US embassy cable - 02COLOMBO2022

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002022 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, PM, PM/HDP 
 
NSC FOR E. MILLARD 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PARM, PHUM, PREF, KPAO, EAID, CE, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT:  U.S.-sponsored Quick Reaction Demining Force 
successfully completes operations in Sri Lanka 
 
Refs:  Colombo 1415, and previous 
 
1.  (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified -- 
Please handle accordingly. 
 
2.  (U) After approximately seven months of operations, 
the U.S.-sponsored Quick Reaction Demining Force (QRDF) 
has wrapped up its work in Sri Lanka.  On October 24-25, 
the QRDF turned over two plots of land cleared to 
international humanitarian demining standards to GSL 
authorities. (Note:  The QRDF-demined land was the first 
ever cleared in Sri Lanka to humanitarian mine clearance 
standards.)  The land was located in the Sarasalai area 
of Jaffna near the war-torn town of Chavakachcheri.  The 
final figures for the QRDF demining operation were: 
 
-- 122,348 square meters cleared 
-- 980 anti-personnel mines removed 
-- 42 pieces of unexploded ordnance (UXO) removed 
 
As part of the turnover, the QRDF gave the GSL about 
USD 15,000 worth of generators, demining explosives, and 
other items. 
 
(Note:  Mission is faxing SA/INS copies of the QRDF's 
completion records, including a list of the items given 
to the GSL.) 
 
3.  (SBU) The QRDF effort has received widespread 
acclaim in Sri Lanka.  It began its operations in April 
in response to a specific request made by Prime Minister 
Wickremesinghe to SA A/S Rocca during her March visit to 
Jaffna.  While performing practical work that is 
allowing for the safe return of displaced persons to the 
demined area, the QRDF became a symbol of U.S. support 
for the peace process, engendering highly positive press 
coverage for the U.S. in the process.  Deputy Secretary 
Armitage's widely publicized August visit to the QRDF's 
demining site in Jaffna encapsulated all of these 
positive threads.  The U.S. has reaped these kudos all 
to itself; despite repeated requests by the GSL, no 
other country has pitched in to help in actual demining 
other than the U.S.  (Note:  The UN demining effort 
continues to tread water, while a HALO Trust operation 
is just starting up.)  With the QRDF's departure, the 
next step in U.S. demining assistance is a large-scale 
DoD-run training program for Sri Lankan military 
personnel and civilians that is slated to start in early 
2003.  (Note:  Mission has also requested FY-04 funds 
for additional demining projects.) 
 
4.  (U) To commemorate the QRDF and outline next steps 
in U.S. support, Mission plans to issue a press release 
along the following lines on October 30: 
 
BEGIN DRAFT TEXT: 
 
U.S. DEMINING GROUP SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES OPERATIONS 
 
The U.S.-sponsored Quick Reaction Demining Force (QRDF) 
has completed its work in Sri Lanka.  On October 24-25, 
the QRDF turned over two plots of land cleared of mines 
and explosives to Sri Lankan government authorities. 
The demined land was the first ever cleared in Sri Lanka 
to humanitarian mine clearance standards, allowing 
civilians to return to their land without fear.  The 
cleared land was located in the Sarasalai area of Jaffna 
near the town of Chavakachcheri.  The final figures for 
the QRDF demining operation were: 
 
- 122,348 square meters cleared to a humanitarian 
standard 
- 980 anti-personnel mines removed 
- 42 pieces of unexploded ordnance (UXO) removed 
 
As part of the turnover, the QRDF provided about 
USD 15,000 worth of items to Sri Lankan authorities for 
use in its demining effort. 
The U.S. remains fully committed to supporting 
humanitarian mine clearance in Sri Lanka, which we see 
as serving to reinforce the peace process.  The next 
step in U.S. demining assistance is establishment of a 
humanitarian mine clearance training program for 
Sri Lankan civilians and military personnel that is 
scheduled to begin operations in early 2003. 
 
END DRAFT TEXT. 
 
5.  (U) Minimize considered. 
 
WILLS