US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO653

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000653 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, S/CT, INR/NESA 
DEPARTMENT PLEASE ALSO PASS TOPEC 
NSC FOR E. MILLARD 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  04-16-14 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, PINS, MOPS, PHUM, EAID, CE, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT:  After ousting rebel commander, LTTE reasserts 
control over Tamil areas in the east 
 
Refs:  (A) Oslo 663 (Notal) 
-      (B) Colombo 628, and previous 
 
(U) Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead. 
Reasons 1.5 (b, d). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  In the face of the LTTE's recent 
offensive, breakaway commander Karuna's forces appear to 
have totally melted away and, as of April 16, the 
situation in the east is calm.  Karuna's whereabouts 
remain a mystery.  For its part, the GSL military 
continues to deny reports that it is providing 
protection to Karuna.  The LTTE says one of its senior 
intelligence operatives named "Neelan" was killed by 
Karuna's forces before they fled.  Neelan was reportedly 
involved in the 1991 killing of Rajiv Gandhi.  The 
humanitarian situation in the east is improving.  At 
this point, the LTTE, in ousting Karuna, seems to be 
well on its way to reasserting full control in Tamil 
areas in the east, thus ending the greatest internal 
threat it has faced as an organization in years.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C) KARUNA'S FORCES MELT AWAY:  Breakaway eastern 
rebel leader Karuna's forces seem to have totally melted 
away in the face of the April 9-10 offensive launched by 
the main Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) 
organization.  As of August 16, the situation in the 
east is reported to be calm and there are no indications 
of armed resistance to the main LTTE.  Hagrup Haukland, 
the deputy head of the Norwegian government-run Sri 
Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), was quoted in the local 
press on April 15 as stating that main LTTE was steadily 
re-establishing control of Tamil areas in the east and 
that there was no trace of Karuna's once sizable 
military force left.  Haukland also confirmed that the 
SLMM had resumed its monitoring duties in the areas of 
Batticaloa and Ampara Districts that had been formerly 
been under Karuna's control.  The monitors were going 
about their business peacefully and there was no sign 
that the LTTE's internecine conflict in the region would 
be renewed. 
 
3.  (C) In another sign that normality is returning to 
the region, eastern representatives of the Sri Lankan 
military and the LTTE met April 15 for the first time 
since Karuna's early March split with the Tigers.  The 
meeting took place in Vavunativu town in Batticaloa 
District, and involved Brigadier V. Wijegunawardene of 
the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), and Ramesh, a former deputy to 
Karuna and now the head of LTTE forces in Batticaloa and 
Ampara.  SLMM chief Trond Furohovde also participated in 
the discussion.  The LTTE and the SLA agreed to uphold 
the February 2002 ceasefire agreement and to re- 
establish a schedule of regular meetings. 
 
4.  (C) REBEL LEADER'S LOCATION UNKNOWN:  In the 
meantime, Karuna's whereabouts remain unknown, with 
rumors persisting that he is in the custody of the Sri 
Lankan military.  For its part, the military continues 
to deny that it is providing protection to Karuna or 
that it is touch with him.  Major S. Liwhella, who works 
in the Sri Lankan military's media unit, told poloff on 
April 16 that the Sri Lankan military had no knowledge 
of Karuna's whereabouts, and denied any and all reports 
that he was under military protection.  Unconfirmed 
rumors continue to swirl that Karuna may have left Sri 
Lanka to places unknown, but there is no evidence of 
that.  Karuna could also easily be holed up in some 
jungle hideout in the east. 
 
5.  (C) TOP LTTE OFFICIAL REPORTEDLY KILLED:  In another 
related development, the pro-LTTE website "TamilNet" has 
reported that a high ranking LTTE intelligence 
operative, "Lt. Col. Neelan," was killed by Karuna's men 
just before they fled from their positions due to the 
LTTE offensive.  Neelan, who had reportedly been 
detained by Karuna since early March, seems to have been 
a big fish in LTTE circles.  He was reportedly the 
deputy to LTTE intelligence head Pottu Amman and the 
two, along with LTTE head Prabhakaran, are alleged to 
have been involved in the plotting of the May 1991 
assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.  In addition to the 
killing of Neelan, the LTTE has publicized the names of 
four other cadre -- a "major", two "captains" and a 
"lieutenant" -- purportedly killed by Karuna's forces 
while under detention. 
 
6.  (SBU) HUMANITARIAN UPDATE:  The humanitarian 
situation in the east continues to improve.  Internally 
displaced persons (IDPs) are slowly returning home and 
UNHCR is in the process of closing down its IDP center. 
Contacts report that all food rations and non-food items 
at the center have been distributed.  UNICEF is also 
activating its contingency plan to scale up operations 
to handle the large number (upwards of 150) child 
combatants who were released in the east on April 11 
(see Reftels).  This is the largest single release ever 
of former LTTE child soldiers.  Additionally, UNICEF is 
attempting to locate and process another 100 children 
who reportedly deserted Karuna's ranks in recent days. 
Combined, these two releases represent one quarter of 
the number of child soldiers estimated to be in the 
LTTE's ranks.  With these releases, the LTTE has stated, 
through TamilNet, that all child combatants in the 
Batticaloa-Ampara districts have now been released. 
There are other reports that another batch of child 
soldiers from the Trincomalee District may be released 
in coming days, bringing the total number of released 
child soldiers to somewhere around 350-500, but the 
exact figure is not confirmed as of yet. 
 
7.  (C) COMMENT:  At this point, the LTTE, in ousting 
Karuna, seems to be well on its way to reasserting full 
control in Tamil areas in the east, thus ending the 
greatest internal threat it has faced as an organization 
in years.  The LTTE's military and political operation 
to displace Karuna was impressive, serving to reinforce 
the organization's efficient and fierce image.  Thus 
far, the group seems to be treading carefully with 
respect to revenge attacks on former Karuna elements in 
the east.  To the LTTE, however, revenge is a dish best 
served cold, so such attacks could take place well down 
the line.  END COMMENT. 
 
8.  (U) Minimize considered. 
 
LUNSTEAD