Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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03COLOMBO2196 | 2003-12-30 11:16:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Colombo |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 002196 |
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Tamil Tigers have launched a public relations effort meant to burnish their image in comparison with the ongoing cohabitation imbroglio in Colombo. The effort has included repeated (and accurate) pronouncements that the Tigers are ready to recommence talks, but cannot do so due to the situation in the south. The Tigers have also trumpeted their support for practical steps to further the peace process. Even while the Tigers quietly continue to increase their influence in the north/east and bully percieved opponents, their public relations effort has been very effective in making the group appear statesmanlike and the model of restraint. END SUMMARY. -------------------------- Tigers Underscore Support for Talks -------------------------- 2. (C) In the past several weeks, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organization has launched a public relations effort meant to burnish its image in comparison with the ongoing cohabitation imbroglio in Colombo. The LTTE effort has included repeated (and accurate) pronouncements that the group is ready to recommence talks, but cannot do so due to the confused situation in the south. The pro-LTTE web-site "TamilNet," for example, reported on December 20 that S.P. Thamilchelvam, the group's Political Wing Chief, had reiterated the group's interest in talks, stating: "We are ready to negotiate with anyone who comes to power in Sri Lanka as long as he or she is a person ready to work towards an agreement on the political aspirations and expectations of the people..." The Tigers reportedly made similar points during a meeting with Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians in early December. In a recent meeting with Japanese diplomats in the LTTE-controlled Vanni region, Tiger representatives underlined the same message. 3. (C) (Note: The Tiger public relations effort also included a recent effort to reach out to India, a longstanding international opponent of the group. In an early December speech, Anton Balasingham, the LTTE's London-based spokesman, urged India "to adopt a new creative approach and initiate friendly relations with our organization." End Note.) -------------------------- Willingness to take Practical Steps -------------------------- 4. (SBU) While underscoring their interest in talks, the Tigers have also trumpeted their support for practical steps to further the peace process, including: -- During the recent Christmas period, the Tigers kept entry points into the Vanni region open for extended hours "for the convenience of the people during the festive season," as TamilNet put it. (This LTTE move contrasted significantly with the situation in Colombo where the funeral ceremony for an extremist Buddhist monk on Christmas Eve sparked concerns that Christians might be targeted for attack -- see Reftels.) The Tigers also promised to keep entry points open for longer hours during the New Year's period. -- After years of closure (due to LTTE attacks), the Tigers also cooperated in the late December reconnection of Batticaloa town in the east with Sri Lanka's railroad system. -- The LTTE also recently announced that it planned to exempt numerous items, such as books, animal feed, candles, boats, etc., from "taxation" beginning January 1, 2004. "Taxation" rates on numerous other items would also be reduced beginning on the same date. -------------------------- Group Quietly Continues Old Ways -------------------------- 5. (C) Even as the Tigers try to appear as moderate as possible, the group is not remaining static in terms of its aggressive on-the-ground behavior. As it has since the peace process commenced in December 2001, the LTTE quietly continues to increase its influence in the north/east, and bully any and all perceived opponents. In the north/east, for example, the group continues to avidly recruit Tamils for its military and civilian apparatuses. As reported in Reftels, this effort quite clearly involves a large dose of forcible recruitment of children. In Jaffna District, the group also regularly instigates marches and other activities meant to browbeat and marginalize the Sri Lankan military. It is also extending its network of Jaffna "political" offices. 6. (C) In the meantime, in the ethnically-mixed Eastern Province, the Tigers continue to pressure the Muslim community via petty harassment and "taxation." (It is not clear what impact, if any, the announcement mentioned above regarding "taxation" may have on the LTTE's routine pattern of extorting funds from Muslims.) The LTTE has also shown itself more than willing to use violence against Muslims (eight Muslims were killed in what appears to have been LTTE-instigated violence in Trincomalee District in late November/early December, for example). At the same time, although its use of targeted assassinations of perceived opponents is down from the very high levels reached earlier this year, the Tigers are clearly still in the business of threatening perceived Tamil opponents. As reported in Reftels, for example, the group clearly wants to clip the wings of senior Tamil MP V. Anandasangaree and there are credible reports that the group might try to kill him if the opportunity presented itself. -------------------------- COMMENT -------------------------- 7. (C) Since the cohabitation crisis erupted in Colombo in early November, almost everyone agrees that the LTTE has handled the situation in a very astute manner. Despite the fact that President Kumaratunga -- their longtime foe -- has taken the initiative in the south, the Tigers have generally kept their cool and tried to appear moderate. (The one major exception to this trend was LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran's so-called "heroes' day" address in late November which contained some very provocative language about the south.) In doing so, they have done their level best not to provide a foil that would serve to strengthen anti-peace process elements in the south. At the same time, the group looks increasingly statesmanlike in the eyes of some international and local observers -- there is no doubt, for example, that a common perception is that the group would like to recommence talks with the GSL and is being prevented from doing do by the cohabitation impasse. 8. (C) Overall, the LTTE's recent pattern of behavior may well indicate some maturing of the organization. That said, as demonstrated by its continued efforts to increase its influence in the north/east and employment of strongarm tactics, the group has clearly not changed its stripes to a marked extent. Thanks to the confusion in the south and its own public relations effort, however, the LTTE has managed to improve its image of late, which is perhaps more a commentary on the sad state of Colombo politics than the LTTE itself. END COMMENT. 9. (U) Minimize considered. LUNSTEAD |