Fourth round of GSL-LTTE talks set to begin in

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000014

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/03
TAGS: PGOV PTER MOPS CE NO TH
SUBJECT: Fourth round of GSL-LTTE talks set to begin in
Thailand; President sends letter hitting out at Norway

Refs: (A) Colombo-SA/INS 01/02/03 Fax
- (B) Colombo 2355, and previous

(U) Classified by Lewis Amselem, Deputy Chief of
Mission. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The fourth round of talks between the
GSL and the Tamil Tigers is set to take place in
Thailand, January 6-9. Topics on the agenda include the
security zones in Jaffna, which the Tigers want reduced
in size. There is still some confusion as to the exact
nature of Muslim representation at the talks. In other
news, President Kumaratunga has sent a letter to Norway
critical of its role in the recent import of radio
equipment for the Tigers. Both the GSL and LTTE seem
keen to keep up the momentum of the peace process, but
it is not clear whether this set of talks will lead to
any breakthroughs. END SUMMARY.

=================
Talks in Thailand
=================


2. (U) The fourth round of talks between the Sri Lankan
government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) is set to take place in Thailand, January 6-9.
(Note: The last round of talks took place in Oslo in
early December. The previous two rounds took place in
Thailand in September and November.) The venue will be
the Rose Garden Hotel in the Bangkok area.


3. (C) Agenda: Neither the Norwegian government
facilitators nor the parties have issued a detailed
agenda for the talks. In public statements this week,
however, GSL and LTTE officials announced that the issue
of how to handle the Sri Lankan military's "high
security zones" will be one of the key matters under
discussion. (Note: Per Ref B, the LTTE has demanded
that the government reduce the size of its security
zones in Jaffna. Before agreeing to this, the military
has set conditions, including that the LTTE disarm any
cadre entering the areas. The LTTE rejected this
proposal.) According to reports, another important
agenda item is the issue of federalism and what sort of
federal model could be developed that would meet with
the approval of the two sides. (Note: At the last
round of talks in December, the LTTE -- in a major
breakthrough -- agreed that it would work toward
creation of a federal system in Sri Lanka.) Government
sources have also said additional items on the agenda
include: humanitarian assistance for the north and
east; and human rights issues related to LTTE-controlled
areas.

====================================
Muslim Representation Still an Issue
====================================


4. (SBU) Both sides' delegations to the talks are
basically the same as for previous rounds. Members of
the GSL team include senior ministers G.L. Peiris and
Milinda Moragoda, and chief of the Peace Secretariat
Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke. Because security zone
issues are due for discussion, Defense Secretary Austin
Fernando and military representatives are also slated to
join the GSL team. Members of the LTTE team include
senior negotiator Anton Balasingham, Adele Balasingham
(wife of Anton),LTTE political chief S.P.
Tahmilchelvam, and LTTE eastern military commander
Karuna.


5. (C) There is still some confusion as to the exact
nature of Muslim representation. Late last week, the
government announced that Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
(SLMC) leader and senior minister Rauf Hakeem would once
again join the GSL team. This led to a cacophony of
criticism from Hakeem's many political opponents in the
SLMC and the Muslim community at large. The critics
asserted that the government should not allow Hakeem on
the GSL team because he was not "a true representative"
of Sri Lanka's Muslims. Another point made was that
Muslims should form their own team at the talks and not
be included on the government's team. Stung by the
criticism, Hakeem demanded that the GSL and the LTTE
allow him to represent Sri Lanka's Muslims as a third
party at the talks. As of today, January 3, Hakeem's
request has not been granted and the issue of Muslim
representation still is up in the air, although Hakeem
reportedly will be at the talks in some capacity.

===========================
Kumaratunga Hits Out at GoN
===========================


6. (SBU) In other peace process-related developments:
As foreshadowed in Ref B, President Kumaratunga has sent
the Norwegian Prime Minister a letter criticizing GoN
involvement in the recent import of radio equipment for
the Tigers. The letter, which has been faxed to SA/INS,
received extensive press play in Sri Lanka after the
President's Office issued it as a press release on
January 1.


7. (C) The letter, which was respectful in tone,
asserted that the Norwegian Embassy acted improperly in
allowing the radio equipment to be sent to it as a
diplomatic consignment that could not be assessed
customs duties. (Note: The embassy only agreed to do
this after it received a specific request from the GSL
on the matter.) The letter went on to state that the
embassy's actions raised "serious questions about the
impartiality of the Royal Norwegian government in
relation to the negotiations." The letter did not ask
the GoN to remove Ambassador Jon Westborg from his post,
although some anti-peace process elements have publicly
agitated for just that. The letter did note that the
GoN should appreciate the "seriousness" of Westborg's
actions, however. When asked about Kumaratunga's
letter, Taranjit Sandhu, the polchief of the Indian High
Commission, told us that he thought the letter was
basically a way for Kumaratunga to show hard-liners in
her party that she was doing something in reaction to
their complaints.

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


8. (C) Despite the recent disagreement about the
security zones, both sides seem keen to keep up the
momentum of the peace process. The Norwegians have been
quite effective in arranging the talks so that each
round results in some sort of "breakthrough," e.g., the
December round's announcement that the LTTE will aim for
federalism. It is not clear what the Norwegians are
planning to do this time, but it could involve some
announcement re a framework for solving the complex
security zone issue.


9. (C) As for Kumaratunga's letter, it is unfortunate
that the Norwegians are coming under increasing
criticism given their constructive role as facilitators.
In hitting out at the GoN, the president clearly feels
she has to pander to elements in her party and elsewhere
that are at the very least skeptical about the peace
process if not downright opposed. END COMMENT.


10. (U) Minimize considered.

WILLS