US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1380

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001380 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DS FOR DS/IP/SA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/ICI/PII 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC, LTTE - Peace Process, MIssion Security, Political Parties 
SUBJECT: PEACEFUL PROTEST AT AMERICAN EMBASSY COLOMBO, SRI 
LANKA 
 
1.  (SBU) At 1210 hours a group of approximately 100 members 
of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) held a protest 
in front of the American Embassy Colombo.  The protesters 
were requesting the United States assistance in stopping the 
recent attacks by the LTTE against members of the EPDP. 
Three members of the delegation were allowed to enter the 
compound under escort of the LGF and ARSO to deliver a 
petition to the Embassy,s Political Officer.  After 
delivering the petition the three individuals left the 
Embassy, and the crowd dispersed five minutes latter at 
approximately 1230 hours.  The crowd was peaceful, and the 
three EPDP members allowed to enter the compound willingly 
followed all security protocols. 
 
2.  (SBU) The group was protesting the death of EPDP Media 
Secretary Balandarajah Aiyer, who was killed by two gunmen on 
 
SIPDIS 
August 16, 2004 in Wellawatte, Sri Lanka.  The Liberation 
Tigers of Tamil Eelam are suspected of conducting the 
assassination.  The EPDP is a Tamil political organization 
that is opposed to the LTTE.  The protest began at the Indian 
High Commission and the moved to the British High Commission 
before arriving at the American Embassy.  (All three 
facilities are located on Galle Road in Colombo.)  On July 7, 
2004, an LTTE female suicide bomber attempted to assassinate 
the leader of the EPDP Douglas Devananda.  The attempt failed 
when police officers took the bomber into custody at the 
final security checkpoint before entering Devananda,s 
office.  The bomber was taken to a local police station 
across the street from the Embassy, where she detonated her 
device killing herself and four police officers.  A similar 
march was held at the Norwegian Embassy last month after an 
EPDP member was assassinated by the LTTE in the Eastern 
Province city of Batticaloa. 
 
3.  (SBU) The Regional Security Office Colombo learned that a 
protest would be held in front of the Embassy thirty minutes 
before the event.  The Local Guard Force and Surveillance 
Detection teams were briefed.  The Regional Security Officer 
briefed the Marine Security Guard Detachment Commander, and 
Marines were placed on stand-by at the MSG BEQ. The Sri Lanka 
Police also deployed additional police officers at the 
Embassy.   During the protest the Embassy personnel were 
instructed to remain on the compound, and both gates were 
closed. 
 
4.  (SBU) RSO Comments: Over the last two months the LTTE has 
conducted two assassinations and one suicide bomber attack in 
Colombo.  The recent violence can be attributed to the 
EPDP,s open support of breakaway LTTE leader Karuna, and the 
LTTE desire to crush any political or military rivals in the 
Tamil minority community.  Today's protest had no 
anti-American sentiments. 
ENTWISTLE