US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO2014

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002014 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR S/ES, INR/MR, PA 
SA/INS (CAMP, SIM, GOWER) SA/PD (SCENSNY, ROGERS, 
PALLADINO); SSA/PAS 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, KPAO, PTER, EAID, OIIP, PREL, CE, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT:  Special Media Reaction: LTTE Leader Vellupillai 
Prabhakaran 2005 Heroes' Day Speech 
 
REFTEL: Colombo 2008 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  Following LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran's 
annual Heroes' Day speech on November 27(reftel), Sri Lankan 
television and newspapers on November 28 and 29 focused on 
the future of the peace process with a renewed sense of hope 
and pragmatism.  In response to the election of President 
Rajapakse, who opposes a federal solution to the ethnic 
conflict, Sri Lankan media had expected a fiery speech from 
Prabhakaran possibly announcing the Tigers' withdrawal from 
the Ceasefire Agreement.  However, English and Sinhala 
papers presented his speech positively, emphasizing several 
of the Tiger leader's more conciliatory statements while 
ignoring the vast (less conciliatory) majority of his 
speech.  Pro-LTTE and Tamil media focused instead on the 
speech's overtone of the threat of war if President 
Rajapakse does not pursue a solution acceptable to the LTTE 
soon.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) In the English press, the pro-LTTE Tamil Net website 
ran a transcript of Prabhakaran's statement first on Sunday 
evening (11/27) with a headline, "LTTE to intensify struggle 
for self determination if reasonable political solution not 
offered soon."  Following the Tiger leader's Heroes' Day 
speech, Monday's (11/28) papers responded with lead stories 
and transcripts of the speech on inside pages.  Government 
owned media predictably emphasized a "multi-party approach 
to peace" allegedly sanctioned by the Tiger leader.  Below 
the fold, government owned papers bannered, "Prabhakaran 
calls for political solution."  The independent Daily Mirror 
led with, "LTTE to maintain ceasefire: Prabhakaran says they 
will wait and see; describes President Rajapakse as a 
realist committed to pragmatic politics."  Even Sinhala 
nationalist independent media gave the LTTE the benefit of 
the doubt on the morning after the speech; the independent 
Island led with, "Tigers to wait and see till next year." 
Other independent media maintained a suspicious view of the 
LTTE's intentions; the independent Lanka Academic website, 
which shares key journalists with the Island, led with 
"Rebel leader serves ultimatum to Sri Lanka: Resolve Tamil 
issue or face independence fight." 
 
2. (U) Government and independent Sinhala papers also 
emphasized Prabhakaran's brief praise of the Sri Lankan 
President in his Heroes' Day speech.  Independent Sinhala 
daily Lankadeepa (11/28) ran a prominent above the fold 
headline, "New President is a realist, we'll wait for a 
short time to do justice to the Tamil people, says 
Prabhakaran."  Independently owned Sinhala daily Lakbima 
(11/28) led with, "Tiger leader says they'll watch the 
conduct of the new government with patience." 
 
3. (SBU)  On the other hand, Tamil papers emphasized the 
political divide between Rajapakse and Prabhakaran despite 
an air of hope.  Government-owned Thinakaran did not lead 
with Prabhakaran's speech but did banner a front page 
headline, "The solution should satisfy the political 
aspirations of Tamils - If rejected alternate action - V. 
Prabhakaran." Independent Tamil dailies Virakesari, 
Thinakkural and pro-LTTE Tamil daily Sudar Oli termed the 
Hero's Day message a clear warning to the Government of Sri 
Lanka.  Independent Thinakkural (11/28) led with, 
"Prabhakaran gives time limit to Mahinda to put forward an 
acceptable solution." Pro-LTTE Sudar Oli (11/28) headlined, 
"Short time limit to Mahinda - Prabhakaran." Independent 
Virakesari (11/28) led with, "We will start the struggle 
next year if no solution within short period." To 
independent Tamil papers there was no question Prabhakaran 
meant business; the LTTE would intensify their struggle for 
self determination next year if the President failed to put 
forward an acceptable solution. 
 
4. (SBU) Two days after the Heroes' Day speech, English and 
Sinhala editorial comment began to take a more suspicious 
perspective.  The mainstream independent English Daily 
Mirror made a measured contention that despite Prabhakaran's 
assertion the Sinhalese "do not perceive the existential 
reality of the Tamils," the Sinhalese majority has now 
acknowledged the "injustice and indignities suffered by 
Tamil people in the past.  They also have a clear awareness 
of the reasonable aspirations not only of the Tamils but of 
other minority communities. It did not owe to lack of 
concern" for Tamil tsunami victims that so-called "Sinhala 
extremists" opposed the joint mechanism for tsunami relief, 
"but because of the ingrained suspicions they have about the 
LTTE motives."  Independently-owned Sinhala daily Lankadeepa 
(11/29) asked readers to note the entirety of Prabhakaran's 
speech: "It is commendable that the LTTE has become flexible 
enough to give a peace deadline to the new government. 
Although we should not forget that the many factors that 
contributed to this attitude of the Tigers.  They are less 
able to pursue war after the Karuna split and heavy 
international pressure.  The authorities should not forget 
that time is ticking." 
 
 
5.   (SBU) Tamil editorial comment remained somewhat 
positive towards the fate of the peace process but echoed 
the Tiger warning that war could be inevitable.  Independent 
editors called upon President Rajapakse to prove to the 
public he is not a racist by pursing the peace process 
expediently.  Pro-LTTE Tamil daily Sudar Oli (11/29)blamed 
"the Southern media" of distorting the contents of the 
speech made by the LTTE leader, stating the Sinhala media 
and political leaders have misunderstood Prabhakaran's 
message "between the lines," which is that President 
Rajapakse has three months to find a political solution 
acceptable to the LTTE. 
 
6.  (SBU) Comment: The government-controlled media 
predictably emphasized Prabhakaran's brief praise of 
President Rajapakse as a pragmatist, and independent English 
and Sinhala media also for the most part lauded the Heroes' 
Day speech as an indication of a political solution to the 
ethnic conflict would be forth-coming.  Despite positive 
headlines, however, predominantly Sinhala newspapers invited 
readers to see the bigger picture by publishing full 
transcripts of the speech.  Tamil and pro-LTTE media perhaps 
more accurately portrayed the entirety of Prabhakaran's 
message, that despite a resigned commitment to pursue a 
political solution for the time being, the LTTE leader did 
not rule out a possible return to war.    End Comment. 
 
Lunstead