US embassy cable - 02COLOMBO1551

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001551 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS; NSC FOR H. THOMAS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/12 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, PHUM, PARM, ECON, ETRD, CE, LTTE - Peace Process, Political Parties 
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE HEARS HOPES 
FOR THE FUTURE DESPITE DISCOURAGING EVENTS IN THE PRESENT 
 
(U) Classified by Ambassador E. Ashley Wills.  Reasons 
1.5 (b,d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary: Deputy Secretary Armitage had four brief 
"pull-aside" meetings at the start of a reception held in 
his honor, August 22, with the Leader of the PA 
Opposition the Maldivian High Commissioner, Tamil 
National Alliance representatives, and the Leader of the 
Muslim Congress.  D heard from three different Sri Lankan 
political perspectives hopes that cohabitation might 
still be possible and that the peace talks could bear 
fruit.  He also heard the doubts of these groups about 
the sincerity and abilities of each other, the GSL, and 
the LTTE.  In all meetings, D explained his visit was a 
result of President Bush's belief that, because of the 
GSL's bold decisions on peace and economic reform, it is 
time for the US to play a larger role in Sri Lanka.  D 
questioned interlocutors on their opinions of the 
appropriate role for the US at this time.  Most wanted 
the US to expand its involvement and strongly support the 
peace process.  Bilateral issues, including security 
cooperation and Article 98 agreement on ICC dominated the 
discussions with the Maldivian HC. End summary. 
 
Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapkase 
----------------------------------- 
2. (C) People's Alliance (PA) Leader Mahinda Rajapakse 
began by saying that everyone, PA included, wants peace, 
but that most people in the South have reservations about 
the sincerity of LTTE leader Prabhakaran.  Rajapakse 
noted that previous peace efforts had failed, and many 
believe that Prabhakaran, leader of the LTTE, is using 
this ceasefire interval to build up his strength, and 
will eventually take over the disputed areas. 
 
3.  (C) On cohabitation between the President and the 
prime Minister, Rajapakse said it would not work unless 
the two leaders cooperate.  He continued that he was not 
sure if enough MPs would vote with the government on a 
Constitutional amendment to limit the President's power 
to dissolve Parliament, but it was possible.  He referred 
to recent meetings with MPs and the Party Secretary on 
this issue and said he will meet with the President 
immediately upon her return from the UK, and inform her 
that some in the PA will vote with the PM's UNF. 
Responding to a comment from D on the President's 
possible dissolution of Parliament, Rajapakse said, "if 
there are elections, there will be a bloodbath" because 
people in the villages use the occasion to address 
personal and political rivalries.  President Kumaratunga 
will have to compromise, he said. 
 
4. (C) According to Rajapakse, areas where the US could 
help are addressing the problems with the JVP, which is 
now going into trade unions and organizing strikes; 
speaking out for cohabitation; and getting India more 
involved.  India would be seen as a counterweight to what 
some perceive as a sympathetic bent toward the LTTE by 
the Norwegians. 
 
Maldivian High Commissioner A. Azeez Yousef 
------------------------------------------- 
5. (C) After wishing Azeez luck on his imminent return to 
Male' after eight years in Colombo, D said he wanted the 
Maldivian government to understand what US intentions 
were in Sri Lanka, and explained the purpose of his 
visit.  D then requested that Azeez ask his government to 
consider entering into a bilateral agreement on the ICC 
under Article 98.  The Ambassador noted previous 
discussions on the topic with the government in Male', 
and that no decision had been conveyed yet. 
 
6. (C) Azeez said he had spoken with the President, who 
had asked him to express the Maldivians' gratitude for 
the close relations between the U.S. and Maldives, 
especially the bilateral cooperation on defense, saying 
it gave them a sense of security.  He also conveyed the 
GORM's appreciation for US support in resisting calls 
within ECOSOC for its graduation from LDC status. 
Finally, he noted the efforts for a Fulbright program in 
the Maldives and asked for more support to send students 
abroad for high school and higher education. 
 
