VZCZCXRO6046
PP RUEHBI RUEHLMC
DE RUEHLM #0854/01 1660546
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 150546Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6275
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 3209
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 5300
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0210
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 7193
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3840
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1100
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 3911
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 1135
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2997
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 7779
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 5439
RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO 0256
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2132

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 000854 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND PRM 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
AID/W FOR ANE/SAA 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA FOR RTHAYER AND BDEEMER 
BANGKOK FOR OFDA TDOLAN 
KATHMANDU FOR OFDA WBERGER 
USMISSION GENEVA FOR KYLOH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PINS PREF PGOV EAID CE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND OFDA DIRECTOR VISIT TO BATTICALOA, SRI 
LANKA 
 
¶1. (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 assessed the present humanitarian and 
human rights situation for current and recently returned Internally 
Displaced Persons (IDPs). The delegation visited IDP camps, transit 
sites and returnee villages in Batticaloa town and met with 
humanitarian agencies active in the district. The mission observed 
improvements in the government's handling of IDP resettlement, but 
many challenges remain. The Ambassador and OFDA Regional Advisor 
presented our key findings and recommendations to the Defense 
Secretary and Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights 
 
SIPDIS 
(paras 11-12).   End Summary 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Sri Lanka now has the largest number of IDPs in Asia due 
to the gradual breakdown during 2006 of the cease fire agreement 
between the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) and Liberation Tigers of 
Tamil Eelam (LTTE). According to UNHCR, the total number of IDPs in 
Sri Lanka as of April 2007 was approximately 600,000, half of them 
newly displaced since April 2006. The large-scale conflict-induced 
displacement in the East, with 160,000 new IDPs in the Batticaloa 
District alone, has focused attention on the GSL's responsibilities 
and conduct towards IDPs, particularly with regard to the issue of 
voluntary return. In March 2007 the UN publicly criticized the GSL 
for reportedly organizing forced and involuntary returns of IDPs in 
northern Batticaloa and southern Trincomalee districts. Since then, 
the GSL has facilitated the return of two more waves of IDPs, 
including the one which this delegation observed, and announced 
plans to return all IDPs to their places of origin. 
 
--------------------------------- 
   Meeting with Humanitarian Workers 
   --------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) The delegation met with representatives from UNICEF, UNHCR, 
Save the Children, WFP, CARE, IOM, NRC, ACF, and ICRC who are active 
in the Batticaloa District. Key issues raised include the following: 
 
- WFP's food supplies will run out by the end of July because of 
unexpected and continued large IDP influxes and lack of funding; 
- All agencies agreed that the GSL has not been able to meet 
promises to restore normalcy and basic needs for returnees to 
Vakarai, a coastal community north of Batticaloa town; 
- UNHCR stated that IDPs have few opportunities to voice issues and 
concerns in a constructive manner; 
- NGOs expressed difficulty in operating at full capacity due to 
government restrictions on access, work permits, and intimidation by 
the LTTE-breakaway Karuna group, which operates in GSL-controlled 
areas with relative impunity. 
 
   -------------------------------------- 
Visit to Kurukalmadam IDP Transit Site 
   -------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) All IDPs in Batticaloa camps from areas of planned 
resettlement must be processed through the Kurukalmadam transit camp 
immediately prior to returning to their villages of origin. The 
Special Task Force (STF), a police unit that serves a military 
function, manages the overall returns process, with the Ministry of 
Resettlement providing food and non-food relief items (NFRIs). IDPs 
received dry rations sufficient for two weeks and some NFRIs. All 
families were required to have a photograph taken by STF prior to 
return. The photos, which are to be kept in returnee households, are 
 
COLOMBO 00000854  002 OF 004 
 
 
intended to help government security forces identify infiltration of 
LTTE cadres. IDPs expressed fear that the photos will also restrict 
their freedom of movement. The return process to southwest 
Batticaloa, in comparison to Vakarai in March 2007, was improved but 
still lacked the transparency necessary for IDPs to make 
well-informed, voluntary decisions about whether to return, 
according to UNHCR. 
 
   --------------------------- 
   Visit to Eruvil Thodam Camp 
   --------------------------- 
 
5.(SBU) IDPs from southern Trincomalee District, who predominate at 
Eruvil Thodam camp, said their main concern was the possibility of 
forced return on June 7 to Sampur, Trincomalee, parts of which have 
recently been gazetted by the government as falling within a new 
military High Security Zone (HSZ).  The IDPs, who are Tamil, said 
they were afraid to return because of present security conditions 
and feared being put into overcrowded "transit camps" in Kilivetti, 
Trincomalee, which border predominantly Sinhalese areas. Prior to 
Eruvil IDP camp, most IDPs from this camp had also been displaced in 
Vakarai for five months. 
 
¶6. (SBU) According to UNHCR, transit sites in Trincomalee District 
constructed by UNHCR are now either at or over capacity, with high 
potential for the influx of spontaneous arrivals from Batticaloa to 
continue.  No contingency planning has been carried out by the GSL 
for the possibility of IDPs in Kilivetti exceeding the capacity of 
the transit sites. 
 
