VZCZCXRO5452
PP RUEHBI
DE RUEHLM #0882/01 2620535
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 180535Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8687
INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 3455
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 6263
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2281
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 8696
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 6118
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2944
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0806

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000882 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND PRM 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
AID/W FOR ANE/SCA 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA FOR MHESS, KLUU AND RTHAYER 
AID/W FOR DCHA/FFP FOR JDWORKIN AND MNIMMS 
BANGKOK FOR DCHA/OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR WBERGER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV EAID CE
SUBJECT: CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT HUMAN 
RIGHTS IN VAVUNIYA AND HUMANITARIAN IMPLICATIONS 
 
 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: A Sri Lankan Civil Society Group that 
traveled to Vavuniya September 11 and 12 to assess conditions 
for establishing a humanitarian hub for internally displaced 
persons (IDPs) from the north, reported to Colombo-based 
diplomats that an increasing number of abductions, 
disappearances, as well as wide-spread extortion in Vavuniya 
are likely to further discourage IDPs from moving south. UN 
Resident Representative Buhne reported that the departure of 
UN staff from Kilinochchi on September 16 prompted virtually 
all of the town's 40,000 inhabitants to begin moving north in 
anticipation of the onset of hostilities.  He reported that 
the UN is negotiating with the government to allow UN staff 
to accompany WFP convoys into the north and monitor the 
distribution of this relief.  He said discussions were also 
underway about the creation of a possible safe area in the 
north.  Diplomats agreed Colombo Ambassadors should 
coordinate staggered visits to Vavuniya to encourage human 
rights improvements there.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The U.S. Embassy hosted a briefing for diplomats on 
September 17 to hear a report from a Sri Lankan civil society 
team that traveled to Vavuniya on September 11 and 12 to 
assess conditions there.  Ambassadors and representatives 
from the Embassies of Norway, France, Australia, Switzerland, 
Canada, Japan, and the EU and well as the UN Representative 
attended.  The team was led by Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu, the 
well regarded Executive Director of the Center for Policy 
Alternatives in Colombo.  The team plans to request a meeting 
with the President to present their findings, before issuing 
a public report in the next several days. 
 
Background 
---------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Vavuniya, a district headquarters, is the last 
sizeable town in government-controlled territory on the A-9 
highway before the crossing point at Omanthai.  It is an 
important logistical point for the Sri Lankan security 
forces.  It also straddles Sri Lanka's ethnic divide with 
Sinhalese-dominated communities to the south but a Tamil 
majority in Vavuniya and northwards. 
 
Deteriorating Human Rights Situation in Vavuniya 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The civil society group reported that they had 
spoken with a number of civil society, church and other 
sources in Vavuniya.  All stated their concerns about the 
increasing number of human rights violations in Vavuniya as 
well as an increase in child recruitment by paramilitary 
groups.  The group reported that Vavuniya has the highest 
concentration of paramilitary groups in the country including 
representatives from TELO, PLOTE, TMVP, EPDP and possibly 
others.  They indicated that in August alone 19 people were 
abducted in front of other witnesses, while an additional 24 
went missing.  The group also reported an unusually high 
incidence of torture, particularly among women, apparently as 
a tactic to prevent residents either from joining the LTTE or 
providing information to them.  Extortion also is rampant 
with many requests coming by phone from several specific 
telephone numbers.  The group alleged that there likely is at 
least tacit government awareness of these abductions since 
many take place near or between check points manned by 
government security forces.  The group summarized the 
situation by saying that the population of Vavuniya is scared 
to talk and that the high levels of human rights violations 
are likely to discourage IDPs in the north from moving south 
to camps that will be set up for them by the Government near 
Vavuniya. 
 
Group Doubts IDPs Will Move South 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Based on their conversations with INGOs and other 
people who have recently come from LTTE-controlled areas, the 
group expressed doubt that IDPs would move south into 
 
COLOMBO 00000882  002 OF 002 
 
 
government-controlled areas and stated their concerns about a 
possible humanitarian "disaster" in the north.  They said 
most non-governmental observers in Vavuniya believe the LTTE 
will do its best to prevent IDPs from moving south, while the 
IDPs fear the government camps will be little more than 
detention centers.  In addition, the fact that Tamils have 
effectively been detained in IDP camps for extended periods 
of time does not engender confidence in the Government's 
intent.  The group urged the diplomats to:  a) pressure the 
government to allow the World Food Program to accompany food 
convoys to the north, and improve the human rights situation 
in Vavuniya; (b) encourage GSL to allow freedom of movement 
for IDPs currently detained; and (c) pressure both the LTTE 
and the government to create safe spaces in the north where 
IDPs will not be subject to shelling and can access relief. 
Kilinochchi Vacated 
--------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU)  UN Resident Representative Buhne told the group 
that the UN had been able to evacuate its personnel from 
Kilinochchi on September 16. He reported that the departure 
of UN staff prompted virtually all 40,000 inhabitants of 
Kilinochchi to move north anticipating the onset of 
hostilities in the city.  He reported that the UN is 
negotiating with the government to allow UN staff to 
accompany WFP convoys into the north and monitor the 
distribution of this relief.  He said discussions were also 
underway about the creation of a possible safe area in the 
north.  He cautioned that UN staff with long experience in 
Sri Lanka noted the mixed record of safe areas during 
fighting in the period between 1995 and 2001. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The Swiss Ambassador reported that she and her 
Canadian colleague plan to visit Vavuniya on September 28. 
Ambassador commented that given the serious human rights 
problem in Vavuniya and its importance as a new hub for 
humanitarian relief it would be wise for other Ambassadors to 
plan regular bi-weekly visits to assess conditions on the 
ground and to keep the pressure on the government to improve 
conditions for human rights and for receiving the IDPs. 
Everyone agreed.  All Ambassadors reassured the civil society 
representatives that diplomats will remain actively engaged 
to seek improvements in the human rights situation in 
Vavuniya and avert a humanitarian crisis for the IDPs in the 
north. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Embassy has already raised on numerous occasions 
with the Government our concerns about human rights abuses in 
Vavuniya, which has been a focus of conflict-related 
violations by both sides during several phases of Sri Lanka's 
ethnic struggle.  This group's report highlights not only the 
deterioration of human rights, but also sheds light for the 
first time on possible child recruitment in that area. 
Embassy will follow up with UNICEF and arrange our own visit 
in coordination with other missions to assess first hand 
conditions in Vavuniya. 
BLAKE