OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 129 (09-13-02)

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001699

SIPDIS

OFFICIAL INFORMAL

DEPT FOR SA/INS FROM THE CHARGE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/12
TAGS: AMGT CE
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 129 (09-13-02)


CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE LEWIS AMSELEM. REASONS 1.5 B, D.

CONTENTS: REACTION TO THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH
TAYLOR/GOOD VISIT
ATTEMPTED HIJACKING INVESTIGATION
CBK'S HARSH LETTER
ICC ARTICLE 98
BIG CRICKET TOURNAMENT

REACTION TO THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH
--------------

1. (C) Try as we might, we have not yet received any Sri
Lankan or Maldivian government reaction to President
Bush's speech to UNGA yesterday. Regarding international
events, it usually takes both governments time to digest
things and then develop a response. They are very, very
careful and reluctant to stick their necks out. That
said, we are pressing them to support our stand re Iraq
in public, and reported this yesterday front-channel and
will do so again today.

TAYLOR/GOOD VISIT
--------------

2. (U) We received the country clearance request for
David Good and are sending out the clearance cable today.
Polchief Joe Novak will be control officer. We look
forward to his visit (has David been here before?) We
understand that he will be participating in Amb Taylor's
program. (Note: We assume that Amb Taylor's office will
be sending out his exact travel info soon.) Charge sent
out a cable to Amb Taylor today urging him to visit.
(POL)

ATTEMPTED HIJACKING INVESTIGATION
--------------

3. (C) We continue to monitor the investigation into the
attempted hijacking near the Maldives on 9/9. We
received our first troubling indication that those who
tried to take over the plane might (repeat might) be
Muslims who were using forged Indian passports (with
Hindu names). This raises the possibility of Islamic
extremism, but it is still just not clear. Our
understanding is that the alleged perpetrators remain in
detention in the Maldives. DAO is sending out a message
re his latest findings today and RSO continues to be in
touch with the Maldivian police re the incident. (POL)

CBK'S HARSH LETTER
--------------

4. (C) President Kumaratunga fired off a letter to the
GSL late yesterday demanding that the government
negotiating team take a hard-line with the LTTE during
the upcoming talks. She demanded that the GSL complain
about LTTE ceasefire violations, among other things.
(Note: Based on what have heard from the Sri Lanka
Monitoring Mission, there have not in fact been any
serious violations of the ceasefire of late, although
there have been some smaller incidents that it is
reviewing with the parties.) One of the things
Kumaratunga is not happy with is that the GSL has
apparently not acceded to her wish to place a PA rep on
the negotiating team. We have spoken to the GSL about
this matter (just asking them for the facts) and it has
indicated that putting a PA rep on the team would be
unwieldy and make the negotiations much more complex. Of
course, the LTTE would not accept any meeting with the
most likely PA rep, former FM Kadirgamar, whom they
despise as a "turncoat" Tamil. (POL)

ICC ARTICLE 98
--------------

5. (SBU) Thanks for your cogent update re the ICC
Article 98 review. (POL)

BIG CRICKET TOURNAMENT
--------------

6. (U) Just want to flag that there is a huge cricket
tournament taking place in Colombo that began yesterday
and will go on for the next ten days. (Note: We are not
sure exactly why, but cricket is like a religion here.)
All the world's best teams are in town (Australia, India,
South Africa, etc.). Sri Lanka clobbered Pakistan last
night. The fact that such a big tourney is taking place
in SL is being taken by many Sri Lankans as another sign
that their isolation and self-marginalization because of
the war is gradually abating. (POL)

AMSELEM