In Mission visit, Jaffna seems calm, but deep

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001832

SIPDIS

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

PLEASE ALSO PASS TOPEC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10-22-13
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MOPS SOCI PREF CE LTTE
SUBJECT: In Mission visit, Jaffna seems calm, but deep
tensions between Tamils and military remain

Refs: Colombo 1827, and previous

(U) Classified by Bruce Lohof, Acting Deputy Chief of
Mission. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: DCM and SA/INS desk officer visited
Jaffna for one day of meetings with military,
government, and NGO officials on October 17. Based on
the team's observations, a semblance of normal life is
steadily returning to this war-torn area in Sri Lanka's
far north. As they have in past visits, however, Tamils
complained about the Sri Lankan military's security
zones, which cover roughly a fifth of the region's land
area. Overall, despite the major strands of dissonance
remaining, contacts were basically optimistic about the
peace process. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) VISIT TO JAFFNA: DCM Entwistle, SA/INS Desk
Officer Waller, Poloff, and Pol FSN visited Jaffna
District in northern Sri Lanka on October 17. In
traveling to Jaffna, the team took a commercial flight
from Colombo's Ratmalana military airbase, arriving at
Palaly airbase an hour later. The U.S. team's first
meeting was with the Sri Lankan military at Palaly
airbase, which also serves as the headquarters of GSL
security forces for the region. The rest of the team's
schedule involved meetings in Jaffna town, the largest
urban area in the region with a population of about
70,000 people, which is located roughly 20 kilometers
south of Palaly.


3. (SBU) REVITALIZATION CONTINUES: After years of war
followed by almost two years of relative peace beginning
in December 2001, a semblance of normal life is steadily
returning to the Jaffna area. This despite a large-
scale military presence (see below),and the unseen, but
very real specter of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) influence. Compared with observations made
during recent Mission visits, for example, the team
observed an increasing number of war-damaged homes being
renovated and many new shops bustling with customers.
Jaffna town's narrow streets were crowded with
pedestrians and buses vying for right of way, as adults
went about their business and children went to school.
Interlocutors told team members that many residents were
avidly preparing for the upcoming Hindu festival of
lights, Deepavali, which is traditionally a joyous
holiday. Deepavali, which takes place this year on
October 24, had not been openly celebrated in Jaffna
during the 1983-2001 years of conflict.


4. (C) The strides toward normality that are being made
in Jaffna are clearly not accidental, but rather the
result of concerted effort by the government, NGOs, and
businesses. Some examples of efforts to make Jaffna a
more livable place follow:

-- C. Pathmanathan, the Jaffna Government Agent (GA),
told the team that his office was focused on rebuilding
the area's administrative structure, addressing the
housing problem, as well as improving the water delivery
and sanitation infrastructure.

-- Ruwan Chandrasekera, the Jaffna-based representative
of the GSL's Human Rights Commission (HRC),emphasized
that his organization was working closely with the local
Sri Lankan police force, staffed mainly with Sinhalese,
to improve its performance on human rights matters.

-- Given the opportunities for greater island-wide
contact since the start of the peace process, Saroja
Sivachandran from the Jaffna-based Center for Women and
Development told the team that her organization's
programs to support small business enterprises run by
women were benefiting from increased technical expertise
and funding from Colombo-based groups.
-- In addition, based on what the team picked up,
businesses, some owned by Tamils living overseas and
some based in the south, had proven increasingly willing
to invest in Jaffna in light of the ongoing peace
process.


5. (C) MILITARY PRESENCE SPARKS TENSIONS: Although the
mood in the Jaffna area seemed less heavy and more
upbeat compared with recent visits, significant tensions
clearly continue to divide Tamils and the Sri Lankan
military. The major flashpoint involves the military's
"high security zones," which cover roughly 20 percent of
Jaffna's landmass. Local residents maintain that the
security zones hinder the return of Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs),and prevent the economic and
agricultural development of prime land. Adding to the
tensions with the military are a recent spate of traffic
accidents involving military vehicles, which have
resulted in some civilian casualties.


6. (C) In the briefing given at Palaly airbase,
Brigadier General Chandasiri admitted the existence of
serious tensions between local residents and the
military. He commented that the situation was not
nearly as poor as some Tamils were making it out to be
and he stressed that the military was trying to be
considerate of civilian needs. Some civilian access was
being allowed into the security zones in northern
Jaffna, for example, with many Tamils allowed to attend
school in the zones. In making his comments, Chandasiri
appeared to be indicating that the military was willing
to loosen up its restrictions in northern Jaffna, as
opposed to those in place in the southern area, which is
adjacent to the line of control and the LTTE's armed
forces.


7. (C) In an interesting remark that put the tensions
in a different light, Chandrasekera of the Human Rights
Commission added that the LTTE was most likely largely
responsible for agitating Tamils against the military.
It is fairly clear that the LTTE -- which technically
has no role in governing the region -- is exercising a
high degree of influence within the Tamil community in
Jaffna, although Chandrasekera and other interlocutors
did not mention it explicitly. In fact, it is commonly
whispered that Ilyamparuthi, the LTTE's political chief
in Jaffna, is operating almost as a governor, with the
GA having little real influence.


8. (C) COMMENT: Based on what the team heard, Jaffna
seemed to be in the best mood it has been in a long
time. In different ways, interlocutors conveyed the
message that Jaffna residents were eager for more
healing, which was very positive. That said, as noted
above, the relationship between Tamils and the military
is still poor. Moreover, there is also the very real,
if largely unobtrusive, presence of LTTE cadre, who are
putting pressure on both Tamils and the local government
structure. Overall, despite the major strands of
dissonance remaining, contacts were basically optimistic
about the peace process. END COMMENT.


9. (U) Desk Officer Waller did not have the opportunity
to clear on this cable before departure.


10. (U) Minimize considered.

LUNSTEAD