LETTER TO CLAIRE E. GEORGE FROM GUS YATRON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01370R000300500016-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 18, 2008
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: May 22, 1984
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2008/09/18: CIA-RDP90BO1370R000300500016-7
?-7u / -"('
Office of Legislative Liaison
Routing Slip
Action Offi
Remarks:
Ma/` M(i~( a 8 " T
y y
Name/Date
STAT
Approved For Release 2008/09/18: CIA-RDP90BO1370R000300500016-7
 Approved For Release 2008/09/18: CIA-RDP90B01370R000300500016-7
Office of Legislative Liaison
Routing Slip
STAT
Approved For Release 2008/09/18: CIA-RDP90B01370R000300500016-7
 LAL, CHAIRMAN
LEE H. HAEELTON, IND.
GUS PATRON, PA.
STEPHEN J. SOLARZ. N Y.
DON BONKER, WASH.
GERRY E. STUDDS, MASS.
ANDY IRELAND. FLA.
DAN MICA. FLA.
MICHAEL D. BARNES, MD.
HOWARD WOLPE, MICH.
GEO. W. CROCKETT. JR.. MICH.
SAM GEJDENSON, CONN.
MERVYN M. DYMALLY, CALIF.
TOM LANTOS. CALIF.
PETER H. KOSTMAYER, PA.
ROBERT G. TORRICEL.U. N.J.
LAWRENCE J. SMITH. FLA.
HOWARD L. BERMAN. CALIF.
HARRY M. REID, NEV.
MEL LEVINE, CALIF.
EDWARD F. FEIGHAN, OHIO
TED WEISS. N.Y.
GARY L ACKERMAN. N.Y.
ROBERT GARCIA. N.Y.
Approved For Release 2008/09/18: CIA-RDP90BO137OR000300500016-7
LARRY WINN, JR., KANS. tCti;th:i+f i ~.j
WILLIAM S. BROOMFIELD, MICK
BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, N.Y.
ROBERT J. LAGOMARSINO. CALIF.
JOEL PRITCHARD, WASH.
JIM LEACH. IOWA
TOBY ROTH. WIS.
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE. MAINE
HENRY J. HYDE, ILL
GERALD B. H. SOLOMON. N.Y.
DOUGLAS K. BEREUTER, NEBR.
MARK D. SIUANDER. MICH.
ED ZSCHAU, CALIF.
JOHN J. BRADY. JR.
CHIEF OF STAFF
Congress of the United states
Commitee on lamp affairs
ioase of ltresematiues
iaiMngton, P.E. 205)5
May 22, 1984
Mr. Claire E. George
Director, Office of Legislative Liason
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. George:
The Subcommittees on Asian and Pacific Affairs and on Human
Rights and International Organizations would like CIA and INR to
testify at a closed intelligence briefing on the situation and outlook
in Sri Lanka at 1:30 pm. on June 14 in Room 2172 Rayburn House Office
Building. We want you to focus the briefing primarily on the
background, evolution and prospects for Singhalese-Tamil relations,
and on the effects of the conflict betwen these two groups on the
outlook for the country.
In your prepared testimony, we would like you to address the
following issues:
1. Describe briefly the background of the Singhalese-Tamil conflict --
its history, causes and manifestations.
2. What are the principal aims -- and fears -- of each group? How
united -- or divided -- are each group in their goals and tactics? In
particular, how large a proportion of the Sri Lanka Tamils favor an
independent state, and support (or condone) terrorism as a means of
achieving this or other goals? How large a proporition of the
Singhalese are opposed to any significant concessions to Tamil
aspirations for autonomy in Tamil majority areas? Has there been any
discernible trend in the views of people in either groups toward more
extreme -- or more conciliatory -- positions in recent decades?
3. What role do the Indian Tamil estate workers play in the conflict?
What is the view of the island's other ethnic and religious groups
toward the Singhalese-Tamil struggle?
4. Describe briefly the size and caues of the various outbreaks of
Tamil-Singhalese violence in recent decades. Were the 1983 outbreaks
the worst the island has experienced in terms of the magnitude of the
killings, the breakdown of law and order, and the destruction of
property. What effect did this have on the economic situation and
outlook? Has the Tamil-Singhalese conflict caused aid donors,
including international institutions, to consider reducing their aid
to Sri Lanka? If not, are they likely to do so if no solution to the
problem is reached?
Approved For Release 2008/09/18: CIA-RDP90BO1370R000300500016-7
 Approved For Release 2008/09/18: CIA-RDP90BO1370R000300500016-7
5. What is the human rights situation for Tamils in normal times? Are
they subject to systematic discrimination or harsh treatment at the
hands of the government?
6. What steps has the government taken over the years to try to meet
Tamil desires for federalism or local autonomy? What do you see as the
main issues in dispute in the All-Parties Conference, and what is the
outlook for this or any other forum towork out a solution acceptable
to a substantial majority of each community?
7. What is the ethnic composition of the police and military forces?
Has this changed substantially in recent years? If so, in what ways?
How disciplined are the police and military in terms of acting
impartially in times of trouble between Tamils and Singhalese?
8. There have been numerous reports in the press and charges by Tamils
that the police and military have retaliated indiscriminately against
innocent Tamils following violent acts by Tamil terrorists. The
government, on the other hand, has said that most violence by the
policy and military occurs in response to specific attacks against
government instalations or personnel rather than hours or days after
terrorist acts. How would you describe the events of the past year --
and of the past month or two in the Jaffna area -- in this regard? How
has the Prevention Against Terrorism Act been used in the recent
conflicts? How would you describe prison conditions for those arrested
in connection with communal violence?
9. What role has India played in the conflict, both diplomatically and
in terms of providing safe haven and training for Tamil terrorists.
Please submit copies of your testimony -- including page-sized
maps, if possible -- in writing 48 hours in advance of this briefing.
N
cST H J S AR
Chaff
Chairman
Subcommittee on Human
Rights and International
Organizations
Approved For Release 2008/09/18: CIA-RDP90BO1370R000300500016-7