US embassy cable - 02COLOMBO2000

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002000 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS; NSC FOR E. MILLARD 
 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  10-25-12 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PHUM, PINR, CE, Political Parties, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT:  In meeting with SA DAS Camp, Prime Minister 
reflects on troubled cohabitation situation 
 
Refs:  (A) Colombo - SA/INS 10/25/02 fax 
 
-      (B) FBIS Reston Va DTG 250042Z Oct 02 
-      (C) Colombo 1989, and previous 
 
(U) Classified by Ambassador E. Ashley Wills.  Reasons 
1.5 (b, d). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  In an October 24 meeting with SA DAS 
Camp and Ambassador Wills, PM Wickremesinghe was none 
too optimistic about the cohabitation situation, 
indicating that the GSL had tried to work with the 
president to no avail, so far.  The PM did not show his 
cards on what the GSL planned to do vis-a-vis the 
president.  For her part, President Kumaratunga went on 
TV last night to address the nation.  She staked out a 
moderate position on cohabitation, but seemed skeptical 
of the GSL's peace initiative.  Although the political 
situation remains volatile, both sides seem to be 
treading very carefully for the moment.  END SUMMARY. 
 
=================================== 
PM:  Not Optimistic re Cohabitation 
=================================== 
 
2.  (C) SA DAS Camp and Ambassador Wills met with Prime 
Minister Wickremesinghe on October 25.  Asked about the 
troubled cohabitation situation (see Ref C), the PM 
remarked that his government had tried hard to work with 
President Kumaratunga to no avail, so far.  The GSL, for 
example, had stopped some prosecutions of her supporters 
as a good will gesture.  She was also welcome to 
participate in cabinet meetings, but she refused to 
attend.  She had also failed to fill certain positions, 
which was causing problems for the smooth functioning of 
the government.  It was also not fully clear whether or 
not she supported the government's peace initiative. 
She had put herself in position where she could play the 
"spoiler" role if she wanted.  (Note:  See Kumaratunga's 
recent skeptical comments about the GSL's peace 
initiative in Para 6 below.) 
 
3.  (C) Queried about the GSL's next steps, 
Wickremesinghe replied that the government had basically 
dropped the idea of trying to pass its "19th" amendment 
to the constitution.  (Note:  In a ruling earlier this 
week, the Supreme Court basically made it extremely 
difficult for the government to proceed with the 
proposed amendment, which was crafted by the GSL to rein 
in executive powers to call parliamentary elections -- 
See Ref C.)  It did not seem likely that the president 
would call an election because she knew her party would 
not do well, he asserted.  The government was 
considering taking steps to slash the budget of the 
president's office, but all options were still under 
review.  DAS Camp urged the PM to try to make 
cohabitation work so that the GSL could continue to 
focus on important peace process issues. 
 
4.  (C) Concerning the recent spike in tensions in the 
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) threatening the GSL's 
majority in Parliament, the prime minister said it was 
basically an internal SLMC matter that would fade away. 
The issue that had most disturbed the group of rebel 
SLMC MPs was the continued activities of the Tamil 
Tigers against the Muslim community in the east.  The 
Tigers' actions had essentially helped spark Muslim 
militancy.  It was critical that the Tigers stopped 
extorting funds from Muslims and abducting them on 
occasion.  In any case, the PM continued, he was meeting 
with the head of the rebel SLMC faction, A.L.M. 
Athaullah, today, and hoped to be able to calm the 
situation down.  (Note:  The rest of DAS Camp's meetings 
will be reported Septel, including additional comments 
by the PM.) 
 
================== 
President's Speech 
================== 
 
5.  (SBU) For her part, President Kumaratunga went on TV 
last night to address the nation (text is contained in 
Ref A).  In the somewhat rambling speech, which was 
delivered in English, she staked out a relatively 
moderate position on cohabitation, calling for an end to 
partisan infighting.  On this point, after elaborating 
how she had tried to make cohabitation work, she stated: 
 
"It is now time to put the past behind us.  The petty 
political bickering which has been the bane of our 
political culture must now be confined to the pages of 
history.  As your head of state and president, it is my 
responsibility to bring together all communities and all 
conflicting political parties." 
 
6.  (SBU) Kumaratunga was skeptical about the GSL's 
peace initiative.  She first noted that she fully 
supported the government's objective of realizing peace 
for Sri Lanka.  She went on to underscore, however, that 
she did not believe that the Tigers were holding up 
their part of the bargain, stating: 
 
"Seven major incidents of violence have occurred in the 
Eastern Province and have caused serious problems to the 
Muslim people and in some instances to the Sinhalese 
community living in the east.  The civilian 
population...is facing continued problems of extortion, 
kidnap, punishments meted out by an unlawful judicial 
system and recruitment into an illegal police force and 
an equally unlawful military force by the LTTE 
(Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)." 
 
Kumaratunga urged the GSL to respond to these LTTE 
actions by developing "a clear vision and a policy 
framework" regarding the peace process.  "The government 
owes this to the people," she said. 
 
======= 
COMMENT 
======= 
 
7.  (C) Although the political situation remains 
volatile, both sides seem to be treading very carefully 
for the moment.  While clearly distrusting Kumaratunga, 
the PM sounded quite tentative, as if he was not sure 
what he wanted to do.  Meanwhile, the president sounded 
relatively tame in her speech last night, not saying 
anything particularly provocative about the government. 
Given these reactions, it is possible that the two sides 
are taking a breather, perhaps trying to read the tea 
leaves before proceeding to next steps.  This might be a 
positive for the government which has to get ready for 
the second round of talks with the Tigers beginning on 
October 31.  That said, we expect the cohabitation 
roller coaster ride to continue its parlous journey. 
END COMMENT. 
 
8.  (U) Minimize considered. 
 
WILLS