US embassy cable - 95COLOMBO1476

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 07 COLOMBO 001476 
 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS 
 
CINCPAC FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12356:  DECL:OADR 
TAGS:  PGOV, PHUM, PINS, PREL, CE 
SUBJECT:  JOURNEY TO JAFFNA: THE LTTE VIEW OF THE 
PEACE PROCESS; A FIRSTHAND LOOK 
 
REF:  (A) COLOMBO 1377  (B) COLOMBO 1175  (C) COLOMBO 
1026 
 
1.  CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT. 
 
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SUMMARY 
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2.  FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1989, AN OFFICIAL 
AMERICAN VISITED THE LTTE-DOMINATED JAFFNA PENINSULA. 
POLOFF WAS PART OF A FACT-FINDING VISIT BY DIPLOMATS 
FROM TWELVE WESTERN MISSIONS WHICH WAS ORGANIZED BY 
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) 
(REF B).  LTTE SPOKESMAN ANTON BALASINGHAM, FLANKED BY 
OTHER TOP LTTE OFFICERS, PROVIDED A TWO-HOUR BRIEFING 
FOR THE DIPLOMATS IN WHICH THE LTTE'S VIEW OF THE 
PEACE PROCESS FEATURED PROMINENTLY.  THE LTTE 
PERSPECTIVE WAS ANCHORED IN PROFOUND DISTRUST OF THE 
GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY THE SECURITY FORCES, AND THE 
BELIEF THAT THE LTTE HAS MADE MAJOR CONCESSIONS IN THE 
SEARCH FOR PEACE, INCLUDING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A 
FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WITHIN A UNITED SRI LANKA 
IN LIEU OF TAMIL EELAM--AN INDEPENDENT TAMIL 
HOMELAND.  BALASINGHAM FELT THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS 
WERE NOT GOING WELL, LARGELY BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT 
HAS NOT BEEN TAKING THE PEACE TALKS SERIOUSLY ENOUGH, 
ESPECIALLY IN FAILING TO IMPLEMENT CONDITIONS THE LTTE 
REGARDS AS ESSENTIAL CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES. 
THE LTTE HAS ALSO NOT BEEN SATISFIED WITH THE 
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT DELEGATES TO THE 
PEACE TALKS, NOR WITH THE FREQUENCY OR DURATION OF THE 
TALKS.  BALASINGHAM ALSO EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION AT THE 
FAILURE OF THE GOVERNMENT TO PRODUCE A PROPOSED 
FRAMEWORK FOR A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT--WHICH WOULD FORM 
THE BASIS OF POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS. 
 
3.  BIO NOTES ON BALASINGHAM ARE IN PARAS 27 AND 28. 
WE ARE ALSO REPORTING BY SEPTEL ON THE STATE OF THE 
JAFFNA ECONOMY AND THE PROPOSED RECONSTRUCTION AND 
REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR THE NORTH; THE SECURITY 
SITUATION IN JAFFNA AND POINT PEDRO TOWNS; THE 
OPERATIONS OF NON-LTTE GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN 
JAFFNA--INCLUDING THE GOVERNMENT; AND LIFE ON THE 
JAFFNA PENINSULA.  END SUMMARY. 
 
----------------- 
JOURNEY TO JAFFNA 
----------------- 
 
4.  FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1989, AN EMBOFF HAS MADE 
AN OFFICIAL TRIP TO THE JAFFNA PENINSULA, STRONGHOLD 
OF THE LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM (LTTE) WHO 
HAVE BEEN WAGING A BLOODY ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD INSURGENCY 
AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA.  ARRANGED BY THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) AS A 
FACT-FINDING JOURNEY (REF B), POLOFF, TOGETHER WITH 
REPRESENTATIVES OF ELEVEN OTHER WESTERN MISSIONS, 
VISITED JAFFNA FOR TWO DAYS.  DURING THE TRIP, THE 
GROUP WAS GIVEN A BRIEFING BY THE LTTE IN WHICH THE 
PEACE PROCESS FEATURED PROMINENTLY.  THE GOVERNMENT 
AGENT WAS GIVEN EQUAL TIME TO BRIEF THE DIPLOMATS; HE 
FOCUSED ON THE PROPOSED REHABILITATION AND 
RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM (SEPTEL).  THE DIPLOMATIC GROUP 
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
SITUATION OF THE NORTH--VISITING THE JAFFNA TEACHING 
HOSPITAL, THE UNIVERSITY OF JAFFNA, AND THE POINT 
PEDRO HOSPITAL; AND MEETING WITH THE SRI LANKA RED 
CROSS, SAVE THE CHILDREN (UK), THE COUNCIL OF 
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND A CROSS-SECTION OF 
COMMUNITY LEADERS (SEPTEL). 
 
