US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1216

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001216 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS; NSC FOR E. MILLARD 
 
PLEASE PASS TOPEC 
 
E.O. 12958:    DECL:  07-22-14 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, CE, LTTE - Peace Process, Political Parties 
SUBJECT: TNA MPS REQUEST USG SOFTEN STANCE ON LTTE; 
CLAIM ALLEGIANCE TO TIGERS 
 
Refs: Colombo 1190 and previous 
 
(U) Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead. 
Reasons 1.5 (b,d). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  In a July 16 meeting with poloff, TNA 
MPs had a litany of familiar requests for the USG: lift 
the ban on the LTTE, stop USG military assistance to the 
GSL, promote the ISGA as the basis for peace talks, stop 
making statements against the LTTE, and pressure the GSL 
to stop helping Karuna.  Most of the requests were not 
new, but did seem more focused than usual.  The TNA MPs 
claimed direct ties to the LTTE, the first time the TNA 
has done so to a USG official.  TNA comments about US 
activities and statements reveal they are listening to 
what we say.  The TNA certainly has close links to the 
Tigers  but they are not part of the LTTE.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C) On July 16, poloff visited Jaffna (reported 
septel) and met with seven of the nine Jaffna Tamil 
National Alliance (TNA) MPs, (Mr. Mavai Senathirajah, 
Mr. N. Raviraj, Mr. K. Sivanesan, Mr. K. Sivajilingam, 
Mr. S. Kajendran, Ms. Pathmini Sithamparanathan, and Mr. 
Eelaventhen). 
 
Lift the Ban 
---------------- 
3.  (C) Kajendran (a former student leader from Jaffna 
University and Prabhakaran's rumored future son-in-law) 
began the discussion by emphasizing the humanitarian 
crisis faced by Jaffna's IDPs, but quickly suggested 
that if the USG wants to help with the peace process, it 
needs to talk to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam 
(LTTE).  Poloff pointed out that the LTTE's status as an 
FTO prevented the USG from talking to the Tigers.  To 
this, Sivajilingam exclaimed, "The TNA is under the 
leadership of the LTTE organization, of our supreme 
leader Mr. Prabhakaran!"  Several other MPs loudly 
agreed with him.  (Note: This was the first time Mission 
has heard the TNA clearly claim direct ties to the LTTE, 
at least to a USG official. End Note.) 
Sithamparanathan, an MP supposedly hand-picked by the 
LTTE to run in April's election, added that the USG has 
a "misconception" of the LTTE and asserted that the LTTE 
are not terrorists.  She added that the Tamil people are 
disappointed the USG has banned the LTTE and that if the 
USG lifted the ban, it would give the LTTE equal 
footing.  Sivanesan added that other nations (India, UK, 
Canada) would follow the example of the USG and lift 
their bans as well. 
 
4.  (C) The MPs also discussed the "legitimacy" of the 
LTTE.  Sivanesan made the point that the April 2 
parliamentary election (which yielded 22 TNA MPs) gave a 
mandate from the Tamil people to LTTE leader 
Prabhakaran.  Sithamparanathan suggested that the Tamil 
freedom struggle is legitimate and the USG should 
pressure the GSL to grant self-determination to the 
Tamil people.  No other organization has the courage to 
represent the Tamils and the MPs would like the USG to 
recognize this.  The Tamils and Sinhalese, she 
explained, represent two separate nations.  The Tamils 
are "no longer minorities" and they have their own 
nation.  As such, when these two nations are having 
problems, the USG should treat the LTTE and GSL as 
equals. 
 
Stop USG Military Assistance to GSL 
------------------------------------ 
 
5.  (C) Another popular theme the MPs focused on was the 
USG grant of a Coast Guard cutter to the GSL under the 
Excess Defense Articles Program.  Sivanesan claimed that 
the USG has disturbed the balance of power in Sri Lanka 
by giving the GSL the warship.  By encouraging the GSL 
to strengthen its military, the USG is against the Tamil 
nation.  The Tamil people were disappointed the USG has 
chosen to strengthen the GSL.  Pro-LTTE website 
TamilNet's July 16 coverage of the meeting with poloff 
headlined, "US military assistance weakening peace 
process - TNA." 
 
6.  (C) Eelaventhen, the sole TNA national list 
appointee, demanded that when the USG gives money for 
rehabilitation of the North and East, it should funnel 
this money to the LTTE.  Poloff noted that the LTTE's 
FTO status made this impossible.  Eelaventhen conceded 
that the money should be given to NGOs - but under no 
circumstances should the USG give money directly to the 
GSL for rehabilitation in the North and East. 
 
Promote ISGA as the Basis for Peace Talks 
----------------------------------------- 
 
7.  (C) Former Jaffna mayor Raviraj, who acted as 
translator for most of his fellow MPs, noted the 
importance of the Interim Self Governing Authority 
(ISGA) as the basis for peace talks.  He explained that 
because the Sub-Committee for Immediate Rehabilitation 
and Humanitarian Needs (SIHERN) and the North East 
Rehabilitation Fund (NERF) failed to work, the ISGA is 
now needed.  The USG should pressure the GSL to start 
peace talks based on the LTTE's request for an ISGA. 
 
Stop Making Statements Against the LTTE 
--------------------------------------- 
 
8.  (C) Raviraj also stressed that the international 
community, especially the USG, needs to be neutral about 
human rights.  He was not happy with recent USG 
statements against the LTTE (referring to Mission's July 
9 press statement condemning the July 7 suicide bombing 
in Colombo and calling on the GSL and LTTE to take steps 
to halt violence in the east).  Raviraj complained that 
the USG did not make statements when LTTE cadre are 
killed in the east and that the MPs would like the USG 
to stop making statements against the LTTE. 
 
Pressure GSL to Stop Helping Karuna 
----------------------------------- 
 
9.  (C) Finally, Raviraj raised the issue of breakaway 
eastern LTTE leader Karuna.  He stated that the GSL is 
engaged in destroying the Tamil nation through Karuna 
and that the USG should "exert pressure" on the GSL to 
stop Sri Lankan Military Intelligence from its 
involvement with Karuna. 
 
10.  (C) At various points in the conversation, poloff 
reiterated the USG stance that the LTTE must renounce 
terror in word and deed in order to be de-listed, 
including ceasing assassinations and child recruitment, 
among other activities.  Where appropriate, poloff noted 
that the LTTE's FTO status prohibited assistance to the 
Tigers, but did give an overview of USG assistance in to 
people in the North and East and cited examples of DoD 
(BRAVA humanitarian medical mission), DoS (demining), 
and USAID programming. 
 
Comment 
------- 
11.  (C)  Heated rhetoric aside, the TNA has close links 
to the Tigers, but they are not the LTTE.  Most of the 
MPs' requests were not new, but did seem more focused 
(and intransigent) than usual.  Their resentment of the 
USG FTO designation of the LTTE indicates the degree to 
which they crave acceptance from the international 
community.  Our public statements are intended to give 
the message to the LTTE that they will not gain 
international recognition until they change their ways, 
and our military cooperation is intended to send the 
message that a stronger Sri Lankan military makes a 
return to war less of an option.  Based on the heated 
reaction from these MPs, the LTTE has heard the 
messages. 
 
 
LUNSTEAD