WikiLeaks: Lankans Were Doing Just Enough To Keep The Indians Satisfied For Now – Menon

By Colombo Telegraph -

Foreign Secretary Menon

“Responding to the Ambassador’s query about whether the Sri Lankan government was being responsive to demands from the international community to provide access to internally displaced persons, Menon said the Lankans were doing just enough to keep the Indians satisfied for now. On-the-ground cooperation with Indian relief providers was good, but he was unable to make any judgment about what the mid- to long-term prospects were for treatment of IDPs or on political devolution.” the US Embassy New Delhi informed Washington.

A Leaked “CONFIDENTIAL” US diplomatic cable, dated June 2, 2009, recounts the details of a meeting US officials in New Delhi, India has had with newly appointed Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Indian Foreign Secretary Menon. The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database.

Under the subheading “Sri Lanka: Delegation Coming Next Week” US  CDA Peter Burleigh wrote “The Sri Lankan President’s Senior Advisor Basil Rajapaksa as well as Secretary of Defense Gothabaya Rajapaksa were now slated to come to New Delhi for talks next week, but a time for these discussions had not yet been nailed down. He underscored that the GOI was interested in hearing Sri Lankan plans both with regard to Tamil IDPsand regarding political negotiations. He hoped that the GSL was not aiming for quick elections in the north to establish an unrepresentative provincial government, as had been done in the Easter Province earlier. Menon speculated that after the visit, the GOI should have a better feel for GSL intentions.”

Read the cable below for further details;          Read More