US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO1930

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001930 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR DS AND SA 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O/ 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC, PTER, CE, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT: Suspected LTTE suicide bomber surrenders at U.S. 
Embassy 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  On November 7, 2005 an individual 
claiming to be an LTTE suicide bomber came to AmEmbassy 
Colombo and requested asylum.  After an interview to determine 
that there was no threat or information involving U.S. facilities or 
personnel he was given into the custody of the police. The EAC has 
concluded that no change to Embassy security posture is necessary. 
End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) On Monday November 7, 2005 RSO was advised that an 
individual claiming to be an LTTE suicide cadre (Black Tiger) was 
at the front gate requesting to speak to an American. 
 
3. (SBU) RSO conducted the interview through an LES Embassy 
employee fluent in Tamil.  The Subject identified himself as 
JEEVARATNAM ; DOB: AUGUST 25th 1983 
KATTANKUDDY, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka; National Identity Card 
Number: 832383171V.  Subject stated that he wanted to leave the 
LTTE and requested assistance going to the United States.  Subject 
was accompanied by H.H.R. Chandana, National Identity Card No. 
673500927 who is employed by the Sun Asian Travel Company. 
 
4. (SBU) Subject advised that he was an LTTE suicide cadre who 
been assigned to kill either Karuna Amman (breakaway LTTE 
Eastern Commander) or Douglas Devananda (leader of anti-LTTE 
Eelam People?s Democratic Party, EPDP). Subject advised that he 
had voluntarily joined the LTTE when he was fifteen after hearing 
recruitment speeches in his school in the Batticaloa district of Sri 
Lanka.  He stated that in 2003 he was accepted into the Black Tigers 
as a suicide cadre.  After his acceptance he underwent training in th 
northern part of Sri Lanka.  The training included a course which he 
identified as ?brainwashing? which took the form of a two hour 
class once a week over a six month period. 
 
5. (SBU) Subject stated that because he is a Batticaloa (Eastern) 
Tamil he was sent to Batticaloa to find ways to get closer to Karuna 
Amman and assassinate him.  He was also assigned to travel 
between Vavuniya in north central Sri Lanka and Batticaloa to 
engage in reconnaissance and also to identify some contacts of 
Karuna or Douglas Devananda. 
 
6. (SBU) Subject states that the reason he wanted to leave the LTTE 
was related to his family. He asked permission from the LTTE to go 
home and see his family but they refused to grant him leave on 
several occasions, with the explanation he was working for an 
important unit.  At that point he decided that he wanted to leave the 
LTTE. 
 
7. (SBU) According to Subject, he was recently assigned to do a 
reconnaissance of H.H.R Chandana (who accompanied him to the 
embassy) and kill him.  Subject advised that the LTTE suspected 
that Chandana, a Sinhalese living in Batticaloa married to a Tamil, i 
a government spy.  Subject alleges that when he discovered that 
Chandana?s wife is a close relative of his and that Chandana is not 
an informant for the government forces he returned without killing 
him.  He later sought Chandana?s assistance in escaping the LTTE. 
Subject then decided to approach the U.S. Embassy and request 
asylum. 
 
8. (SBU) Subject reiterated several times that he was unaware of any 
threat to U.S. Government or facilities. At the conclusion of this 
interview, subject and companion were released into the custody of 
the Sri Lankan Police. 
 
9. (SBU) Shortly after subject was taken into custody an LTTE 
suicide vest was found in vicinity of the Prime Minister?s residence 
which is 100 meters from the Embassy.  Multiple security force 
contacts have told us that the recovered LTTE suicide vest does not 
appear to be related to the Embassy walk-in although they continue 
to investigate. Security forces also noted that their initial questio 
indicates that he is a LTTE Black Tiger.  Multiple government 
sources also maintain that the walk-in was in fact trying to seek US 
assistance and was not at the U.S. Embassy as part of an effort to 
carry out an operation against the Embassy. 
 
10. (SBU) The Emergency action committee met on November 9 
and determined that, based on current information, no change in 
Mission security posture is necessary. However, we have briefed our 
counter-surveillance teams and guards in order to increase 
awareness. 
11. (SBU) On the afternoon of 9 November RSO met with the 
Director of Sri Lanka?s Internal Intelligence service. The Director 
advised that his officers are assisting the police in this investigat 
He re-iterated that there is no threat to the American Embassy or its 
personnel. There has been brief mention of the walk-in in the local 
press. In response to press inquiries, we have limited our comments 
to confirmation that a walk-in was handed over to the police. 
 
LUNSTEAD