 4953
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 4059
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 9324
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 6630
RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO 1160
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3544
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDRUSARPAC FT SHAFTER HI//APCW/APOP//
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J3/J332/J52//
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000557 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA (BOUCHER), SCA/INS AND PRM 
STATE ALSO PASS USAID 
AID/W FOR ANE/SCA, DCHA/FFP (DWORKEN, KSHEIN) 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA (MORRISP, ACONVERY, RTHAYER, RKERR) 
ATHENS FOR PCARTER 
BANGKOK FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA (WBERGER) 
KATHMANDU FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA AND POL (SBERRY) 
GENEVA FOR RMA (NKYLOH, NHILGERT, MPITOTTI) 
USUN NEW YORK FOR ECOSOC (D MERCADO) 
SECDEF FOR OSD - POLICY 
PACOM ALSO FOR J-5 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF MOPS PHUM PGOV PREL ASEC CE ECON
SUBJECT: Northern Sri Lanka SitRep 78 
 
REF:  A) Colombo 549 B) Colombo 543 C) Colombo 539 D) Colombo 535 E) 
Colombo 533 F) Colombo 529 G) Colombo 522 H) Colombo 519 I) Colombo 
514 and previous 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa told 
Ambassador late on May 20 that the GSL was firm in its decision to 
restrict access by UN agencies and others to IDP camps.  He 
criticized the UN and ICRC and said that they had to decide whether 
to remain in Sri Lanka to help IDPs.  He stated that the GSL could 
provide for its own people.  He claimed that there had been a low 
rate of civilian casualties in the final stages of the conflict.  He 
requested USG assistance in procuring or leasing demining equipment. 
 UN envoy Nambiar flew to the IDP camps and over the former conflict 
zone.  The ICRC declined to participate since the flight would not 
land in the former conflict zone.  The UN was optimistic about 
negotiations with GSL regarding the new access rules.  The access 
restrictions prevented the setting up of several USAID/OFDA-funded 
health clinics.  END SUMMARY. 
 
BASIL FIRM ON CAMP ACCESS ISSUES 
-------------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Ambassador and USAID Country Director met with Presidential 
Advisor Basil Rajapaksa late on May 20, pressing him on better 
access for UN, ICRC and NGOs to both the former conflict zone and 
the IDP camps.  Rajapaksa replied at length that the access issues 
surrounding vehicle use inside the camps by UN and other INGO 
personnel were not of concern to the GSL.  He explained these new 
rules were the result of a week-long deliberation by GSL on how best 
to run the camps.  Rajapaksa said they were instituted because 
doctors inside the camps had complained that dust and exhaust from 
passing vehicles were causing problems for the IDPs, and that 
instead GSL would arrange car parks outside the camps, and bicycles 
for aid workers to go inside the camps. 
 
BASIL: UN AND OTHER INGOS FACE CHOICE 
------------------------------------- 
 
3. (SBU) Rajapaksa stated that the UN, ICRC and other INGOs were not 
fulfilling their duties of providing adequate food and supplies, and 
that the GSL was succeeding at this.  He said the UN, ICRC and 
others would have to decide if they were operating in Sri Lanka to 
help the IDPs or to worry about their own operating rules.  He 
expressed exasperation that the UN and INGOs were complaining about 
access, and said that GSL would not bow to pressure from outside 
"just because some aid worker in Vavuniya sent an SMS text message 
to someone in Geneva" to complain about something.  Rajapaksa said 
the GSL appreciated that there were some international workers who 
were helpful, but that the GSL could care for its own people and did 
not actually need help from outside.  He expressed satisfaction with 
the way USAID worked, however.  The Ambassador pushed back, 
stressing that the role of the UN and ICRC in particular were 
essential, and encouraged Rajapaksa to work these issues out with 
the international organizations. 
 
BASIL: DEMINING EQUIPMENT REQUESTED 
 
COLOMBO 00000557  002 OF 003 
 
 
----------------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) Emphasizing the importance of rapid resettlement, 
Ambassador asked if there was an overall strategy for demining. 
Rajapaksa replied that what the GSL wanted most was assistance in 
obtaining de-mining equipment, preferably leased rather than 
purchased.  He said the military had many soldiers available now, 
who should be provided with the proper equipment and put to work on 
demining.  He asked if USG could provide demining equipment - not 
teams.  The Ambassador said we would explore whether USG funding 
options could assist with that. 
 
