US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO921

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000921 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS AND DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, KIRF, PGOV, CE, Religious Freedom 
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA:  POLICE SOFT-PEDALING INVESTIGATION OF 
CHURCH ATTACK 
 
REF: COLOMBO 895 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (SBU)  Findings from Pol FSN's May 16 visit to the site 
of a church attack in the southwestern district of Galle 
indicate an unwillingness from local authorities to prosecute 
the perpetrators, who include two Buddhist monks and the 
chairman of the village council.  The pastor of the church, 
whose wife and parishioners were beaten in the attack, is 
also reluctant to pursue criminal charges, citing a fear of 
retaliation.  Unfortunately, the dismissive attitude of local 
authorities and the pastor's own timidity may only encourage 
more attacks in the future.  End summary. 
 
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COMPETING RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES FUEL CONFRONTATION 
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2.  (SBU)  On May 16 Pol FSN traveled to Balapitiya in the 
southwestern district of Galle to look into reports that 
parishioners at the Zion Prayer Center were assaulted by a 
group of about 10 men, including a local Buddhist monk and 
the chairman of the village council, on May 1.  During his 
visit POL FSN met with Priyanjith de Silva, pastor of the 
church; Kamal Kiriella, the Officer in Charge of the local 
police station; Dr. Dhammika Wickremasekera, the doctor who 
treated the pastor's wife for injuries suffered in the 
attack; Ven. Dammika, a Buddhist monk reportedly involved in 
the attack; and Leelasena Soyza, the chairman of the village 
council. 
 
3.  (SBU)  According to the account provided by the pastor, 
several eyewitnesses and the National Evangelical Alliance, 
members of the Zion Prayer Center were confronted the morning 
of May 1 by an angry group of men, including two Buddhist 
monks, the village council chairman and some other council 
members, who demanded  that they end a prayer service then in 
progress.  (Note:  The pastor himself was not there at the 
time.  End note.)  Church members refused, and the 
confrontation escalated. The gang reportedly entered the 
church, breaking furniture and musical instruments. Three 
women, including the pastor's wife and a pregnant 
parishioner, were assaulted by the gang.  The pastor's wife 
was reportedly pulled by the hair by one of the monks, kicked 
in the stomach several times and had to be hospitalized for 
four days. 
 
4.  (SBU)  According to local police, a senior monk at the 
local temple, who was also the brother of the village council 
chairman, had died and been cremated the day before; the 
ceremony took place on the grounds of the village council. 
The following morning some monks and lay people went to the 
village council grounds, which is located about 20 feet from 
the Zion Prayer Center, to collect the monk's ashes. 
Kiriella explained that the Buddhist group was offended that 
the parishioners were singing and playing musical instruments 
during the service, which they viewed as disrespectful to 
Buddhists still mourning the loss of their senior cleric. 
 
 
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MONKS, LOCAL REPS DENY INVOLVEMENT; 
POLICE SEE IT DIFFERENTLY 
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5.  (SBU)  Ven. Dammika denied to POL FSN that any assault 
took place, contending instead that the pastor's wife slipped 
and fell while verbally abusing him and other members of his 
group.  (Ven. Seevali, the other monk accused of 
participating in the assault, was out of Balapitiya on May 16 
but spoke with POL FSN by phone.  He similarly denied 
attacking the women.)  Village Council Chairman Leelasena 
Soyza and council member Ajith Soyza (who was also accused of 
participating in the attack), in a separate meeting 
maintained their innocence to POL FSN as well.  The chairman 
claimed instead that a fight had broken out among the 
parishioners themselves; hence the broken furniture and 
bruises.  Dr. Wickremasekera painted a different picture, 
however, indicating that he believed the parishioners' 
account.  He told POL FSN that Mrs. de Silva's injuries were 
consistent with severe beating and kicking, but he added that 
she had not suffered any internal or permanent injuries. 
 
6.  (SBU)  OIC Kiriella told POL FSN that police also 
believe, based upon their investigation of the incident, that 
the monks and village council members participated in the 
violent attack against the women.  Citing local 
sensitivities, including the special position of prestige and 
respect generally accorded Buddhist monks, he indicated 
reluctance to pursue criminal charges against the 
perpetrators.  (Note:  In an earlier telephone conversation 
with POL FSN shortly after the incident, Kiriella hinted that 
he was under pressure from Buddhist Affairs Minister 
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake--who is also the Cabinet Minister in 
charge of police--to drop the matter.  End note.)  Kiriella 
said the police had already submitted a preliminary report on 
the incident to the local magistrate recommending that the 
matter be referred to a local mediation board.  (Note:  The 
mediation board has five members, including the local school 
principal, a monk from the local temple and some business 
people.  End note.)  He acknowledged that the police had not 
yet submitted Mrs. de Silva's medical report as evidence to 
the magistrate, but assured POL FSN that all appropriate 
records would be made available to the mediation board "when 
necessary."  Kiriella said he expects the case to be heard by 
the end of the month. 
 
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PASTOR WANTS PEACE 
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7.  (SBU) Pastor de Silva confided to POL FSN that he 
believes the best that he can hope for from the mediation 
board is some monetary compensation for his wife's injuries 
and a commitment that church services can continue 
undisrupted in the future.  (Note:  Mediation boards have no 
enforcement powers.  End note.)  Although technically he has 
the option to reject mediation and press for criminal charges 
against his wife's attackers--which Colombo-based evangelical 
groups seem to be urging him to do--he said he is loath to do 
so, adding "I have to live here."  His life as the only 
Christian pastor in the vicinity will become increasingly 
difficult if he decides to take the battle to court, he 
suggested. 
 
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COMMENT 
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8.  (SBU)  The UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Freedom 
noted a disinclination among local authorities to press 
charges against perpetrators of religious violence (Reftel); 
the attitude of the Balapitiya police seems to be a case in 
point.  Although we have received sporadic reports of 
harassment and intimidation of Christian groups over the past 
year, the incident in Balapitiya is particularly egregious, 
both because of the uncharacteristic level of violence and 
because of the participation of "pillar-of-the-community" 
religious and political leaders.  The violence and hostility 
reflected in this incident are unlikely to be dispelled by 
any settlement the board--which lacks enforcement powers--may 
suggest.  We will continue to monitor the progress of this 
case. 
LUNSTEAD