US embassy cable - 02COLOMBO1743

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 001743 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS 
 
NSC FOR E. MILLARD 
 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  09-18-12 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, PINS, EAID, KPAO, CE, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT:  Thailand talks conclude on positive note, with 
two sides agreeing to more meetings in coming months 
 
Refs:  (A) Ops Center-Colombo 09-18-02 telecon 
 
-      (B) Colombo 1739; 
-      (C) Bangkok 6597 
-      (D) Colombo 1736, and previous 
 
(U) Classified by W. Lewis Amselem, Charge d'Affaires. 
Reasons 1.5 (b, d). 
 
1.  (U) This message contains an Action Request -- 
Please see Para six. 
 
2.  (C) Summary:  The first round of talks between the 
Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers has ended on 
a positive note.  Per a press statement issued by the 
Norwegian facilitators (see Para seven), the two sides 
have agreed to form two joint bodies:  one to examine 
issues related to displaced person resettlement, and one 
to focus on stimulating assistance to the war-torn north 
and east of the country.  The two sides have also agreed 
to meet three more times in coming months.  Initial 
reaction from contacts reinforces our sense that this 
first round seems to have provided a positive basis for 
future discussions.  A draft press statement contained 
in para six praising the outcome of the talks is for 
Department's review.  End Summary. 
 
3.  (SBU) Talks between the Sri Lankan government and 
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Thailand 
wrapped up on a positive note on September 18.  As 
monitored on a live TV feed in Colombo, the concluding 
press conference highlighted what seemed to be positive 
atmospherics shared between both sides.  GSL and LTTE 
delegation leaders bantered amiably with the press and 
interacted respectfully with each other.  In terms of 
substance, the two sides basically used the press 
conference to reiterate the information contained in the 
Norwegian government press statement reviewed below. 
 
4.  (U) Based on the Norwegian government's press 
statement (contained in para seven), the two sides 
reached specific agreement on the following: 
 
-- To form a "Joint Committee" to look into ways to 
enable displaced persons to return to their homes in the 
north and east.  (Note:  This body's main focus seems to 
be finding ways to ease the return of displaced persons 
to their homes located inside or near "High Security 
Zones," i.e., areas controlled by the Sri Lankan 
security forces in the north and east.) 
 
-- To form a "Joint Task Force" to examine ways of 
stimulating increased humanitarian assistance to the 
war-torn north and east.  One of the tasks of this body 
will be "stepping up humanitarian mine action." 
 
-- To meet three more times in coming months on the 
following dates: 
 
- October 31 - November 3 
- December 2-5 
- January 6-9, 2003 
(Note:  The press statement was not clear on what the 
venue of these upcoming talks would be.) 
(Note:  Despite earlier indications, the two sides 
apparently did not reach an agreement on forming a 
committee on Missing in Action issues.) 
 
5.  (C) Comment:  Although there was no agreement on 
complicated and controversial substantive issues, 
initial reaction from contacts reinforces our sense that 
this first round seems to have provided a positive basis 
for future discussions.  It is way too early to say for 
sure, but the GSL -- and the very capable Norwegian 
facilitators -- seem to have been successful in hooking 
the LTTE into a structured process.  Such a process 
would allow the two sides to become enmeshed in 
discussions of substantive matters, including the 
modalities of a possible interim framework and final 
settlement of the dispute.  All that said, what is 
critical for the moment is that the talks seem to have 
added to the fast momentum of the peace process.  End 
Comment. 
6.  (U) Action Request:  Unless otherwise directed by 
Department, Mission plans to issue the following press 
statement tomorrow (September 19) praising the outcome 
of the talks: 
 
Begin text: 
 
The U.S. has carefully reviewed the press statement 
issued by the Norwegian government reviewing the results 
of the negotiations held between the Sri Lankan 
government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam 
(LTTE) in Thailand, September 16-18.  We praise the 
commitment of both sides to sustain the ceasefire, move 
forward with the peace process, and work toward a final 
settlement of the conflict.  In moving forward, it is 
positive that the two sides have agreed to a schedule of 
meetings in the coming months. 
 
