Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03COLOMBO1630
2003-09-19 05:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

COLOMBO EAC MEETING DATED 9/18/03

Tags:  ASEC CE PTER 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001630 

SIPDIS

RSO FOR DS/IP/NEA/SA AND DS/DSS/ITA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2013
TAGS: ASEC CE PTER
SUBJECT: COLOMBO EAC MEETING DATED 9/18/03

REF: STATE 249843

Classified by RSO Alex R. Moore - Reason: 1.5(D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001630

SIPDIS

RSO FOR DS/IP/NEA/SA AND DS/DSS/ITA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2013
TAGS: ASEC CE PTER
SUBJECT: COLOMBO EAC MEETING DATED 9/18/03

REF: STATE 249843

Classified by RSO Alex R. Moore - Reason: 1.5(D)


1. (SBU) AmEmbassy Colombo EAC met on September 18 to discuss
the upcoming Security Environmental Profile Questionnaire
(SEPQ) due September 19. EAC members in attendance were the
AMB, DCM, RSO, ARSO, POL, PD, AID, CLO, ECON and IBB.


2. (C) The EAC reviewed post's current threat ratings on the
Security Environmental Threat List (SETL) and noted that
Colombo was rated as HIGH for each category of Transnational
Terrorism, Indigenous Terrorism, and Political Violence. The
EAC then discussed the current threat environment in relation
to those ratings. A number of points were made:

- The peace process between the Sri Lankan Government and
LTTE continues. The ceasefire agreement reached in February
2002 continues to largely hold.

- The last LTTE suicide bombing in Colombo was October 2001,
however, an estimated 40 political assassinations involving
LTTE, Tamils and/or Muslims have occurred mostly in the
northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka since the
ceasefire.

- LTTE has never renounced terrorism and remains a dangerous
terrorist organization.

- Tamil militants have only attacked American interests once
in 1984 (when three AID contractors were kidnapped in
Jaffna),but two American bystanders were injured in an Oct
2000 suicide bomb attack near the Town Hall in Colombo, and
other terrorist attacks have taken place in neighborhoods
close to American residences.

- It is not in its interest for the LTTE to attack Americans
at this time, however, the indiscriminate nature of LTTE
suicide bomb attacks have made it apparent Americans are
always at risk should the LTTE renew a bombing campaign.

- The EAC recognizes that its knowledge of transnational
terrorism issues in Sri Lanka may very well be incomplete.
It also understands that American interests worldwide are at
risk due to an ongoing transnational terrorist threat.
However, absent any new information, the EAC assesses that
current conditions in Sri Lanka would make a terrorist
operation by an outside group difficult to implement. This
assessment is based on several factors, including the active
intelligence capabilities of the Sri Lankan security services
and a relatively small Muslim population (8 percent) that has
demonstrated little capability or inclination to support
Muslim extremist activities (although this is an issue the
Embassy watches very closely). We know of no firm link
between the LTTE and Al Qaeda, nor do we believe the LTTE
would allow any Muslim militant group to operate in areas
that are under LTTE control.

- The last serious incident of political disturbance was Oct
2002, when Muslim/Sinhalese rioting lasted for two days in
extreme northern Colombo near the airport, resulting in a
government-imposed three-day curfew. A number of private
homes were burned in the rioting, and the Embassy Warden
System was activated as a result.

- During the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts, several
non-violent demonstrations occurred, usually after Friday
Mosque or the following Monday. The Embassy did not appear
to be specifically targeted, and police usually prevented the
demonstrations from reaching the Embassy. The one exception
was March 28, 2003, in which a demonstration involving up to
2,000 left wing JVP members and Muslims became unruly and
police used tear gas when the crowd overran the designated
boundaries.


3. (SBU) Based on the information outlined above, the EAC
will shortly send in its annual SEPQ responses on indigenous
and transnational terrorism and political violence.
LUNSTEAD