US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO568

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000568 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OFFICIAL INFORMAL 
 
FOR SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  03/31/14 
TAGS: AMGT, CE, MV, Elections, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT:  OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 051 (03/31/04) 
 
Classified by DCM James F. Entwistle for reasons 1.5 (b) 
and (d). 
 
CONTENTS: TENSIONS IN BATTICALOA 
-         APRIL 2 ELECTION 
-         CODEL DREIER 
-         MPP 
 
TENSIONS IN BATTICALOA 
---------------------- 
 
1.  (SBU) FYI.  Just want to flag that tensions between 
the main LTTE and rebel commander Karuna in Batticaloa 
District in the east are rising.  As you know, a TNA 
candidate and a relative were gunned down on March 30, 
probably by a LTTE hit squad (the LTTE, for its part, 
has denied involvement).  Various contacts in Batticaloa 
have told us that they are under direct threat from 
either LTTE thugs or Karuna thugs as the case may be. 
There are also reports that Karuna is putting pressure 
on all "Jaffna" Tamils to leave Batticaloa or else. 
There are also reports of tensions along the Trincomalee 
- Batticaloa border near the area of Verugal.  In this 
area, LTTE forces (who have apparently consolidated 
their control of Trincomalee) and Karuna's men have been 
eyeballing each other across a stream for some time.  We 
here that increased forces may have gathered in the area 
of late.  There had been much talk that the LTTE would 
wait until after the April 2 election before moving 
against Karuna in some way.  It appears that the pieces 
are being put together for something.  Given all the 
reports and rumors, Batticaloa is reportedly very much 
on edge (no surprise there).  Father Miller, an Amcit 
priest who is based in Batticaloa, told us the area was 
"quiet but very tense," as of late today.  (POL) 
 
APRIL 2 ELECTION 
---------------- 
 
2.  (C) FYI.  We are sending out a comprehensive message 
on the policy implications of possible post-election 
scenarios tonight.  We plan to do a snapshot of the 
situation on the eve of the election tomorrow, April 1. 
By the way, we expect the election results to pretty 
much dribble in, but by mid-day Saturday, April 3, we 
should have some indication on which way the wind is 
blowing.  We'll keep Department regularly informed 
throughout the weekend, of course.  (POL) 
 
CODEL DREIER 
------------ 
 
3. (SBU) We'll be sending another e-mail on the other 
system in a few minutes.  We met this afternoon and we 
seem to be in pretty good shape.  The one (big) piece 
missing is whether CBK will receive the CODEL but 
there's no point in pushing the President's office on 
that again until after election weekend.  The airfield 
question has been resolved (in our favor).  (DCM) 
 
MPP 
--- 
 
4. (SBU)  We are looking over State 68150 which provides 
Department suggestions for our MPP.  We'll have our 
views formulated by the middle of next week.  We're a 
bit confused about process.  The MPP database we put our 
original stuff into is now empty and what appear to be 
final MPPs are posted on the same site.  By what means 
do we send in our reaction to Department suggestions? 
(DCM) 
 
LUNSTEAD