O 030733Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9749
INFO AMEMBASSY ATHENS 
AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 
AMEMBASSY DHAKA 
AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 
AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 
AMEMBASSY OSLO 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMCONSUL CHENNAI 
AMCONSUL MUMBAI 
AMCONSUL TORONTO 
USEU BRUSSELS
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
DIA WASHINGTON DC
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
SECDEF WASHDC
CDRUSARPAC FT SHAFTER HI//APCW/APOP//
CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J3/J332/J52//

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000393 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SCA (BOUCHER), SCA/INS AND PRM 
STATE ALSO PASS USAID 
AID/W FOR ANE/SCA, DCHA/FFP (DWORKEN, KSHEIN) 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA (MORRISP, ACONVERY, RTHAYER, RKERR) 
ATHENS FOR PCARTER 
BANGKOK FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA (WBERGER) 
KATHMANDU FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA AND POL (SBERRY) 
GENEVA FOR RMA (NKYLOH, NHILGERT, MPITOTTI) 
USUN NEW YORK FOR ECOSOC (D MERCADO) 
SECDEF FOR OSD - POLICY 
PACOM ALSO FOR J-5 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF MOPS PHUM PGOV PREL ASEC CE
SUBJECT: Northern Sri Lanka SitRep 46 
 
Ref:  A) Colombo 384  B) Colombo 374  C) Colombo 368  D) Colombo 361 
 E) Colombo 360  F) Colombo 357  G) Colombo 351  H) Colombo 342  I) 
Colombo 329  J) Colombo 321  K) Colombo 320 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: U.N. satellite imagery documented clear 
indications of damage from sustained shelling and air strikes in the 
safe zone.  Ambassador hosted a briefing for Co-Chair Heads of 
Mission by U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs 
Walter Kaelin.  Norwegian Minister for International Development 
Solheim spoke with LTTE Political Head B. Nadesan on April 1, but 
broke no new ground.  End Summary. 
 
UN Imagery Documents Safe Zone Shelling 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) U.N. satellite imagery taken on March 6, 15, 23 and 29 
documented "clear indications" of damage "resulting from sustained 
shelling and air strikes" within the GSL-declared safe zone.  The 
U.N. assessment documents an estimated 53 main buildings destroyed 
and another 5 severely damaged within the safe zone.  The count does 
not include destruction or damage to IDP tent shelters.  The imagery 
also indicated sustained shelling outside of the safe zone with 
"hundreds of buildings destroyed" in Puthukkudiyiruppu (PTK) and 
impact craters as large as 17 meters in diameter.  U.N. figures 
indicate that 78% of civilian deaths from January 20 to March 31 
occurred in the safe zone (Ref B).  Ambassador recommended to U.N. 
Resident Representative Neil Buhne that he consider sharing the U.N. 
imagery with the GSL because it demonstrates that there is proof of 
shelling and could discourage future shelling if the government 
knows there is a mechanism for tracking it. 
 
Ambassador and Other Chiefs 
Of Mission Meet Kaelin 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Ambassador hosted a briefing for U.N. Special Rapporteur on 
the Human Rights of IDPs, Walter Kaelin, together with Co-Chair 
Heads of Mission.  U.N. Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne also 
attended (but the Indian High Commissioner did not).   The 
discussion centered on providing a uniform message to the GSL and 
the need for the government to implement confidence-building 
measures.  The group agreed to encourage the GSL to focus on the 
following priorities: 
 
- Identify space for potentially as many as 150-180K new IDPs in 
places closer to resettlement areas, such as Mannar and Pulmoddai. 
 
- Develop a plan on where to send IDPs who are currently in 
temporary transit sites in Kilinochchi and Omanthai. 
 
- Accelerate measures to provide freedom of movement for IDPs 
following issuance of identity cards.  Establish a timetable for 
issuing these ID cards. 
 
- Demilitarize the IDP camps as soon as possible and turn them over 
to civilian control.  (Note: reports from Vavuniya indicate this 
process of demilitarization has already begun.) 
 
- Release and resettle IDPs as soon as possible with the end of 2009 
 
as the target. 
 
- Issue visas to NGOs on an ongoing basis in order to provide 
personnel needed to assist GSL efforts to cope with a large and 
sudden influx of IDPs. 
 
The group further agreed on the need to advocate with the GSL to 
handle IDPs in accordance with international humanitarian standards, 
including international access to screening centers. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Ambassador emphasized that the U.S. is most concerned about 
shelling into areas with concentrations of civilians.  Participants 
agreed that it was incumbent on the GSL to show restraint when LTTE 
fire came from areas with large concentrations of civilians. 
Ambassador stated that the U.S. would support a special envoy to 
help secure the release of civilians in the safe zone.  He ended by 
suggesting that we provide the GSL with brief and specific written 
guidance on the agreed upon points, which would likely be the most 
effective way to communicate the international community's concerns 
over the treatment of IDPs. 
 
Norway-LTTE Call 
---------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Erik Solheim, the Norwegian Minister for International 
Development discussed by phone the plight of the civilians in Vanni 
with B. Nadesan, the head of the political wing of the Liberation 
Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) on April 1.   Norwegian Ambassador 
Hattrem told Ambassador that Solheim communicated the international 
community's strong desire that the LTTE release civilians trapped in 
the safe zone and abide by international humanitarian law. 
According to the pro-LTTE website TamilNet, Nadesan labeled the GSL 
"genocidal" and stuck to existing LTTE positions that only an 
immediate ceasefire would end the massacre of civilians still in 
LTTE-held territory. 
 
High Profile LTTE Casualties 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) The military reported that Charles Anthony Brigade Leader 
'Amitab' and his deputy 'Kobith' were killed in two separate clashes 
in PTK April 3.  (Note: Tamil sources have not confirmed the deaths. 
 The military frequently disseminates unconfirmed reports and 
disinformation to the media to demoralize the Diaspora.) 
 
Preparation for IDP Camps in Mannar 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) UNHCR and Government officials have started identifying 
areas in Mannar that could be used for additional IDP camps.  Land 
that could house an additional 6,000 IDPs has been selected. The 
Government is hoping to find more available land with access to 
water for another 20,000-30,000 civilians. 
 
Civilian Casualties and IDP Outflow 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Tamil sources from within the LTTE-controlled area report 
25 civilians were killed and 56 injured on April 2.  (Note: Such 
 
reports from Tamil sources cannot be confirmed and are frequently 
exaggerated.)  The Defense Ministry reported at least 279 civilians 
had reached government territory during the daytime yesterday (April 
2). 
 
BLAKE