Cablegate: Sri Lanka: Human Rights Groups Voice Concern

VZCZCXRO6540
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHLM #2142/01 3631210
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291210Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002142

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PTER PREL CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS VOICE CONCERN

REF: SECSTATE 200959

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Following up on Secretary Rice's December
14 initiative, Ambassador Blake hosted a roundtable
discussion with human rights activists and civil society
representatives on December 21. The Ambassador briefed the
group on USG efforts and also solicited views on how best to
strengthen human rights protections in Sri Lanka.
Participants complained of a climate of fear, a lack of
accountability in government institutions such as the Human
Rights Commission, limited judicial independence, an anti-NGO
atmosphere, and threats to media freedom. The Ambassador
asked the discussants to provide written input within ten
days and committed to pooling the best ideas in a document to
share with senior Sri Lankan officials. End summary.

AMBASSADOR URGES GIVING COMMISSION OF INQUIRY A CHANCE
--------------------------------------------- ---------

2. (SBU) On December 21, Ambassador Blake hosted a human
rights round table for representatives of local human rights
NGOs and think tanks. The Ambassador briefed the group on
Secretary Rice's "Defending the Defenders" initiative and

SIPDIS
opened a broader discussion on the human rights climate in
Sri Lanka. Dr. P. Sarvanamuttu, director of the Centre for
Policy Alternatives, immediately criticized the U.S. for not
supporting strong measures against Sri Lanka at the UN Human
Rights Council. He dismissed government plans for a national
Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights (CoI) with an
International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) as
a Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) ploy to buy time. The
Ambassador responded that the USG did not believe the timing
was appropriate in th fall of 2006 to support a strong HRC
statement gainst Sri Lanka at precisely the time when
Presdent Rajapakse had shown leadership on the human rihts
issue by creating the CoI. The CoI should have a chance to
prove itself with the IIGEP's asistance. He noted that the
IIGEP experts will ake public statements assessing the human
rightssituation, and should human rights violations
continue, the international community would have to cosider
tougher action.

CULTURE OF IMPUNITY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS?
---------------------------------------------

3. (SBU) Interlocutors also raised concerns about a climate
of fear in Sri Lanka and a "culture of impunity." Dr. Kumar
Rupasinghe of the Foundation for Co-Existence noted the
increase in disappearances and the broad authority granted to
security forces under the new anti-terrorism regulations. He
said that many Tamil civilians and NGO activists are fearful,
citing a contact who received a threatening call from a
Sinhalese nationalist group. Rupasinghe said the
international community could help bolster human rights by
maintaining records of violations and holding the GSL
accountable. He asserted that international pressure had
stopped security forces acting against civilians in some
LTTE-controlled areas.

4. (SBU) Interlocutors also said serious problems persist in
the judiciary. Nuwan Peiris of the Legal Aid Commission
accused the Attorney General and Supreme Court of limiting
access to documents, making it difficult for civil society to
exercise oversight on abuse cases. In addition, he said,
many judges are biased and there is no check on their
behavior. Others agreed, adding that the situation is
exacerbated by a widespread perception that the Chief Justice
is a presidential crony.

5. (SBU) Speakers criticized President Rajapaksa for
circumventing the constitutional requirement that the
Constitutional Council appoint heads of independent
commissions. According to the discussants, citizens view the
presidentially-appointed heads of the Human Rights
Commission, Judicial Commission, Elections Commission, Police
Commission, and Bribery Commission as too closely aligned to

COLOMBO 00002142 002 OF 002

the administration and unwilling to adequately investigate
complaints of government abuses. Joanna von Gerpen, the
UNICEF Resident Representative, said the National Child
Protection Agency (NCPA) also suffers from a similar lack of
public confidence.

ANTI-NGO, ANTI-MEDIA SENTIMENTS ABOUND IN THE PUBLIC
--------------------------------------------- -------

6. (SBU) All participants expressed concern about an
anti-NGO atmosphere, with Rupasinghe calling the
parliamentary select committee on NGOs a "witch hunt." Rohan
Edrisinha, director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives,
said existing regulations make it difficult for NGOs to gain
access to communities in need. Rupasinghe added that the
media demonizes NGOs and adds to "war hysteria." Sunanda
Deshapriya of the Free Media Movement added that the GSL was
actively suppressing the Tamil media. He cited extrajudicial
killings of journalists and newspaper distributors and
arrests of media figures without due cause, noting the
anti-terrorism regulations worsen the situation.

AMBASSADOR SEEKS WRITTEN INPUTS TO PRESENT TO THE GSL
--------------------------------------------- --------

7. (SBU) The Ambassador thanked all the participants for
their candor. He noted that many NGOs apparently feel unsafe
sharing views with the government as individuals or
representatives of NGOs. He suggested that if participants
forward written concerns to the Embassy within the next ten
days, the Embassy would prepare a short summary document to
present to high level GSL officials. The participants
accepted the offer. Embassy will report on our follow-up
with the Sri Lankan government.
BLAKE

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