US embassy cable - 02COLOMBO1751

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001751 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS; NSC FOR E. MILLARD 
 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  09-19-12 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, PINS, EAID, KPAO, CE, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT:  Positive reaction to talks; LTTE spokesman's 
remarks edging away from separatism earn high praise 
 
Refs:  (A) Colombo 1743   (C) Bangkok 6597 
-      (B) Colombo 1739   (D) Colombo 1736 
 
 (U) Classified by W. Lewis Amselem, Charge d'Affaires. 
Reasons 1.5 (b, d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  Sri Lankans have reacted in a highly 
positive fashion to the successful conclusion of the 
first round of talks between the government and the 
Tamil Tigers.  Contacts highlighted as noteworthy the 
announcements that the two sides would soon meet again, 
that they would form joint committees on certain issues, 
and that Muslim leader Hakeem would meet Tiger leader 
Prabhakaran next month.  LTTE spokesman Balasingham's 
remarks backing away from separatism also reaped praise. 
With the peace process steadily gaining traction, Sri 
Lanka is rapidly becoming a changed country.  End 
Summary. 
 
========================== 
Positive Reaction to Talks 
========================== 
 
2.  (C) The successful outcome of the first round of 
talks between the Sri Lankan government and the 
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has garnered a 
highly positive reaction in Sri Lanka.  Sri Lankan TV, 
radio, and newspapers have been full of reports on the 
talks, with much comment directed toward the apparently 
positive atmospherics shared by the two sides at the 
closing press conference on September 18.  In a common 
reaction from an observer, A.H.M. Fowzie, a senior 
People's Alliance (PA) MP, told polchief:  "Given all 
that has happened in the past, it was quite remarkable 
to see how well Peiris (the chief GSL negotiator) and 
Balasingham (the chief LTTE negotiator) got on." 
 
========================= 
Three Major Announcements 
========================= 
 
3.  (C) Contacts welcomed what they saw as three major 
announcements emerging from the talks: 
 
-- More Meetings:  The single important announcement was 
seen as the two sides' agreement to meet three more 
times in coming months (See Ref A for exact dates). 
K. Loganathan of the Center for Policy Analysis, a local 
think-tank, told us that the fact that the two sides had 
agreed to multiple meetings meant "they were gradually 
getting subsumed in a process that would be difficult to 
get out of without repercussions." 
 
-- Joint Bodies:  Another important agreement was that 
the two sides would form joint bodies to look into such 
issues as humanitarian assistance, as well as the 
Sri Lankan military's "High Security Zones" in the north 
and east.  Joseph Pararajahsingham, a pro-LTTE senior 
Tamil National Alliance MP, told us that Tamils were 
enthusiastic about the agreement to form these joint 
bodies.  It indicated that the government was taking 
seriously the "humanitarian plight" faced by the people 
in Sri Lanka's north and east, he commented. 
 
-- Muslim/LTTE Meeting:  The two sides also agreed that 
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader (and GSL Minister) Rauf 
Hakeem would meet with LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran next 
month.  Such a meeting would be significant, as it would 
afford Hakeem another opportunity to review strained 
LTTE-Muslim relations with the LTTE's top leader, 
according to M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, a senior PA MP.  (Note: 
Hakeem was a member of the government's negotiating team 
in Thailand.  Hakeem and Prabhakaran also met in April.) 
(Note:  There were also unconfirmed press reports that 
Minister Milinda Moragoda, a key member of the GSL's 
peace process team, would also meet Prabhakaran next 
month.) 
 
====================================== 
LTTE Spokesman seems to nix separatism 
====================================== 
 
4.  (SBU) LTTE spokesman Balasingham's remarks backing 
away from separatism also reaped praise.  In statements 
that earned banner headlines in the local press, 
Balasingham -- responding to repeated questions at the 
September 18 press conference -- stated: 
 
-- "I wish to impress upon you that the LTTE does not 
operate with the concept of a separate state.  Our 
demand for a homeland is not for a separate state." 
 
-- "When we use the category or concept of self- 
determination we mean that the concept entails 
substantial autonomy or self-government in a homeland or 
the historical areas where we live.  These aspirations 
can be achieved in one country if we set about (the 
discussions) correctly." 
 
-- "If our demand for regional autonomy and self- 
government is rejected and conditions of oppression 
continue as a last resort our people have no option 
other than to fight for political independence or 
statehood." 
 
5.  (C) The general view was that Balasingham's remarks 
were about as far as the LTTE has ever gone in 
indicating that it would settle for less than an "Eelam" 
or separate Tamil state in the north and east. 
K. Loganathan of the Center for Policy Alternatives told 
us that he thought Balasingham's remarks were "quite 
important, as they indicated the LTTE might be willing 
to work within the `united Sri Lanka' concept."  Even 
Presidential spokesman Harim Peiris, who is otherwise 
quite critical of the LTTE, welcomed Balasingham's 
remarks, commenting that it was a "potentially positive 
announcement that needs to be studied further." 
 
6.  (C) (((Note:  There was some skepticism about 
Balasingham's comments, however.  A representative of 
the radical Janantha Vimukthi Peramuna publicly blasted 
Balasingham, asserting that "the LTTE is simply making 
its original demand for separatism in another way." 
Dayan Jayatilleke, a local press commentator with 
Sinhalese extremist leanings, was also dubious, accusing 
"the pro-peace crowd of making a big deal over 
nothing."))) 
 
======= 
Comment 
======= 
 
7.  (C) The talks seem to have met local expectations in 
every way.  Balasingham's comments, which received so 
much press coverage, were a decided bonus for the 
government, strengthening its position in the south vis- 
a-vis Sinhalese hard-liners.  (Note:  Balasingham's 
comments could easily be seen as the LTTE's quid pro quo 
response to the GSL's recent decision to lift its ban on 
the LTTE.  The GSL had been seeking something in return 
for its politically risky announcement.  It is not clear 
whether Balasingham cleared his remarks with his boss, 
Prabhakaran, but it would have been dangerous not to. 
End Note.) 
 
8.  (C) With the peace process steadily gaining 
traction, Sri Lanka is rapidly becoming a changed 
country.  While the wounds of the nearly 20-year 
conflict are not even close to healed, Sri Lanka has 
come a long way very quickly, becoming much less tense 
and optimistic in the process.  The flip side of this is 
that if expectations are dashed the negative reaction 
could be a powerful one.  End Comment. 
9.  (U) Minimize considered. 
 
AMSELEM