

Currently released so far... 960 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Browse by tag
CH
CE
CA
CACM
CDB
CLINTON
CU
CASC
CJAN
CM
CO
CIA
CVIS
CMGT
COUNTER
COUNTERTERRORISM
CI
CS
CG
CF
CD
CV
CY
ENRG
ETTC
ECON
EINDETRD
EPET
ETRD
EINV
EG
EUN
ELAB
EU
EAID
EFIN
ECPS
EAIR
EAGR
EIND
EN
ELTN
EWWT
EMIN
EZ
ENVR
ECIP
ET
EFIS
EXTERNAL
EI
ELECTIONS
EREL
ECUN
EINVEFIN
KNNP
KIPR
KDEM
KWBG
KN
KPAL
KGIC
KRAD
KJUS
KISL
KPWR
KGHG
KFIN
KTFN
KCRM
KHLS
KSUM
KPIN
KS
KSCA
KAWK
KPAO
KTIP
KCOM
KTIA
KBIO
KWMN
KCOR
KZ
KDRG
KAWC
KIRF
KACT
KFRD
KR
KU
KMDR
KSEC
KOLY
KE
KPKO
KSPR
KGCC
KPRP
KG
KUNR
KCIP
KHIV
KDEMAF
PGOV
PHUM
PREL
PINR
PARM
PK
PTER
PBTS
PREF
PL
PAK
PINS
PE
PROP
POL
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PO
PSI
PA
PINT
PGOF
PHSA
PSOE
POLITICS
PBIO
PECON
PEPR
PM
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09LONDON1082, SRI LANKA: UPDATE ON UK ACTION AND THINKING
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09LONDON1082.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09LONDON1082 | 2009-05-07 14:02 | 2010-12-01 23:11 | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | Embassy London |
VZCZCXRO8740
OO RUEHBI
DE RUEHLO #1082/01 1271408
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 071408Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2233
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0983
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 0114
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0919
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 0772
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 3456
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 1278
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1266
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 0169
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 0060
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 0083
RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0032
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1433
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1240
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 001082
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS (BINDI PATEL)
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EEB/IFD/OMA (MARLENE SAKAUE)
EO 12958 DECL: 05/07/2019
TAGS PREL, PGOV, EAID, CE, UK
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: UPDATE ON UK ACTION AND THINKING
REF: A. COLOMBO 479 B. LONDON DAILY - 30 APRIL 2009 C. LONDON DAILY - 13 FEBRUARY 2009 D. STATE 41959 E. LONDON 1041
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, reasons 1.4 (b/d).
¶1. (C/NF) Summary. After giving a brief overview of UK Foreign Secretary Miliband’s and a British Parliamentary Group’s separate visits to Sri Lanka, Foreign Office Sri Lanka team leader Tim Waite and Desk Officer Sharon Diaz said May 7 that the UK plans to continue its “concerted drive to achieve a fully inclusive political settlement.” Turning to next steps, Waite said the EU Troika is visiting Sri Lanka next week, and the UK hopes this will maintain “sustained pressure” on the Sri Lankan Government. Miliband and Kouchner plan to jointly host an “informal” meeting on the margins of the Middle East meetings taking place on May 11 in New York. Miliband also plans to raise Sri Lanka with USG officials during his May 12 visit to Washington. Additionally, Waite said the UK supports a special Human Rights Council session on Sri Lanka, and, according to Waite, HMT has decided to support the USG position delaying Sri Lanka’s proposed Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF. Waite said that with UK elections on the horizon and many Tamils living in Labour constituencies with slim majorities, the UK Government is paying particular attention to Sri Lanka, with Miliband recently remarking to Waite that he was spending 60 percent of his time at the moment on Sri Lanka. End summary.
