In meeting with Ambassador, Sri Lankan Chief

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001970

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR D, SA, SA/INS, EUR/NB, INR/NESA; NSC FOR

E. MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11-14-13
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS PTER MOPS PINR CE NO LTTE
SUBJECT: In meeting with Ambassador, Sri Lankan Chief
of Defense Staff underscores support for peace process

Refs: Colombo 1963, and previous

(U) Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead.
Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) The Ambassador paid a call November 4 on the
Chief of Defense Staff (CDS),Lieutenant General Lionel
Balagalle. During the hour-long discussion, the
Ambassador reiterated to LTG Balagalle our happiness
with the restraint shown by the Sri Lankan military
during the past twenty months in general and throughout
the events of the last two weeks in particular. The
Ambassador stressed the point that we allowed our
military-to-military exercises and programs to continue
last week specifically owing to the responsibility and
stability shown by the armed forces. LTG Balagalle
thanked the Ambassador for the confidence that the U.S.
places in Sri Lanka and gave his highest assurances that
the military would go forward with the peace process,
would uphold the rule of law, and would continue to work
to build stability in Sri Lanka.


2. (C) In addition to the central themes of military
professionalism and restraint, LTG Balagalle touched on
several other themes relevant to the security situation.
LTG Balagalle stated that the Sri Lankan government and
military were to a large extent responsible for the
events leading up to the 1983 riots and subsequent 20
years of civil war. LTG Balagalle agreed with the
Ambassador that the first step to solving a crisis
situation is to accept responsibility for one's own part
in its creation. In this regard, he vowed to continue
the military's support of the peace process, but thanked
the U.S. for its efforts in helping the Sri Lankan
military improve. The military must be strong, he said,
to prevent the LTTE from believing it has another option
than negotiating peace.


3. (C) Interestingly, LTG Balagalle revealed that for
the past twenty months of serving under a cohabitation
government, he and the other service commanders as well
as the Commandant of the Special Task Force and the
Inspector General of Police have followed a self-imposed
policy of non-partisan discipline. He said they had
agreed not to pass criticisms made by one side to the
other, not to reveal criticisms to the press, and to
continue to follow the rule of law. Balagalle commented
that if the President had imposed a state of emergency,
he had told the Services that they would not change
their behavior and would act as if there were not an
emergency. For example, if told to arrest someone, they
would hand that person unilaterally to the police to be
handled under the normal justice system.


4. (C) COMMENT: Balagalle clearly understood the point
about the need for the armed forces to continue to act
with restraint while the civilians sort out the
political process. His comment on how the military
would act during an emergency was tantamount to saying
that he would try to avoid letting the President use the
military for political purposes. END COMMENT.


5. (U) Minimize considered.

LUNSTEAD