Sixth round of Sri Lanka-Tamil Tiger peace

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000475

SIPDIS

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

LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03-21-13
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINS PINR CE NO JA LTTE
SUBJECT: Sixth round of Sri Lanka-Tamil Tiger peace
talks set to wrap up on March 21

Ref: (A) FBIS Reston Va DTG 200609Z Mar 03

- (B) Colombo 462, and previous

(U) Classified by Ambassador E. Ashley Wills.
Reasons: 1.5 (B,D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The sixth round of GSL-Tamil Tiger
peace talks are set to wrap on March 21. Mission will
provide the Department with the joint press statement
issued at the end of the talks as soon as it is
available. Thus far, the talks have largely focused on
ceasefire modalities, development assistance, and long-
term political issues. Despite initial expectations
that they would be contentious, the talks seem to have
been relatively constructive. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) The sixth round of the Norwegian government-
facilitated peace talks between the Sri Lankan
government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) are set to wrap up on March 21. The talks, which
began on March 18, in the resort town of Hakone, Japan,
have, by most accounts, proceeded in a relatively smooth
and cordial fashion. As with previous rounds, GSL and
LTTE negotiators are expected to release a joint press
statement on the outcome of their talks late March 21,
Japan time. Mission will forward the press statement to
SA/INS as soon as it is available.


3. (C) Per previous reporting (Ref B),the first three
days of talks have focused largely on ceasefire
modalities, development assistance, and long-term
political issues. The LTTE used the first day of the
talks (March 18) to condemn the March 10 sinking of one
its resupply ships by the Sri Lanka Navy (see Ref B re
the LTTE's position re this incident). In discussing
the March 10 incident, the two sides also reviewed
possible ways to strengthen the February 2002 ceasefire
agreement. The second day of talks (March 19) focused
on development assistance and human rights issues. The
development assistance discussion dealt with
resettlement of displaced persons, and administrative
and financial matters related to the funneling of
assistance to the war-torn north and east. Late on the
second day, Ian Martin, a former official of Amnesty
International, presented a human rights "road map" to
the negotiators. There was no agreement on the road
map, which focuses largely on issues related to the
LTTE, but the two sides agreed to continue to discuss
it.


4. (C) In the meantime, the focus of the third day of
talks (March 20) reportedly shifted to long-term
political issues. During a meeting with the Ambassador
(focusing mainly on Iraq),Prime Minister Ranil
Wickremesinghe stated that the GSL proposed an outline
regarding long-term political issues to the Tigers.
(Note: The PM was not clear on the exact nature of the
GSL's proposal, but it presumably involved federalism
ideas for the north/east.) The LTTE did not respond
immediately, but promised to review the proposal.
Wickremesinghe expressed his hope that some sort of
outline re political issues will be ready by the time of
the June donor's conference in Tokyo.


5. (U) (((Note: On March 21 a number of articles
appeared in the local press expressing concern that the
June donor's conference could be overshadowed by events
in Iraq. In this regard, Ref A reports that Japan's
Special Advisor for Sri Lanka Akashi stated that "the
war against Iraq could cause considerable damage to the
economy of Sri Lanka and also take away from the
international attention from the Norwegian-led peace
bid.")))


6. (C) COMMENT: Despite initial fears that the sixth
round of talks would be contentious, all indications are
that the talks went smoothly and were carried out in a
cordial manner. It appears that the LTTE did not want
to give any ammunition to those who oppose the GSL and
the peace process in the south. There is also
speculation that the LTTE, in behaving well at the
talks, may be catering to the international community in
the expectation that it (the LTTE) will receive a great
deal of aid during the June donor's conference. END
COMMENT.


7. (U) Minimize considered.

WILLS