WikiLeaks: As The Oldest Democracy In Asia, Sri Lanka Has Its Own Investigatory Processes – Jaliya To US
December 16, 2013
“Wickramasuriya had no immediate reaction to the report itself, but said the GSL believed that economic development and resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) would foster reconciliation. As the oldest democracy in Asia, he said Sri Lanka has its own investigatory processes, including administrative sanction against police and soldiers who commit abuses, such as occurred in the 1980s. He said the Army was much more disciplined this time and showed restraint in this final offensive against the LTTE, losing a lot of soldiers as a result.” US State Department wrote to US Embassy Colombo.
Jaliya Wickramasuriya
A classified diplomatic cable which details a meeting the US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian AffairsRobert O. Blake and Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Investigations Stephen Rapp had with Sri Lankan AmbassadorJaliya Wickramasuriya on October 21, 2009. The Colombo Telegraph found the related US diplomatic cable from the Secretary of State section of the WikiLeaks database. The cable was classified as “Confidential” and signed by Hillary Clinton.
State department wrote; Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Blake and Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Investigations Rapp met with Sri Lankan Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya and DCM Tissa Wijeratne October 21 at the State Department to provide them a copy of the Department of State ‘Report to Congress on Incidents during the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka.’ The report was posted on the Department (S/WCI) website on October 22.Rapp first asserted Sri Lanka’s right to self defense against a terrorist group. He also stated at the outset that both sides to the conflict are required to respect international humanitarian law. He went on to outline the report, noting that it included reports of the use of human shields and child soldiers by the LTTE, and reports of unlawful attacks on civilians and civilian objects such a hospitals. Rapp next identified specific limitations, such as lack of access to the conflict zone and the inability to corroborate many incidents, which explained why the State Department was not in a position to draw factual or legal conclusions. Rather, the report should be seen as a compilation of credible incidents worthy of investigation by the GSL. He expressed great respect for and confidence in Sri Lanka’s legal institutions and traditions. He said the United States is not calling for international investigations, but is looking to the GSL to identify and implement a credible accountability process. Blake emphasized the importance of the Sri Lankan government engaging Tamil leaders in Sri Lanka on what they would consider to be a credible accountability mechanism.”
