INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Further Increase in Sri Lankan Refugee Arrivals

Published: Mon 21 Aug 2006 11:52 AM
VZCZCXRO5796
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCG #1818 2331152
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211152Z AUG 06
FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9407
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0186
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1251
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0525
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1040
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0114
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1895
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0052
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0106
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4835
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 0578
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0185
UNCLAS CHENNAI 001818
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PHUM CE IN
SUBJECT: FURTHER INCREASE IN SRI LANKAN REFUGEE ARRIVALS
REF: A) Chennai 1816 B) Chennai 1746 (NOTAL)
1. (SBU) With the tense situation prevailing in northern Sri Lanka,
there has been a further rise in the number of refugees arriving
Tamil Nadu. According to Chennai-based UNHCR Associate Repatriation
Officer Vadeja Bharati, 528 persons landed at Mandapam on August 20,
the highest number to land in Tamil Nadu on a single day since the
recent wave of arrivals began in January 2006. Bharati said the
24-hour curfew, the break of communication links and a steep rise in
prices of essential commodities in some parts of northern Sri Lanka
have pushed growing numbers of Sri Lankan Tamils to cross the strait
to India. "Some refugees told us they had to abandon their valuables
such as cattle since there were no buyers," Bharati said. According
to the UNHCR official, authorities on the Indian side are being
hospitable but the Sri Lankan Navy has resorted to arresting
refugees to stop the flow. He said the sea will become rougher by
mid-September, making the boat journey almost impossible. As of
August 21, the total number of refugees arrived since January is
8,253, representing 2,518 families.
2. (SBU) Meanwhile, local south Indian media reported that the
Government of Tamil Nadu has directed all District Collectors to
accommodate refugees in the camps functioning in their districts.
According to the reports, 3,600 of the newly arrived refugees have
been transferred from Mandapam to the other camps in Tamil Nadu on
the basis of their requests.
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