-------------------------------- 
LTTE BRIEFS THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS 
-------------------------------- 
 
5.  A TWO-HOUR BRIEFING WAS PROVIDED BY LTTE 
SPOKESMAN, ANTON BALASINGHAM, FLANKED BY OTHER TOP 
LTTE LEADERS--TAMILCHELVAM (HEAD OF THE POLITICAL 
SECTION), DOMINIC (HEAD OF ADMINISTRATION), RAVI (HEAD 
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT), BALAKUMAR (DESCRIBED AS A 
SENIOR LTTE MEMBER AND FORMER HEAD OF EELAM 
REVOLUTIONARY ORGANIZATION OF STUDENTS (EROS)), 
ILANGKUMARAN (HEAD OF EDUCATION), AND SELVANAYAGAM 
(ECONOMIC ADVISOR, WHO ALSO ACTED AS A TRANSLATOR FOR 
RAVI).  MR. BALASINGHAM'S AUSTRALIAN-BORN WIFE, ADELE 
BALASINGHAM, ALSO ATTENDED THE MEETING. 
 
6.  THE BRIEFING WAS CONDUCTED IN A QUITE FORMAL 
MANNER AT THE POLITICAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE LTTE--THE 
VENUE OF THE THREE ROUNDS OF PEACE TALKS CONDUCTED TO 
DATE BETWEEN THE LTTE AND THE GOVERNMENT.  THE LTTE 
TEAM SAT FACING THE DIPLOMATS; EACH GROUP AT A 
SEPARATE LINE OF TABLES.  IN BETWEEN WAS A STAND 
PROMINENTLY FEATURING PHOTOGRAPHS OF LTTE SUPREME 
LEADER, VELUPILLAI PRABHAKARAN (WHO THE VISITING 
DIPLOMATS NEVER MET), AND TOPPED BY A SMALL FLAG OF 
TAMIL EELAM.  BALASINGHAM, SELVANAYAGAM (BY FAR THE 
OLDEST MEMBER OF THE LTTE TEAM) AND MRS. BALASINGHAM 
SPOKE FLUENT ENGLISH.  IT APPEARED THAT THE REST OF 
THE GROUP SPOKE LITTLE, IF ANY, ENGLISH.  MRS. 
BALASINGHAM'S PRESENCE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN FOR THE 
PURPOSE OF ENSURING THAT THERE WERE NO ENGLISH 
LANGUAGE MISUNDERSTANDINGS--ESPECIALLY SINCE MOST OF 
THE DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES WERE NOT NATIVE ENGLISH 
SPEAKERS.  CONSISTENT WITH THEIR APOLITICAL STANCE, 
ICRC REPRESENTATIVES DID NOT ATTEND THE MEETING. 
 
7.  BALASINGHAM OPENED THE BRIEFING BY STATING THAT 
THE LTTE FELT THE VISIT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE 
IT WOULD ENABLE THE DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS TO OBSERVE FOR 
THEMSELVES THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS UNDER 
WHICH PEOPLE LIVED ON THE JAFFNA PENINSULA, TO 
UNDERSTAND THE LTTE POSITION IN THE ON-GOING SEARCH 
FOR A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT TO THE ETHNIC CONFLICT, AND 
TO ASSESS THE NEEDS FOR THE PROPOSED REHABILITATION 
AND RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.  HE SAID THAT THE PEACE 
PROCESS HAS IN A "CRUCIAL AND CRITICAL TIME", AND 
INDICATED THAT PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WERE NOT GOING 
WELL.  THE TONE OF HIS PRESENTATION HAS REASONABLE AND 
MEASURED; HE CLEARLY MADE AN EFFORT NOT TO BE OVERLY 
CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNMENT.  AFTER SPEAKING FOR ABOUT 
FORTY MINUTES, HE ENTERTAINED QUESTIONS. 
 
