US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO646

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000646 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OFFICIAL INFORMAL 
 
FOR SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  04/15/14 
TAGS: AMGT, CE, MV, LTTE - Peace Process, Human Rights 
SUBJECT:  OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 057 (04/15/04) 
 
 
Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reasons 1.5 
(b) and (d). 
 
CONTENTS: UPDATE ON THE SITUATION IN THE EAST 
-         OATH-TAKING FOR JVP MINISTERS 
 
UPDATE ON THE SITUATION IN THE EAST 
----------------------------------- 
 
1.  (C) FYI.  This is an update to our April 14 front- 
channel (Colombo 628) about the crumbling of rebel Tiger 
commander Karuna's forces in the east: 
 
-- The whereabouts of Karuna remain a mystery.  Although 
speculation remains rife that Karuna is either in Sri 
Lankan military custody or in discussions with the GSL, 
military contacts are close-mouthed on the subject and 
have not confirmed contacts with Karuna.  There are also 
rumors that Karuna has left the country.  Contacts at 
the Norwegian-run Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) 
state that they are unaware of Karuna whereabouts. 
 
-- SLMM personnel have resumed their monitoring duties 
in the eastern districts that were formerly under 
Karuna's control and report that the situation there is 
largely calm and quiet. 
 
-- UNICEF is reporting that a large number (upwards of 
150) child combatants were released on April 11 by the 
LTTE in the east (as mentioned in Colombo 628).  This is 
in addition to 100 or so child combatants who earlier 
had deserted Karuna's ranks.  The total estimate is that 
upwards of 400-500 children may have been released from 
the LTTE's clutches in recent days.  UNICEF is working 
rapidly with its local partners in the east to process 
the children and return them home. 
 
-- The pro-LTTE website, "TamilNet," is reporting that 
"Lt. Col." Neelan, a high ranking LTTE intelligence 
operative, was killed by Karuna's men as the rebel 
commander fled his bases in the east during the LTTE's 
April 9-10 assault.  Neelan (if this is the same fellow 
and it seems to be) was a close associate of LTTE 
intelligence head Pottu Amman and, along with Pottu 
Amman and LTTE leader Prabhakaran, is alleged to have 
been involved in the planning that led to the 
assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991. 
 
-- TamilNet has also reported that all 22 MPs in the pro- 
LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) are scheduled to meet 
with the Tiger leadership in Kilinochchi on Friday, 
April 16.  This will be the TNA MPs' first meeting with 
the Tigers since the collapse of Karuna's faction, and 
may be an opportunity to resolve differences between the 
majority of the TNA MPs who remained pro-Prabhakaran and 
those who had demonstrated some degree of loyalty to 
Karuna.  (We would say that those who showed some sort 
of inclination toward Karuna are in some trouble.) 
(POL) 
 
OATH-TAKING FOR JVP MINISTERS? 
------------------------------ 
 
2.  (C) FYI.  There are some reports that the Janatha 
Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MPs who boycotted the April 10 
ministerial swearing-in ceremony could take their oaths 
as ministers and deputy ministers within a few days (see 
Colombo 637 for background).  On the other hand, we have 
heard that President Kumaratunga is on holiday in the 
tea plantation region of Nuwara Eliya until April 18, 
which would make any imminent swearing in highly 
unlikely.  Other contacts suggest that SLFP-JVP tensions 
could be protracted as the party attempts to negotiate 
their grievances over ministerial appointments with the 
President.  The situation appears up in the air at this 
point.  (POL) 
 
LUNSTEAD