28 March, 2024

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WikiLeaks: Don’t Push Sri Lanka Towards Burma-Like Isolation – Butenis

Butenis - while trying not to push Sri Lanka towards Burma-like isolation from the west.

By Colombo Telegraph – “Our challenge is strongly to encourage the Sri Lankan government to embrace reconciliation, accountability, and respect for human rights, while trying not to push the country towards Burma-like isolation from the west” the American Ambassador to Colombo wrote to Washington A leaked US unclassified diplomatic cable discussed the post-war challenges in Sri Lanka. The colombotelegraph.com found the cable from WikiLeaks database. The cable was written on October 30, 2009 by the US Ambassador to Colombo Patricia A. Butenis. Under the subject of “Sri Lanka Scenesetter” the Ambassador Butenis wrote “Sri Lanka at a pivotal point in its modern history. The end of the long secessionist war with the LTTE opens up opportunities for national reconciliation, political reform, economic renewal, and international re-engagement. The question is whether the Sri Lankan leadership has the vision, determination, an courage to seize the opportunity. The Sri Lankans value their relation with the United States.” “Our challenge is strongly to encourage the Sri Lankan government to embrace reconciliation, accountability, and respect for human rights, while trying not to push the country towards Burma-like isolation from the west.” she further wrote. Below we give the relevant part of the cable. Related news; WikiLeaks: ‘I am not saying we are clean!’ –  Basil to US Senate Foreign Relations staff WikiLeaks: The war had ‘not been clean’ Gota to US Senate Foreign Relations staff WikiLeaks:  GSL is very interested in greater engagement with the U.S. – Moragoda WikiLeaks: Tissa Vitharana thanked US for pushing Sri Lanka closer to China

VZCZCXRO4345
PP RUEHBI
DE RUEHLM #0999/01 3030802
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 300802Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0700
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1995
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 9031
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 7269
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 5192
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3419
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 5144
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 0679
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 4255
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 9594
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 6888
RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO 1353
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3802
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 000999

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB; H (pass to SFRC staff)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE
SUBJECT: Sri Lanka Scenesetter

1. (SBU) Sri Lanka stands at a pivotal point in its modern history.
The end of the long secessionist war with the LTTE opens up
opportunities for national reconciliation, political reform,
economic renewal, and international re-engagement.  The question is
whether the Sri Lankan leadership has the vision, determination, and
courage to seize the opportunity.  The Sri Lankans value their
realtions with the United States.  Our challenge is strongly to
encourage the Sri Lankan government to embrace reconciliation,
accountability, and respect for human rights, while trying not to
push the country towards Burma-like isolation from the West.
BUTENIS
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Latest comments

  • 0
    0

    So, she understand it now?

  • 0
    0

    Lal, Understand what?

  • 0
    0

    is she became MR follower? or are they playing with Tamil Diaspora?

  • 0
    0

    Sri Lankans think you are bad, US is bad, just coz the Weeravansa/ gunadasa/ Rajapaksa hate campaign. I’ve been reading this Colombo Telegraph and I understand how objective the US is. one thing I can’t understand why these Sinhalaya’s are this much mad to believe what Rajapaksas publicly say?

    • 0
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      Why demalayas belived on Prabakrans dream world? and intersetingly xxxxx has died but still they belive on same dream.

  • 0
    0

    is she really thinks that way?

  • 0
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    hope so!

  • 0
    0

    your kidding yourself butenis….stop being a ” BIG BROTHER ” & trying to intimidate a country that had a decade of civil war against terrorists ( LTTE )..
    THE FOLLOWING WILL HAPPEN IN TIME:
    Opportunities for national reconciliation, political reform, economic renewal, and international re-engagement…
    The Sri Lankan government will embrace reconciliation, accountability, and respect for human rights..I personally observed the progress in august 2011..

  • 0
    0

    At least this woman has some conscience compared to the great Mr. Robert Blake, who has effectively swallowed the ltte bait hook-line-and-sinker.

  • 0
    0

    This is funny as hell. They tried to create Burma using their puppet Fonseka, who was “ear marked” as the next ruler of Sri Lanka by the US.

    In October 2009 when he visited the US, a point in time before his entry into politics was set in stone, he was treated as though he was a visiting head of state already – a lot had been invested into Fonseka and the Wikileaks cables also show the “close” relationship he had with Blake and Butenis as he confided in them so much. Clearly there was something planned to use him as their man in Colombo. He did deals with the nations enemies (TNA, Ranilam, Mangala) just to get power. In addition he is not fit to be a President, he would have turned the country into a Burma as we clearly saw his “style” of rule during the PE.

    His greed, selfishness, ego, anger and spit he saturated the country with is what led to his downfall.

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