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	<title>The Sunday Leader &#187; WikiLeak</title>
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		<title>WikiLeaks Rivalled</title>
		<link>http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/01/30/wikileaks-rivalled/</link>
		<comments>http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/01/30/wikileaks-rivalled/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 29 Jan 2011 18:56:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WikiLeak]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thesundayleader.lk/?p=32488</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Dinouk Colombage Several WikiLeaks defectors including Julian Assange’s right hand man Daniel Domscheit-Berg have created a separate website. The new site, called ‘OpenLeaks,’ has been described by its founder Daniel Domscheit-Berg as being a ‘more democratic organisation.’ The new site plans to work with other organisations including the media when publishing documents, as opposed [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><strong>By Dinouk Colombage<br />
</strong></em></p>
<p>Several WikiLeaks defectors including Julian Assange’s right hand man Daniel Domscheit-Berg have created a separate website.<br />
The new site, called ‘OpenLeaks,’ has been described by its founder Daniel Domscheit-Berg as being a ‘more democratic organisation.’ The new site plans to work with other organisations including the media when publishing documents, as opposed to the WikiLeaks model of exclusivity in publishing.<br />
The split between Julian Assange and Daniel Domscheit-Berg was revealed when chat logs between the two were made public. Domscheit-Berg accused Assange of being ‘autocratic, behaving like some sort of emperor or slave trader.’<br />
Early this week, the website Cryptome, leaked the designs of the website, forcing its  creators to announce the website. However organisers stated that they would begin leaking documents only after the second half of this year.<br />
Daniel Domscheit-Berg accused Assange of being ‘a control freak’ following reports of Assange threatening to sue The Guardian Editor Alan Rusbridger in the UK if he released any of the diplomatic cables before receiving approval from him (Assange). OpenLeaks organisers have stated that the website will not accept or publish documents on its own platform. Instead they will act as a ‘digital drop box’ for its members. In contrast to WikiLeaks, OpenLeaks believes that it will partner with other organisations such as the media who promote transparency.<br />
Organisers of OpenLeaks believe the new website will allow users to interact rather than be the one telling the story. In a further twist, OpenLeaks has stated that it would not have released 250,000 State department cables. Members of the website explained that due to their intentions they do not envisage as much political pressure as WikiLeaks is currently experiencing.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>WikiLeak: Arms Procurement From North Korea And Iran</title>
		<link>http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/01/09/wikileak-arms-procurement-from-north-korea-and-iran/</link>
		<comments>http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/01/09/wikileak-arms-procurement-from-north-korea-and-iran/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 08 Jan 2011 18:54:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lead]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WikiLeak]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thesundayleader.lk/?p=31054</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the latest WikiLeak, Sri Lanka’s Lanka Logistics Company has been accused of trying to procure weapons from Iran and North Korea in 2009, a move in contravention of UN sanctions against the regimes. This state owned company falls under the purview of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It is not clear whether the deal went [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_31055" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 363px"><a href="http://www.thesundayleader.lk/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/page-15.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-31055" title="page-15" src="http://www.thesundayleader.lk/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/page-15.jpg" alt="" width="353" height="148" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The detained plane in Thailand carrying arms in December 2009</p></div>
<p>In the latest WikiLeak, Sri Lanka’s Lanka Logistics Company has been accused of trying to procure weapons from Iran and North Korea in 2009, a move in contravention of UN sanctions against the regimes. This state owned company falls under the purview of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.<br />
It is not clear whether the deal went through, but US objections in October of 2009 were strong enough for them to threaten broad sanctions against Sri Lanka. In December of 2009, a plane was detained in Thailand which held rocket propelled grenades, missiles and missile launchers. The crew reported that they had stopped in North Korea and were transiting through Sri Lanka.<br />
Lanka Logistics is a procurement company operating under the Ministry of Defence. In a 2007 government Gazette, the company was created by outlawing private arms procurement and placing all procurement under the Secretary of Defence, Gotabaya Rajapaksa.<br />