8.  BALASINGHAM THANKED THE ICRC FOR FACILITATING THE 
TRIP, AS WELL AS FOR ITS LAUDABLE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS 
ON BEHALF OF THE TAMIL PEOPLE.  HE ALSO STATED THAT 
FROM COLOMBO IT HAS VERY HARD FOR THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS 
TO KNOW WHAT THE TIGERS WERE THINKING, AND EXPRESSED 
HIS HOPE THAT DIPLOMATIC VISITS WOULD CONTINUE. 
 
------------------------ 
PROFOUND DISTRUST REIGNS 
------------------------ 
 
9.  THROUGHOUT BALASINGHAM'S PRESENTATION, HE CLEARLY 
REFLECTED A DEEPLY FELT MISTRUST OF THE GOVERNMENT-- 
AND ESPECIALLY THE SECURITY FORCES.  THE LTTE IS 
INTENSELY AWARE OF BEING SURROUNDED BY GOVERNMENT 
FORCES--ESTIMATED BY THEM TO BE 25,000 STRONG.  THE 
TIGERS SAID THEY SEE THE THE ARMY-CONTROLED KAYTS 
ISLANDS TO THE WEST, THE PALALI AIRBASE AND 
ARMY-CONTROLED COAST TO THE NORTH, THE ELEPHANT PASS 
ARMY BASE TO THE SOUTHEAST, THE POONERYN ARMY BASE TO 
THE SOUTHWEST, AND THE NAVY ON THE ADJACENT SEAS. 
THEY ALSO DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS THE VICTIMS OF A 
BRUTAL WAR AND A STRANGULATING GOVERNMENT-IMPOSED 
ECONOMIC EMBARGO.  IN SHORT, THEY PAINTED A PICTURE OF 
THE TAMIL PEOPLE OF JAFFNA AS HAVING BEEN UNDER SIEGE 
FOR YEARS AND AS HAVING BORNE UNTOLD SUFFERING AS A 
RESULT.  THEY REMIND VISITORS THAT THE BOMBING OF 
JAFFNA TOWN CEASED ONLY IN EARLY 1994 AND SHELLING 
OCCURRED WELL INTO THE LATTER PART OF THE YEAR. 
POLOFF OBSERVED SIGNIFICANT, THOUGH NOT DEVASTATING, 
WAR DAMAGE IN JAFFNA TOWN.  THE VISITING DIPLOMATS 
WERE GIVEN EXTENSIVE LISTS OF WAR DAMAGE ON THE JAFFNA 
PENINSULA, WHICH WILL FORM THE BASIS FOR THE PROPOSED 
REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM. 
CONTRIBUTING TO THE SIEGE MENTALITY, THE LTTE 
CONSIDERS THE TAMIL PEOPLE TO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY 
VICTIMIZED THROUGH SYSTEMATIC DISCRIMINATION BY THE 
GOVERNMENT. 
 
10.  BALASINGHAM DID, HOWEVER, VOICE SOME CONFIDENCE 
IN PRESIDENT CHANDRIKA KUMARATUNGA, INDICATING THAT 
THE LTTE FELT SHE SINCERELY DESIRED PEACE AND HAD AN 
UNPRECEDENTED MANDATE FOR PEACE FROM THE SINHALESE 
PEOPLE--WHICH HE CHARACTERIZED AS A RADICAL 
TRANSFORMATION IN SINHALESE THINKING. 
 
11.  MANY IN THE LTTE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THE 
BELIEVE THAT HARDLINERS IN THE GOVERNMENT SECURITY 
FORCES WANT TO RESUME THE WAR, AND STILL INTEND TO 
LAUNCH AN OFFENSIVE ON JAFFNA.  THE LTTE ARGUED THAT 
THE SECURITY FORCES HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED 
THEIR OFFENSIVE POSTURE (ASIDE FROM THAT REQUIRED BY 
THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES).  BALASINGHAM CITED 
RECENT STATEMENTS BY MINISTER OF DEFENSE ANURUDDHA 
RATWATTE IN WHICH HE SAID THAT THE ARMED FORCES SHOULD 
STAND READY TO INFLICT CRUSHING MILITARY DEFEAT ON THE 
TIGERS IN THE EVENT THAT THE PEACE PROCESS FAILS.  HE 
ALSO CHARGED THAT THE ARMY WAS ARBITRARILY RESTRICTING 
THE FLOW OF GOODS WHICH WERE RECENTLY TAKEN OFF THE 
EMBARGO LIST--BUT WHICH THE ARMY FEELS HAVE MILITARY 
APPLICATION, E.G., CEMENT. 
 
