india stress humanitarian concern to sri lanka
TRANSCRIPT
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189383: India stress humanitarian concern to Sri Lanka
189383, 1/29/2009 12:27, 09 COLOMBO 106, Embassy Colombo, CONFIDENTIAL,,
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STATE FOR SCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2018 TAGS: PREL, PREF, PHUM, IN, CE SUBJECT:
INDIAN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER STRESSES HUMANITARIAN
CONCERNS TO SRI LANKAN LEADERSHIP
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: In a briefing on the January 27 visit to Sri Lanka of External AffairsMinister Mukherjee, Indian Deputy High Commissioner stressed that Mukherjee
registered deep concern over the current humanitarian crisis in the Vanni, where
Tamil civilians are caught in the crossfire between military forces and the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). He insisted that the military ensure that medical
supplies reach the safe zone, that exit routes for civilians be clearly marked and
communicated, and that every effort be taken to avoid civilian casualties. President
Rajapaksa was receptive to these humanitarian concerns. The short notice on which
this visit was organized and the fact that it came on the heels of the January 16-17
visit for Indian Foreign Secretary Menon sent a clear signal to Colombo of the
Indian government's deep concern, domestic political considerations
notwithstanding, over the perilous situation for civilians in the Vanni. End
summary.
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Lightning Visit Organized on Short Notice
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2. (C) Indian Deputy High Commissioner Vikram Misri briefed DCM and other
diplomatic colleagues on the January 27 visit to Colombo of External Affairs
Minister Mukherjee. The visit was organized on short notice, with the Indian High
Commission only learning of it 24 hours in advance. Mukherjee arrived at 2030, met
with senior GSL officials, briefed the press, and departed after less than five hours
on the ground. Sri Lankan participants in the two-hour meeting at the President's
residence were President Rajapaksa, Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Foreign
Secretary Palitha Kohona, Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights
Mahinda Samarasinghe, Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, the Chief of
Defense Staff, the service chiefs, and the Inspector General of Police.
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Concern Over Deteriorating Humanitarian Situation Foremost
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3. (C) Army Commander Fonseka briefed on the progress of the war since 2006, but
his presentation soon gave way to a frank discussion that focused heavily on the
humanitarian situation in the Vanni. Mukherjee stressed that he had come to
Colombo with no objective other than to ensure that the human rights and safety of
civilians were protected. Mukherjee emphasized four points related to the
humanitarian situation:
- The current ""safe zone"" is not functioning as a safe zone; - The military must
create a humanitarian corridor and ensure that medical supplies reach the safe zone
and the hospital in Puthukkudiyiruppu (PTK) remain open; - Exit routes for
civilians who want to come out of the Vanni should be clearly marked and
communicated; and - Every effort must be made to avoid human casualties.
4. (C) The President was receptive to these humanitarian concerns. He
acknowledged that the army is shelling LTTE gun positions in the northeastern
portion of the safe zone, but claimed that no civilians are permitted in this area. He
flatly denied the claim that 300 civilians had been killed in recent days. Minister
Samarasinghe said he had spoken with Dr. T. Varatharajah, the Regional Director of
Medical Services in Mullaitivu, who allegedly issued a written statement making
this claim. Samarasinghe said the doctor insisted he had issued no such statement
and had neither a fax nor email, both of which are listed on the bottom of thestatement. (Comment: While the statement itself may possibly have been
disinformation, UN officials on the ground have stated that there have been
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numerous civilian casualties (approximately 50 deaths and more injuries per day)
during the last week. They acknowledge that some of the dead may be LTTE cadres,
but indicate that most are civilians. End comment.)
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President Says APRC Process Nearly Over
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5. (C) On the political front, President Rajapaksa said he supports a 13th
Amendment-plus approach, but did not specify what the ""plus"" would entail.
According to Misri, the President indicated that the APRC process in its current
form is nearly at an end and that he plans to tell APRC Chairman Tissa Vitharana
what he wants in the proposal and instruct him to issue such a proposal.
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Beyond Domestic Political Calculations, Serious Concern
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6. (C) When asked by DCM the degree to which domestic political considerations
were behind Mukherjee's visit, Misri acknowledged that these were a factor butstressed that New Delhi is deeply worried about the humanitarian crisis in the
Vanni. He added that Indians throughout the country, not just in Tamil Nadu, are
troubled by the high level of causualties sustained by Tamil civilians caught in the
crossfire.
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Press Statement
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7. (U) Before departing the country, Mukherjee made the following statement to the
press.
Begin text:
I had detailed, useful and productive discussions with H.E. President Rajapaksaand am pleased with the comprehensive briefing by the Sri Lankan side. We
covered recent developments in Sri Lanka, the entire gamut of India-Sri Lanka
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relations and regional issues of mutual interest. India-Sri Lanka relations are
developing strongly. It is particularly important at this time of transition and
change that we should continue to strengthen our ties.
The President mentioned his hopes for future developments in Sri Lanka. I stressed
that military victories offer a political opportunity to restore life to normalcy in the
Northern Province and throughout Sri Lanka, after twenty three years of conflict.
The President assured me that this was his intent. We will work together with the
Government of Sri Lanka to enable all Sri Lankans, and particularly the Tamil
community who have borne the brunt of the effects of the conflict, to lead normal
lives as soon as possible.
For our part, I expressed our readiness to participate in the reconstruction of
northern Sri Lanka so as to overcome the ravages of war and also to lay the
economic and political foundations of a strong peace in which all communities feelcomfortable. We will be working together on a reconstruction plan for these areas
which will involve infrastructure and other support. I was happy to be informed of
progress towards the establishment of a 500 MW thermal power project near
Trincomalee by NTPC from India.
H.E. President Rajapaksa assured me that it was his intention to move as quickly as
possible to implement the 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution, which,
you would recall, followed the Indian-Sri Lanka agreement of 1987. In fact, hewould explore the possibility of going further and improving upon those devolution
proposals.
We also reviewed the humanitarian situation as a result of the conflict. The Sri
Lankan Government has reassured that they would respect the safe zones and
minimize the effects of conflict on Tamil Civilians. As you know, India has extended
its relief supplies to civilians caught up in the zone of conflict and intends to
continue doing so.
After our conversation H.E. President Rajapaksa was good enough to extend a
personal invitation to an all-party delegation from Tamil Nadu led by Chief
Minister Karunanidhi and Ms. Jayalalitha to see for themselves the situation on the
ground and to persuade the LTTE to lay down arms and join the democratic
mainstream. (Note: It is not clear that this invitation extended to the Vanni; we
imagine this would be unlikely. End note.)
An early restoration of normal democratic life in the areas
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affected by the conflict would be a major contribution to peace and stability. India
will do all that it can bring this about, working with all those who work for this
goal with us.
End text
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Comment
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8. (C) The short notice on which Mukherjee's trip was organized and the fact that it
came little more than ten days after the visit of Foreign Secretary Menon clearly
signaled to the Sri Lankan governnment the seriousness with which New Delhi
views the current humanitarian situation in the Vanni. Despite the diplomaticniceties of Mukherjee's press statement, the Indian High Commission's readout of
the visit indicated that it was all about the need for better protection for Tamil
civilians.
Blake "
Keywords: cable189383, Robert Blake, The India cables, WikiLeaks, Eelam War
IV, LTTE, ethnic conflict, Tamil civilians
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