Tigers widely blamed in killings of six more

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001798

SIPDIS

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

DEPARTMENT PLEASE ALSO PASS TOPEC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10-16-13
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINS PHUM CE LTTE
SUBJECT: Tigers widely blamed in killings of six more
Tamils

Refs: Colombo 1789, and previous

(U) Classified by James F. Entwistle, Deputy Chief of
Mission. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Six more Tamils have been killed in
separate incidents in the past three weeks. As with the
roughly 40 similar incidents in past months, the Tigers
have been widely blamed for the latest slew of killings,
with some observers contending that the group is trying
to wipe out perceived opponents in the north/east. The
continued killings have not raised too many hackles in
the south, perhaps because the violence has been Tamil-
on-Tamil. END SUMMARY.

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Six More Killings
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2. (SBU) Six more Tamils have been killed in separate
incidents in the past three weeks. All of the incidents
took place in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province. Details of
the six killings follow:

-- On October 8, Charles Edward, 30, who was reportedly
a former member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE),was shot dead in Trincomalee District.

-- On October 5, Subramaniam Kirubakaran, 36, who was
reportedly a member of an anti-LTTE political party, was
shot dead near Batticaloa town.

-- On October 3, Eramba Moorthy Sabanyagam, an alleged
military informant, was shot dead near Batticaloa town.

-- On October 2, Vigneswaran (one name only),an alleged
military informant, was shot dead near Trincomalee town.

-- On September 28, the recently severed head of S.
Sundararajah, 33, was found near Akkaraipattu town in
Ampara District. Sundararajah was reportedly a former
member of the LTTE.

-- On September 26, V. Yogendran, 39, who was reportedly
a former member of an anti-LTTE party, was shot dead
near Batticaloa town.

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Tigers are Blamed
--------------


3. (C) As with the roughly 40 similar incidents in past
months (see Reftels),the Tigers have been widely blamed
for the latest slew of killings. In making this
assessment, observers have noted that all of the victims
had apparently run afoul of the LTTE in some way, e.g.:
by once being members of the organization and then
leaving (the LTTE does not allow this); by being
associated with anti-LTTE parties; or by being an
alleged military informant. The killings also fit into
the LTTE's long-time modus operandi for assassinations
which involves "pistol gangs" shooting victims up close.
As has been the case with the earlier killings, however,
the LTTE has not taken responsibility for the incidents
and no one has been arrested as of yet.


4. (C) When queried about the killings, Douglas
Devananda, a MP and leader of the anti-LTTE Eelam
People's Democratic Party (EPDP),told polchief on
October 15 that there was no question in his mind that
the Tigers were the responsible party. As evidence,
Devananda commented that members of his party have
received threatening messages from the LTTE to cease-
and-desist their activities. When they have not, they
have wound up dead. Devananda noted that the LTTE has
been careful to avoid any direct connection with the
violence, but that there was no doubt in his mind that
the group was culpable.

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An Orchestrated Campaign in the North/East?
--------------


5. (C) In analyzing the many killings, some observers
contend that the LTTE is trying to wipe out its
perceived opponents in the north/east. Kethesh
Loganathan, an analyst at the Center for Policy
Alternatives, a local think-tank, told polchief on
October 16 that he thought the LTTE was trying to rid
the region of potential opponents ahead of a possible
agreement with the GSL on an interim arrangement in the
north/east. With opponents in the Tamil community out
of the way, the LTTE can more easily argue that it is
the "sole representative of the Tamil people" and
deserves to be in sole control of a north/east setup.
Beyond this larger plan, Loganathan added that he
thought there was also a fair amount of score settling
going on, with LTTE elements killing Tamils who have
refused to bend to the group's will in some way.

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COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) The international community and human rights
activists have recoiled at the killings, expressing deep
concern that the Tigers are not changing their stripes
despite the peace process. Interestingly, however, the
killings have not raised too many hackles in the south.
This could be attributed to the fact that the violence
that has taken place is almost overwhelmingly Tamil-on-
Tamil and does not directly involve the Sinhalese
majority. Most of the violence is also taking place in
the north and east, far away from southern population
centers. There would certainly be much more of an
outcry if Sinhalese were routinely being gunned down in
downtown Colombo. END COMMENT.


7. (U) Minimize considered.

Lunstead