The U.S. also welcomes the decision of both sides to 
form joint bodies focused on the return of displaced 
persons to their homes, and improving the humanitarian 
situation in the north and east.  The U.S. is committed 
to supporting these vital objectives.  We note, for 
example, that the Quick Reaction Demining Force (QRDF) 
has been in place in Jaffna since April and is scheduled 
to continue its work until late October.  The U.S. is 
also working with the Sri Lankan military on a military- 
to-military humanitarian demining program that would 
begin shortly after the QRDF's departure. 
 
To conclude, we are hopeful that the negotiating process 
inaugurated by the two sides will lead to a permanent 
end to the conflict based on the principles of democracy 
and respect for human rights, while maintaining Sri 
Lanka's territorial integrity.  As we have noted before, 
we sense that the conditions are favorable for a 
desirable outcome.  We again salute the Norwegian 
government's able facilitation of the talks and the Thai 
government for hosting them. 
 
End text. 
 
End Action Request. 
 
7.  (U) The following is the text of the Norwegian 
government press statement issued in Colombo by the Sri 
Lankan Peace Secretariat on September 18: 
 
Begin text: 
 
The first round of formal peace talks between the 
Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers 
of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was held in Sattahip, Thailand, 
between 16 and 18 September 2002.  The negotiations were 
facilitated by the Royal Norwegian Government. 
 
The parties agreed that in their determination to bring 
the peace process forward, they are responding to the 
overwhelming call of the peoples of Sri Lanka to bring 
an end to the ethnic conflict, and create the conditions 
for lasting peace, prosperity, and respect for human 
rights. 
 
Both parties expressed their resolve to address the full 
range of issues pertaining to a lasting political 
settlement of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, fully 
realizing that this can best be achieved by pursuing a 
step-by-step approach to the negotiation process.  This 
approach has proven successful in the establishment and 
implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement already in 
force since February. The parties recognized the need 
for sustaining the Ceasefire Agreement, with the 
continued assistance of the Sri Lanka Monitoring 
Mission, which the parties commended for its impartial 
conduct in the fulfillment of its important mandate. 
 
The parties affirmed their determination to continue 
upholding the Ceasefire Agreement and expanding the 
range of confidence-building measures over the period 
ahead.  Building on the achievements of the Ceasefire 
Agreement, the parties agreed to establish promptly a 
Joint Committee to deal with the issues relating to High 
Security Zones, with the aim of enabling the return of 
larger numbers of displaced persons to their areas of 
origin, thereby facilitating the restoration of 
normalcy. This Joint Committee will consist of senior 
representatives of both sides, including military 
personnel. 
 
The parties discussed in depth the urgent need to 
address the difficult humanitarian situation in the 
north and east of Sri Lanka. To this effect, the parties 
agreed to establish a Joint Task Force for Humanitarian 
and Reconstruction Activities. The Joint Task Force will 
constitute a partnership between the Government of Sri 
Lanka and the LTTE, and will have responsibility for the 
identification, financing and monitoring of urgent 
humanitarian and reconstruction activities in the north 
and east. The task force will operate with due 
participation of Muslims, and its work will benefit all 
ethnic communities of the North and East. The details 
relating to the mandate and structure of the Joint Task 
Force will rapidly be finalized between the parties with 
the assistance of the Norwegian facilitators. The two 
immediate priorities of the parties are (1) stepping up 
humanitarian mine action, and (2) accelerating 
resettlement and rehabilitation of internally displaced 
persons. 
 
The parties expressed their gratitude for the extensive 
goodwill of the international community toward the peace 
process. They urged donors to provide immediate funding 
for humanitarian priorities. This will enhance public 
confidence in the peace process and thus contribute to 
the further progress in the quest for peace in Sri 
Lanka. 
 
The parties agreed that the establishment of the Joint 
Task Force is a sign of the increasing level of trust 
between the parties, and of their willingness to work 
together towards the establishment of a provisional 
administrative structure for the north and east. 
 
Recognizing that the way forward is a long and demanding 
one, the parties agreed to continuing rounds of 
negotiations. The next three rounds of negotiations will 
take place on the following dates: 
 
31 October - 3 November 2002 
2-5 December 2002 
6-9 January 2003 
 
The parties as well as the Norwegian facilitators 
reiterated their appreciation to the Royal Thai 
Government for their kindness in providing the venue for 
the negotiations as well as the generous hospitality 
shown to the delegations. 
End text. 
 
8.  (U) Minimize considered. 
 
AMSELEM