US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO469

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Identifier:	04COLOMBO469
Wikileaks:	View 04COLOMBO469 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Colombo
Created:	2004-03-17 11:21:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	AMGT CE MV LTTE
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000469 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OFFICIAL INFORMAL 
 
FOR SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  03/17/14 
TAGS: AMGT, CE, MV, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT:  OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 042 (03/17/04) 
 
Classified by DCM James F. Entwistle for reasons 1.5 (b) 
and (d). 
 
CONTENTS: CALL FROM THE NORWEGIANS RE LTTE 
          POLLS:  PROBLEMS FOR UNP? 
          DCM TO PUTTULAM 
          CODEL DREIER/MRS. MCCAIN 
 
CALL FROM THE NORWEGIANS RE LTTE 
-------------------------------- 
 
1.  (C) Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar called 
Ambassador Lunstead March 17 to relay a conversation the 
Norwegians had with Pulithevan, head of the LTTE "Peace 
Secretariat."  In his discussion with the Norwegians, 
 
SIPDIS 
Pulithevan stated that the LTTE had had no involvement 
with the rumors that the U.S. was supporting rebel LTTE 
commander Karuna in his split with the Tiger 
organization.  According to Brattskar, Pulithevan went 
on to say that he might even call the U.S. Embassy 
personally to relay the message.  To date, we have not 
received any such call.  (POL) 
 
POLLS:  PROBLEMS FOR UNP? 
------------------------ 
 
2.  (U) FYI.  A recently released poll on Sri Lankans' 
attitudes toward the economy, peace process, and 
elections reveals that the UNP might be in trouble. 
While generally earning high marks for its management of 
the peace process, the UNP does very poorly regarding 
the economy, especially among southerners.  We are not 
sure of the validity of this poll by the Org-Smart 
group, but it is something to mull over. 
 
3.  (SBU) Late today, we also received a copy of a poll 
done by the CPA, a local think-tank, with USAID funding. 
It also shows that the UNP is doing poorly, especially 
on "are you better off than you were a year ago?" type 
questions.  We will report more on this.  (POL) 
 
DCM TO PUTTULAM 
--------------- 
 
4.  (U) Jim will be cutting ribbons on AID/OTI projects 
in Puttulam Thursday and won't be in the office.  (DCM) 
 
CODEL DREIER/MRS. MCCAIN 
------------------------ 
 
5. (SBU)  We will respond to the Codel Dreier 
frontchannel tomorrow after we put our heads together on 
their program.  DATT has told the CODEL military contact 
that we need info for the flight clearance pronto.  Re 
visitors, AMB is having Mrs. McCain over this evening 
after she returns from Jaffna.  (DCM) 
 
LUNSTEAD