US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO1459

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001459 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PGOV, PHUM, CE, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT: LTTE SUSPECT ARRESTED IN MURDER OF POLICE 
SUPERINTENDENT 
 
REF: COLOMBO 1374 
 
 1.  Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadre "Gopi" 
was arrested following a gun battle on August 17, in Jaffna 
during a joint security forces operation for the August 5 
murder of the police superintendent .  The gun fight slightly 
wounded one officer and mortally wounded another.  A heavy 
security force presence remains in the area today to prevent 
rioting, similar to the riot that claimed the life of the 
Jaffna police superintendent on August 5. 
 
2.  (U) Local constabulary and national Criminal 
Investigation Division (CID) officers supported by the Sri 
Lankan Army (SLA) were conducting a cordon and search 
operation.  As police approached the house of a suspect in 
the murder of the Jaffna police superintendent (Reftel A), 
they came under fire from suspected LTTE cadres.  After the 
gunmen fled the scene, police arrested the suspect and 
evacuated the two wounded officers. 
 
3.  (SBU) The LTTE website TamilNet identified the suspect as 
"Gopi", a financial officer in the political wing of the 
LTTE.  Other sources in Jaffna said he was an intelligence 
operative.  The LTTE has filed a complaint with the Sri Lanka 
Monitoring Mission (SLMM). These same sources said that on 
the night of Gopi's arrest, LTTE cadres spread word that 
there would be a protest the following day.  Because of the 
close proximity to Jaffna University, security forces have 
deployed in the tense neighborhood in order to forestall a 
riot. 
ENTWISTLE