----------------------------------- 
CONCESSIONS IN THE SEARCH FOR PEACE 
----------------------------------- 
 
12.  IN SPITE OF ITS DISTRUST OF THE GOVERNMENT, THE 
LTTE SAYS IT HAS MADE MAJOR CONCESSIONS IN THE SEARCH 
FOR PEACE.  FOREMOST AMONG THESE HAS BEEN THE OFFER TO 
GIVE UP THEIR QUEST FOR TAMIL EELAM--AN INDEPENDENT 
TAMIL HOMELAND.  IN EXCHANGE, BALASINGHAM STATED, THE 
LTTE WILL ACCEPT A "FEDERAL FORM OF AUTONOMY FOR THE 
TAMILS OF THE NORTH AND EAST, INCLUDING THEIR OWN 
LEGISLATURE AND JUDICIAL POWERS, WITHIN A UNITED SRI 
LANKA".  BALASINGHAM REFUSED TO BE PINNED DOWN ON THE 
DETAILS OF THE DIVISION OF POWER IN SUCH A FEDERAL 
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, BUT SUGGESTED THAT THE AMERICAN 
OR AUSTRALIAN SYSTEMS MIGHT SERVE AS MODELS, WHILE THE 
INDIAN SYSTEM WOULD NOT.  HE INDICATED, HOWEVER, THAT 
THE "COLLECTIVE ASPIRATIONS" OF THE TAMIL PEOPLE FOR 
SELF-DETERMINATION AND A GUARANTEE OF THEIR RIGHTS 
WOULD HAVE TO BE BE INCORPORATED INTO ANY SUCH SYSTEM. 
 
13.  HE ALSO INDICATED THAT BOTH THE NORTHERN AND 
EASTERN PROVINCES, THE "TRADITIONAL HOMELANDS OF THE 
TAMIL-SPEAKING PEOPLE", WOULD HAVE TO BE CONTROLLED BY 
TAMILS IN ANY FEDERAL ARRANGEMENT--THOUGH HE DID 
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE MUSLIMS HAD SPECIAL CONCERNS AND 
CONCEDED THAT A MEASURE OF AUTONOMY WOULD BE NECESSARY 
FOR THEM IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE EAST.  IN DISCUSSING 
THE ROLE OF THE NON-LTTE TAMILS IN THE PROPOSED 
FEDERAL SYSTEM, BALASINGHAM INDICATED THAT THE LTTE 
INTENDED TO FORGE A DEMOCRATIC STATE IN THE NORTHEAST 
WHICH WOULD INCLUDE ALL TAMILS--THOUGH HE WENT ON TO 
MENTION THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL PROBLEM WITH THOSE 
TAMILS WHO HAD BORNE ARMS AGAINST THE LTTE. 
BALASINGHAM SUGGESTED THAT THE CURRENT EFFORTS BY THE 
GOVERNMENT TO FORMULATE A NEW CONSTITUTION SHOULD 
FOCUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FEDERAL CONSTITUTION, 
AND INDICATED THAT THE LTTE SHOULD BE CONSULTED IN 
THIS PROCESS. 
 
14.  COMMENT:  SIX MONTHS AGO THE TIGER DEMAND FOR AN 
INDEPENDENT TAMIL EELAM--COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND 
NONNEGOTIABLE IN THE VIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT--SEEMED, 
PERHAPS, THE MOST INTRACTABLE OBSTACLE TO PEACE.  IN 
THIS CONTEXT, THE LTTE CONCESSION TO PARTICIPATE IN A 
FEDERAL SYSTEM, IF GENUINE, REPRESENTS A MAJOR STEP 
FORWARD IN THE PEACE PROCESS.  BALASINGHAM CLEARLY 
UNDERSTANDS THE POTENT PROPAGANDA VALUE OF EMPHASIZING 
THE "SHIFT" IN THE TIGER POSITION.  THE TRUE EXTENT OF 
THE SHIFT, HOWEVER, IS UNLIKELY TO BE APPARENT UNLESS 
AND UNTIL SERIOUS POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
15.  THE LTTE ALSO CITES ITS AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE 
IN THE CURRENT CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES AS A MAJOR 
PEACE CONCESSION.  HARDLINERS AMONG THE LTTE CADRE SEE 
THE CESSATION AS DISADVANTAGEOUS--PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT 
GIVES THE GOVERNMENT BREATHING SPACE TO RE-ARM, 
RE-EQUIP AND RE-TRAIN.  BALASINGHAM ALSO POINTED TO 
THE LTTE RELEASE OF PRISONERS LAST SEPTEMBER AS A 
FURTHER CONCESSION. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
LTTE: GOVERNMENT FAILS TO TAKE PEACE TALKS SERIOUSLY 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
16.  BALASINGHAM EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE PEACE 
PROCESS, STATING THAT PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WERE NOT 
GOING WELL.  THE PRIMARY REASON, HE FELT, WAS THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BEEN TAKING THE TALKS SERIOUSLY 
ENOUGH.  SPECIFICALLY, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT 
SERIOUSLY ADDRESSED ISSUES OF MAJOR CONCERN TO THE 
LTTE--THE TOTAL LIFTING OF THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO, THE 
OPENING OF A LAND ROUTE BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE 
SOUTH, THE ABANDONMENT OF THE POONERYN ARMY CAMP, AND 
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. 
 
