“(SBU) S/WCI Amb. Clint Williamson met July 9 in separate meetings with Jacque de Maio, ICRC Head of Operations for South Asia, Kwang-wha Kang, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and Pascale Moreau, UNHCR Acting Director for Asia. He was accompanied by S/WCI Shaun Coughlin, RMA Counselor and PSA Counselor. In all the meetings, Amb. Williamson outlined the Congressional language attached to the recent supplemental funding legislation requiring the Secretary to report back within 45 days on reports of war crimes during the recent fighting in Sri Lanka, including to the extent possible, identification of perpetrators of such crimes. Williamson noted that the USG had limited access to the conflict zone and therefore it will be extremely difficult to present conclusive evidence about exactly what happened during the conflict, let alone who was responsible.” the US Mission to UN informed Washington.
Clint Williamson
The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The “Confidential” cable discuses what had happened on the ground during and since the conflict. The cable was signed by the US Ambassador to Geneva Clint Williamson on July 15, 2009.
The ambassador wrote; “Therefore, the Department would have to rely in large part on reports from open sources, NGOs, and International Organizations that were on the ground or otherwise active on Sri Lanka during the fighting. Looking at the two sides in the conflict (Sri Lankan military and the LTTE), Williamson said that the most obvious areas of focus would be the LTTE,s reported use of human shields and child labor, as well as alleged executions of civilians attempting to flee the conflict zone. For the GSL, the focus would be on the potential disproportionate use of force and reports of disappearances of individuals during the screening of the population in the north.”
Other related stories to this cable;
WikiLeaks: LTTE Stored Weapons At Hospitals – ICRC To US Mission To UN
WikiLeaks: Wrap Up ICRC Operations – Gota Sent A Straightforward Message – ICRC To US Mission To UN
Ben Hurling / November 9, 2013
“Disproportionate use of force” is always on naked display whenever Israel attacks Gaza or West Bank in Palestine.
US has access to the conflict zone in Palestine and therefore it will be extremely easy to present conclusive evidence against Israel.
Is the US Congress interested? Nope.
Cherry picking war crimes to drive US foreign policy.
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gamini / November 9, 2013
The US had absolute access as the war was a propaganda war until the LTTE abandoned their stronghold Kilinochchi in Jan 2009. From Jan 2009 to May 2009 The US turned a blind eye allowing the MR govt Forces to massacre the Tamils in Hospitals and elsewhere in Wanni and lastly massacred the lot remaining in Nandikadal Beach. The LTTE had no defence because they had buried all their heavy artillery by then for the assurances given by the Americans and the Indians to surrender. This whole war was carried out to a plan of the Americans and must be difficult to prepare a War Crimes Report, exculpating them.
What a Criminal World we live in?
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Penn / November 9, 2013
Gamini, have you any evidence for these claims? Are you sure your dislike of MR & love of Ranil is not blinding you? If you have evidence we would be very interested in it.
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Siri / November 9, 2013
Right at the moment, we the simple simons cant find evidence, but if those developed nations would support it, surely you will find prima facie evidence.
Americans are unpredictable. Now they are caught in the act – in terms of their espionage missions on Angela Merkel s pvt speeches. So, Obama has no responses to all these. Now the transatlantic relations have been shattered.
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gamini / November 9, 2013
Penn, please do not believe because I say so. Use your own common sense. See the events that have unfolded and the mockery still enacted by these forces in trying to retain the corrupt MR as the leader, conferring the Commonwealth title as well.
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Burt / November 10, 2013
Penn is trying to get you a white van ride. LOL
Good try. :)
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Thiru / November 11, 2013
Won’t they want to cover up genocide taking place?
Martin Vickers, Conservative MP, UK:
Clearly there has been genocide taken place in Sri Lanka and the International Community needs to take the issue much more seriously and investigations should take place.
Source a video clip in English, above is a transcript by me from:
http://www.tamilwin.com/show-RUmrzBSVMZit7.html
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Siri / November 9, 2013
Absolutely. This is the reason why for americans to ignore interviewing war front srilanken military men like Shravenda Silva though the man is now appointed for a position that was not known to many earlier. And nor have the amies yet interviewed SF, Gotabaya and other Rajapakshes adequately. Rajapakshes were the agents that worked for american and indian agenda. This the americans should explain to the entire world. UN ^s pressure on srilanken rulers by imposing silly UN resolutions alone show their cover up.
Moreover, how Rajapakshes have been since the war is end – clearly show how their attitudes towards own folks. Across the country, the crimes have become day today agenda by now. No rule of law at all. Recent multi murders reported from Deraniyagala,Rathupaswala, Katharagamaa, and several other areas make it further clear about their stands.
