US embassy cable - 02COLOMBO2086

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 002086 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/12 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, PGOV, CE, LTTE - Peace Process, Political Parties 
SUBJECT:  Peace talk reactions:  Tamils optimistic; 
Opposition, no comment yet; Muslims temporarily appeased 
 
Refs:  (A) Colombo 2064 
-      (B) Reston VA dtg 041152Z Nov 02 
 
(U) Classified by Lewis Amselem, DCM.  Reasons 1.5 
(b,d). 
 
1. (C) Summary:  Reactions by Sri Lankans to the October 
31 to November 3 peace talks in Thailand are generally 
positive.  Muslim representatives raised some isolated 
issues, but were satisfied that their concerns were 
acknowledged during the second round of talks.  The 
President's office claims that the inflammatory 
statements attributed to her by the media were taken out 
of context.  Tamil politicians were encouraged by the 
agreements of the most recent talks.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) One Muslim view:  MP M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, aligned 
with the opposition People's Alliance (PA), commented 
that the Muslim community was generally satisfied that 
their concerns were acknowledged during the second 
session of talks, which took place in Thailand from 
October 31 to November 3.  Hizbullah did raise the 
concern his constituency, Muslims in the east, has about 
Sri Lankan Muslim Congress MP Rauf Hakeem being the 
Muslim representative at the peace talks.  Hizbullah 
concluded that Muslims no longer had confidence in 
Hakeem and that the Muslim community should be 
represented by someone else in future talks. 
 
3. (C) Another Muslim view:  M.C.M. Iqbal, consultant to 
the Law and Society Trust, a local think-tank, opined 
that the fears of the Muslim community have been 
temporarily allayed by the LTTE's easing off on the 
demand for an interim administration (see Ref A).  The 
recent statements by the LTTE showing an apparent 
willingness to make some sacrifices to keep the peace 
process moving, Iqbal believes, will give the Muslim 
community some time to reassess their situation. 
 
4. (C) From the President's office:  On November 6, the 
local press reported that President Kumaratunga recently 
made inflammatory comments about the way the Government 
is working with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam 
(LTTE).  The President is quoted as saying, "the 
government must disclose what it would concede to the 
LTTE"; the LTTE "is now busy consolidating its hold on 
the north and east", and that she would use her powers 
when and if there was a threat to Sri Lanka's integrity. 
Presidential Spokesman Harim Peiris stated that the 
quotes were taken out of context.  He added that the 
private meeting where she allegedly made these 
statements may have contained some strong rhetoric, but 
it was geared towards strengthening the morale of the 
grassroots level activists.  Peiris repeated that the 
President supports the peace process but will not make 
an official statement until she is briefed by Minister 
Milinda Moragoda, one of the GSL's representatives at 
the peace talks.  (See Ref A) 
 
5. The Tamil reaction:  Confirming the positive tones of 
Ref B, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP V. Krishnapillai 
summed up what he thought was the Tamil perspective by 
saying "I am only one of many who want to see a peaceful 
solution," and the talks are going in the right 
direction.  He added that a solution should be found 
within a short time and that there is no need for a 
protracted process.  TNA MP T. Thangavadivel added that 
he was very optimistic, partly because the TNA had been 
informed by the LTTE that it would be invited to the 
third session of talks. 
 
WILLS