VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #0653/01 1771125
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261125Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0169
INFO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 7021
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 3905
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3155
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 8781
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1769
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 3623
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1261
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J3/J332/J52//
RHMFIUU/CDRUSARPAC FT SHAFTER HI//APCW/APOP//

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000653 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND PRM 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
AID/W FOR ANE/SCA 
AID/W FOR DCHA/FFP FOR JDWORKEN, JBORNS 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA FOR ACONVERY, RTHAYER AND RKERR 
BANGKOK FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA WBERGER 
KATHMANDU FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA MROGERS AND POL SBERRY 
USMISSION GENEVA FOR NKYLOH 
USUN FOR ECOSOC DMERCADO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: ICRC UPDATE: REGISTRATION OF EX-COMBATANTS 
COMPLETED, PROTECTION WORK CONSTRAINED 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  Charge attended an International Committee of 
the Red Cross (ICRC) briefing by Head of Delegation Paul Castella on 
June 25 to update heads of Mission on the status of ICRC's 
humanitarian activities, as well as on its efforts to register 
ex-combatants detained by the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL).  ICRC 
stated that it had completed the registration of surrendees and had 
registered 9,186 detainees who are being held in 11 disarmament, 
demobilization, and rehabilitation (DDR) camps, most of which are 
located in Vavuniya District.  ICRC stated that they have been able 
to provide information to more than 2,500 families on the status of 
the detainees registered.  ICRC commented that the GSL was 
unprepared to handle the influx of surrendees and therefore had not 
allocated funds to provide support to the camps.  ICRC said that the 
committee has five international staff in the entire Sri Lankan 
Delegation who speak Tamil or Singhalese and who are available to 
visit the camps to carry out the registrations.  Castella concluded 
the briefing by stating that the GSL is currently reviewing the 
status of the ICRC and that diplomatic intervention on its behalf 
could be counter-productive.  He encouraged the heads of missions, 
however, to continue to advocate collectively and individually for 
protection of the rights of detainees, as well as of all civilians 
displaced during the conflict.  In keeping with ICRC's mandate, 
Castella asked briefing attendees to protect the information and 
figures he provided and not attribute them to ICRC.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Charge attended an ICRC briefing hosted by Head of 
Delegation Paul Castella on June 25 to update heads of mission on 
the status of ICRC's humanitarian activities, as well as on efforts 
to register ex-combatants detained by the GSL.  Castella stated that 
ICRC continues to focus on IDPs in northern Sri Lanka and is 
providing food, relief commodities, healthcare, and 
engineering/construction support to help rebuild health facilities 
for those wounded in the conflict.  ICRC reported poor access to 
Manik Farm by ICRC staff conducting non-assistance protection and 
monitoring activities. 
 
OVER 9000 SURRENDEES AND NEARLY 1000 ARRESTED 
 
¶3.  (SBU) ICRC stated that it had completed registration of 
surrendees and had registered 9,186 indviduals who are being held 
in 11 DDR centers, mot of which are located in Vavuniya.  173 
minors ave been separated from adult detainees and are locted in 
one DDR facility.  Females are located in a separate facility and 
the remaining adult males in nine others.  The current population of 
each of these centers ranges from 600 to 1,900 people.  ICRC stated 
that the GSL plans to open an additional 11 centers, bringing the 
total to 22 with a target capacity of 400 people each.  Castella 
stated that conditions in the rehabilitation centers are comparable 
to conditions in Manik Farm and that "there was nothing much to 
worry about." 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Castella reported that in addition to the 9000-plus 
surrendees, since January 1, 2009, 930 ex-combatants and other 
alleged LTTE supporters have been arrested under Emergency 
Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act.  ICRC has access to 
these detainees, who are located in several facilities around the 
country, including in Colombo.  ICRC reported no problems with 
access to these persons, including the arrested Ministry of Health 
doctors who were working in the no-fire zone.  ICRC said that the 
next step is to take the registration data and compare it to a list 
that ICRC has compiled of individuals who have been reported as 
missing.  ICRC noted that it was too early to arrive at any 
conclusions on possible discrepancies between the number of 
detainees registered and the number reported missing since neither 
ICRC nor the GSL have reliable figures on missing persons. 
 
FAMILY NOTIFICATIONS 
 
¶5.  (SBU) ICRC stated that ICRC staff have been able to provide 
information to more than 2,500 families on the status of the 
detainees registered.  The ICRC Vavuniya sub-delegation is handling 
 
 
approximately 50 notifications a day, whereas 350 families in Manik 
Farm have been provided information on missing family members.  ICRC 
reported that in some cases family members are able to visit 
arrested persons and that ICRC has assisted family members who live 
in northern areas of the country to obtain the necessary 
authorizations to cross the Mediwachiya checkpoint to visit 
arrestees, who are mostly detained in the south. 
 
ASSISTANCE TO DDR FACILITIES 
 
¶6. (SBU) ICRC commented that the GSL was unprepared to handle the 
influx of surrendees and had not allocated funds to provide support 
to the center.  Local non-governmental organizations and religious 
organizations have been providing food and ICRC has distributed 
4,673 hygiene and clothing kits to the detainees.  ICRC is currently 
conducting a needs assessment to determine additional requirements 
and gaps in assistance. 
 
CONSTRAINTS ON PROTECTION ACTIVIITES 
 
¶7. (SBU)  ICRC said that the committee only has five international 
staff in the entire Sri Lankan Delegation who speak Tamil or 
Singhalese and who are able to visit the centers to carry out 
registrations.  With registration completed, ICRC plans to return to 
the DDR centers to conduct follow-up protection work.  Staff 
shortages, however, attributable in part to visa problems, have 
prevented them from doing so.  ICRC indicated that that they had not 
received any approvals for visas submitted for new international 
staff and/or to extend current staff in the last month.  This 
hinders operations as ICRC has had to shift resources within the 
Delegation to cover the shortages.  Castella reported that access to 
conduct registration was adequate but he did not know how it would 
be for follow-up protection activities.  Withholding visas, though, 
is seen as a symptom of a bigger issue.  The GSL reportedly believes 
that now that the conflict is over, there is less for ICRC to do and 
thus it needs fewer staff in country. 
 
CHALLENGING OPERATING ENVIRONMENT FOR ICRC 
 
¶8. (SBU) Castella commented that ICRC has limited dialogue with the 
senior decision-makers who can affect change.  If ICRC's ability to 
carry out its mandate in Sri Lanka is limited by GSL actions that 
restrict the level of expatriate staff, it would deprive the 
international community of a neutral, independent, humanitarian 
action organization that can work to enhance the protection of 
rights of persons denied their liberty.  He concluded the briefing 
by stating that the GSL is currently reviewing the status of the 
ICRC and that he does not want to raise his voice too loudly.  He 
encouraged the heads of missions continue to advocate collectively 
and individually for protection of the rights of detainees, as well 
as of all those displaced during the conflict, but indicated that it 
could be counterproductive for foreign missions to press the GSL on 
ICRC access and visas, saying this could be "like throwing oil on 
the fire." 
 
¶9. (SBU) COMMENT:  Clearly Castella's remarks were calibrated to a 
larger diplomatic audience.  Post has advocated with the GSL in the 
past on behalf of ICRC regarding visa issues, and we will consult 
privately with ICRC officials in Colombo to determine if they would 
want us to do so once again.  In a private meeting earlier this week 
with an ICRC protection officer, PolOff was told the visa problem 
will become especially acute this summer, as a comparatively large 
number of international staff will be required to leave, and no new 
staff will replace them unless visas are obtained. 
 
MOORE