17.  IN ADDITION, THE LTTE SAYS THAT THE GOVERNMENT 
DELEGATES TO THE FIRST THREE ROUNDS OF PEACE TALKS 
WERE INEXPERIENCED AND POORLY PREPARED AMATEURS.  NO 
POLITICAL DECISION-MAKERS OR SENIOR GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIALS, WHO MIGHT HAVE SUBSTANTIVE IMPACT ON THE 
PEACE PROCESS, WERE INCLUDED.  MOREOVER, BALASINGHAM 
DESCRIBED THE FIRST THREE ROUNDS AS "BRIEF 
DISCUSSIONS"--THE GOVERNMENT DELEGATES SPENDING NO 
MORE THAN A FEW HOURS IN JAFFNA DURING EACH 
ROUND--WITH NO PROPER AGENDA, LACK OF TIME TO CLEARLY 
AND THOROUGHLY DISCUSS THE ISSUES, AND NO JOINT 
STATEMENT.  LTTE FRUSTRATION ON THIS POINT WAS 
UNDERSCORED BY THE ROUSING RECEPTION RECENTLY GIVEN AN 
INDEPENDENT VISIT TO JAFFNA BY MEMBERS OF THE SRI 
LANKA PARLIAMENT (REF C).  BALASINGHAM DESCRIBED THE 
ON-GOING EXCHANGE OF LETTERS BETWEEN THE LTTE AND THE 
GOVERNMENT, UPWARDS OF 50 TO DATE, AS UNPRODUCTIVE. 
RATHER THAN OFFERING CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS, HE 
CHARACTERIZED THE LETTERS AS TENDING TO POINT FINGERS 
AND ASSIGN BLAME FOR THE HICCUPS IN THE PEACE 
PROCESS.  THE LTTE HAS FURTHER INTERPRETED THE LETTERS 
IT RECEIVES FROM THE GOVERNMENT AS BEING DELIBERATELY 
WRITTEN IN A MANNER WHICH WOULD ALLOW THEM TO LATER BE 
RELEASED TO THE PRESS AS EVIDENCE OF TIGER 
INTRANSIGENCE IN THE PEACE PROCESS.  BALASINGHAM 
POINTED OUT THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL 
PROGRESS, THE LTTE AND THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE ABLE TO 
EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS FACE-TO-FACE AND AT LENGTH. 
 
18.  THE LACK OF A PROPOSED FRAMEWORK FOR A POLITICAL 
SETTLEMENT (ORIGINALLY PROMISED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR 
EARLY FEBRUARY) APPEARED TO DEEPLY FRUSTRATE 
BALASINGHAM.  HE NOTED THAT IT SEEMED UNFAIR THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT WOULD ACCUSE THE LTTE OF NOT BEING SERIOUS 
ABOUT POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS IN THE ABSENCE OF THE 
POLITICAL FRAMEWORK WHICH THE TIGERS HAVE REPEATEDLY 
DEMANDED BE OFFERED AS THE BASIS FOR SUCH 
NEGOTIATION.  (NOTE:  PRESIDENT KUMARATUNGA HAS SINCE 
INVITED THE LTTE TO BEGIN POLITICAL TALKS IN EARLY 
APRIL, PROMISING TO PROVIDE THEM FRAMEWORK PROPOSAL IN 
ADVANCE AND SUGGESTING THAT GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATORS 
WOULD BE PREPARED FOR AT LEAST A TWO DAY STAY.  SO 
FAR, THE TIGERS HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO THE OFFER.)  . 
END NOTE.) 
 