It drew the attention of US intelligence when they received reports that the company was attempting to procure arms from North Korea and Iran. In a cable released by the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, the US State Department said, “Given North Korea’s continued destabilizing activities, and the international reaction to those activities, now is not the time for business as usual with North Korea.”<br />
They also added, “We ask that you halt the purchase of all military equipment from Iran. Paragraph 5 of UNSCR 1747 provides that Iran “shall not supply, sell or transfer&#8230;any arms or related materiel, and that all States shall prohibit the procurement of such items from Iran by their nationals&#8230;” When contacted by Foreign Policy online, Sri Lanka’s U.N. Ambassador, Palitha Kohona said “At the time, the government issued a denial, a total denial to these allegations. I think the position remains the same.”</p>
<blockquote><p><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>The U.S. Cable On Sri Lanka Arms Procurement</strong></span><br />
1. (U) This message contains an action request, please see<br />
paragraph 6.<br />
<strong><br />
Summary </strong></p>
<p>2.    (S/NF) The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) is negotiating<br />
the procurement of Lethal Military Equipment (LME) from North<br />
Korea and Iran. Recent intelligence reports indicate that a<br />
Sri Lankan company responsible for the acquisition of<br />
equipment and services for the Sri Lankan military is<br />
negotiating the purchase of RPG-7 Rocket Propelled Grenade<br />
Launchers (RPGs) and Multiple Rocket Launchers (MRLs) from North Korea´s primary weapons trading firm. Some of these  proposed arms imports appear to violate UNSCR 1718. We have  also received information that Iran´s Ministry of Defense  Logistics Export Center (MODLEX) has recently provided a  multimillion-dollar quote to the Sri Lankan Navy for the<br />
installation of naval equipment. Moreover, an Iranian<br />
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Force element located in<br />
Sri Lanka provided details to an Iranian shipping company for<br />
the sale of weapons to the Sri Lanka Army. Post is requested<br />
to deliver the talking points in paragraph 6 and report any<br />
GOSL reactions. End Summary.<br />
<strong><br />
Background </strong></p>
<p>3.    (S/NF) This is not the first time Sri Lanka has attempted<br />
to purchase LME from countries under UN Security Council<br />
sanctions. In August 2006, the USG demarched the GOSL<br />
regarding its interest in acquiring pyrotechnic and armament<br />
spare parts for training aircraft, as well as hundreds of<br />
weapons from Iran (Ref A).<br />
4.    (S/NF) As part of our ongoing dialogue on<br />
nonproliferation, we would like once again to express our<br />
concern over Sri Lanka´s potential procurement of lethal<br />
military equipment from Iran and North Korea. We also want<br />
to remind the GOSL of possible sanctions under the Iran,<br />
North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA). The<br />
INKSNA requires regular reports to Congress identifying<br />
individuals and entities who have transferred to or acquired<br />
from Iran, North Korea, or Syria certain items related to<br />
weapons of mass destruction, ballistic or cruise missiles or<br />
advanced conventional weapons.<br />
<strong><br />
Objectives/Action Request </strong></p>
<p>5.    (S//REL SRI LANKA) Post is requested to draw upon the<br />
talking points in paragraph 6 with appropriate host<br />
government officials. Post should pursue the following<br />
objectives:<br />
&#8211; Remind the GOSL that any arms purchase contracts entered<br />
into by Sri Lankan entities with North Korea or Iran, if<br />
implemented, could trigger sanctions against the entities<br />
involved under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria<br />
Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA).<br />
&#8211; Recall that paragraph 8(b) of United Nations Security<br />
Council Resolution 1718 requires member states to prohibit<br />
the procurement of certain military-related items, including<br />
LME such as combat aircraft, battle tanks, large caliber<br />
artillery systems, or missile systems, or related materiel<br />
including spare parts, and that any import of such items by<br />
Sri Lanka would constitute a violation of UNSCR 1718. In<br />
addition, paragraph 8(c) of UNSCR 1718 requires UN Member<br />
States to prevent transfer from North Korea of any technical<br />
training, advice, services or assistance related to these<br />
items. The full list of items prohibited by UNSCR 1718 can<br />
be found on the UN´s web site<br />
(www.un.org/sc/committees/1718/xport list.shtml). Items on<br />
these lists (identified in Security Council documents<br />
S/2006/814, S/2006/815, and S/2006/853) are also prohibited<br />
for transfer regardless of their intended use.<br />
&#8211; Emphasize our concern that Lanka Logistics and<br />
Technologies Ltd may attempt to circumvent export controls on<br />
transfers with North Korea.<br />
&#8211; Request the GOSL to investigate Lanka Logistics and<br />
Technologies Ltd and provide the United States with the<br />
results of its investigation as soon as possible.<br />
&#8211; Request the GOSL to provide information on whether its<br />
Navy is negotiating with MODLEX $11.4 million for rockets and<br />
