OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 162 (11-19-02)

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 002147

SIPDIS

OFFICIAL INFORMAL

DEPT FOR SA/INS FROM AMBASSADOR WILLS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11-19-12
TAGS: AMGT CE LTTE
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 162 (11-19-02)


Classified by Ambassador Wills, Reasons 1.5 (b, d)

CONTENTS: JAPAN'S YOSIKAWA VISITS KILINOCHI
GL PEIRIS ON BALASINGHAM'S WISH TO VISIT NORTH
NORTH AMERICA
MORAGODA-DEPSEC TV INTERVIEW IN OSLO?
DEALING WITH THE LTTE
DRAFT PRESS GUIDANCE: OK TO USE?
ICC WAIVER

Japan's Yosikawa Visit's Kilinochi
--------------


1. (SBU) The Japanese Ambassador rang the Ambassador
last night to report on his and Mr. Yosikawa's attendance
at the first Subcommittee meeting on North-East
Reconstruction. The atmosphere was "positive and
friendly" but the details of how the Subcommittee and
related North-East Reconstruction Fund -- NERF -- will
work are still unclear. Ambassador Otsuka said he and
Yosikawa told the LTTE that donors needed maximal
flexibility to implement programs and donate funds but he
wasn't sure the LTTE got it. There apparently will be a
Secretariat for the Subcommittee -- bureaucracies do

SIPDIS
indeed proliferate -- staffed with an LTTE Director and
two Deputy Directors, one from the GSL and one
representing "minorities." The Japanese role in the
Subcommittee has been defined as "Principal Advisor", so
that will be Mr. Akashi's title. Akashi, by the way,
will be coming to the Oslo meeting. (FO)

Peiris on Balasingham's Wish to Visit North America
-------------- --------------


2. (C) The Ambassador lunched with GL at Parliament on
Saturday. Among many other topics discussed, GL raised a
"sensitive" matter relating to the LTTE's Anton
Balasingham. It seems Balasingham wants to visit Canada
and the US to "consult with the diaspora." The
Ambassador replied that Milinda had raised this with the
DepSec in September and had been told the USG would check
into it. EAW added that the checking was still going on
but was unlikely to lead to approval for a Balasingham
visit to the US until the Tigers are much closer to
coming off the FTO than they are now (the Ambassador
actually said - with typically mellifluous southern
elegance - "that dog don't hunt". Peiris related that he
had raised this possibility with the Canadian Foreign
Minister when he was in Ottawa last month. The Foreign
Minister replied that Canada would be willing to let in
Balasingham but was concerned lest its population think
the GOC and the USG have different approaches to FTO's.
According to Peiris, the Canadian asked the GSL to
intervene with the USG to give a signal to Ottawa that we
don't mind if the Canadians give Balasingham a visa. The
Ambassador said he would pass this along to Washington.
SA may want to alert the DepSec to the possibility the
GOC may be raising this with him directly. (FO)

Moragoda-Depsec TV Interview in Oslo?
--------------


3. (SBU) Milinda rang the Ambassador from Tokyo to find
out whether he can do his long-sought TV interview with
the Depsec while they are in Olso next week. Can SA
please check with Kara B to get an answer? (FO)

DEALING WITH THE LTTE
--------------


4. (C) We would urge a clear authoritative edict prior to
Oslo from the lawyers at Justice on precisely what
dealings US officials may have with the LTTE. (FO)

DRAFT PRESS GUIDANCE: OK TO USE?
--------------


5. (SBU) Is the "if-asked" press guidance we provided in
Colombo 2142 OK for us to use (if asked, natch)?
(FO)

ICC WAIVER
--------------


6. (SBU) MFA is closed today for a local holiday. We
will get hold of the ForSec tomorrow and make sure we are
all working off the same ICC waiver text and set up a
signing event ASAP. (FO)



WILLS