O 221140Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9231
AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 
USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
INFO NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J3/J332/J52//
CDRUSARPAC FT SHAFTER HI//APCW/APOP//

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000079 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND PRM 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
AID/W FOR ANE/SAA 
AID/W FOR DCHA/AA MICHAEL HESS 
AID/W FOR DCHA/FFP FOR JDWORKEN AND JBORNS 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, RTHAYER AND RKERR 
BANGKOK FOR DCHA/OFDA WBERGER AMD TROGERS 
KATHMANDU FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA MROGERS 
USMISSION GENEVA FOR KYLOH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF MARR EAID CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKAN MILITARY CREATES SAFE ZONE FOR CIVILIANS TRAPPED 
IN NORTH 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY: The Sri Lankan military unilaterally declared a 
"safe zone" northwest of Puthukkudiyiruppu (PTK) on January 21. 
ICRC, informed of this decision by the Sri Lankan Government, 
relayed the message to the LTTE.  However, according to the ICRC, 
nothing has been prepared for people in the designated "safe zone." 
The question of the extent of access by UN agencies to this area 
also remains unresolved.  In other developments, a UN food convoy 
which had been unable since January 16 to re-depart PTK after 
delivering supplies was able to leave mid-afternoon on January 22. 
However, the UN felt compelled to leave an international staff 
member and five trucks behind in order to safeguard 80 family 
members of UN employees the LTTE would not allow to depart, as 
planned, with the convoy.  The UN in Sri Lanka issued a statement 
protesting the LTTE's refusal to allow UN national staff and their 
dependents to return from the Vanni with the convoy.  End summary. 
 
Safe Zone? 
---------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) On January 21, the Sri Lankan military unilaterally 
declared a "safe zone" for civilians northwest of Puthukkudiyiruppu. 
 This 35 square kilometer safe zone, which is in the area still 
under the nominal control of the LTTE and therefore accessible to 
the estimated 250,000 IDPs, will provide an area free of GSL 
shelling.  According to the Associated Press, the GSL issued 
instructions to its Government Agents in the region and dropped 
leaflets encouraging civilians trapped in the Vanni (and reportedly 
hel against their will by the LTTE) to seek sanctuaryin this area 
without fear of Sri Lanka military selling or attacks.  This safe 
zone had not been negotiated with or agreed to by the LTTE, since 
the GSL ended direct contacts with the LTTE after proscribing the 
organization on January 7, 2009.  It is not clear that the LTTE will 
honor the safe area and unlikely that it will allow civilians to 
leave the areas still under its control. 
 
¶3. (SBU) In the AP report citing military spokesman Brigadier 
General Nanayakkara, the Sri Lankan military distributed leaflets 
through aerial drops in the areas where fighting is taking place, 
informing civilians of the safe zone and urging them to move and 
stay there until the government can bring them to other locations. 
However, according to the ICRC, nothing has been prepared for people 
in the designated "safe zone."  The question of the extent of access 
by UN agencies to this area also remains unresolved. 
 
UN Convoy Leaves without Local Staff Dependents 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The most recent UN convoy had been stuck in PTK since 
January 16, unable to return safely because of fighting in the area. 
 Until January 22, Army Commander Fonseka had reportedly refused 
safe passage on the grounds that hostilities were continuing. 
However, after Army clearance finally came, another difficulty 
arose.  The convoy had planned to bring out approximately 80 
dependents of UN local employees on the return trip.  According to 
UN sources, the LTTE refused to let those without LTTE-issued 
"passes" leave.   The UN Office in Sri Lanka issued a statement 
today protesting the LTTE's refusal to allow UN national staff and 
dependents to return from the Vanni with the convoy.  The UN then 
decided to leave one of their expatriate security officials behind 
in PTK, along with dependents who could not obtain passes from the 
LTTE and five trucks from the convoy.  The remaining trucks, six 
international staff, and five national staff that accompanied the 
convoy have started their journey today. UN staff will receive them 
at Omanthai, the former checkpoint between government and 
LTTE-controlled areas. 
 
¶5. (SBU) COMMENT:  In our view, the GSL's offer of amnesty for LTTE 
cadres (except for the top two leaders) and its welcome creation of 
a safe haven for civilians are moving the situation closer to a 
tipping point.  The LTTE may soon no longer be able to hinder a 
large-scale movement of IDPs into government-controlled areas.  The 
Embassy will remain in close contact with the ICRC and the UN to 
monitor the situation and help ensure that civilians are protected 
to the extent possible.  We will also try to ascertain more 
 
precisely the reasons why the UN international staff member and five 
trucks remained in LTTE-controlled PTK.  We have been hearing for 
several days that those with avenues of communication with the Tiger 
leadership - Norway, the ICRC and the UN - are finding it 
increasingly difficult to maintain contact with the LTTE.  This 
renders even more difficult the already daunting challenge of 
negotiating safeguards for and humanitarian access to the 
non-combatants. 
 
BLAKE