In meeting with SA DAS Camp, Prime Minister

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002000

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS; NSC FOR E. MILLARD

LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10-25-12
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM PINR CE LTTE
SUBJECT: In meeting with SA DAS Camp, Prime Minister
reflects on troubled cohabitation situation

Refs: (A) Colombo - SA/INS 10/25/02 fax

- (B) FBIS Reston Va DTG 250042Z Oct 02
- (C) Colombo 1989, and previous

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: In an October 24 meeting with SA DAS
Camp and Ambassador Wills, PM Wickremesinghe was none
too optimistic about the cohabitation situation,
indicating that the GSL had tried to work with the
president to no avail, so far. The PM did not show his
cards on what the GSL planned to do vis-a-vis the
president. For her part, President Kumaratunga went on
TV last night to address the nation. She staked out a
moderate position on cohabitation, but seemed skeptical
of the GSL's peace initiative. Although the political
situation remains volatile, both sides seem to be
treading very carefully for the moment. END SUMMARY.

===================================
PM: Not Optimistic re Cohabitation
===================================


2. (C) SA DAS Camp and Ambassador Wills met with Prime
Minister Wickremesinghe on October 25. Asked about the
troubled cohabitation situation (see Ref C),the PM
remarked that his government had tried hard to work with
President Kumaratunga to no avail, so far. The GSL, for
example, had stopped some prosecutions of her supporters
as a good will gesture. She was also welcome to
participate in cabinet meetings, but she refused to
attend. She had also failed to fill certain positions,
which was causing problems for the smooth functioning of
the government. It was also not fully clear whether or
not she supported the government's peace initiative.
She had put herself in position where she could play the
"spoiler" role if she wanted. (Note: See Kumaratunga's
recent skeptical comments about the GSL's peace
initiative in Para 6 below.)


3. (C) Queried about the GSL's next steps,
Wickremesinghe replied that the government had basically
dropped the idea of trying to pass its "19th" amendment
to the constitution. (Note: In a ruling earlier this
week, the Supreme Court basically made it extremely
difficult for the government to proceed with the
proposed amendment, which was crafted by the GSL to rein
in executive powers to call parliamentary elections --
See Ref C.) It did not seem likely that the president
would call an election because she knew her party would
not do well, he asserted. The government was
considering taking steps to slash the budget of the
president's office, but all options were still under
review. DAS Camp urged the PM to try to make
cohabitation work so that the GSL could continue to
focus on important peace process issues.


4. (C) Concerning the recent spike in tensions in the
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) threatening the GSL's
majority in Parliament, the prime minister said it was
basically an internal SLMC matter that would fade away.
The issue that had most disturbed the group of rebel
SLMC MPs was the continued activities of the Tamil
Tigers against the Muslim community in the east. The
Tigers' actions had essentially helped spark Muslim
militancy. It was critical that the Tigers stopped
extorting funds from Muslims and abducting them on
occasion. In any case, the PM continued, he was meeting
with the head of the rebel SLMC faction, A.L.M.
Athaullah, today, and hoped to be able to calm the
situation down. (Note: The rest of DAS Camp's meetings
will be reported Septel, including additional comments
by the PM.)

==================
President's Speech
==================


5. (SBU) For her part, President Kumaratunga went on TV
last night to address the nation (text is contained in
Ref A). In the somewhat rambling speech, which was
delivered in English, she staked out a relatively
moderate position on cohabitation, calling for an end to
partisan infighting. On this point, after elaborating
how she had tried to make cohabitation work, she stated:

"It is now time to put the past behind us. The petty
political bickering which has been the bane of our
political culture must now be confined to the pages of
history. As your head of state and president, it is my
responsibility to bring together all communities and all
conflicting political parties."


6. (SBU) Kumaratunga was skeptical about the GSL's
peace initiative. She first noted that she fully
supported the government's objective of realizing peace
for Sri Lanka. She went on to underscore, however, that
she did not believe that the Tigers were holding up
their part of the bargain, stating:

"Seven major incidents of violence have occurred in the
Eastern Province and have caused serious problems to the
Muslim people and in some instances to the Sinhalese
community living in the east. The civilian
population...is facing continued problems of extortion,
kidnap, punishments meted out by an unlawful judicial
system and recruitment into an illegal police force and
an equally unlawful military force by the LTTE
(Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)."

Kumaratunga urged the GSL to respond to these LTTE
actions by developing "a clear vision and a policy
framework" regarding the peace process. "The government
owes this to the people," she said.

=======
COMMENT
=======


7. (C) Although the political situation remains
volatile, both sides seem to be treading very carefully
for the moment. While clearly distrusting Kumaratunga,
the PM sounded quite tentative, as if he was not sure
what he wanted to do. Meanwhile, the president sounded
relatively tame in her speech last night, not saying
anything particularly provocative about the government.
Given these reactions, it is possible that the two sides
are taking a breather, perhaps trying to read the tea
leaves before proceeding to next steps. This might be a
positive for the government which has to get ready for
the second round of talks with the Tigers beginning on
October 31. That said, we expect the cohabitation
roller coaster ride to continue its parlous journey.
END COMMENT.


8. (U) Minimize considered.

WILLS