Infrastructure projects are just common to any developing country today. If you travel to far poor countries in Afria, this you will notice.
For what purpose we need to have opened -billion cost conference halls in Hambantota ? while leaving the common man further struggling to their 3 meals.
Costs of upcoming summit, who would bear ?
Electricity bills are said to be unaffordable even to middle class people in the country, so how could the majority poor of the poor bear all these ?
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solomon / November 10, 2013
open your eyis and ears and see what is said in previous wikileaks about the ltte. it seems your bias to that idiot Ranil who maintained that SL cant win the war. your are close confident of gay ranil
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JimSofty / November 9, 2013
I don’t believe this Title or the WIKILEAK – Data.
Even AUSTRALIA is spying for USA., Australian people were working, as ICRC members, inside the NO-FIRE ZONE. US boasts US can even detect even whether Russian soldier had shaved well for the morning parade.
They did not have enough information ?
Bull $hit.
They are following and are using Sri Lankan Tactics.
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Siri / November 9, 2013
whatever it is when it comes to discuss, you the unscrupulous men deliberately work on MR seem to have this kind excuses calling them as untrue…. this can t go forever… believe me
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JimSofty / November 10, 2013
It is GEORGE BUSH JUNIOR who said to Mahinda Rajapakse to WIPE OUT LTTE.
It is the USA who provided satellite photographs of LTTE -floating armouries in the high seas.
Now, they say they did not have access.
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kali / November 10, 2013
Jim Sooty,
Last time you were over the moon and jumping with excitement. The world ( your World ) has come down smashing on you you bloody Animal.
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solomon / November 10, 2013
you are right. every country has the right to stop terrorisam wher democracy fails
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Thondamanaru / November 9, 2013
When Australia, NZ, Brittain & Canada are spying for USA & with close connection between CIA & Vatican, what was the difficulty Mr. Ambassador ( US Had Limited Access To War Zone, Preparing War Crimes Report Is Extremely Difficult – US Ambassador )
Does it not sound hilarious.
On the one hand USA speak of sattelite images, on the other Marine trains SBS of the SLN, CIA & The Church upstaged Poland to to usher in Democracy and Leach Wallesa to power from the Gadansk shipyard and you now act as an amazing Howler…
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Sumith / November 9, 2013
USA proved that Saddam Hussain had weapon of Mass destruction. -:)
They made the innocent Myanmar junta to step down from power. -:)
our folks should stop giving pora(big) talks and follow middle path.(that’s a main philosophy of Buddhism)
Maluwa nahinne kata hinda. (fish dies because of it’s mouth).
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K.A Sumanasekera / November 9, 2013
Perhaps Cameron had Milliband embedded with Srilankan troops.
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ram / November 9, 2013
At a recent NDTV interview, the terror rump frontman Macrae asserted that he is not part of a Western plot nor an LTTE supporter. He also claimed that he’d made films similar to the ‘No Fire Zone’ in Iraq, though we have YET to see any evidence, as none had been broadcast by Ch 4.
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kali / November 10, 2013
I am not sure why the Ambassador has done a somersault. My friend you have dissapointed the Sinhalese Die Hearts.
Last time when the report came out it was reported that you were of the opinion that the Sinhala Army could have won the War quicker than they did if they were prepared to take a higher casuality. It was further reported that they risked their lives to save Tamil Lives.
Now you are saying that you had limited access to confirm any of these. Next time get your facts right before you open your mouth in the interest of fair play as otherwise you will get Racist Sinhalese jumping with excitement.
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sach / November 10, 2013
If you can read all these cables are dated 2009. I dnt know what the objectives of the US are, but i can clearly say it is not helping your cause!
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kali / November 10, 2013
Sacharin,
Whose case are you referring to. We are not relying on leaked reports it is the sinhalese Die Hearts who were jumping with Joy which has now turned out to be none other than hoax.
Our evidence is real which will stand up in a Court of Law when it is put to the test but the Only people who have stated it is all Bollywood fake are 20 million racist Sinhalese.
If MR has nothing to hide why is he hiding but from what I heard from Gotha he is now waving the White Flag because he knows the game is up bugger.
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RajasH / November 10, 2013
“…the most obvious areas of focus”….. would be the LTTE,s reported use of human shields and child labor, as well as alleged executions of civilians attempting to flee the conflict zone..”
“For the GSL, the focus would be”… on the potential disproportionate use of force and reports of disappearances of individuals during the screening of the population in the north.”
is there an obvious contradiction in the statements?
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