Tigers still refusing request from monitors to

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001262

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07-18-13
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM PINS CE NO LTTE
SUBJECT: Tigers still refusing request from monitors to
vacate forward base; Another military informant killed

Refs: (A) FBIS Reston Va DTG 170326Z Jul 03

- (B) FBIS Reston Va DTG 150248Z Jul 03
- (C) Colombo 1256, and previous

(U) Classified by James F. Entwistle, Charge d'Affaires.
Reasons 1.5 (b, d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission
(SLMM) has not yet been able to convince the Tamil
Tigers to vacate a base the group has established in the
east. The Tigers say the base is within their zone and
not in a GSL-demarcated area. In other peace process
developments, another military informant was killed late
July 17. The Tigers are almost certainly to blame. The
controversy over the base is causing strains in the
SLMM's relationship with the Tigers. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) CONTROVERSY OVER TIGER BASE: The Norwegian-run
SLMM is becoming increasingly concerned over the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organization's
refusal to vacate a forward base the group has
established in the east. The base, which is variously
referred to as the "Wan Ela" or "Manrasakulam" camp, is
near Kinniya, a town located roughly 15 kilometers to
the southwest of Trincomalee city. It is not clear when
the LTTE established the base, but the group apparently
did so in the past year. The LTTE has reportedly taken
steps to enlarge the base in recent weeks. The base is
believed to contain several bunkers which are possibly
filled with arms and ammunition.


3. (C) Reacting to complaints from the GSL and local
Muslims, the SLMM began to investigate the LTTE's
establishment of the base several weeks ago. (Note:
Kinniya has a large population of Muslims. Muslims, in
general, are very worried about any indications of
increased Tiger influence in the east -- see Ref C.)
According to Hagrup Haukland, the Deputy Chief of the
SLMM, the basic rule the monitors are using in examining
the dispute comes from the February 2002 ceasefire
agreement. Haukland said the agreement makes clear that
the military forces of the LTTE and the government
cannot expand their zones of control during the
ceasefire. After examining records and completing a
site survey of the base on July 16, the SLMM ruled that
the Tigers' base was built after the ceasefire agreement
came into force and that it encroaches on government-
controlled territory.


4. (C) For their part, the Tigers have vociferously
denied that the base is in a government-controlled area.
In recent meetings with SLMM officials, including Chief
Tryggve Tellefsen, the LTTE's political chief S.P.
Thamilchelvam has underscored that the Tigers have no
plans to vacate the area. Exasperated by the Tigers'
hard-line stance, Haukland has given several interviews
to the press in which he has lashed out at the LTTE,
asserting that the group must vacate the site as soon as
possible (see Refs A-B). Among other concerns, Haukland
has also complained that the LTTE is not allowing the
monitors access to sites in all the areas it controls.
In recent conversations with polchief Haukland asserted
that the monitors' relationship with the Tigers is not
approaching the breakdown stage despite his harsh
comments. When asked about next steps, Haukland said
the SLMM would continue to try to convince the Tigers to
withdraw from the area through private and public
communications. (Note: The SLMM's Tellefsen briefed
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe about the dispute in a
July 17 meeting.)


5. (C) ANOTHER INFORMANT SLAIN: In other peace process
developments, another military informant was killed late
July 17. The informant, a Muslim named Abdul Baheer
Fowzie, 38, was gunned down by two men at a site north
of Trincomalee city. The slaying of Fowzie appears to
be part of the spate of killings of military informants
and Tamil Tiger opponents that has gained pace in recent
months (see Ref C). The Tigers have not taken
responsibility for any of the killings, including that
of Fowzie. Given the seemingly organized nature of the
killings and the victims' occupations and/or political
leanings, there is little doubt that the Tigers are
responsible, however.

6. (C) COMMENT: The controversy over the base near
Kinniya is sparking strains in the SLMM's relationship
with the Tigers. In their public comments, there is
little doubt that the monitors are getting increasingly
exasperated with the Tigers. The SLMM essentially feels
that the LTTE is not living up to its part of the
ceasefire agreement bargain by acceding to the monitors'
rulings. The SLMM has made the Tiger leadership aware
of its concerns, and it is now up to Thamilchelvam and
others to react in a constructive manner. If the Tigers
do not play ball, the SLMM's mandate will become
increasingly difficult to fulfill. END COMMENT.

ENTWISTLE