19.  THE LTTE QHAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT 
RECOGNIZE IT AS AN EQUAL PARTNER IN THE PEACE PROCESS; 
AND BRISTLED AT RECENT UNILATERAL ACTIONS TAKEN BQ THE 
GOVERNMENT--THE OPENING OF THE ELEPHANT PASS ROAD, 
RELOCATION OF THE POONERYN CAMP AND THE PROPOSED 
FRENCH MEDIATOR IN THE PEACE PROCESS (REF A).  THE 
LTTE VIEW IS THAT SUCH DECISIONS SHOULD BE NEGOTIATED 
BILATERALLY.  THEY FEEL THAT "IMPERIALLY" DISPENSED 
UNILATERAL DECISIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT WEAKEN THEIR 
NEGOTIATING POSITION AND MAKE IT APPEAR IN JAFFNA AS 
IF THEY ARE CAVING-IN TO THE GOVERNMENT.  THEY 
THEREFORE INTEND TO REJECT SUCH DECISIONS 
OUT-OF-HAND.  (COMMENT:  WHILE BALASINGHAM STATED THAT 
THE LTTE CURRENTLY SEES NO ROLE FOR A FOREIGN 
MEDIATOR, BELIEVING THAT THE LTTE AND THE GOVERNMENT 
SHOULD BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ETHNIC PROBLEM 
THEMSELVES, HE DID SAY THAT THE LTTE WOULD SEEK OUT 
FOREIGN INTERVENTION SHOULD THE PEACE TALKS FAIL.  HE 
REFUSED TO BE DRAWN OUT ON WHAT WOULD CONSTITUTE THE 
FAILURE OF THE PEACE TALKS, AND WHAT FORM THE FOREIGN 
INTERVENTION MIGHT TAKE.  END COMMENT.) 
 
---------------------------- 
CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES 
---------------------------- 
 
20.  VIEWING THEMSELVES AS UNDER SIEGE, THE LTTE HAS 
FOCUSED ON FOUR GOVERNMENT CONCESSIONS WHICH THEY SAY 
ARE ESSENTIAL TO BUILDING UP THE CONFIDENCE OF THE 
LTTE IN THE GOVERNMENT--THE TOTAL LIFTING OF THE 
ECONOMIC EMBARGO, THE OPENING OF A LAND ROUTE BETWEEN 
THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH, THE ABANDONMENT OF THE 
POONERYN ARMY CAMP, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A 
PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.  DURING THE BRIEFING, BALASINGHAM 
STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE MEASURES TIME AND 
AGAIN. 
 
21.  IF PEACE IS TO BE ACHIEVED, AND REHABILITATION 
AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE NORTH TO OCCUR, THE LTTE 
MAINTAINS THAT THE PEOPLE NEED UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO 
GOODS AND MATERIALS.  ITEMS WHICH STILL REMAIN 
UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY ARE EMBARGOED--SUCH AS FUEL, 
SPARE PARTS, AND FERTILIZER--PARALYZE ECONOMIC 
DEVELOPMENT.  THE LTTE CLAIMS THAT THE EMBARGO DOES 
NOT PREVENT THEM FROM PROCURING THE MATERIALS AND 
SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAINTAIN ITS MILITARY CAPABILITY. 
THE EMBARGO, IT SAYS, THEREFORE MERELY HAMSTRINGS THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF ORDINARY PEOPLE. 
 
