VZCZCXRO0693
PP RUEHBI
DE RUEHLM #1929/01 3201114
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 161114Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4756
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 9606
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6536
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 4593
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3332
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0236
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 3421
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 0451
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2502
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 7078
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4892
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1529

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001929 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PREF MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: PROPOSAL FOR U.S. SUPPORT TO COMMISSION 
OF INQUIRY ON HUMAN RIGHTS 
 
REF: A. COLOMBO 1849 
 
     ¶B. COLOMBO 1793 
     ¶C. COLOMBO 1676 
     ¶D. COLOMBO 1651 
     ¶E. COLOMBO 1619 
 
¶1. Summary and Action Request: Embassy proposes that 
Department nominate a U.S. member of an international panel, 
the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons 
(IIGEP), to assist and observe the Government of Sri Lanka's 
Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights.  We further request 
that Department and USAID seek funding for the U.S. member, 
an expert assistant, and an international secretariat that 
will provide logistical support to the work of the IIGEP. 
The Government of Sri Lanka has requested nominations by 
November 15.  Most other countries (with the exception of 
Japan) invited to nominate panel members have indicated they 
will do so but will miss this deadline.  Both Embassy and 
USAID mission place the highest priority on this project. 
USAID mission is working to identify funds that can be 
reprogrammed from other projects, but additional funding will 
be essential to ensure adequate U.S. participation.  Embassy 
asks that Department consider this proposal expeditiously. 
End summary. 
 
Background 
---------- 
 
¶2.  In response to international concern over a marked 
deterioration in its human rights record in the past year, 
the Government of Sri Lanka has worked with international 
partners, including the US, to develop a practical and 
credible mandate for a national Commission of Inquiry on 
Human Rights.  The Sri Lankan government, the UN Office of 
the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and 
international partners have agreed on practical Terms of 
Reference for an International Independent Group of Eminent 
Persons (IIGEP) to observe and assist the Commission of 
Inquiry to ensure that its investigations are transparent nd 
meet international standards. 
 
¶3.  This effrt by the GSL to address the growing number of 
human rights abuses is fundamental to the U.S. Missio's 
goals in Sri Lanka.  These include the linked issues of 
securing protections for minorities and facilitating a 
peaceful resolution of Sri Lanka's long-running ethnic 
conflict.  The Commission of Inquiry is an effort by the 
government to hold itself accountable for alleged human 
rights violations by renegade elements of the country's 
military and police forces.  The Commission is expected to 
hold the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam responsible for 
their own massive violations of human rights and dignity as 
well.  The Commission of Inquiry will consist of eight Sri 
Lankan members from civil society and law backgrounds.  The 
IIGEP will observe and monitor the work of the Commission of 
Inquiry; it will not conduct its own investigations into the 
alleged human rights violations.  Per reftels, the Commission 
of Inquiry and corresponding IIGEP urgently deserve our 
strong support.  This proposal endeavors to match resources 
to the need.  We hope to secure a meaningful U.S. 
participation in the international panel to help the Sri 
Lankan government identify the parties responsible for the 
most notorious human rights cases that have occurred since 
August 2005 to prevent future occurrences. 
 
 
Structure of the IIGEP 
---------------------- 
 
¶4. This effort is distinct from the funding for the Human 
Rights Commission - a completely different entity - requested 
in the FY07 USAID supplemental.  Participating countries 
agreed that the experts will be nominees of (and funded by) 
sending governments but will act and speak in their own 
 
COLOMBO 00001929  002 OF 003 
 
 
right.  The membership would include: US, UK, Canada, Japan, 
Netherlands, Australia, EU, and the Interparliamentary Union 
(IPU).  In addition, the Sri Lankan government has nominated 
two independent members: Indian Justice Bhagwati (chair) and 
Cypriot Andreas Mavrommatis of the U.N. Committee Against 
Torture.  One individual from a slate of names put forward by 
the OHCHR will also be selected, but will not represent 
OHCHR.  It is expected that there will be a total of 11 
members of the IIGEP. 
 
¶5. Schedule of Presence of Eminent Persons in Sri Lanka: 
Total of 2-4 trips for each panel member; 4-6 weeks total at 
a minimum for each member.  Ideally, all would be in Sri 
Lanka at the outset (for a ceremonial opening and initial 
meeting) and at the end (to assess progress and results). 
 
¶6. Assistants, including coordination of specializations: It 
will be important to avoid duplication in the areas of 
competence of the specialists.  The ad-hoc group of embassies 
in Colombo will help coordinate the skills of experts to 
assist the IIGEP. In most cases, to support the work of the 
panel member, the expert assistant should be from the same or 
a related field.  Assistants might also provide support in 
such areas as public affairs. 
 
Funding the IIGEP 
----------------- 
 
¶7. Funding will be required for the experts and their 
assistants, as well as for a support structure for the IIGEP. 
 Costs for the support structure for the IIGEP will include 
vehicles, drivers, interpretation, office equipment, 
utilities, and secretarial support.  The GSL has offered 
office space.  The ad-hoc coordinating group in Colombo has 
agreed that it will be necessary to hire an implementing 
agency to handle the above logistics.  The EU plans to 
channel its funding through the International Organization of 
Migration (IOM).  Embassy recommends that the Department 
consider following suit.  It is possible that IOM would be 
viable as the implementing agency as well. 
 
¶8.  While a final budget has not yet been determined, the 
estimated total cost for the project is $6-7 million 
(including contributions from all parties).  Our USAID 
mission is currently reviewing the possibility of 
reprogramming other funds for this purpose, but it is clear 
that the USAID country program will not be able to fully fund 
the U.S. share of this initiative out of existing resources. 
Embassy hopes that additional funds can be identified by the 
F Bureau and USAID Washington to support the U.S. panel 
member, the U.S. expert assistant, and our share of the 
secretariat.  The funding source for the Indian and Cypriot 
 
SIPDIS 
members and the individual from the OHCHR slate has not yet 
been determined. 
 
Deadlines and Duration 
---------------------- 
 
¶9.  Thus far, only Japan has made the November 15 deadline, 
but the EU plans to make its nomination early next week.  The 
UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Netherlands and IPU have signaled 
that they will nominate members shortly.  Ambassador Blake 
told Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera informally on 
November 14 that, like most of the other participating 
countries, the U.S. would need more time, and the DCM 
likewise informed Minister of Disaster Management and Human 
Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe on November 16.  We would like to 
confirm U.S. participation and nominate a candidate as soon 
as possible. 
 
¶10.  The warrant for the Commission of Inquiry is 12 months. 
The time frame for the 4-6 week commitment of the IIGEP 
experts should be approximately February 1, 2007 to May 1, 
¶2008.  The expert assistants should be on the ground for 15 
 
COLOMBO 00001929  003 OF 003 
 
 
months.  The report is due to the President of Sri Lanka in 
12 months.  He has three months to respond to the report; 
this response period will be a critical period for the IIGEP. 
 
BLAKE