US embassy cable - 90COLOMBO7592

UNCLAS COLOMBO 07592 
 
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 
 
 
FOR S/CT-BREELAND 
 
E.O. 12356:N/A 
TAGS:  PTER, CE, MV 
SUBJECT:  1990 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT: SRI LANKA AND 
THE MALDIVES 
 
REF: STATE 355397 
 
1. DECONTROL UPON RECEIPT. 
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2. FOLLOWING RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO QUESTIONS POSED IN 
PARA 5 REFTEL: 
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SRI LANKA 
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A) IN 1990 THE GSL PROSECUTED TWO SIGNIFICANT CASES 
INVOLVING ACTS OF TERRORISM -- ONE INVOLVING THREE 
INDIVIDUALS ACCUSED IN THE MAY 1986 BOMBING OF AN AIR 
LANKA TRISTAR AIRCRAFT, WHICH KILLED 28, AND ANOTHER 
INVOLVING FIVE ACCUSED IN THE AUGUST 1987 GRENADE ATTACK 
AT PARLIAMENT, IN WHICH TWO OFFICIALS WERE KILLED AND 
SEVERAL OTHERS INJURED.  IN BOTH CASES ALL OF THE 
ACCUSED WERE ACQUITTED IN 1990;  HOWEVER, IN THE 
PARLIAMENT BOMBING CASE, AS OF NOVEMBER 1990 THE FIVE 
ACCUSED REMAINED IN CUSTODY, UNDER EMERGENCY 
REGULATIONS, PENDING GOVERNMENT APPEAL OF THEIR 
ACQUITTAL. 
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B) THE ISSUE OF EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS HAS 
NOT ARISEN. 
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C) A POTENTIAL OBSTACLE TO FUTURE EXTRADITION OF 
SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IS THE LACK OF A FORMAL EXTRADITION 
TREATY BETWEEN SRI LANKA AND MOST NON-COMMONWEALTH 
COUNTRIES. 
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D/E) THE GSL, WHICH HAS BEEN THE TARGET OF NUMEROUS ACTS 
OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM BY POLITICAL EXTREMISTS IN RECENT 
YEARS, IS ON PUBLIC RECORD AS CONDEMNING ALL FORMS OF 
TERRORISM.  DURING 1990 IT FOUGHT TERRORIST INSURGENCIES 
AGAINST TAMIL SEPARATISTS IN THE NORTH AND EAST AND 
SINHALESE EXTREMISTS (THE JANATHA VIMUKTHI PERAMUNA OR 
JVP) IN THE SOUTH.  THE LATTER INSURGENCY WAS LARGELY 
DEFEATED BY EARLY 1990;  HOWEVER, AS MANY AS 15,000 
SUSPECTED MEMBERS OF THE TERRORIST JVP REMAIN IN 
CUSTODY.  THE GSL HAS INDICATED THAT IT WILL SEEK TO 
PROSECUTE THOSE BELIEVED RESPONSIBLE FOR TERRORIST ACTS 
AND WILL PROVIDE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION TO THE 
OTHERS.  THOUSANDS FOUND TO HAVE ONLY MARGINAL TIES TO 
THE JVP HAVE ALREADY BEEN RELEASED.  IN THE NORTH AND 
EAST, THE LTTE SUDDENLY BROKE OFF NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE 
GOVERNMENT IN JUNE AND LAUNCHED WIDESPREAD ATTACKS ON 
POLICE AND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.  SUBSEQUENTLY THE 
LTTE ALSO ATTACKED NUMEROUS SINHALESE AND MUSLIM 
VILLAGES, IN AN APPARENT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THEM OUT.  THE 
INSURGENCY CONTINUED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. 
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F) NONE NOTED. 
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G) NONE NOTED. 
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H) THE GSL APPEARS AS DETERMINED AS EVER TO COMBAT BOTH 
DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. 
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3. REPUBLIC OF THE MALDIVES 
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A) NONE. 
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B) NO. 
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C) NONE NOTED. 
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D) NONE NOTED. 
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E) NONE NOTED. 
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F) NONE NOTED. 
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G) NO. 
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H) NONE NOTED. 
 
 
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