¶2. (C) FCO Sri Lanka team leader Tim Waite and Desk Officer Sharon Diaz told Poloff May 7 that the civilians caught in the conflict zone remain the UK’s primary concern in Sri Lanka, followed by humanitarian access and addressing IDP needs. The UK Government has provided GBP 7.5 million (USD 11.25 million) since October 2008, including Prime Minister Brown’s recent pledge of GBP 2.5 million (USD 3.75 million) in additional support.
Miliband and Kouchner Visit
---------------------------
¶3. (C) Waite described Miliband and French Foreign Secretary Kouchner’s April 29 visit as “good,” though Miliband was “disappointed” that the Sri Lankan Government did not permit Swedish Foreign Secretary Bilt to join the visit. Waite said Miliband’s May 1 statement to Parliament highlighted the threefold purpose of his visit: “to highlight the need to bring the conflict to an end in a way that minimizes further civilian casualties; to press the case for the humanitarian relief effort to be ratcheted up, as the UN and EU have been calling for; and to make clear the need for a long-term political settlement that meets the aspirations of all communities in Sri Lanka.” These remain the UK’s primary objectives and were reflected in Miliband and Kouchner’s joint article following the visit (reftel B).
¶4. (SBU) The UK continues to press on five specific humanitarian points: the need for visas to be issued swiftly to international humanitarian staff; the subject of travel permits for staff working on approved projects inside Sri Lanka; the need for full access to IDPs as soon as they have crossed the front line and the monitoring of all stages of screening; the need for a proper resettlement program with specific deadlines to fulfill the Government’s commitment to have 80 percent of IDPs resettled by the year’s end; and, to allow the distribution of sufficient food and medicine to meet the needs of civilians trapped in the conflict zone (reftel A).
LONDON 00001082 002 OF 002
Special Envoy Des Browne Finally Makes It to Sri Lanka
--------------------------------------------- ---------
¶5. (C) Waite said a cross party group of MPs visited Sri Lanka May 4-5 at the Sri Lanka Government’s invitation, including the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Sri Lanka Des Browne, the February 2009 appointment of whom the Sri Lankan Government has rejected (reftel C). Browne’s visit was allowed by the Sri Lankan Government on condition that Browne was visiting in his capacity as an MP sitting on the cross party parliamentary group, which the UK agreed to. In their May 6 statement, the parliamentarians echoed the same themes as Miliband. Waite said they had found the situation in the IDP camps to be a “little bit better,” but “not nearly as good as it should.” Waite also reiterated that the UK Government still acknowledges Browne as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy, noting that Browne had been doing a lot of outreach to the Diaspora community resident in the UK.
India
-----
¶6. (C) Browne is currently in India, where Waite confessed he was having trouble getting meetings with the Indian Government’s political level, presumably because of the elections underway. Waite characterized the Indians as “ambivalent” and unwilling to undertake any heavy lifting on Sri Lanka because it was “too sensitive” an issue during the elections.
Next Steps
----------
¶7. (C) The UK plans to continue its “concerted drive to achieve a fully inclusive political settlement,” Waite said. The EU Troika is visiting Sri Lanka next week, and the UK hopes this will maintain “sustained pressure” on the Sri Lankan Government. Miliband and Kouchner plan to jointly host an “informal” meeting in New York on the margins of the Middle East meetings on May 11 (NFI). Miliband also plans to raise Sri Lanka with USG officials during his May 12 visit to Washington. The UK also supports a special Human Rights Council session on Sri Lanka, and, according to Waite, HMT has decided to support the USG position on delaying Sri Lanka’s proposed Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF (reftels D, E).
Comment
-------
¶8. (C/NF) Waite said that much of HMG and ministerial attention to Sri Lanka is due to the “very vocal” Tamil Diaspora in the UK, numbering over 300,000 and who have been protesting in front of Parliament since April 6. He said that with UK elections on the horizon and many Tamils living in Labour constituencies with slim majorities, the Government is paying particular attention to Sri Lanka, with Miliband recently remarking to Waite that he was spending 60 percent of his time at the moment on Sri Lanka.
Visit London’s Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
TOKOLA