Cablegate: Humanitarian Mine Action (Hma) Fy06 Country
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 001284
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM/WRA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT EAID MARR MOPS PREF PREL CE MAS LTTE
SUBJECT: HUMANITARIAN MINE ACTION (HMA) FY06 COUNTRY
PLANNING INPUTS
REF: SECSTATE 105813
A) U.S. INTERESTS AND EQUITIES
A veteran in the Global War on Terror, Sri Lanka has engaged
the Foreign Terrorist Organization-designated Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for nearly twenty years on both
the battle field and the peace table. Peace talks have not
progressed. U.S. national security interest is focused on
efforts to move the government of Sri Lanka (GSL) and LTTE
towards a negotiated settlement of the conflict. The
Humanitarian Demining (HD) program has been a bright light in
a darkening situation. The U.S. will support efforts that
foster national reconciliation and assist in developing and
implementing strategies to meet the humanitarian needs of the
northern and eastern populations in a post-conflict
environment.
B. END STATE
To build a national humanitarian demining capacity within the
Sri Lankan Army (SLA) that fully integrates manual,
mechanical and mine detecting dogs by the end of 2006.
C. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Goal A: Protect Victims of Conflict
--Objective 1: Train and supervise military deminers to
International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) so that no more
than five (5) accidents occur in FY 2006. SLA had only one
(1) demining accident in 2005. OBJECTIVE MET.
--Objective 2: Reduce civilian casualties through Mine Risk
Education (MRE) and HD. Civilian casualties reported in FY
2005 are 39, a 62% reduction of 2003 reported figures.
OBJECTIVE MET.
Goal B: Develop Host Nation Capacity
--Objective 1: Complete integration of mechanical clearance
systems into demining operations. Outfit backhoe with
polycarbonate sheeting for blast protection. Train SLA in
the use of PROMAC and MAXX Plus mechanical clearing systems.
OBJECTIVE MET.
--Objective 2: Increase number of mechanical systems.
Current mechanical systems inventory includes one (1) backhoe
fitted with a PROMAC brushcutter, one (1) MV-4 mini flail
donated through Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) and one (1) MAXX
Plus on loan for testing and evaluation from the U.S. Army.
SLA hopes to expand mechanical systems to a total of eight
(8) MV-4 mini flails and four (4) backhoes fitted with PROMAC
brushcutters. Japanese funding is planned to be used to
purchase three (3) mini-flails and one (1) backhoe in FY 2005
- 2006. DOD will provide two (2) Tempest mechanical
clearance systems. OBJECTIVE OPEN.
--Objective 3: Train one additional demining squadron
including "trainers", medics and senior management level
staff. Each demining squadron will be attached to each
Engineer Regiment. OBJECTIVE MET. SLA plans to train an
additional 40-60 deminers each year to allow for attrition,
transfers and professional development. Technical advisors
should be provided through 2006 to ensure the SLA is fully
capable of continuing operations without oversight.
--Objective 4: In partnership with the Marshall Legacy
Institute, begin integrating an additional six (6) Mine
Detecting Dog (MDD) teams in FY 2005. OBJECTIVE MET. In FY
2005 one of the original MDDs has been unable to adjust to
the heat in Jaffna and has had to be returned. For FY 2006
train one (1) replacement canine.
--Objective 5: Increase productivity by increasing vehicle
support. Each mine clearance site requires a dedicated
ambulance. This limits a mine squadron to one job site and
leaves deminers idle. Further, since deminers operate far
from their regimental camps, transportation of food and
equipment to the field becomes an issue. Procure eight (8)
additional ambulances, six (6) general purpose trucks and six
(6) crewcab trucks (NOTE: Demining squadron commanders faced
very jealous senior SLA officers when they were provided with
Pajero SUVs. Rather than an Toyota HiLux crew cab they
requested the plain Mitsubishi Canter END NOTE). The mini
flail and MAXX Plus were not designed for self transportation
and arrived without a trailer and truck. Procure two (2)
lowboy trailers and two (2) prime movers rated at 15K kg
each. OBJECTIVE OPEN.
