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C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 114922 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2019 
TAGS: CE KAWC PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG UN
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: UN UNDERSECRETARY GENERAL HOLMES 
WELCOMES RECENT PROGRESS ON IDP RETURNS 
 
Classified By: SCA A/S ROBLAKE 
 
 ¶1.  (C) SUMMARY:  United Nations (UN) Undersecretary General 
for Humanitarian Affairs told Assistant Secretary for South 
and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake November 5 that he was 
encouraged by the recent progress on the return of internally 
displaced persons (IDPs) in Sri Lanka.  Holmes plans to 
travel to Sri Lanka in late November and will be prepared to 
issue more supportive public statements as progress 
continues.  He noted that the resettlement process has not 
been very well organized, as UN agencies have had to scramble 
to keep up, due to the lack of advanced notification from the 
Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) on returns.  He described the 
UN relationship with the GSL as "difficult," while at the 
same time noting international NGO accusations that the UN 
has gotten too close to the government.  Holmes was somewhat 
pessimistic that the GSL would do anything credible on 
accountability, but said the UN is prepared to give it time 
to try, perhaps six months. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (C) Meeting with SCA A/S Blake in Washington November 5, 
repeat title Holmes said he was encouraged by the recent 
progress on IDP returns in Sri Lanka.  (NOTE:  This recent 
acceleration of returns has reduced the total number of IDPs 
to approximately 188,000, according to most recent Embassy 
Colombo reporting, down from 250,000 only a few weeks ago. 
Approximately 19,000 have been released to join host family 
and friends, while the rest have been resettled, primarily in 
Jaffna and Mannar, but also in recent post-conflict areas in 
the North, such as in Mullaitivau.  END NOTE.)  Holmes 
surmised that if Sri Lanka could reduce the number of IDPs to 
about 150,000 - a number that has been identified as a level 
sufficiently decongested to avoid a humanitarian crisis when 
monsoon rains begin - it will have "changed the dynamic."  He 
noted that he plans to travel to Sri Lanka in about three 
weeks and would have more positive things to say publicly if 
progress continues.  Blake noted that he too plans to visit 
December 6-8, and that a little encouragement to the Sri 
Lankans is important to keep them moving in the right 
direction. 
 
¶3.  (C) Holmes noted concerns with how returns are being 
carried out.  While reports from UNHCR have been reasonably 
encouraging, the numbers are often difficult to track and and 
the process not very well organized.  There is often no 
advance notification before the government undertakes to 
return large groups of IDPs to their home districts. 
Nonetheless, UNHCR, WFP and the GSL have worked reasonably 
well together to ensure that returnees are provided with 
assistance to help them at least start to rebuild their 
lives; the situation for returnees is invariably better then 
camp confinement.  Holmes noted that he would seek to get a 
better sense of the resettlement when he visits Mannar, 
during his upcoming trip.  Blake inquired about overall 
UN-GSL relations; Holmes said they were "difficult," and 
noted the GSL tendency to engage selectively with certain UN 
agencies.  At the same time, he noted INGO accusations that 
the UN has grown too close to the government. 
 
ACCOUNTABILITY 
-------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) According to Holmes, the UN has told the GSL that "if 
you do not do something (on accountability), (the UN) will 
have to."  He did not provide a timetable, but suggested 
around six months, i.e. until elections, for the GSL to 
initiate a credible process, such as beginning an 
evidence-collection effort.  The Sri Lankans would need some 
time to do the "right thing," and he suggested that a truth 
and reconciliation-type process would be more effective than 
a judicial process.  He said he was encouraged by GSL 
dialogue with the parliamentary opposition Tamil National 
Alliance (TNA) and with Tamil Diaspora representatives. 
Blake noted U.S. efforts to quietly push the GSL and Diaspora 
toward engagement with each other.  He underscored that the 
GSL needs to talk to its critics, not just pro-government 
Tamils, particularly on what form of accountability process 
the country will pursue; it is not clear to us what degree of 
importance Sri Lankan Tamils attach to accountability versus 
other priorities, such as IDP returns.  One useful step would 
be allowing camp residents to organize themselves 
politically, but this has not happened, Blake commented. 
 
RECONSTRUCTION 
-------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Blake asked if UN plans were moving forward on 
reconstruction, noting that a U.S. decision to assist with 
reconstruction would require additional progress on IDP 
returns and related issues over the next few months.  Holmes 
said the government has not shared its overall reconstruction 
plan and likely does not have one.  Blake suggested that key 
Colombo-based Ambassadors and the UN Mission Director should 
begin to consult on the benchmarks, i.e., paramilitary 
disbandment, participatory local elections, and a reduced 
military presence, that would allow the donor community to 
move forward on reconstruction.  But appointing 
(pro-government Tamil paramilitary EPRD Chief) Douglas 
Devananda to a position of political power in the North would 
dampen U.S. enthusiasm for reconstruction support, he 
cautioned. 
CLINTON