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) 
(comprised of smaller Tamil parties) 
------------------------------------ 
7.  (C) R. Sampathan, Secretary General of the Tamil 
United Liberation Front, started by saying that although 
the ceasefire agreement was basically implemented, the 
TNA's major concern remained that people could not yet 
return to their homes.  He said when the military moves 
out of a school or temple, as outlined in the MOU, they 
frequently just go to the adjoining property.  In his 
opinion, that does not constitute removal of forces. 
 
8.  (C) Talking about the substance of a future 
agreement, Sampathan said the TNA was against dividing 
the country, but was compelled to call for separatism in 
the past because the government was not ready to 
restructure itself to include all citizens.  If the 
country is not to be divided, the center should hold only 
enough power -- in defense, foreign affairs and currency 
-- to keep it from dividing.  In his opinion, the 
government was not yet thinking about this.  He said that 
the Tamils have no problem with the peace process since 
the LTTE is on board, but that many Sinhalese are against 
it.  He said if the country is to stay whole, the GSL 
must recognize the Tamils as a distinct people with a 
distinct heritage, and give them a devolved ability to 
govern themselves and enough control to rehabilitate 
their areas. 
 
9.  (C) N. Raviraj, a TULF member from Jaffna described 
problems in his district that started with the ceasefire. 
He stated that the army's new high security zones 
incorporate people's property.  Most houses are destroyed 
in these areas, he said, and the army occupies the ones 
that aren't.  People in Jaffna are worried, he continued, 
because they don't think the army will ever leave.  K. 
Ponnambalam of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress followed up 
by saying some families are moved out of their house so 
the army can move in, and they only receive meager 
rations to survive.  The TNA tries to show support for 
the government, especially on the peace process, but it 
is difficult, he said, and the alliance endures much 
political pressure to withdraw that support.  T. 
Thangavadivel, from Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization 
noted that many steps have been taken, but the Janantha 
Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and some in the PA are trying to 
spoil the peace process. 
 
10.  (C) Sampathan said that in the TNA's meetings with 
the LTTE, democracy and respect for minorities are 
discussed, as is the belief that, "we don't want to treat 
others the way the Sinhalese have treated us".  The 
responsibility now is on the Sinhalese side, said 
Sampathan.  When D countered that the TNA has 
responsibilities too, including to the Muslims, Sampathan 
said they would ensure their safety, rights, security and 
even power sharing.  On a role for the US, Sampathan said 
the US should be seen as evenhanded.  D explained that 
the US would continue to condemn human rights abuses, and 
will attempt to use economic programs to raise the level 
of all in Sri Lanka. 
 
Ports Minister and 
Leader of the Muslim Congress Rauf Hakeem 
----------------------------------------- 
11.  (C) After giving D a brief historical view of Muslim 
relations in Sri Lanka, Hakeem described his meeting with 
Prabhakaran on April 13, saying he thought they came to 
an agreement that the LTTE would not try to impose its 
will on the Muslim communities.  Although Muslims realize 
peace will not be easy to attain, they had some hope 
after this meeting. Their experience since the ceasefire, 
however, has not been good.  The violent incidents that 
occurred against Muslims caused them to lose confidence 
in Prabhakaran's control of his cadres.  The basic 
problem, in Hakeem's view, has been the Muslims' refusal 
to be assimilated by the Tamils, and both groups' desire 
to assert themselves politically.  Problems are also 
economic - fighting for scarce resources, he said. 
 
12.  (C) The Muslims don't want to open another front in 
the East, he said, but the LTTE wants to unite the north 
and east to concentrate their power.  People are fearful 
of the future, he continued, but the US public statements 
to date have helped.  He said, "we depend on the US to 
see that we get a fair deal.  We know you will stand for 
what is right." 
 
WILLS