D. ASSESSMENT OF HOST NATION STRATEGY
Sri Lanka's mine action strategy has two components. The
first is to clear land for resettlement. Without mine
clearance no resettlement is possible, and without
resettlement the cease-fire cannot develop to a sustainable
peace. The second component is to implement mine action
activities in support of reconstruction and development
projects. The goal of the GSL is to clear all high priority
areas by 2008. (NOTE: The original goal date of 2006 was
based on projections by some international demining operators
and did not take climatic conditions and geographic access
into account. Although no formal country-wide landmine
impact survey has been conducted, the SLA has conducted
numerous technical surveys which led them to adjust the
target date. END NOTE)
E. EFFECTIVENESS OF CURRENT PROGRAM
The national program is working very well and prioritization
is effective. The District Steering Committee (DSC) includes
representatives from all stakeholders in the affected
district (i.e. NGOs, government agencies and others). The
DSC develops the order in which mine contamination is
tackled, by which means it is carried out (clearance
technical survey, marking, MRE, etc.) and carried out by
implementing partners.
The U.S. supported SLA demining program has built upon its
early successes and exceeded expectations in all elements of
their program expansion. Landmine accidents involving SLA
deminers have almost been eliminated by maintaining IMAS
standards. Civilian casualties have dropped 60% in the last
12 months due to a combination of SLA deminers and an
effective MRE program. In 2006, NADR funds will continue to
train SLA deminers, replace the dog lost due to climate and
expand the integration of mechanical mine clearance systems.
U.S. relations with Sri Lanka are improved through our
support of the SLA humanitarian demining program, which is
recognized as a high point in the landscape of the peace
process.
Progress
Planned Actual
Trends
Train Deminers 140 225
Exceeded
Trained and deployed 25 Officers, 28 Senior NCOs, 152
deminers and 20 medics.
Increase Mechanical Systems 1 3
Exceeded
Backhoe with PROMAC brushcutter, MV-4 mini flail and MAXX
Plus are all operational.
Increase Mine Detecting Dogs 6
6 Met
Completed training of 6 handlers and MDDs donated through
Marshall Legacy Institute. Despite the loss of the FY04 dog
a total of 11 MDD teams are operational.
Reduce Civilian Casualties N/A
39 Decreasing
By the end of 2003 reported casualties were 102, current
figures show a 61.7% drop from 2003 and a 2.5% drop from 2004
Reduce Military Casualties 5 1
Decreasing
The only casualty involved a deminer who removed his helmet
and knocked himself unconscious on a low hanging branch and
fell onto a mine.
Land Cleared N/A 1.7m N/A
The figure listed above (1.7 million square meters) covers
November 1, 2004 - May 31, 2005 for the USG trained/equipped
SLA deminers trained to IMAS. 9.128 million square meters
have been cleared by all operators in the country since
January 1 2003. The SLA has cleared 3.887 million square
meters, 42% of all the cleared land.
Mines Destroyed N/A 5,634
N/A
UXO Destroyed N/A 86
N/A
The figures listed above are from SLA operation from January
1, 2003 - May 31, 2005. The efforts of all operators in Sri
Lanka during the same period have destroyed a total of
119,002 devices. The breakdown is as follows: AP mines
78,836 (5,632 by SLA), AT mines 51 (2 by SLA), UXO 20,368 (86
by SLA).
Mine Risk Education
UNICEF plays a leading role in coordinating and advising MRE
activities. The results are apparent in the low numbers of
reported civilian mine casualties. MRE was not funded or
linked to FY05 goals or objectives.
F. OTHER AGENCY/ORGANIZATION EQUITIES
DOD: MAXX Plus clearance system was deliver to SLA for a six
month test and evaluation period. Planned delivery of two
(2) Tempest clearance system in late FY 2005 or FY 2006.
USAID: The Leahy War Victims Fund is providing $3,746,100
for a five year program (April 2002 - April 2007) for a
project that enhances people with mobility disabilities.
