VZCZCXYZ0006
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #1618/01 3390231
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 050231Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7296
INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4162
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1623
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 8160
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2481
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0701
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001618 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS AND DRL, USPACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM MARR PTER PREL CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKAN ARMY HOLDS HUMAN RIGHTS SEMINAR FOR 
FIELD COMMANDERS 
 
 
¶1.  Summary:  The Sri Lankan Army organized on December 4-7 a 
three-day seminar on "Human Rights, International 
Humanitarian Law, Disaster Response and Military Civilian 
Relations" for all of its battalion field commanders in the 
northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka (where fighting is 
heaviest).  The training is being conducted by the 
International Committee for the Red Cross, the Institute of 
Human Rights (a reputable Sri Lankan NGO), and the Sri Lankan 
Human Rights Commission.  To open the seminar, Sri Lankan 
Army Commander Fonseka told his commanders that the Sri 
Lankan Army is committed to respecting human rights and that 
commanders are accountable not only for their own actions, 
but for those of all under their command. The Ambassador told 
the audience that the hallmarks of a strong military and 
healthy democracy are laws and institutions to investigate 
and respond appropriately to violations of human rights and 
international law.  Embassy hopes that PACOM and the Embassy 
can move ahead as quickly as possible to implement the 
recommendations of the report prepared by Colonel 
Ehrsam-Holland and her team from the Defense Institute of 
International Legal Studies to enhance military justice 
exchanges and training between the U.S. and Sri Lanka.  End 
Summary. 
 
Fonseka:  Commanders Are Accountable 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2.  Ambassador attended as Chief Guest the opening ceremony 
for the seminar on December 4, along with Sri Lankan Army 
Commander Fonseka, Major General Peiris (who heads the Army's 
legal affairs unit and is the most senior woman and Tamil in 
the Armed Forces), and the heads of the ICRC, IHR and HRC. 
In his remarks, General Fonseka told his officers that the 
Sri Lankan Army is committed to respect the human rights and 
fundamental freedoms of every citizen of Sri Lanka, 
irrespective of ethnicity or religion. He told them it is the 
responsibility of every member of the Sri Lankan Army to 
guarantee the protection of every law abiding citizen of Sri 
Lanka and ensure that no violation of fundamental rights 
takes place. 
 
¶3.  Fonseka said the aim of this seminar is to educate 
Battalion Commanders of their responsibility on international 
humanitarian and human rights law and its applicability to 
the on-going armed conflict to minimize such violations.  The 
General told his audience that "It is only through awareness, 
training, and knowledge of law and discipline that we as a 
professional Army could face the challenges ahead of us. 
You have a duty towards the state in upholding the Government 
policy of achieving lasting peace, which can only be achieved 
 by ensuring the protection of the human rights of every law 
abiding citizen of Sri Lanka."  He explained that the Sri 
Lankan army has taken numerous steps, such as training of 
trainers to educate cadres on IHL and HR, and the 
establishment of human rights cells within the Army, to stop 
human rights violations. 
 
¶4.  MGen Peiris explained that the Government recognized the 
need for IHL and human rights awareness training and began in 
1991 training programs.  The Army established the Directorate 
of IHL & HR in 1997.  She estimated that 80 percent of the 
Army now has a solid background in IHL and HR awareness. 
Like General Fonseka, she reminded the commanders that "We 
are duty bound to ensure that the protection of basic human 
rights such as freedom from arbitrary arrest, torture and 
inhumane and degrading treatments is afforded to each and 
every law abiding citizen and resident in our country 
irrespective of ethnicity or religion." 
 
¶5.  General Peiris candidly noted that in Sri Lanka the 
application and voluntary compliance with the conventions and 
principles governing IHL and HR among troops in the face of 
terrorism and in the context of internal conflict is easier 
said than done.  However she stated her satisfaction that 
even in the face of claymore mine attacks and suicide attacks 
on troops as well as civilians, the Armed Forces have 
exercised great restraint and have conducted themselves in a 
professional manner with dignity and decorum expected of 
professional soldiers. 
 
U.S: Empower Institutions and Implement Laws 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  The Ambassador in his remarks noted that the U.S. has 
been a steadfast supporter of Sri Lanka's efforts to defend 
itself against terrorism, but that experience around the 
world has shown that terrorist insurgencies cannot be 
defeated by military means alone.  Effective 
counter-terrorism requires economic development; a political 
strategy that embraces democracy, freedom of speech and a 
marketplace of ideas; political compromise to address the 
aspirations of combatants so they will lay down their arms; 
respect for human dignity and a rejection of an ideology of 
hate that targets innocent civilians; and respect for human 
rights.  He explained that the hallmarks of a strong military 
and healthy democracy are the implementation of laws and the 
empowerment of institutions to investigate and respond 
appropriately to violations of human rights and international 
law.  He also described the military justice exchange that 
the US Pacific Command and the US Embassy have launched with 
the Sri Lankan military to improve transparency, 
accountability and human rights within the Sri Lankan 
military.  (Full text of remarks are on the Embassy website: 
HTTP://colombo.usembassy.gov) 
 
Comment and Action Request 
-------------------------- 
 
¶7.  This is the third seminar on IHL and HR that the Sri 
Lankan Army has conducted.  While the Sri Lankan military 
continues to commit serious human rights abuses, it is 
notable that Fonseka ordered all of his battalion commanders 
who are engaged in active military operations in the northern 
and eastern parts of Sri Lanka to attend this seminar.  The 
active participation of the ICRC and Institute of Human 
Rights in the training is also a welcome sign. Embassy hopes 
that PACOM and the Embassy can move ahead as quickly as 
possible to implement the recommendations of the report 
prepared by Colonel Ehrsam-Holland and her team from the 
Defense Institute of International Legal Studies to enhance 
military justice exchanges and training between the U.S. and 
Sri Lanka. 
BLAKE