OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 02 (01-06-03)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000026 SIPDIS OFFICIAL INFORMAL DEPARTMENT FOR SA/INS FROM AMBASSADOR WILLS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01-06-12 TAGS: CE MV AGMT LTTE SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 02 (01-06-03) Classified by Ambassador Wills, Reasons 1.5 (b, d) CONTENTS: AMBASSADOR RECEIVES EPDP DELEGATION PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH MALDIVES AND ICC PRO-LTTE ODE TO A MID-WINTER'S DAY AMBASSADOR RECEIVES EPDP DELEGATION -------------- ¶1. (C) The Ambassador received an EPDP delegation led by its leader, Douglas Devananda, today. As expected, the group complained about the LTTE. Among the EPDP's allegations of Tiger harassment were various instances of physical attacks, threats against family members, abductions, and at least one killing. Devananda also claimed that the LTTE was distributing leaflets to EPDP cadre and other non-LTTE Tamils in the east demanding that they resign from political life and lead "normal" lives. (Note: The pro-LTTE website "TamilNet" admitted to the pamphlets in its posting today.) The Ambassador responded that the USG supports pluralism and that we do not believe that the LTTE is the sole representative of the Tamil people. The Ambassador added, however, that before formulating any response to the recent incidents it would be best to await the outcome of the talks in Thailand. If the LTTE shows a willingness to compromise on the high security zone issue and is willing to engage with the GSL on human rights matters, that may be a sign that the LTTE is willing to review its position on political parties in the north and east. (POL) PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On Sunday night, January 5, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe gave a nationally televised address. In essence, the address was a "State of the Union"-type of speech in which the PM reviewed what he considered his coalition's major successes of the last year. Three major points seemed to emerge: (1) The PM stated that the peace process was at a "decisive moment" and that it was now time to start making a transition to a permanent peace. (2) The PM also reached out to the President, urging her to work with him to make peace possible. (3) The PM also spent much of the speech underscoring the GSL's commitment to economic growth/reform. We have faxed you a copy of the speech and we will refer to it in front-channel reporting. (POL) MALDIVES AND ICC -------------- ¶3. (C) Mission continues to work with the Maldivian government re the ICC Article 98 proposal. We confirmed to the MFA today that both India and Nepal have now signed no-surrender agreements with the United States (in addition to Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in this region). Permanent Secretary Shaheed responded that the MFA continued to review our proposal very closely. (POL) PRO-LTTE ODE TO A MID-WINTER'S DAY -------------- ¶3. (U) FYI. We received a belated New Year's card from a pro-LTTE party today. The poem in the card was quite elegant, touching on sincerity and peace -- and yet it contained so much technical information, including on the high security zone issue!! It clearly was not written by T.S. Eliot, but it's sort of inspirational in an odd way (particularly if you have been lying under a rock in the Wanni for the past 20 years and your only friend was an AK-47). We wanted to share it with you: "Be the prevailing peace Be pregnant with permanence Be sensible and sincere with deliverance. We bless with open mind governance. Let's toil steadfastly, To make our brethrens, strongly To live upright with freedom, eternally In the motherland freely, Let's break down, The barriers of the, Aggressive zones that, Pierce the self dignity of Tamils. Let's rise to the occasion of unification, To win the Sri Lankan Tamil's aspirations, In the birth of, The embodiment of, The universal light" Kinda brings a tear to the ol' eyeballs, eh? (POL) WILLS