This program introduces polypropylene prosthetic technology
and expands rehabilitation service to include job placement,
peer support and advocacy. The program has issued 231 leg
prosthetics and 99 orthotic braces to mine victims from their
Jaffna office. The center has also provided physical and
psychosocial therapy to 500 patients. The project has also
conducted a needs assessment survey in the towns of Mannar,
Trincomalee and Kilinochi. The program hopes to open an
office in Mannar in FY06 partnering with a Catholic charity.
Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI): MLI raised funds in 2004 to
purchase and train six MDDs. DOS assumes the cost for
in-country dog/handler training and integration of dogs into
the demining program. Funding for the replacement MDD is
still in question.
Norwegian People's Aid: Runs a 1.2 million USD demining
program in Sri Lanka funded by Norway. Through the UNDP
Norway also funds another 1.2 million USD for general mine
actions.
European Commission: The EC has contributed 15.7 million USD
towards mine actions in Sri Lanka from 2002 - 2005. These
funds have been distributed to Mine Advisory Group, HALO
Trust, Norwegian People's Aid, Danish Demining Group, UNDP
Mine Action Project and UNICEF. The EC has just signed two
projects totaling 1.7 million USD with UNICEF and 2.6 million
USD with UNDP for MRE and Survivor Assistance (SA) projects.
The EC budgeted 1.69 million USD for anti-personnel landmine
clearance for 2005-2006. A contribution of 1.3 million USD
is projected for 2007.
G. PROGRAM SUMMARY
1. U.S. Funds Expended : $11,937,000 (through FY2005)
2. A total of 503 officer and enlisted ranks have completed
the basic demining course. Also 202 officers and enlisted
ranks have completed additional demining instruction and
management courses, basic and advance trauma courses as well
as instruction in the operation of mechanical clearing
systems. Eleven (11) mine detecting dog teams have been
trained and deployed. One (1) backhoe with PROMAC
brushcutter, one (1) MV-4 mini flail and one (1) MAXX Plus
mechanical assets are deployed.
3. 71 officers have completed the demining management course
and are the core of a highly effective HN demining program.
4. There has been no purchase or lease of high value
demining equipment in FY2005.
5. U.S. donated equipment including MAXX , PROMAC, vehicles,
computers, detection equipment and personal protective
equipment continue to be properly marked, well maintained and
used to properly support HD operations.
6. Milestones include the following:
a) FY06 Replace one (1) MDD in FY06 and assess the
feasibility of more MDD teams in FY07.
b) FY06 Integrate the Tempest and possibly other mechanical
systems.
c) FY06 Increase demining productivity by increasing
ambulance capability.
d) FY06 Support mechanical systems integration with heavy
lift capability.
e) FY06 Complete capacity building and end full time
technical advisors.
f) FY07 Replenish/replace HD supplies and equipment procured
in 2003/2004 as required.
H) PRIORITIZED RESOURCE REQUESTS
1. Eight (8) field ambulances. Goal B, Objective 5.
2. Two (2) lowboy trailers and two (2) prime movers rated at
15K kg each. Goal B, Objective 5.
3. Six (6) crewcab pick up trucks. Goal B, Objective 5
4. Six (6) general purpose trucks. Goal B, Objective 5
5. SLA training of replacement personnel. Goal B, Objective
3
6. One (1) Replacement mine detecting dog. Goal B, Objective
4
7. Two (2) backhoes with PROMAC brushcutters. Goal B,
Objective 2.
8. Four (4) MV-4 mini flails. Goal B, Objective 2.
I) IMPACT
Humanitarian demining is a program that puts the GSL and
particularly the SLA in the spotlight as a model of a
non-sectarian unifying force for good. All communities
benefit from HD, and all communities cooperate when demining
operations occur in their area. The SLA takes great pride in
their program and have consistently demonstrated a vigorous
management and operational commitment to building a strong
national program. As the only government controlled
operation in the country, an increase in Sri Lankan demining
capacity will help meet the national strategy to clear high
priority tasks by the end of 2008 and reduce the future
dependency on donor funded NGOs for mine clearance.
LUNSTEAD