In visit to eastern Sri Lanka, contacts complain

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000658

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA, SA/INS, S/CT; NSC FOR E. MILLARD
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04-16-13
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM CE JA NO LTTE
SUBJECT: In visit to eastern Sri Lanka, contacts complain
about increased political influence of the Tamil Tigers

Refs: Colombo 643, and previous

(U) Classified by Lewis Amselem, Deputy Chief of Mission.
Reasons: 1.5 (b,d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Poloff and Pol FSN visited Trincomalee,
the major port city in eastern Sri Lanka, on April 12.
Interlocutors expressed admiration for the government's
efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement to the conflict,
but expressed deep concerns about the Tamil Tigers'
commitment to the process. The political influence of the
Tigers in the east is reportedly increasing due to their
use of mafia-like threats and harassment. The Tigers were
also accused of continued forced recruitment of children.
Despite all the concerns, easterners expressed strong
support for the peace process. END SUMMARY

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Reactions to the Peace Process
==============================


2. (U) Poloff and Pol FSN visited Trincomalee, the major
port city in eastern Sri Lanka, on April 12. Ahead of the
Sinhalese/Tamil New Year, the sun-drenched, palm-fringed
city was bustling with activity. Compared with years past,
when the city and region were the site of much violence,
the setting -- thanks to Sri Lanka's 15-month old peace
process -- seemed remarkably cheerful, almost festive.


3. (C) In line with these atmospherics, Mission contacts
in "Trinco," as it is known, were generally positive about
the peace process. A wide range of interlocutors
invariably expressed admiration for the government's
efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
Father George Dissanayake, a Catholic priest who is a human
rights activist, seemed to summarize hopes when he
commented that "Ranil (Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe)
will not let us down."


4. (C) While the GSL earned kudos for its efforts, there
was little confidence in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE). Tamils contacts asserted that the Tigers
continued to extort funds and violate human rights (see
below),activities which undermined the view that the group
was on its way toward becoming a peaceful political
organization. In addition, the Sinhalese community,
especially the Buddhist clergy, expressed doubts about the
LTTE's commitment to the peace process, noting that the
group had taken no steps to disarm or demobililize its
forces. (Note: Trincomalee District is an ethnic mosaic,
with Muslims, Sinhalese, and Tamils represented in roughly
equal numbers.)


5. (C) Reflecting on these concerns about the LTTE and the
peace process, the local Deputy Chief of the Norwegian-run
Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Abdel Burkan commented
that he thought that the uneasiness was a function of
natural anxiety following 20 years of war and 14 months of
"not-quite peace." SLMM Head of District Jan Ledang told
poloff that the situation would remain tense and unsettled
until there was a final outcome in the negotiations.

=====================================
LTTE: Increasing Political Influence
=====================================


6. (C) Interlocutors told Poloff in no uncertain terms that
the LTTE was increasingly exerting a high degree of
influence in Trincomalee District. Much of the influence
was described as being the direct result of harassment and
threats. The LTTE was accused of continuing to "tax"
citizens in Trincomalee, for example. (Note: According to
observers, the usual LTTE "assessment" is a few hundred
rupees, approximately 1-2 USD, and the taxes are generally
leveled at low-to mid-level tradesmen and teachers.)
Poloff was told of the example of a local bus owner, who
was stopped every day for a month by the LTTE for a tribute
of Rs. 100 (approximately one USD). Contacts did note that
the LTTE, in general (and unlike its behavior in the past),
refrained from physically harming perceived opponents.
(Note: Per Reftels, however, there have been some recent
reports of instances where the LTTE has reportedly been
involved in killing opponents, including government
informants.)


7. (C) Contacts traced the rise in the LTTE's political
influence in Trincomalee, in part, to the freedom of
movement the LTTE enjoys as a function of the February 2002
ceasefire accord. The Tigers are reportedly using that
freedom of movement to harass people and also mobilize
support. One contact related that the LTTE had recently
opened an office in downtown Trincomalee and were using the
office to organize regular meetings and rallies. These
rallies often took on a semi-threatening tone. In
reviewing these means of influence, contacts commented that
there was no incentive for LTTE to transform into a
"normal" political entity -- if the group did; their main
sources of revenue (taxation and extortion) and influence
(harassment and threats) would dry up.

==================================
Forced Child Recruitment Continues
==================================


8. (C) Local religious leaders and the representatives of
other organizations such as UNICEF, UNHCR, and the SLMM
told poloff that forced child recruitment continues in
Trincomalee district. In fact, according to most observers,
child conscription has, if anything, increased in the past
year. Observers were vague on the exact numbers of child
conscriptees, however. In their conscription efforts, the
Tigers are apparently using a mix of coercion and also
Tamil nationalist propaganda to lure parents to give their
children over to the LTTE. Contacts also remarked that
Tiger recruitment of adults also continues on an increased
scale.

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COMMENT
=======


9. (C) When compared with previous visits to Trincomalee,
the level of concern emanating from all communities
regarding the LTTE seems, if anything, to have spiked up.
In a coordinated effort, the group appears to be using the
ceasefire to spread its tentacles in almost a mafia-like
fashion. That said, despite all the concerns focused on
the Tigers, easterners expressed strong support for the
peace process. As with most Sri Lankans, people in
Trincomalee want the peace process to work and they seem
patient. This is good news for the government, but is
ultimately a wasting asset if the LTTE does not improve its
behavior. END COMMENT.


10. (U) Minimize considered.

WILLS