VZCZCXYZ0004
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #8882 0842358
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 252341Z MAR 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO IMMEDIATE 0000

UNCLAS STATE 028882 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CE PREL XD XO
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: USUN GUIDANCE ON THE MARCH 26 OCHA 
BRIEFING 
 
REF: COLOMBO 308 
 
¶1.  (U) This is an action request please see para 2: 
 
¶2.  (U) USUN should draw from the talking points in para 3 
during the March 26 informal OCHA briefing on the 
humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka.  Due to the 
impossibility of the Council reaching consensus on a joint 
statement, Mission should draw on para 4 points for a U.S. 
only statement to the press. 
 
¶3.  (U) Begin Points for OCHA Briefing: 
 
-- The United States has grave concerns about the civilians 
trapped by the fighting between the security forces of the 
government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil 
Eelan (LTTE).  The UN estimates that 150,000 ) 180,000 
civilians 
remain caught in the conflict zone. 
 
-- We welcome the delivery of additional food and medical 
supplies in the last week, but urge the government to do 
more.  We have received credible reports of significant food 
shortages in the conflict areas where civilians 
remain trapped.  Aid agencies also report that there are 
critical shortages of medical supplies and drugs.  We call 
upon the Government of Sri Lanka to give high priority to the 
transport of essential medical supplies and drugs 
(including anesthetics) and make every effort to ensure that 
sufficient food reaches the no-fire zone. 
 
-- Moreover, despite repeated assurances, the Government of 
Sri Lanka is shelling areas with large concentrations 
of civilians.  We have seen reports that this shelling has 
continued, at times landing near or hitting hospitals, 
churches and makeshift shelters.  This has resulted in 
significant civilian casualties. According to UN figures, the 
civilian death toll is likely over 3000.  The Sri Lankan 
government must stop all shelling into the 
government-designated safe zone 
and areas where civilians are known to be present. 
 
-- The LTTE is effectively using civilians as human shields 
and as a pool for forced conscription.  There are 
reports that LTTE members have shot civilians who have tried 
to reach government territory.  We should call upon 
the LTTE to release the civilians who they claim to be 
fighting for and allow for freedom of movement to reach 
safety. 
 
-- There must be a humanitarian pause so that those who want 
to leave the conflict zone can do so and so that food 
and medicine reaches those in need. 
 
-- The Government of Sri Lanka needs to publicly commit to 
generate conditions that will allow IDPs to return to 
their place of origin as soon as possible or for their 
voluntary resettlement to other areas.  The international 
community does not support long-term detention of IDPs in 
temporary camps. 
 
-- The Government of Sri Lanka expelled all aid agencies from 
the Vanni last September as it ramped up its military 
offensive against the Tigers.  The ICRC and the UN have 
limited access in the Vanni at the moment.  The government 
of Sri Lanka should grant full access by aid agencies to 
civilians into the Kilinochchi and other screening areas 
for IDPs, as Secretary Clinton urged in her phone call with 
President Rajapaksa on March 13.  This access should 
allow these agencies to independently survey the IDPs, as 
they are currently not permitted to speak to new 
arrivals. 
 
-- IDP camps in Vavuniya, while improving, still face many 
problems such as overcrowding, a failure to provide 
impartial oversight of the registration process and lack of 
sanitation.  Most problematic- IDPs are not permitted 
freedom of movement.  We, and others in the international 
community, remain concerned about Sri Lankan plans to hold 
IDPs in these camps beyond the immediate emergency.  In 
connection with this concern, the UNHCR and other donors 
have agreed that their assistance should not be channeled to 
these camps beyond a three month time period.  The Sri 
Lankan Government should not be imposing deterrents to 
civilians who want to leave the combat zone. 
 
-- We believe that lasting peace will only be achieved 
through a political solution that addresses the legitimate 
aspirations of all of Sri Lanka,s communities.  We call on 
the Sri Lankan Government to put forward a proposal now to 
engage Tamil voices other than the LTTE in this process. 
 
 
¶4.  (U) Press Points: 
 
-- We are seriously concerned about the perilous situation in 
Sri Lanka.  A significant number of civilians ) by UN 
estimates, 150,000 to 180,000 civilians ) are trapped 
between the guns of the Sri Lankan Government and the 
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).  What was once 
largely an undeveloped area is now a so-called &safe zone8 
) it is awash in tents and other makeshift shelters, and 
does not have adequate food stocks, water, medical supplies, 
and toilet and bathing facilities. 
 
--Shelling by the Government of Sri Lanka continues on a 
daily basis.  According to UN figures, the civilian death 
toll is likely over 3000.  Thousands more have been wounded. 
We call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to stop 
shelling areas with large concentrations of civilians. 
Assurances are not enough, we need to see results.  We 
urge both the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation 
Tigers of Tamil Eelam not to fire into or from the &safe 
zone,8 even if provoked. 
 
-- We remain deeply concerned that, while a food shipment was 
recently delivered, the food situation is in the 
so-called &safe zone8 is in jeopardy, and critical 
medicines (including anesthetics which are essential for 
surgeries) have not gone in to the &safe zone8 since 
February 6. 
 
-- We call on the Government of Sri Lanka to allow regular 
shipments of desperately needed medical supplies into the 
conflict area for the treatment of injured civilians trapped 
in the &safe zone.8 
 
-- There must be a humanitarian pause so that those who want 
to leave the conflict zone can do so and so that food 
and medicine reaches those in need. 
 
-- The United States calls on the LTTE to immediately allow 
civilians free movement out of the conflict area, to 
lay down their arms, renounce violence, and negotiate term of 
surrender with the Government of Sri Lanka. 
 
-- We urge both sides (GSL and LTTE) to protect civilians and 
allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to 
continue to deliver food to the &safe zone8 where civilians 
are trapped. 
CLINTON