US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI139

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000139 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USDA/FAS/FAA/CALEXANDER/MCONLON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2015 
TAGS: PREL, CASC, AEMR, EAID, MASS, SOCI, EAGR, ID, CE, MV, IN, Tsunami Relief 
SUBJECT: INDIA TSUNAMI SITREP: JANUARY 6 
 
Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt.  Reasons 1.4 (B,D). 
 
1.  (C) Summary: The Ambassador met with Defense Secretary 
Singh on January 6 to request that New Delhi send liaison 
officers to Utapao and Honolulu.  In a sign of the GOI's 
strong commitment to our tsunami partnership, the Foreign 
Secretary on January 5 held a rare joint briefing with the 
 
SIPDIS 
chief of the integrated military command to refute media 
reports that India was disturbed by the US presence in the 
region, particularly Sri Lanka.  USAID furthered cooperation 
on tsunami relief during a coordination meeting chaired by 
the UN in which US officials agreed to share information and 
assessments.  As Indian casualty figures continue to 
increase, press reports indicate the Prime Minister will 
travel to the hard-hit Andaman and Nicobar Islands.  End 
Summary. 
 
Ambassador Meets Defense Secretary 
---------------------------------- 
 
2.  (C) The Ambassador met with Defense Secretary Ajai Vikram 
Singh, and spoke with acting National Security Adviser MK 
Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran on January 6 to 
propose Indian military participation in the combined 
Multi-National Planning and Augmentation Team (MPAT).  The 
Ambassador and DATT requested that MOD designate two MPAT 
planners along with an Indian liaison officer to the Combined 
Support Force in Utapao, Thailand, and also one to PACOM 
headquarters.  Details of the meeting will follow septel. 
 
Foreign Secretary: No Stress with the US in Sri Lanka 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
3.  (U) Reflecting the GOI's resolve to maintain a positive 
tone around US-India collaboration on tsunami relief, Foreign 
Secretary Shyam Saran called in the press corps on January 5. 
 
SIPDIS 
 Press reports emphasized that the GOI is not concerned about 
US presence "in the neighborhood."  Saran reportedly 
underlined that while India was "spearheading" relief in Sri 
Lanka and the Maldives, US assistance was significant and 
welcome. 
 
Foreign Minister in Jakarta 
--------------------------- 
 
4.  (U) In a January 6 briefing on the Foreign Minister's 
participation in the Jakarta Summit, the MEA spokesman 
reported that the FM emphasized to Kofi Annan that "India as 
well as other countries present there supported the UN in its 
efforts to bring relief to the affected people in the 
region."  The MEA noted that the Minister and Annan "also 
discussed regional issues, including Iraq." 
 
USAID: Increasing Multilateral Cooperation 
------------------------------------------ 
 
5.  (U) On January 6, representatives of the USAID/DART team 
and USAID/India attended a coordination meeting in New Delhi 
chaired by the UN.  USAID agreed to share information on 
assessments and activities with the UN, the UK's Department 
for International Development (DIFD) and the European 
Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO).  On January 5 and 6, 
USAID/DART conducted assessments of villages near Pondicherry 
in Tamil Nadu.  The USAID/DART team reports that 
water/sanitation is not an emergency need but the restoration 
of livelihoods is emerging as a key concern.  In some 
villages, residents have begun repairing their homes. 
 
Indian Casualties 
----------------- 
 
6.  (U) The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reported on 
January 6 that the tsunami was responsible for 9,862 deaths 
in India, compared to 9,575 through January 4.  The MHA still 
considers approximately 6,000 individuals missing, although 
they have indicated the likelihood that the unaccounted for 
figure will be added to death total.  According the January 6 
MHA report, seven Indian nationals died in Sri Lanka, one in 
the Maldives, three in Thailand, and two in Indonesia. 
 
PM to Visit Andaman and Nicobar 
------------------------------- 
 
7.  (U) Amid press complaints that the GOI is not doing 
enough for the isolated archipelago, Prime Minister Manmohan 
Singh will reportedly travel to the Andaman and Nicobar 
Islands on January 8.  After the PM's trip, an all-party 
meeting to discuss the disaster will be held on January 9, 
two days later than originally scheduled. 
MULFORD