
By Colombo Telegraph –
A leaked “secret” US diplomatic cable, dated June 8, 2007, updated the Secretary of State on “the removal of non-Colombo based Tamils temporarily residing in Colombo lodges and hostels” shows the Justice Minister Dilan Perera had refused a request to defend the government action in Parliament.
The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable is classified as “SECRET” and written by the Ambassador Robert O. Blake.
Under the subject “MODERATE PARLIAMENTARIANS CONDEMN GSL ACTIONS” the Ambassador wrote “The Sri Lankan Muslim Congress, currently part of the ruling coalition, has condemned the government’s action. United National Party (UNP) crossovers serving as ministers and SLFP moderates have been instructed by the Government not to comment. Leader of the Up-Country People’s Front Radhakrishnan reportedly told the government he will leave the coalition if the removals continue. Justice Minister Dilan Perera (protect), an SLFP moderate close to former President Kumaratunga, told us he had refused a request to defend the government action in Parliament. Human rights organizations also strongly criticized the Government’s deportation actions and called for an immediate halt to further efforts to remove Tamils staying in Colombo.”
Placing a comment Blake wrote “Chief Justice Silva has generally been viewed as a reliable supporter of the Rajapaksa government. His decision to stay the removal of the Tamils is a welcome demonstration of judicial independence. President Rajapaksa’s expressed concern that the killing of two Tamil Red Cross employees was designed to discredit him before his speech to the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva on June 15 (ref B) now appears misplaced. The decision of his brother, Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, to proceed with the internal deportations has likely done far more damage to Sri Lanka’s image. Government claims that the movements were voluntary are inaccurate based on numerous eyewitness accounts. Inspector General Abeywardena’s comments suggesting that Tamils were removed in response to criticism against the Government for failing to control abductions seemed particularly tone-deaf just a day after opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe accused him, Gothabaya Rajapaksa, and former Air Force squadron leader Nishantha Gajanayake of direct responsibility for numerous disappearances in Colombo (septel). Embassy will monitor closely over the coming weekend whether the GSL complies with the Supreme Court’s stay order.”
Related news to this cable; WikiLeaks: Forced Removals Of Tamils Is A Police Plan – Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe to US
Below we give the relevant part of the cable;
VZCZCXRO9615 OO RUEHBI RUEHLMC DE RUEHLM #0820/01 1591020 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 081020Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6213 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0450 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0171 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7152 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5259 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3807 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1054 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 3879 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 1112 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2964 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7740 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5402 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0230 RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2102 RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000820 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS MCC FOR S GROFF, D TETER, D NASSIRY AND E BURKE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: SUPREME COURT STAYS ORDER EXPELLING TAMILS FROM COLOMBO LODGES REF: A. COLOMBO 809 ¶B. COLOMBO 805 Classified By: A/DCM ROBERT GABOR, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: On June 8 the Sri Lanka Supreme Court stayed the removal of non-Colombo based Tamils temporarily residing in Colombo lodges and hostels (ref A). The Court ruled in favor of a Fundamental Rights Application filed by the NGO Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA). Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe (strictly protect) told us that the idea for the forced removals came from the police. Although the Army was not in favor, Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa gave the order to proceed. SIPDIS Samarasinghe said the original plan was to suspend the roundups on Friday, June 8, but pursue them with renewed vigor over the weekend. It is not clear what impact the Supreme Court's stay will have on plans to continue the removals on Saturday and Sunday. In the meantime, at least a couple of hundred Tamils are being housed inside a school in Vavuniya without adequate water or sanitation. The Red Cross is helping to care for them. There were unconfirmed reports the GSL planned to move many Tamils across the Forward Defense Line through the Omanthai checkpoint into the Tiger-controlled Vanni. Although the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stated that the people would be welcomed in the Vanni, they denied that there have been contacts with the GSL on this subject. Numerous members of Parliament, including several moderate members of the governing coalition, have objected to the Government's actions. Embassy issued a press release calling for an immediate halt to further deportations. END SUMMARY. MODERATE PARLIAMENTARIANS CONDEMN GSL ACTIONS --------------------------------------------- ¶8. (C) The Sri Lankan Muslim Congress, currently part of the ruling coalition, has condemned the government's action. United National Party (UNP) crossovers serving as ministers and SLFP moderates have been instructed by the Government not to comment. Leader of the Up-Country People's Front Radhakrishnan reportedly told the government he will leave COLOMBO 00000820 003 OF 003 the coalition if the removals continue. Justice Minister Dilan Perera (protect), an SLFP moderate close to former President Kumaratunga, told us he had refused a request to defend the government action in Parliament. Human rights organizations also strongly criticized the Government's deportation actions and called for an immediate halt to further efforts to remove Tamils staying in Colombo. EMBASSY STATEMENT CONDEMNS FORCED REMOVALS ------------------------------------------ ¶9. (U) On June 8, the Embassy issued the following press release: "The United States condemns the forced removal of Tamils Colombo, June 8, 2007: The United States condemns the forced removal of Tamils from Colombo. Such measures violate the Sri Lankan Constitution's guarantee that every citizen has the right to freedom of movement and choice of residence within Sri Lanka. The United States understands and supports Sri Lanka's obligation to defend itself against terrorism. But this action can only widen the ethnic divide at a time when important efforts are underway to reach a national consensus to end Sri Lanka's nearly quarter-century old conflict. We call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to stop the forcible removal of its citizens from Colombo, to make public the destinations of those already removed, and to ensure their safety and well-being." ¶10. (C) COMMENT: Chief Justice Silva has generally been viewed as a reliable supporter of the Rajapaksa government. His decision to stay the removal of the Tamils is a welcome demonstration of judicial independence. President Rajapaksa's expressed concern that the killing of two Tamil Red Cross employees was designed to discredit him before his speech to the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva on June 15 (ref B) now appears misplaced. The decision of his brother, Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, to proceed with the internal deportations has likely done far more damage to Sri Lanka's image. Government claims that the movements were voluntary are inaccurate based on numerous eyewitness accounts. Inspector General Abeywardena's comments suggesting that Tamils were removed in response to criticism against the Government for failing to control abductions seemed particularly tone-deaf just a day after opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe accused him, Gothabaya Rajapaksa, and former Air Force squadron leader Nishantha Gajanayake of direct responsibility for numerous disappearances in Colombo (septel). Embassy will monitor closely over the coming weekend whether the GSL complies with the Supreme Court's stay order. BLAKE
Bodinayaka / February 18, 2012
this is truly stupid news Colombo telegraphs. It’s like a headline “Dogs with or without rabies to be catch by the health ministry”. LOL
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Rathnayaka / February 18, 2012
Bodinayaka, what is important here is; Dilan also dealing with US embassy and telling secrets.
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Kanaka / February 19, 2012
It looks still there are some good guys in this government.
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