   ------------------------ 
   Visit to Kovilkulam Camp 
   ------------------------ 
 
¶7.  (SBU) IDPs at Kovilkulam Camp, Arayampathi Division expressed 
concern over their return to Vavunativu and Padipallai because of 
ongoing shelling. IDPs had not received any information from the 
government on conditions in their villages or on the return process 
in general. Furthermore, IDPs complained of insufficient amounts of 
food and water and sanitation supplies in the camp. 
 
   ---------------------------------------- 
Returnee Sites in SW Batticaloa District 
   ---------------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The delegation visited two villages, until recently under 
LTTE control, in which IDP returns had begun within the last five 
days. Prior to their return, IDPs from these villages had spoken 
with USAID/OFDA officials during visits to Batticaloa-area camps and 
returnee villages on May 30 and 31. At that time, IDPs expressed 
concerns about ongoing shelling and lack of security in their places 
of origin, yet said they feared STF retaliation should they refuse 
to return. Back in their villages, however, returnees said they were 
happy to be home. While claiming that no physical force was used to 
induce return, returnees said that the government had not offered 
any alternative to return and described a widely held perception 
among IDPs that those who stayed behind would be subject to 
harassment from the STF and that social support and assistance from 
the government would be cut off. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Few houses and other structures were damaged by recent 
shelling of the area by GSL security forces, although most homes 
were reportedly looted during the IDPs' absence. Farmers said they 
are worried about unexploded ordinance (UXOs) and the slow de-mining 
 
COLOMBO 00000854  003 OF 004 
 
 
process on cultivatable land preventing them from preparing for the 
next planting season. There appears to be freedom of movement in 
returnee villages, but STF soldiers advised returnees not to move 
outside after dark. Most families are staying in groups, or with 
friends and relatives at night because of fear and insecurity. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) The GSL was seen distributing kerosene, NFRIs and palm 
leaf roofing material to returnees. Most IDPs stated that security 
issues (fear of the STF, abductions, and mines), livelihoods and 
sustainable food supply are their main concerns for both the short- 
and long-term resettlement period. Most are farmers and won't be 
able to plant their paddy fields until August or September with 
harvests two to three months after that.  The Divisional Secretariat 
and public hospitals were functioning; schools were to be re-opened 
in a few days, after having been cleaned. 
 
   ------------------------------------------- 
   Follow-up meeting with National Authorities 
   ------------------------------------------- 
 
¶11.  (SBU) Following the visit, Ambassador Blake and Regional OFDA 
Advisor Berger met with the Consultative Committee for Humanitarian 
Assistance, which includes the Secretary for Defense and the 
Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights. Based on findings 
from the trip, the Ambassador made a series of recommendations, in 
line with international principles on IDP return, to which the GSL 
has since publicly agreed. 
 
¶12.  (SBU) Ambassador placed special emphasis on the 
importance of the GSL allowing access by international NGOs to all 
villages where IDPs were being resettled.  He noted that such 
presence would not only help the government to provide food and 
livelihood assistance, it would reassure the IDPs about the security 
situation.  Ambassador and UN Mission Head Lyons also urged that the 
GSL quickly develop a comprehensive plan for providing longer term 
livelihood and other assistance for all of the IDPs resettled from 
Batticaloa.  Such a plan would enable the United Nations and donors 
such as the United States to understand what measures the GSL was 
preparing to take and where the international community might best 
help.  Finally, the Ambassador again underscored the need to rein in 
the activities of the Karuna Group which continues to disrupt 
humanitarian relief activities.     We also presented a written 
report that included the following recommendations: 
 
- Timelines for the distribution of handouts should be made several 
weeks in advance, and go-and-see visits should be arranged in order 
to provide necessary information for IDPs to make a well informed 
decision; 
- UN agencies, INGOs and de-mining agencies should have prior access 
to areas of return for security assessments and planning programs 
for critical assistance; 
- The large presence of STF forces in the process of returns 
intimidates and puts pressure on IDPs to return prematurely; 
- Short and long term development plans for resettlement should be 
shared with returnees and UN/INGOs for coordination and followed 
closely on a regular basis. 
 
¶13.  (SBU) In response Minister Samarasinghe and Defense Secretary 
Rajapaksa agreed there should be no restrictions on access by 
international NGOs to IDPs in the districts of Batticaloa, 
Trincomalee and Ampara.  Samarasinghe requested that the UN provide 
technical assistance to the GSL in developing a long-term plan for 
resettled IDPs.  Lyons agreed to develop quickly a terms of 
reference for GSL approval so that work could begin within two 
 
COLOMBO 00000854  004 OF 004 
 
 
weeks.  Samarasinghe also impressed upon the Secretary of the 
Ministry of Resettlement the need for civilians in his Ministry to 
take over most functions from the STF so that the military profile 
in the resettled areas could be reduced. 
 
----------- 
Conclusions 
----------- 
 
¶14. (SBU) Comment: The team found that the INGO and UN agencies 
operating in Batticaloa are coordinating and working well despite 
the difficult security and political situation. It did not appear 
that UN/INGO humanitarian assistance was supporting forced returns 
in this area. 
Blake