22.  IN THE SAME VEIN, THE LTTE ARGUES THAT THE 
OPENING OF A LAND ROUTE BETWEEN JAFFNA AND THE SOUTH 
IS ESSENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.  IT HAS FOCUSED 
ON THE POONERYN ROUTE AS THE ROUTE OF CHOICE, AND HAS 
STATED THAT THE OPENING OF THIS ROUTE CAN ONLY BE 
ACCOMPLISHED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ABANDONMENT OF 
THE THREE-YEAR-OLD POONERYN ARMY CAMP (THE SCENE IN 
NOVEMBER, 1993 OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLE IN THE 
ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD INSURGENCY) WHICH WAS BUILT SO AS TO 
STRATEGICALLY BLOCK THE POONERYN ROAD.  CONTINUED LTTE 
INSISTENCE THAT POONERYN BE ABANDONED, IN SPITE OF 
GOVERNMENT MOVES TO RELOCATE THE CAMP 500 METERS FROM 
THE ROAD, HAS LED TO GOVERNMENT CHARGES THAT THE LTTE 
HAS BEEN DISSEMBLING--SEEKING A STRATEGIC MILITARY 
GOAL UNDER THE GUISE OF CONFIDENCE-BUILDING. 
NONETHELESS, BALASINGHAM TOLD THE DIPLOMATS THAT THE 
LTTE VIEWS THE ABANDONMENT OF POONERYN AS AN ISSUE IN 
AND OF ITSELF, QUITE SEPARATE FROM THE ISSUE OF THE 
OPENING OF A LAND ROUTE.  HE CLEARLY STATED THAT, FOR 
THE LTTE, THE ABANDONMENT OF THE POONERYN CAMP HAS 
BECOME A SYMBOL OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO THE 
PEACE PROCESS AND OF ITS INTENT TO ABANDON ITS 
MILITARY PLANS TO INVADE JAFFNA.  HE CLAIMED THAT THE 
LTTE RECOGNIZES THE LEGITIMATE SECURITY NEEDS OF THE 
GOVERNMENT FORCES, NOTING THAT THE LTTE IS NOT 
DEMANDING THE REMOVAL OF THE THIRTY-YEAR-OLD ARMY CAMP 
AT ELEPHANT PASS.  IN HIS VIEW, "EGOTISTS" IN THE ARMY 
DO NOT WANT TO LET POONERYN GO, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT 
THE ABANDONMENT OF THE CAMP WOULD BE "A BITTER PILL 
FOR THE ARMY TO SWALLOW". 
 
23.  THE LTTE ALSO SAYS A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IS 
ESSENTIAL FOR THE PERMANENT REHABILITATION AND 
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE NORTH.  BALASINGHAM STATED THAT 
PROBLEMS IN CLARIFYING MODALITIES OF THE CESSATION OF 
HOSTILITIES AGREEMENT HAD BEEN COMPLICATING A 
PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT.  (HE DID NOT CLARIFY 
WHAT THESE PROBLEMS WERE.)  WHEN ASKED WHY THESE 
MODALITIES HAD NOT BEEN WORKED OUT PRIOR TO THE 
SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT, HE SHEEPISHLY REVEALED THAT 
THE LTTE AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD PROCEEDED QUICKLY WITH 
THE SIGNING OF THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES AGREEMENT 
BECAUSE PRESIDENT KUMARATUNGA WANTED TO SIGN THE 
DOCUMENT ON THE BIRTHDAY OF HER FATHER--WHO WAS 
ASSASSINATED WHILE PRIME MINISTER. 
 
24.  COMMENT:  INTERESTINGLY, BALASINGHAM CONVEYED THE 
IMPRESSION THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSED 39 
BILLION RUPEE REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION 
PROGRAM WAS NOT REGARDED BY THE LTTE AS A 
PRE-CONDITION FOR PEACE TALKS--A VIEW CONTRARY TO 
EARLIER TIGER PRONOUNCEMENTS ON THE SUBJECT. 
BALASINGHAM PORTRAYED FREE TRADE (UNEMCUMBERED BY THE 
PRESENCE OF SECURITY FORCES) AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF 
PEACE AS ESSENTIAL FOR THE SUCCESSFUL FULFILLMENT OF A 
REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM. 
NONETHELESS, ALTHOUGH PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE PEACE 
PROCESS AT THE MOMENT, THE LTTE APPEARS VERY SERIOUS 
ABOUT THE REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM, 
AND PRESENTED THE DIPLOMATIC GROUP WITH A VOLUMINOUS 
NEEDS ASSESSMENT (SEPTEL).  END COMMENT. 
 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
25.  BALASINGHAM, SPEAKING FOR THE LTTE, PRESENTED A 
RATIONAL VIEW OF THE LTTE POSITION AND CONCERNS 
ANCHORED IN HISTORICAL GRIEVANCES AND INTENSIFIED BY 
BROKEN PROMISES AND POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP BY 
SUCCESSIVE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENTS.  THE LTTE'S STATED 
AIM OF RESOLVING THE ETHNIC CONFLICT THROUGH A FORMULA 
GRANTING SELF-DETERMINATION FOR THE TAMIL PEOPLE 
WITHIN A UNITED SRI LANKA IS, ON ITS FACE, A 
REASONABLE POSITION.  TO SUSPICIOUS SINHALESE (AND 
SKEPTICAL DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS), HOWEVER, THE APPARENT 
TIGER REASONABLENESS COULD JUST AS READILY BE A CLEVER 
PLOY TO MASK THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO TAMIL 
EELAM AND TO STRENGTHEN THEIR STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC 
POSITION VIS-A-VIS THE GOVERNMENT.  THE GOVERNMENT, 
REMEMBERING THE SUDDEN AND MURDEROUS PRE-EMPTIVE 
STRIKE OF THE LTTE WHICH HERALDED THE START OF EELAM 
WAR TWO IN 1990, FINDS IT AS HARD TO TRUST THE TIGERS 
AS THE TIGERS SAY IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO TRUST 
THE GOVERNMENT. 
 
