Cablegate: Sri Lanka: 1992 Annual Terrorism Report

R 171241Z NOV 92
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3164

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 06961

S/CT FOR REAP

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PTER CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: 1992 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF.: STATE 338430

1. EMBASSY'S SUBMISSION FOR THE 1992 ANNUAL
TERRORISM REPORT BEGINS IN PARA TWO BELOW. RESPONSES
ARE KEYED TO QUERIES LISTED IN REFTEL.

2. BEGIN REPORT:

A) PROSECUTIONS INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
AND/OR SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM: THERE
WERE NO PROSECUTIONS INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL
TERRORISM OR SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM.

B) EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS FOR
PROSECUTION: NONE

C) SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENTS TO PROSECUTION AND/OR
EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS: THERE ARE NO
LEGAL IMPEDIMENTS TO THE EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED
TERRORISTS FROM SRI LANKA. GSL OFFICIALS CITE
SEVERAL REASONS FOR NOT RESPONDING TO AN INDIAN
GOVERNMENT REQUEST FOR THE EXTRADITION OF LTTE LEADER
V. PRABHAKARAN. THEY EXPLAIN THAT THEIR EFFORTS TO
CAPTURE PRABHAKARAN HAVE FAILED AND THAT SRI LANKAN
COURTS HAVE PRIORITY IN TRYING PERSONS CHARGED WITH
PERPETRATING ACTS OF TERRORISM ON SRI LANKAN SOIL.
THEY NOTE AS WELL THAT SRI LANKAN SECURITY FORCES ARE
ENGAGED IN A CONTINUING EFFORT TO END LTTE TERRORISM
AND THAT SRI LANKA IS ONE OF ONLY TWO REGIONAL
GOVERNMENTS TO BRING LOCAL LAW IN LINE WITH A
REGIONAL ANTI-TERRORISM CONVENTION SIGNED BY THE
SOUTH ASIA ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION
(SAARC).

D) HOST GOVERNMENT RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECUTION:
THE FIGHT AGAINST LTTE TERRORISM IS A TOP ITEM ON THE
GSL'S AGENDA. ALMOST ALL RESOURCES OF THE SECURITY
FORCES ARE INVOLVED IN THE ANTI-LTTE EFFORT, WHICH
INCLUDES NEAR-CONVENTIONAL WARFARE IN SOME PARTS OF
THE COUNTRY AND CLASSIC COUNTERINSURGENCY FIGHTING IN
OTHER AREAS. SINCE THE RENEWAL OF FIGHTING AGAINST
THE LTTE IN JUNE 1990, THE SECURITY FORCES HAVE MADE
FREQUENT USE OF SPECIAL POLICE POWERS UNDER THE
SO-CALLED EMERGENCY REGULATIONS (ER) AND THE
PREVENTION OF TERRORISM ACT (PTA). THESE MEASURES
PERMIT UNLIMITED PREVENTIVE DETENTION AND SEVERELY
RESTRICT NORMAL DUE PROCESS RIGHTS INCLUDING BAIL,
NOTIFICATION OF RELATIVES, AND HABEAS CORPUS.
(SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE REMAIN IN CUSTODY FOR
SUSPECTED OFFENSES UNDER THE E.R. AND THE PTA. THE
TWO LAWS CAME INTO FORCE DURING THE JVP INSURGENCY OF
THE LATE EIGHTIES.) ALTHOUGH SRI LANKA HAS REFUSED
INDIA'S REQUEST FOR THE EXTRADITION OF PRABAKHARAN,
THE SRI LANKAN AUTHORITIES ROUTINELY APPROVE INDIAN
GOVERNMENT REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE
INVESTIGATION OF RAJIV GANDHI'S MURDER IN MAY 1991.

GIVEN ITS OWN PROBLEMS WITH DOMESTIC TERRORISM, THE
GSL HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY ACTIVE IN SUPPORTING
INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO ERADICATE TERRORISM IN
1987, SAARC MEMBERS SIGNED A CONVENTION ON THE
SUPPRESSION OF TERRORISM; THIS CONVENTION WAS
SPONSORED BY SRI LANKA. THE GSL ALSO HAS LIVED UP TO
ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE AGREEMENTS GOVERNING ICAO
AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL OR TRAVEL SECURITY
REQUIREMENTS.

E) MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN IN
1992: SEE ABOVE.

F) SIGNIFICANT HOST GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM: THE GSL RECOGNIZES THE PLO
AND PERMITS THE GROUP TO MAINTAIN A SMALL MISSION IN
COLOMBO.

G) HOST-GOVERNMENT STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF A
TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY ON TERRORISM ISSUES:
NONE.

H) SIGNIFICANT CHANGE SINCE 1991: NONE

I) COMPLIANCE WITH UN RESOLUTIONS ON LIBYA: THE GSL
HAS ANNOUNCED THAT ALL UN MEMBERS HAVE AN OBLIGATION
TO CARRY OUT EACH OF THE ORGANIZATION'S RESOLUTIONS
ON LIBYA. DESPITE THIS STATEMENT, THE GSL HAS
DECLINED EITHER TO CLOSE THE LOCAL LIBYAN PEOPLE'S
BUREAU OR TO ORDER A REDUCTION IN ITS SIZE.

SCHAFFER

© Scoop Media