Tokyo conference, including D's address, nets

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001007

SIPDIS

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

LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06-10-13
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EAID CE JA NO LTTE
SUBJECT: Tokyo conference, including D's address, nets
highly positive reaction; Reaction to PM's speech mixed

Refs: Colombo 995, and previous

(U) Classified by Lewis Amselem, Charge d'Affaires.
Reasons: 1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Tokyo donors conference has
generally netted a highly positive reaction in Sri
Lanka. Media coverage was lavish and upbeat. D's
address was considered constructive by all quarters.
The PM's speech received a mixed reaction, however, with
some Tamils skeptical of his promise to discuss forming
an interim structure in the north/east. The Tamil
Tigers and the president have not issued a public
reaction as of late June 10. Overall, despite the
absence of the Tigers, the conference and its aid
pledges went a long way toward restoring some of the
peace process' lost momentum. END SUMMARY.

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Positive Reaction to Tokyo
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2. (C) The Tokyo donors conference has generally
received a highly positive reaction in Sri Lanka.
(Note: This message covers the first day of the
June 9-10 conference when most of the major speeches
were made. This message does not touch on reaction to
the "Tokyo Declaration on Reconstruction and Development
of Sri Lanka," which was issued mid-day local time,
June 10.) Media coverage was lavish and basically
positive. Newspapers, including English-, Sinhala-, and
Tamil-language, had banner headlines regarding the
conference. In the meantime, there was fulsome coverage
on local TV channels, and on satellite channels such as
CNN and BBC. Most of the media coverage (both press and
TV) dealt with the addresses given by Prime Minister
Wickremesinghe and Deputy Secretary Armitage, as well as
the aid pledges made by conference attendees.
(Note: See our media reaction cable for a more detailed
review of press play.)

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Praise for D's Address
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3. (C) While reaction to PM Wickremesinghe's remarks
was decidedly mixed (see below),the address by Deputy
Secretary Armitage was considered constructive by all

SIPDIS
quarters. Representative comments re his remarks
included the following:

-- The highly respected Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna

T. Savundranayagam told us he was very happy with the
firm tone of D's comments and the U.S.' clear commitment
to stand by Sri Lanka during this difficult period. The
bishop added that the Deputy Secretary's speech should
help bring the GSL and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) back to the negotiating table. He also
commented that it was very unfortunate that the LTTE had
decided not to participate in Tokyo, but he hoped the
group would appreciate the good that came out of the
conference for the Tamil people.

-- Joseph Pararajasingham, a pro-LTTE MP for the Tamil
National Alliance, said he thought the Deputy
Secretary's speech was "quite balanced and careful." He

SIPDIS
said he thought the LTTE would review the speech very
carefully, including its call for the Tigers to return
to the peace talks.

-- Kethesh Loganathan, a political analyst with the
Center for Policy Alternatives, a local think-tank, told
us that he thought D's remarks were very positive. In
particular, Loganathan appreciated D's urging of the
LTTE to work to build trust. At the same time,
Loganathan thought it was important that the Deputy
Secretary had made clear that the international

SIPDIS
community was not trying to isolate the LTTE, but saw
the group as a political actor in Sri Lanka that needed
to transform itself.

(Note: Alone among the major addresses, the text of D's
speech was posted on the pro-Tiger website "TamilNet."
There was no commentary attached to the text. For more
re Tiger reaction please see Para 6.)

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PM nets Mixed Reaction
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4. (C) The prime minister's speech received a mixed
reaction. In discussions with contacts, some Tamils
were a bit skeptical of the PM's promise to discuss
forming an interim structure in the north/east. Joseph
Pararajasingham, the pro-LTTE MP, for example, told us
that Tamils "hoped the PM would be able to deliver on
his promises," but wondered about the follow through by
the government. In any case, Pararajasingham -- echoing
recent comments made by the LTTE itself -- said "it was
no longer time for talk, but for action" by the GSL. In
the meantime, leader of the generally anti-LTTE People's
Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) D.
Sithadthan characterized reaction among Tamils as "wait-
and-see." He said he thought that the stalemate that
was now affecting the peace track would only end when
aid began flowing into the north and east.


5. (C) Regarding opinion in the majority Sinhalese
community, a well-respected Buddhist monk, the Venerable
Wimalaratana, told us that he thought the conference was
highly successful. (Note: Wimalaratana is a member of
the moderate mainstream group of Sri Lanka's monks.) He
welcomed the fact that the prime minister was trying to
bring peace to the country. That said, Wimalaratana
said he was concerned that the PM's proposal re an
interim structure not be construed by the Tigers as
potentially giving the group political control of the
north/east. Rather, it should be seen as giving the
group simply some administrative powers.
(Note: Wimalaratana expressed deep annoyance over a
June 8 incident in Japan when several Sri Lankan men
interrupted a Buddhist ceremony attended by the PM. The
men were arrested by Japanese authorities. He said the
disruption was most inappropriate. Despite reports to
the contrary, the radical, anti-GSL Janantha Vimukthi
Peramuna has denied involvement in the incident.)
(Note: For comments from the president's office re the
PM's speech please see Para 7.)

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Tigers are Quiet, so far
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6. (C) The LTTE has not issued a public reaction to the
Tokyo conference as of yet. Pararajasingham, who is
quite close to the Tigers, told us that he was not sure
when or if the group would formally make a statement.
He said he thought the group might forestall any public
reaction until the government developed a proposal fully
sketching out its idea for an interim structure in the
north and east. He added, however, that it was possible
that Anton Balasingham, the LTTE's London-based
spokesman, might use "TamilNet" to make some sort of
announcement re the outcome of the conference before
that.

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No Reaction yet from the President
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7. (C) President Kumaratunga and her People's Alliance
(PA) party have also avoided publicly discussing Tokyo
thus far. (Note: The president shares a very tense
cohabitation relationship with the PM.) Presidential
advisor Eric Fernando told us that the president has
been in Kandy of late and had only returned to Colombo
last night (June 9). He was not sure when or if she
might comment on Tokyo. Fernando went on to say that he
felt that the prime minister's speech yielded "nothing
new." He added that former foreign minister Lakshman
Kadirgamar, probably the president's closest advisor,
felt the same way. Fernando remarked that the president
had proposed a similar interim structure concept way
back in August 2000 and it was by now an old idea.

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COMMENT
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8. (C) Despite the absence of the Tigers, the Tokyo
conference clearly went a long way toward restoring some
of the peace process' lost momentum. The attention
given to Sri Lanka by such well-known international
actors as the U.S. (through Deputy Secretary Armitage)
and Japan (through Prime Minister Koizumi) has been
noted and deeply appreciated. Moreover, Sri Lankans
have welcomed the large-scale assistance pledges,
especially the astronomical USD one billion announced by
Japan, and also the U.S.' and EU's generous amounts. At
this point, the question is whether the Tigers will come
back to the peace talks in the aftermath of the
conference. The answer to whether the LTTE wants to
return to the ballgame remains very unclear. As of this
time, however, there is little indication that the group
is rethinking its recent hard-line posture. The
conference, however, is just wrapping up and perhaps the
good vibrations emanating from Tokyo will spur the group
to a change of heart. END COMMENT.


9. (U) Minimize considered.

AMSELEM