US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO1027

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001027 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PHUM, CE, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT: NORWEGIANS AND FOREIGN SECRETARY ON CURRENT STATE 
OF PLAY IN RUNUP TO CO-CHAIRS MEETING 
 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JEFFREY J. LUNSTEAD FOR REASON 1.4 (D). 
 
1. (C)  Summary.  The Norwegian Ambassador 
describes his June 7 meeting with LTTE political 
chief Tamilchelvam as "mixed," with the LTTE 
focused on the "transportation issue" and not 
willing to agree to a meeting with the GSL to 
discuss strengthening the CFA.  Foreign Secretary 
Palihakkara conceded to the Ambassador that the 
GSL is committing CFA violations but averred 
(correctly) that historically the LTTE has been 
responsible for the majority of violations and 
therefore the co-chairs should pressure them 
accordingly, beginning with their statement in 
Washington next week.  End Summary 
 
"Mixed Experience" in Kilinocchi 
-------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) Norwegian Ambassador Brattskar briefed the 
Ambassador June 8 on his visit to LTTE 
headquarters in Kilinochchi the previous day. 
Brattskar told Ambassador that he had a "mixed 
experience" in Kilinochchi.  He traveled there 
together with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission 
(SLMM), which is not usually the case.  Much of 
the visit was spent discussing the "transportation 
issue."  The GSL has recently turned down two LTTE 
requests for helicopter transport of their leaders 
from Kilinocchi to other stations, contrary to the 
usual practice.  The two sides, Brattskar said, 
were working to find a way around this problem. 
LTTE political chief Tamilchelvam told Brattskar 
that the Tigers were frustrated that discussion 
about the Joint Mechanism (JM) was overshadowing 
the problems with the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA). 
Brattskar told Tamilchelvam that he wanted to be 
able to confirm to his Co-chair colleagues in 
Washington next week that the Tigers stand by the 
CFA and still were willing to sign the JM. 
Tamilchelvan said yes to both, but said the Tigers 
had doubts about the GSL's willingness to 
implement the CFA and their ability to implement 
the JM if it is signed. 
 
3. (C) The SLMM brought up the killing of Army 
intelligence officer Major Muthalif last week, 
noting that it was not easy to get transportation 
requests approved in such an atmosphere. 
Brattskar jumped in that he was deeply concerned 
that a type of "dirty war" was developing.  The 
Tigers responded by citing the killing of Tamil 
journalist Sivaram.  Ambassador asked Brattskar if 
it might be useful to get the two sides together 
just to discuss the CFA.  Brattskar said he agreed 
and that the GSL was also interested in such a 
discussion, but that the Tigers had not yet agreed 
to such a meeting.  For them, Brattskar said, 
everything is connected, and they question the 
value of such a meeting if the GSL can't agree to 
sign the Joint Mechanism.  Ambassador responded 
that maintaining the ceasefire was so important 
that they should be willing to put a boundary 
around it and discuss it. 
 
Foreign Secretary Blames LTTE, Concedes GSL CFA 
Violations 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
4. (C) In a June 8 call on Foreign Secretary 
Palihakkara, the Ambassador told him that the 
upcoming co-chairs meeting would likely focus on 
the joint mechanism and on the fragile state of 
the cease-fire agreement (CFA).  If the mechanism 
has not been signed before the meeting, the co- 
chairs will have to think about next steps in the 
absence of discernible progress on the peace 
front.  Moreover, it appears that a "dirty war" 
may be unfolding, with both sides ignoring key 
aspects of the CFA as killings and other 
violations mount.  This could easily escalate. 
Palihakkara agreed with the Ambassador's 
observation that any co-chairs statement needed to 
encourage completion of the "joint mechanism" (if 
it has not gone forward before the Washington 
meeting) without using specific language that 
might inflame tensions in Sri Lanka.  The 
Secretary averred that the question is "not 
 
SIPDIS 
whether but when" the President will sign the 
joint mechanism.  The recent joint communique' 
with the Indians in which New Delhi supported the 
joint mechanism is very helpful to the President's 
efforts, Palihakkara stated. 
 
5. (C) Regarding the CFA, Palihakkara said he took 
exception to the Ambassador's use of the term 
"dirty war" which implied "inaccurate equivalency 
to Central America."  The GSL is very concerned 
about CFA violations but the fault lies with the 
LTTE.  It is clear, the Ambassador replied, that 
the vast majority of CFA violations over time have 
been committed by the LTTE and the co-chairs will 
seek to influence the Tigers towards better 
behavior, as hard as that might be, through public 
statements and other means.  He was not suggesting 
a moral equivalency between the GSL and the LTTE. 
The fact remained, however, that it is 
increasingly clear that the GSL has been involved 
in the recent escalation of violence (although the 
LTTE deserves most of the blame, as illustrated by 
the Muthalif murder).  Palihakkara conceded that 
"certain agencies" might be involved. 
Nonetheless, he continued, the LTTE bears most of 
the blame and, since the Tigers care what the 
international community says and thinks ("since 
they need the international community for freedom 
of travel and fundraising"), the co-chairs should 
call the LTTE to account.  He noted that the LTTE 
responded quickly when the UN Special 
Representative criticized the LTTE on child 
recruitment, with the threat of travel sanctions. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
6.  (C) Brattskar's conversation with the Tigers 
confirms that, as usual, they are unwilling to 
take steps which might help to move the process 
along.  It is noteworthy that Palihakkara, while 
rightly noting that the Tigers egregiously violate 
the ceasefire, admitted that the GSL is also 
involved in the latest round of killings. 
LUNSTEAD