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P 291210Z DEC 06
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002142 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PTER PREL CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS VOICE CONCERN 
 
REF: SECSTATE 200959 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  Following up on Secretary Rice's December 
14 initiative, Ambassador Blake hosted a roundtable 
discussion with human rights activists and civil society 
representatives on December 21.  The Ambassador briefed the 
group on USG efforts and also solicited views on how best to 
strengthen human rights protections in Sri Lanka. 
Participants complained of a climate of fear, a lack of 
accountability in government institutions such as the Human 
Rights Commission, limited judicial independence, an anti-NGO 
atmosphere, and threats to media freedom.  The Ambassador 
asked the discussants to provide written input within ten 
days and committed to pooling the best ideas in a document to 
share with senior Sri Lankan officials.  End summary. 
 
AMBASSADOR URGES GIVING COMMISSION OF INQUIRY A CHANCE 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) On December 21, Ambassador Blake hosted a human 
rights round table for representatives of local human rights 
NGOs and think tanks.  The Ambassador briefed the group on 
Secretary Rice's "Defending the Defenders" initiative and 
 
SIPDIS 
opened a broader discussion on the human rights climate in 
Sri Lanka.  Dr. P. Sarvanamuttu, director of the Centre for 
Policy Alternatives, immediately criticized the U.S. for not 
supporting strong measures against Sri Lanka at the UN Human 
Rights Council.  He dismissed government plans for a national 
Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights (CoI) with an 
International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) as 
a Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) ploy to buy time.  The 
Ambassador responded that the USG did not believe the timing 
was appropriate in th fall of 2006 to support a strong HRC 
statement gainst Sri Lanka at precisely the time when 
Presdent Rajapakse had shown leadership on the human rihts 
issue by creating the CoI.  The CoI should have a chance to 
prove itself with the IIGEP's asistance.  He noted that the 
IIGEP experts will ake public statements assessing the human 
rightssituation, and should human rights violations 
continue, the international community would have to cosider 
tougher action. 
 
CULTURE OF IMPUNITY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS? 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Interlocutors also raised concerns about a climate 
of fear in Sri Lanka and a "culture of impunity."  Dr. Kumar 
Rupasinghe of the Foundation for Co-Existence noted the 
increase in disappearances and the broad authority granted to 
security forces under the new anti-terrorism regulations.  He 
said that many Tamil civilians and NGO activists are fearful, 
citing a contact who received a threatening call from a 
Sinhalese nationalist group.  Rupasinghe said the 
international community could help bolster human rights by 
maintaining records of violations and holding the GSL 
accountable.  He asserted that international pressure had 
stopped security forces acting against civilians in some 
LTTE-controlled areas. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Interlocutors also said serious problems persist in 
the judiciary.  Nuwan Peiris of the Legal Aid Commission 
accused the Attorney General and Supreme Court of limiting 
access to documents, making it difficult for civil society to 
exercise oversight on abuse cases.  In addition, he said, 
many judges are biased and there is no check on their 
behavior.  Others agreed, adding that the situation is 
exacerbated by a widespread perception that the Chief Justice 
is a presidential crony. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Speakers criticized President Rajapaksa for 
circumventing the constitutional requirement that the 
Constitutional Council appoint heads of independent 
commissions.  According to the discussants, citizens view the 
presidentially-appointed heads of the Human Rights 
Commission, Judicial Commission, Elections Commission, Police 
Commission, and Bribery Commission as too closely aligned to 
 
COLOMBO 00002142  002 OF 002 
 
 
the administration and unwilling to adequately investigate 
complaints of government abuses.  Joanna von Gerpen, the 
UNICEF Resident Representative, said the National Child 
Protection Agency (NCPA) also suffers from a similar lack of 
public confidence. 
 
ANTI-NGO, ANTI-MEDIA SENTIMENTS ABOUND IN THE PUBLIC 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) All participants expressed concern about an 
anti-NGO atmosphere, with Rupasinghe calling the 
parliamentary select committee on NGOs a "witch hunt."  Rohan 
Edrisinha, director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, 
said existing regulations make it difficult for NGOs to gain 
access to communities in need.  Rupasinghe added that the 
media demonizes NGOs and adds to "war hysteria."  Sunanda 
Deshapriya of the Free Media Movement added that the GSL was 
actively suppressing the Tamil media.  He cited extrajudicial 
killings of journalists and newspaper distributors and 
arrests of media figures without due cause, noting the 
anti-terrorism regulations worsen the situation. 
 
AMBASSADOR SEEKS WRITTEN INPUTS TO PRESENT TO THE GSL 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The Ambassador thanked all the participants for 
their candor.  He noted that many NGOs apparently feel unsafe 
sharing views with the government as individuals or 
representatives of NGOs.  He suggested that if participants 
forward written concerns to the Embassy within the next ten 
days, the Embassy would prepare a short summary document to 
present to high level GSL officials.  The participants 
accepted the offer.  Embassy will report on our follow-up 
with the Sri Lankan government. 
BLAKE