26.  THE MEANS OF RESOLVING THE ENSUING DILEMMA WILL 
LARGELY DEPEND ON THE ABILITY OF THE LTTE AND THE 
GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION AND 
TO KEEP ON TALKING.  MEANWHILE, FOR US, AND FOR OTHER 
OBSERVERS, OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS THIS TO INTERACT MORE 
DIRECTLY WITH THE LTTE AND OBSERVE THE SITUATION IN 
THE LTTE-CONTROLLED NORTH CAN ONLY HELP US TO ASSESS 
BETTER THE APPROPRIATENESS OF AND OPTIONS FOR AN 
INTERNATIONAL ROLE AS THE GOVERNMENT-LTTE DIALOGUE 
DEVELOPS.  END COMMENT. 
 
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BALASINGHAM BIO NOTES 
--------------------- 
 
27.  BALASINGHAM CAME ACROSS AS VERY BRIGHT, 
PERSUASIVE, ARTICULATE AND PROFESSIONAL.  HE IS 
COMPLETELY FLUENT IN ENGLISH.  BALASINGHAM'S BRIEFING 
WAS WELL-PREPARED AND PRESENTED IN A REASONABLE AND 
RATIONAL TONE; HE AVOIDED BEING OVERLY CRITICAL OF THE 
GOVERNMENT.  HE SEEMED CLEAR ABOUT HIS OBJECTIVES; AND 
GAVE THE IMPRESSION OF BEING SINCERELY TROUBLED AND 
APPREHENSIVE AS HE DESCRIBED THE FALTERING PEACE 
PROCESS.  HE ALSO APPEARED TO BE A POWER TO RECKON 
WITH IN THE LTTE HIERARCHY.  DURING THE BRIEFING, 
THERE WAS NOTICEABLE DEFERENCE TO HIM BY THE OTHER 
LTTE LEADERS--AT ONE POINT WHEN A QUESTION ABOUT THE 
LTTE'S PRIORITIES FOR RECONSTRUCTION CAUSED RAVI 
(THROUGH HIS INTERPRETER) TO STUMBLE, AND SOME DEBATE 
TO ENSUE, BALASINGHAM DEFTLY CUT IN, PROVIDING THE 
ANSWER.  HE ALSO CONFIDENTLY INITIATED THE PRIVATE 
MEETING WITH POLOFF; AN ACT WHICH IMPLIED CONSIDERABLE 
AUTHORITY. 
 
28.  IN THE MIDST OF THE WEIGHTY DISCUSSIONS, THERE 
WERE SOME LIGHT TOUCHES.  THE BALASINGHAMS BROUGHT 
THEIR DOG--A MEDIUM SIZE MUTT--TO THE BRIEFING.  THE 
DOG ROMPED IN THE MIDST OF FORMAL HANDSHAKES AND STERN 
LTTE CEREMONIAL GUARDS.  MRS. BALASINGHAM (AND AGAIN 
THE DOG) ACCOMPANIED BALASINGHAM TO HIS NIGHTTIME 
MEETING WITH THE POLOFF AS WELL.  (MRS. BALASINGHAM 
OFFERED NO SUBSTANTIVE COMMENTS DURING EITHER 
MEETING.)  LTTE CADRE ARE FORBIDDEN TO SMOKE--WITH THE 
EXCEPTION OF BALASINGHAM, A CHAIN SMOKER, WHO HAS A 
SPECIAL EXEMPTION FROM PRABHAKARAN.  IRONICALLY, 
TOBACCO, SMUGGLED TO INDIA, IS AN IMPORTANT CASH CROP 
ON THE PENINSULA. 
 
 
SCHAFFER