SRI LANKA: DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE HEARS HOPES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001551

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS; NSC FOR H. THOMAS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/12
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PHUM PARM ECON ETRD CE LTTE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE HEARS HOPES
FOR THE FUTURE DESPITE DISCOURAGING EVENTS IN THE PRESENT

(U) Classified by Ambassador E. Ashley Wills. Reasons
1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) Summary: Deputy Secretary Armitage had four brief
"pull-aside" meetings at the start of a reception held in
his honor, August 22, with the Leader of the PA
Opposition the Maldivian High Commissioner, Tamil
National Alliance representatives, and the Leader of the
Muslim Congress. D heard from three different Sri Lankan
political perspectives hopes that cohabitation might
still be possible and that the peace talks could bear
fruit. He also heard the doubts of these groups about
the sincerity and abilities of each other, the GSL, and
the LTTE. In all meetings, D explained his visit was a
result of President Bush's belief that, because of the
GSL's bold decisions on peace and economic reform, it is
time for the US to play a larger role in Sri Lanka. D
questioned interlocutors on their opinions of the
appropriate role for the US at this time. Most wanted
the US to expand its involvement and strongly support the
peace process. Bilateral issues, including security
cooperation and Article 98 agreement on ICC dominated the
discussions with the Maldivian HC. End summary.

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapkase
--------------

2. (C) People's Alliance (PA) Leader Mahinda Rajapakse
began by saying that everyone, PA included, wants peace,
but that most people in the South have reservations about
the sincerity of LTTE leader Prabhakaran. Rajapakse
noted that previous peace efforts had failed, and many
believe that Prabhakaran, leader of the LTTE, is using
this ceasefire interval to build up his strength, and
will eventually take over the disputed areas.


3. (C) On cohabitation between the President and the
prime Minister, Rajapakse said it would not work unless
the two leaders cooperate. He continued that he was not
sure if enough MPs would vote with the government on a
Constitutional amendment to limit the President's power
to dissolve Parliament, but it was possible. He referred
to recent meetings with MPs and the Party Secretary on
this issue and said he will meet with the President
immediately upon her return from the UK, and inform her
that some in the PA will vote with the PM's UNF.
Responding to a comment from D on the President's
possible dissolution of Parliament, Rajapakse said, "if
there are elections, there will be a bloodbath" because
people in the villages use the occasion to address
personal and political rivalries. President Kumaratunga
will have to compromise, he said.


4. (C) According to Rajapakse, areas where the US could
help are addressing the problems with the JVP, which is
now going into trade unions and organizing strikes;
speaking out for cohabitation; and getting India more
involved. India would be seen as a counterweight to what
some perceive as a sympathetic bent toward the LTTE by
the Norwegians.

Maldivian High Commissioner A. Azeez Yousef
--------------

5. (C) After wishing Azeez luck on his imminent return to
Male' after eight years in Colombo, D said he wanted the
Maldivian government to understand what US intentions
were in Sri Lanka, and explained the purpose of his
visit. D then requested that Azeez ask his government to
consider entering into a bilateral agreement on the ICC
under Article 98. The Ambassador noted previous
discussions on the topic with the government in Male',
and that no decision had been conveyed yet.


6. (C) Azeez said he had spoken with the President, who
had asked him to express the Maldivians' gratitude for
the close relations between the U.S. and MALDIVES,
especially the bilateral cooperation on defense, saying
it gave them a sense of security. He also conveyed the
GORM's appreciation for US support in resisting calls
within ECOSOC for its graduation from LDC status.
Finally, he noted the efforts for a Fulbright program in
the MALDIVES and asked for more support to send students
abroad for high school and higher education.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA)
(comprised of smaller Tamil parties)
--------------

7. (C) R. Sampathan, Secretary General of the Tamil
United Liberation Front, started by saying that although
the ceasefire agreement was basically implemented, the
TNA's major concern remained that people could not yet
return to their homes. He said when the military moves
out of a school or temple, as outlined in the MOU, they
frequently just go to the adjoining property. In his
opinion, that does not constitute removal of forces.


8. (C) Talking about the substance of a future
agreement, Sampathan said the TNA was against dividing
the country, but was compelled to call for separatism in
the past because the government was not ready to
restructure itself to include all citizens. If the
country is not to be divided, the center should hold only
enough power -- in defense, foreign affairs and currency
-- to keep it from dividing. In his opinion, the
government was not yet thinking about this. He said that
the Tamils have no problem with the peace process since
the LTTE is on board, but that many Sinhalese are against
it. He said if the country is to stay whole, the GSL
must recognize the Tamils as a distinct people with a
distinct heritage, and give them a devolved ability to
govern themselves and enough control to rehabilitate
their areas.


9. (C) N. Raviraj, a TULF member from Jaffna described
problems in his district that started with the ceasefire.
He stated that the army's new high security zones
incorporate people's property. Most houses are destroyed
in these areas, he said, and the army occupies the ones
that aren't. People in Jaffna are worried, he continued,
because they don't think the army will ever leave. K.
Ponnambalam of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress followed up
by saying some families are moved out of their house so
the army can move in, and they only receive meager
rations to survive. The TNA tries to show support for
the government, especially on the peace process, but it
is difficult, he said, and the alliance endures much
political pressure to withdraw that support. T.
Thangavadivel, from Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization
noted that many steps have been taken, but the Janantha
Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and some in the PA are trying to
spoil the peace process.


10. (C) Sampathan said that in the TNA's meetings with
the LTTE, democracy and respect for minorities are
discussed, as is the belief that, "we don't want to treat
others the way the Sinhalese have treated us". The
responsibility now is on the Sinhalese side, said
Sampathan. When D countered that the TNA has
responsibilities too, including to the Muslims, Sampathan
said they would ensure their safety, rights, security and
even power sharing. On a role for the US, Sampathan said
the US should be seen as evenhanded. D explained that
the US would continue to condemn human rights abuses, and
will attempt to use economic programs to raise the level
of all in Sri Lanka.

Ports Minister and
Leader of the Muslim Congress Rauf Hakeem
--------------

11. (C) After giving D a brief historical view of Muslim
relations in Sri Lanka, Hakeem described his meeting with
Prabhakaran on April 13, saying he thought they came to
an agreement that the LTTE would not try to impose its
will on the Muslim communities. Although Muslims realize
peace will not be easy to attain, they had some hope
after this meeting. Their experience since the ceasefire,
however, has not been good. The violent incidents that
occurred against Muslims caused them to lose confidence
in Prabhakaran's control of his cadres. The basic
problem, in Hakeem's view, has been the Muslims' refusal
to be assimilated by the Tamils, and both groups' desire
to assert themselves politically. Problems are also
economic - fighting for scarce resources, he said.


12. (C) The Muslims don't want to open another front in
the East, he said, but the LTTE wants to unite the north
and east to concentrate their power. People are fearful
of the future, he continued, but the US public statements
to date have helped. He said, "we depend on the US to
see that we get a fair deal. We know you will stand for
what is right."

WILLS