US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1109

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001109 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS; NSC FOR E. MILLARD. PLEASE ALSO 
PASS TOPEC. 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2014 
TAGS: PREL, CE, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT: LACK OF TRUST STYMIES PROGRESS ON PEACE SOLHEIM 
TELLS DONORS 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead.  Reason 1.5 (b,d). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY: Eric Solheim says the main issue now is 
trust and confidence. The Tigers are focusing on attacks on 
them in the East committed by pro-Karuna forces which they 
believe are being aided by Sri Lankan military intelligence. 
The GSL said it would make sure there are no more such 
operations. The Tigers are also upset about anti-Tiger 
broadcasts on state radio. If the situation calms down, 
Solheim believes other issues can be resolved and 
negotiations begun, as both sides want to get back to the 
table.  The Tigers deny they have resumed under-age 
recruitment. Norway will continue to talk to both sides and 
hope the situation in the East calms down. END SUMMARY. 
 
 
2.  (C) Norwegian Special Envoy Eric Solheim briefed donor 
reps July 1 on his meetings in Sri Lanka.  He had met GSL 
figures, including President Kumaratunga, Opposition leader 
Ranil Wickremasinghe, and LTTE political chief Tamilchelvan. 
 
The Karuna Affair 
----------------- 
 
3.  (C) Solheim said the LTTE was focused on the situation in 
the East and Karuna. They believe Karuna groups are operating 
against them in the East with the assistance of Military 
Intelligence. They said no progress could be made until this 
situation ended, and that it was a violation of the Cease 
Fire Agreement.  In response, GSL leaders said they will make 
sure there are no more such operations. They noted that a new 
Chief of Army Staff took office on July 1, and that he would 
make certain this was the case. In response to a question as 
to whether the GSL had admitted supporting Karuna, Solheim 
noted that details of past donor briefing had been leaked 
almost verbatim to the press, and that he therefore did not 
want to answer that sensitive question. (Comment: We will get 
that information in a more confidential setting.) 
 
Anti-Tiger Broadcasts 
--------------------- 
 
4.  (C) The Tigers also complained that the 
government-controlled Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation 
(SLBC) was transmitting everyday an hour-long production from 
a London-based "Tamil Broadcasting Corporation" (TBC). This 
was described as a pro-Karuna group which was advocating 
violence against the LTTE and demerger of the Northern and 
Eastern provinces. When Solheim raised the issue, the GSL 
said it would look into it. 
 
Lack of Trust Stymies Progress 
------------------------------ 
 
5. (C) Solheim said there had been no major developments on 
the issue of the agenda for the talks, with both sides 
sticking to their previous positions.  The problem, he said 
was a lack of confidence, as exemplified by the Karuna and 
TBC issues.  With confidence and trust, he was sure the 
agenda issue could be solved quickly. 
 
Development Issues 
------------------ 
 
6. (C) Solheim said the government was eager to increase 
assistance to the North and East.  The LTTE is ready to 
continue the current situation, in which some assistance is 
channeled to the area through the Provincial Council. They 
are not ready for any major initiatives (such as a NERF-like 
structure) until the ISGA is in place and running.  He noted 
that the LTTE is ready--when the situation in the East calms 
down, to begin talks on the subject of an interim 
administration. They are not insisting that the talks be only 
on their own ISGA proposal. 
 
Ready to Move? 
-------------- 
 
7. (C) In response to the Ambassador's question, Solheim said 
that he believed there was a strong will on both sides to 
return to the table. If the confidence issues can be 
resolved, he believes that will solve the agenda issue.  He 
said he believed that the LTTE had no intention to go back to 
war, and that their threatening press statements were for 
public consumption. He agreed that so far the Government had 
shown flexibility on the agenda issue, while the LTTE had not. 
 
Recruitment? What Recruitment? 
------------------------------ 
 
8.  (C) The Norwegians discussed child recruitment and 
re-recruitment at length with the LTTE, which said that 
UNICEF's figures were wrong. The Norwegians delivered a 
strong message that (1) this was an important human rights 
issue and (2) the LTTE actions were damaging to their image 
around the world. 
 
Norwegians Will Press On 
------------------------ 
 
9.  Solheim said that Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister 
Helgeson might return to Sri Lanka around the end of July, 
and Solheim himself might get to London to speak to 
Balasingham.  In the meantime, Ambassador Brattsker would 
continue his efforts with both sides, and there would be 
other contacts. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
10.  (C) Solheim was realistic but not discouraged.  The 
immediate issue is whether the targeted acts against the LTTE 
in the East will cease.  Solheim noted that the Tigers were 
more concerned with the ground situation in the East than 
they were with Karuna as an individual. On that issue, during 
a meeting June 30, Defense Secretary Herath implicitly 
admitted to Ambassador that the military was holding Karuna, 
and agreed that the best thing might be for Karuna to simply 
come out into the open and join the political process.  On 
July 1, anti-LTTE Tamil political leader Douglas Devananda 
told Ambassador that he expected that would happen soon, 
perhaps next week. 
LUNSTEAD