O 231056Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9859
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY ATHENS 
AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 
AMEMBASSY DHAKA 
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AMCONSUL CHENNAI 
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USEU BRUSSELS
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 000456 
 
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 59 
 
REF:   A) Colombo 454 B) Colombo 448  C) Colombo 435  D) Colombo 432 
 E) Colombo 425  F) Colombo 418  G) Colombo 414  H) Colombo 413  I) 
Colombo 412  J) Colombo 411  K) Colombo 402  L) Colombo 401 and 
previous 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Conditions continue to worsen for civilians caught 
inside the NFZ, as the GSL presses on in its pursuit of remaining 
LTTE cadres and leadership.  The UN estimates between 50,000 and 
80,000 civilians may remain inside the NFZ, while between 100,000 
and 110,000 appear to have escaped the NFZ since early April 20.  At 
a briefing with the diplomatic community, FM Bogollogama stated that 
not a single civilian casualty had been caused by GSL military 
forces.  The UN is highlighting the enormous need for capacity to 
care for these recent evacuees, and FM Bogollogama called for 
international assistance.  End summary. 
 
TERRIBLE CONDITIONS INSIDE NFZ REPORTED 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) ICRC reported very dire conditions inside the NFZ when 
their medical evacuation ferry landed there the afternoon of April 
¶22.  Shelling around the new landing site was constant during their 
evacuation of 350 persons.  They reported conditions among civilians 
were so bad that not only was it impossible to bring in and 
distribute any food supplies, but food was no longer even a priority 
at this point. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Post contact inside the NFZ at Valayanmadam reported more 
heavy shelling the morning of April 23, as the LTTE continue to try 
to push civilians towards the southern end of the NFZ.  Civilians 
are having trouble getting to wells for water due to continuous 
firing. 
 
FM BOGOLLAGAMA BRIEFS DIPLOMATS 
------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Foreign Minister Bogollagama gave a briefing on the current 
situation to the diplomatic community the morning of April 23.  He 
stated that since the morning of April 20, 102,790 civilians had 
been evacuated from the NFZ.  He called this "the largest hostage 
rescue operation that has been undertaken by any military in the 
world."  He went on to say that this was a "fitting reply to certain 
skeptical members of the international community who, obviously 
misguided by Tiger propaganda, have been making persistent 
predictions of massive civilian casualties, in the event our 
security forces embarked on the rescue mission."  He stated that GSL 
forces are not shelling the NFZ. 
 
¶5. (SBU) FM Bogollagama stated that GSL shares the concern of the 
international community over plight of civilians still under LTTE 
control, and acknowledged the enormity of the IDP situation now at 
hand.  He called for help from the international community with 
tents, water supply equipment, and medical assistance. 
 
UN OUTLINES NEEDS TO FM 
----------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) During the q-and-a after the briefing with FM Bogollagama, 
UN Resident Representative Neil Buhne outlined the critical 
 
humanitarian needs at this point as more rapid passage of supplies 
through military checkpoints going to Vavuniya, the sharing of IDP 
registration information with the UN, the identification of 
additional shelter sites, and the importance of continued medical 
evacuations from the NFZ by ICRC.  Buhne said the UN hoped that they 
would still be allowed to facilitate a further exit of civilians 
from the NFZ as had been agreed upon during the Nambiyar visit. 
 
FM ON CASUALTIES AND FOREIGN MEDICAL STAFF 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶7. (SBU) DCM welcomed the escape of many civilians from the conflict 
zone but underlined deep U.S. concern about the tens of thousands 
who remain in the zone and about the high level of civilian 
casualties.  He asked for the government's estimate of casualties 
since the rescue operation began.  FM Bogollagama stated 
categorically that no civilian casualties had been caused by the GSL 
military.  He said any casualties were either LTTE cadres or were 
the victims of LTTE firing or suicide blasts. 
 
¶8. (SBU) In response to another question by the DCM, Bogollagama 
stated that foreign medical personnel would be allowed into Sri 
Lanka to accompany any field hospitals or other medical supplies 
provided by the international community. 
 
GSL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF INACCURATE NUMBERS 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) In notes accompanying the text of FM Bogollagama's speech, 
it was acknowledged that earlier GSL estimates of the number of 
civilians inside the NFZ had been wrong.  This was not mentioned 
during the actual briefing, but the text noted that while GSL 
estimates just prior to April 20 were of 50-60,000 civilians inside 
the NFZ, 100,000 had exited since that date. 
 
MILITARY SAYS ONE WEEK TO CLEAR NFZ 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) On April 23 the Sri Lankan Army assessed operations to 
clear the NFZ may take a week longer.  The heaviest fighting was 
currently along the A-35 road near the western edge of the NFZ.  The 
military were convinced Prabhakaran, Pottu Amman, and Soosai were 
still in the NFZ.  They felt LTTE ground operations were being 
commanded by Velawan.  They estimated the LTTE had 2 artillery tubes 
left, used in direct fire mode.  LTTE still had numerous mortars, 
but a shortage of small arms and machine gun ammunition.  Sri Lankan 
military estimated 10-15K civilians still in the NFZ, based in part 
on that figure provided April 22 by the LTTE's just captured former 
media chief.  Army estimated about 300 hardcore LTTE cadres left, 
while the Sri Lankan Navy estimated 200-300 Sea Tigers remained. 
The Sri Lankan Air Force said no airplanes remained though the 2 
small helicopters the LTTE had were unaccounted for. 
 
STRONG INDIAN STATEMENT 
------------------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) The Foreign Secretary and National Security Advisor of 
India released a strong statement on April 23, as follows:  "The 
Prime Minister reviewed the evolving situation in Sri Lanka this 
 
evening with me, Raksha Mantri, National Security Adviser and 
Foreign Secretary. 
 
"We are very unhappy at the continued killing of innocent Tamil 
civilians in Sri Lanka. These killings must stop. The Sri Lankan 
Government has a responsibility to protect its own citizens. And the 
LTTE must stop its barbaric attempt to hold civilians hostage. 
 
"There is no military solution to this ongoing humanitarian crisis, 
and all concerned should recognise this fact. The only lasting 
solution will come from political efforts to address the real 
concerns of the Tamil people, giving them lives of dignity within 
the Sri Lankan mainstream. 
 
"India will work to achieve this goal, and will do all it can to 
also ameliorate the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict. 
 
"I am speaking to many of my counterparts around the world to join 
us in this effort." 
 
MEDICAL/FOOD SHIP ACCESS VERY DIFFICULT 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) ICRC reported ferry access for medical evacuations was 
increasingly difficult at the new site.  Another 450-500 evacuations 
were hoped for on April 23, with another trip planned for April 24, 
with some 1,000 to 1,500 waiting for evacuation.  The WFP food ship 
was loaded and waiting for word from the ICRC ferry of when 
conditions at landing site would allow food delivery, but offload 
and delivery of food very difficult under constant fire.  The 
Government Agent for Mullaitivu, who had been inside the NFZ and 
instrumental in keeping the evacuations and food shipments running, 
was reportedly trying to leave the NFZ now. 
 
UN ESTIMATES 50,000 TO 80,000 REMAIN 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶13. (SBU) The UN, while acknowledging the increasing difficulty in 
getting accurate numbers, estimated between 50,000 and 80,000 
civilians remained inside the NFZ, with some 110,000 already 
evacuated since early April 20.  A UN source said their current 
estimate of casualties in the NFZ from January 20 to April 20, not 
including the last 3 days, was 6,432 killed and 13,946 injured. 
 
BLAKE