rocket launchers that can be installed on naval equipment.<br />
&#8211; Request the GOSL to provide clarification on negotiations<br />
with Iran on procurement of weapons and defense equipment for the Sri Lankan Army in the amount of $40 million.<br />
&#8211; Note that under 1747, Iran is prohibited from exporting<br />
arms and states are to prohibit the procurement of such items<br />
from Iran by their nationals.<br />
&#8211; Urge GOSL authorities to stop any military negotiations<br />
with North Korea or Iran involving LME or sensitive<br />
technology.<br />
Talking Points</p>
<p>6.    (SECRET//REL SIR LANKA) Note that the first four bullets<br />
in the Talking Points are derived from intelligence and must<br />
be used verbatim. These points are bracketed and flagged as<br />
“VERBATIM POINTS.”<br />
Begin Talking Points.<br />
(BEGIN VERBATIM POINTS:<br />
&#8211; We have information that Lanka Logistics and Technologies<br />
Ltd has been negotiating the purchase of RPG-7 Rocket<br />
Propelled Grenade Launchers (RPGs) and Multiple Rocket<br />
Launchers (MRLs) from the Korea Mining Development Company (KOMID), North Korea´s primary weapons trading firm.<br />
&#8211; Our information indicates that this sale has not been completed. &#8212; We also have information that Iran´s Ministry of Defense  Logistics Export Center (MODLEX), in December 2007, provided the Sri Lankan Navy a quote of $11.4 million for rockets and rocket launchers that could be installed on Sri Lankan naval equipment. The offer did not include the cost of installation and training, which could be provided at an additional cost.<br />
&#8211; We also understand that an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary<br />
Guard Corps Qods Force element located in Sri Lanka, in<br />
February 2008, provided details to an Iranian shipping<br />
company for the procurement of weapons to the Sri Lanka Army. The total cost of the weapons and defense equipment totaled  approximately $40 million. END VERBATIM POINTS.)<br />
&#8211; Lanka Logistics and Technologies Ltd., according to your<br />
own press, handles the acquisition of equipment and services<br />
for the Sri Lankan military. &#8212; Any arms purchase contracts with North Korea or Iran, if  implemented, could trigger sanctions against the entities  involved under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA).<br />
&#8211; Under INKSNA, the United States is required to report to<br />
Congress persons and companies who have transferred to or<br />
acquired from North Korea, Iran, or Syria goods, services or<br />
technology controlled by multilateral nonproliferation export<br />
control regimes, specifically the Missile Technology Control<br />
Regime, the Australia Group, the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and the Wassenaar Arrangement.&#8211; MRLS, RPGs, and other weapons and munitions are controlled  under the Wassenaar Arrangement and are therefore reportable under the INKSNA.&#8211; Given North Korea’s continued destabilizing activities,  and the international reaction to those activities, now is not the time for business as usual with North Korea.&#8211; We ask that you halt the purchase of all military<br />
equipment from Iran. Paragraph 5 of UNSCR 1747 provides that Iran “shall not supply, sell or transfer&#8230;any arms or<br />
related materiel, and that all States shall prohibit the<br />
procurement of such items from Iran by their nationals&#8230;”<br />
&#8211; Moreover, DIO is an entity subject to the asset freeze<br />
provisions in paragraph 12 of UNSCR 1737, so any goods<br />
received from the DIO or any payments made to the DIO must be frozen under the provisions of the resolution.&#8211; We urge you to investigate the above activities and share<br />
with us at your earliest convenience the results of your<br />
investigation.&#8211; Beyond these cases, we urge Sri Lanka to cease all cooperation with North Korea, Iran, and Syria on goods and technologies controlled under the nonproliferation export control regimes and United Nations Security Council<br />
Resolutions we have cited.<br />
&#8211; We look forward to our continued cooperation on this and<br />
other related matters. (If Asked) &#8212; Sanctions that could be imposed under INKSNA include:<br />
a. No department or agency of the United States Government<br />
or U.S. company may procure, or enter into any contract for<br />
procurement of any goods, technology, or services from<br />
them;<br />
b. No department or agency of the United States Government<br />
or U.S. company may provide any assistance to them, and they<br />
shall not be eligible to participate in any assistance<br />
program of the United States Government;<br />
c. No sales to them of any item on the United States<br />
Munitions List are permitted and all sales to them of any<br />
defense articles, defense services, or design and<br />
construction services under the Arms Export Control Act are<br />
terminated; and,<br />
d. No new individual licenses shall be granted for the<br />
transfer to them of items controlled under the Export<br />
Administration Act of 1979 or the Export Administration<br />
Regulations, and existing such licenses are suspended.<br />
End Talking Points.<br />
7. (U) Washington appreciates Post´s assistance on this<br />
matter. Department Point of Contact is xxxx. Please slug all replies to<br />
ISN/CATR, EAP/K and SCA/INS.<br />
CLINTON</p></blockquote>
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