US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1643

S E C R E T COLOMBO 001643 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
TERREP 
 
DS FOR DS/IP/ITA AND DS/IP/SA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: X1 
TAGS: ASEC, CE, PTER, MIssion Security 
SUBJECT: REPORTED LTTE THREAT TO TARGET AN AMERICAN 
 
REF: TD-314/52804-04 
 
Classified By: RSO Alex Moore, Reason: 1.4(c). 
Exempt from declassification, Reason: X1 
 
1. (S/NF) Reftel outlined a source report that the Sri Lankan 
terrorist group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), 
had been instructed by its leader, Velupillai PRABHAKARAN, to 
begin to collect specific information in an attempt to 
identify individuals connected to Western intelligence 
services believed to be spying against the LTTE.  To this 
end, PRABHAKARAN allegedly gave a precise order to proceed 
with the assassination of several individuals including one 
American named CHALK who worked for Rand Corporation and was 
under contract with the U.S. DOD. 
 
2. (S/NF) Embassy Colombo has identified the individual we 
believe to be the alleged target as Peter CHALK 
(chalk22000@yahoo.com) of Rand Corporation.  DATT Colombo 
advised that he met with Peter Chalk of the Rand Corporation 
several months ago to discuss "research" CHALK was conducting 
on the LTTE.  CHALK did in fact travel through LTTE territory 
during his visit.  DATT could not confirm that CHALK was an 
American citizen since he reportedly spoke with an Australian 
accent.  CHALK's whereabouts are currently unknown, but it is 
believed he departed Sri Lanka some time ago.  On 09/30/04, 
DATT sent CHALK an email message using the above address 
advising him to contact DS/IP/ITA (Daniele) as soon as 
possible regarding important information of interest to him. 
 
3. (S/NF)  An Embassy New Delhi officer, in Colombo on 
separate business, was advised of CHALK's identity on 
09/30/04. 
 
4. (S/NF) RSO Comment: If the information that the LTTE has 
made a decision to assassinate an American is true, we 
consider this to be a significant turn of events.  LTTE has 
never targeted Americans in the past, although Americans have 
been injured in past LTTE bombings.  In spite of a Feb 2002 
ceasefire with the government, the LTTE has continued a trend 
of political assassinations against rival Tamils and some 
Muslims, estimated to total around 330 during this period. 
LTTE leader PRABHAKARAN has become increasingly aggressive 
since the split within the LTTE in March, taking his campaign 
of assassinations to Colombo in an attempt to destroy LTTE 
rebel leader KARUNA and his supporters.  The  suicide bombing 
attempt that took place just a block from the Embassy in July 
was intended for the leader of a rival Tamil political party. 
 Since the reftel mentions "several individuals" in addition 
to CHALK, we need to investigate this information further. 
We have significant numbers of TDY visitors representing DOD, 
USAID, and a wide range of other USG interests, and we want 
to make sure they do not fall victim to a change in LTTE 
targeting tactics. 
 
5. (SBU) POC is RSO Alex Moore (94)(11) 244-8007. 
LUNSTEAD