WikiLeaks: GSL Doesn’t Want ICRC And UN Involved In Identification Of Those Killed In The War – Gota To US
“Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa was sharply critical of international organizations in his final meeting with Ambassador. Rajapaksa said the ICRC’s job was essentially finished now that the conflict was over. He said the GSL is unhappy with the UN and ICRC for being critical of the GSL when they should have been working with the government to help resolve the conflict and address the challenges Sri Lanka faced. The Defense Secretary said the GSL doesn’t want the ICRC and UN involved in identification of those killed in the former conflict zone because of their ‘negative’ attitude. He claimed their reporting would likely inflame passions, exacerbate divisions, and be contrary to the goals of reconciliation and closure. Ambassador strongly disagreed, saying the ICRC was performing excellent work in assisting GSL efforts to deal with the humanitarian crisis.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
Gotabaya
The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable is classified as “Confidential” and recounts a meeting the US Ambassador Robert O. Blake had with Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The cable was written on May 20,2000 by the US Ambassador to Colombo, Robert O. Blake.
The ambassador wrote; “Gothabaya insisted the ICRC and UN were not helping. He acknowledged some GSL shortcomings, but said international actors should understand the complexities of the conflict and work with the GSL and the military, rather than be antagonistic toward the government. The Defense Secretary said international organizations should include more Asians, such as Thais, Malaysians, and Japanese. They would then be better able to establish rapport and understanding with their GSL and military counterparts. Ambassador replied that the USG could not and would not dictate to international organizations the composition of their teams. Ambassador said that the GSL should strive to improve its cooperation with the ICRC and the UN. By demonstrating greater openness, the GSL could counter and minimize allegations that it has something to hide.”
“Ambassador argued strongly for ICRC access to the Tamil government doctors who were previously working inside the conflict zone, who have since been detained. The Defense Secretary said that the government just wanted to question them. He said it would be best if the Criminal Investigation Division of the police keeps them for the time being, as they would likely face a security risk from ‘reactionary groups’ if released now when passions are high. The police would then release them later when it was safer for them. Ambassador emphasized that that the doctors were likely under a great deal of pressure by the LTTE to report the way they did, and noted that they may have been coerced. Ambassador pointed out that the doctors had endured great hardship, that their heroic efforts had likely saved countless lives, and stressed that their release would be a magnanimous gesture by the GSL that would be recognized by the international community.” Blake further wrote.
Read the cable below for further details;
Wikileaks: You Managed To Do What No Govt Had Done Before – Blake To MR
“Ambassador noted that his time in Colombo had coincided almost exactly with the fourth and final phase of the Sri Lankan conflict, from mid-2006 until the war ended on May 18. The President’s government had managed to do what no government had done before: wrest all the territory of the country from the Tamil Tigers. Ambassador stressed that the reconciliation phase must begin now, with two vital components: the humanitarian side, providing the IDPs with what they need, and the political side – power-sharing arrangements to help Tamils have a future with hope and dignity. This was the way to defeat terrorism for good.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
The ambassador wrote; “The President responded that those were his intentions, but that there ‘certain people in the international community,’ abetted by ‘some in the South’ (i.e., the opposition) who would try to undercut him. The Ambassador encouraged the GSL to think about how to engage with Tamil representatives. Ambassador said it was particularly important to reach out to the Tamil Diaspora so they would stop supporting the LTTE. He inquired about the government’s plans for a political solution. The President said the basis of the plan would be the ‘13th amendment plus 1’ – meaning implementation of the existing constitutional provisions for provincial councils, but adding an upper house to Parliament, modeled on the U.S. Senate, with numerically equal representation for each province.”