5. (SBU) Rajapaksa said that there was a process for prioritizing 
areas for demining, involving the Committee on Mine Action through 
the Ministry of Nation-Building, and that the GSL would follow the 
established procedure for approving demining projects in 
consultation with local authorities, the military and security 
forces.  He said the authorities consult local village leaders as 
part of this process, including with those who may be currently in 
IDP camps, to determine the extent of knowledge of mine 
contamination and to determine which areas should be cleared first. 
 
 
BASIL: PROUD OF LOW CIVILIAN CASUALTIES 
--------------------------------------- 
 
6. (SBU) Rajapaksa said he was proud of the low numbers of civilian 
casualties in the concluding days of the fighting, saying that 
hostage situations usually end with much more death, and that the 
numbers killed and wounded were small in comparison to all the 
victims of the various LTTE bombing attacks on civilian targets over 
the years. 
 
BASIL: IDPS WILL HAVE VOTE 
-------------------------- 
 
7. (SBU) Ambassador stressed that when elections were held in the 
North that any IDPs remaining in camps would have to be included in 
the process.  Rajapaksa reported that IDP committees were being 
appointed inside the camps, and that these appointees would receive 
a salary funded in part by UNHCR. 
 
NAMBIAR VISITS IDP CAMPS AND 
FORMER CONFLICT ZONE 
---------------------------- 
 
8. (SBU) Vijay Nambiar, Chief of Staff to the UN Secretary General, 
accompanied by UN Resident Representative Neil Buhne, flew over the 
former safe zone on May 21, as low as tree top level, by military 
helicopter.  Buhne reported to Charge that they saw no civilians in 
the area, only military.  It is expected that the Secretary General 
will make a similar overflight on May 23.  The government is 
reluctant to allow the SecGen to land in the zone. 
 
9. (SBU) They also flew to Manik Farm on May 21, touring Zones 1 and 
4, both of which are receiving new arrivals.  UN Resident 
 
COLOMBO 00000557  003 OF 003 
 
 
Representative Neil Buhne reported to Charge that in addition to 
"Zone 0," the government's preferred site to show visitors, Ban Ki 
Moon will visit Zone 4, including the health care facility, and will 
be allowed to converse with IDPs. 
 
UN HOPEFUL ON IDP CAMP ACCESS TALKS 
----------------------------------- 
 
10. (SBU) Buhne reported that the UN has slowed down operations in 
Zones 1, 2, and 3 due to the disagreement with the government over 
vehicular access, but the UN continues to work in Zone 4.  The UN 
will meet the evening of May 21 with Senior Presidential Adviser 
Basil Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Bogollagama in an effort to 
reach agreement on vehicular access.  The GSL's primary concerns 
regarding the volume of vehicles in Manik Farm are security (they 
argue that LTTE cadres could escape from the camps in the vehicles) 
and cultural sensitivity (they don't like the optic of large numbers 
of air conditioned vehicles driving through the camps while IDPs are 
out in the heat).  Components of a compromise plan may, according to 
Buhne, include a log system for vehicles entering the camps, 
limiting the number of vehicles through carpooling, removing flags 
from the vehicles, and greater coordination with local authorities. 
 
ICRC DONE IN NFZ AREA 
--------------------- 
 
11. (SBU) The ICRC was offered a place on Nambiar's flight over the 
former conflict zone, but turned it down because it would not give 
them access on the ground.  Because of the repeated denial of 
access, they have been frustrated in all their attempts to carry out 
their mandate in the former NFZ.  The ICRC told us he was 
nevertheless optimistic that talks with the GSL on access to IDP 
camps would reach an agreement.  Charge updated Castella about 
Ambassador's conversation with Def Sec Gothabaya Rajapaksa on May 
20, and Ambassador's advocacy for ICRC access.  Castella thanked 
Charge for the USG's continuing support and assistance. 
 
ACCESS RULES IMPEDING MEDICAL CARE 
----------------------------------- 
 
12. (U) The USAID/OFDA regional advisor reported that the 
International Organization for Migration (IOM) has not been able to 
set up 6 of the 10 USAID/OFDA-funded health clinics due to new 
access restrictions at Manik farms camp site. 
 
13. (U) On May 21, the USAID/OFDA regional advisor reported that the 
16 expatriate staff from Doctors without Borders (MSF/France) 
waiting to set up a field hospital at Manik Farms have finally 
received their visas.  The MSF staff began arriving on May 20.  MSF 
will set up the field hospital across from Zone 2 of Manik Farms. 
The USAID/OFDA regional advisor noted that the staff will not have 
access to any of the zones. 
 
MOORE