Cablegate: Sri Lanka: Feared Violence at Negombo Ahmadi

VZCZCXRO5046
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHLM #1803/01 3041058
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 311058Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4589
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 9532
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 6445
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 4497
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0120
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 6999
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 0285
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 4831

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001803

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: FEARED VIOLENCE AT NEGOMBO AHMADI
MOSQUE DOES NOT MATERIALIZE

1. (SBU) Summary: The Embassy received a letter from a local
Ahmadi leader expressing concern that his community was being
targeted for violence and a possible take-over of the Negombo
Ahmadi mosque by Jumma Muslims on October 31. The US-based
Ahmadi community also wrote letters to senators and to the
State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom.
Staffers for Senators Chafee and Santorum requested that the
Embassy follow up. A senior political FSN went to Negombo
October 26 and spoke to the police, who committed to
protecting members of all communities. The political FSN
also spoke to members of the Jumma mosque, who objected to
Ahmadi presence but said they sought to resolve the problem
through &peaceful dialogue.8 The DCM sent a letter to the
Deputy Inspector General of Police asking that police ensure
the safety of the Ahmadi mosque and its leaders. As of COB
local time October 31, Ahmadi and police contacts in Negombo
reported that no violence had come to pass. End summary.

2. (SBU) The Embassy received a letter dated October 17 from
Mr. N.A.M. Zafarullah, president of Sri Lanka,s Ahmadiya
community based in Negombo, 30 miles north of Colombo.
Zafarullah wrote that the Ahmadi mosque in Negombo was under
threat from a group of Pakistani Muslims who attend a
neighboring mosque. The letter reported the October 14
murder of Ahmadi Niyas Ahmad, killed on his way to the
mosque, and expressed concern that senior Ahmadi leaders
would be targeted for violence. Zafarullah also wrote that
he expected a protest demonstration that could lead to a
take-over of the Ahmadi mosque on October 31. The US-based
Ahmadi community wrote similar letters to senators and to the
State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom.
On October 24, staffers for Senators Chafee and Santorum
contacted the State Department to ask that Embassy Colombo
follow up on the concerns. On October 25, the Embassy
responded by e-mail confirming that Mr. Ahmad had been killed
and noting that we were gathering more information on the
threat of further violence.

3. (SBU) A senior political FSN went to Negombo October 26 to
speak to police contacts about Ahmadi concerns that violence
might erupt. Negombo Police Headquarters Inspector O.W.
Silva said that some persons associated with Negombo,s
traditional Jumma mosque were anti-Ahmadi. The police were
unaware of any specific threats against the Ahmadi mosque,
but assured pol FSN they would ensure the safety and security
of members of all communities if any violence was to break
out. Commenting on the October 14 murder of Abdul Niyas
Ahmad, Silva said no arrest has been made due to a lack of
information. There were no eye-witnesses, and villagers were
reluctant to discuss the case, Silva said. However, he
added, the investigation is still pending.

4. (SBU) Pol FSN also met with Al-Haj A. M. Ziyad and
Naushaard of Negombo,s Jumma mosque, who denied
responsibility for the murder of Mr. Ahmad. They did,
however, express ideological disagreement with the Ahmadiyas,
calling them a threat to Islam. The Jumma mosque leaders
said that during Friday prayers, they warn congregants to be
cautious of the Amhadiya group who try to convert traditional
Muslims by offering money or other benefits. Ziyaf and
Naushaard said that Jumma mosques throughout Sri Lanka have
initiated &Anti-Ahmadiya programs8 requesting boycotts on
trade, association, and inter-community marriages. The
Trustees of the Jumma mosque want the Ahmadi mosque to
re-locate outside of Negombo town, and will invite the
Ahmadiya group to a discussion on the topic. Ziyaf and
Naushaard hoped for &a peaceful dialogue8 to address core
concerns of both groups. The Jumma group is also planning to
make a representation to the Government through Western
Province Governor Alavi Moulana requesting that the Ahmadiya
place of worship not be given legal status as a mosque.

5. (SBU) Pol FSNs also spoke by phone to members of the
Ahmadi community who reiterated the concerns from
Zafarullah,s letter. On October 26, the DCM sent a letter
to the Deputy Inspector General of Police responsible for the
Negombo region. The DCM forwarded the information from
Zafarullah and requested that the police ensure the safety of
the Negombo Ahmadi Mosque and its leaders. As of late
afternoon local time on October 31, Zafarullah and local
police reported that all was calm at the Negombo Ahmadi
Mosque.

6. (SBU) Comment: While members of the traditionalist Jumma

COLOMBO 00001803 002 OF 002

mosque in Negombo clearly disapprove of the Ahmadiya, their
willingness to engage in dialogue and the peaceful passage of
October 31 without the feared demonstration are encouraging
signs. We will continue to maintain dialogue with our
contacts in Negombo and report on religious freedom issues
when they arise. End comment.
BLAKE

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