TNA MPS REQUEST USG SOFTEN STANCE ON LTTE;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001216

SIPDIS

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

PLEASE PASS TOPEC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07-22-14
TAGS: PREL PTER CE LTTE
SUBJECT: TNA MPS REQUEST USG SOFTEN STANCE ON LTTE;
CLAIM ALLEGIANCE TO TIGERS

Refs: Colombo 1190 and previous

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a July 16 meeting with poloff, TNA
MPs had a litany of familiar requests for the USG: lift
the ban on the LTTE, stop USG military assistance to the
GSL, promote the ISGA as the basis for peace talks, stop
making statements against the LTTE, and pressure the GSL
to stop helping Karuna. Most of the requests were not
new, but did seem more focused than usual. The TNA MPs
claimed direct ties to the LTTE, the first time the TNA
has done so to a USG official. TNA comments about US
activities and statements reveal they are listening to
what we say. The TNA certainly has close links to the
Tigers but they are not part of the LTTE. END
SUMMARY.


2. (C) On July 16, poloff visited Jaffna (reported
septel) and met with seven of the nine Jaffna Tamil
National Alliance (TNA) MPs, (Mr. Mavai Senathirajah,
Mr. N. Raviraj, Mr. K. Sivanesan, Mr. K. Sivajilingam,
Mr. S. Kajendran, Ms. Pathmini Sithamparanathan, and Mr.
Eelaventhen).

Lift the Ban
--------------

3. (C) Kajendran (a former student leader from Jaffna
University and Prabhakaran's rumored future son-in-law)
began the discussion by emphasizing the humanitarian
crisis faced by Jaffna's IDPs, but quickly suggested
that if the USG wants to help with the peace process, it
needs to talk to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE). Poloff pointed out that the LTTE's status as an
FTO prevented the USG from talking to the Tigers. To
this, Sivajilingam exclaimed, "The TNA is under the
leadership of the LTTE organization, of our supreme
leader Mr. Prabhakaran!" Several other MPs loudly
agreed with him. (Note: This was the first time Mission
has heard the TNA clearly claim direct ties to the LTTE,
at least to a USG official. End Note.)
Sithamparanathan, an MP supposedly hand-picked by the
LTTE to run in April's election, added that the USG has
a "misconception" of the LTTE and asserted that the LTTE
are not terrorists. She added that the Tamil people are
disappointed the USG has banned the LTTE and that if the
USG lifted the ban, it would give the LTTE equal
footing. Sivanesan added that other nations (India, UK,
Canada) would follow the example of the USG and lift
their bans as well.


4. (C) The MPs also discussed the "legitimacy" of the
LTTE. Sivanesan made the point that the April 2
parliamentary election (which yielded 22 TNA MPs) gave a
mandate from the Tamil people to LTTE leader
Prabhakaran. Sithamparanathan suggested that the Tamil
freedom struggle is legitimate and the USG should
pressure the GSL to grant self-determination to the
Tamil people. No other organization has the courage to
represent the Tamils and the MPs would like the USG to
recognize this. The Tamils and Sinhalese, she
explained, represent two separate nations. The Tamils
are "no longer minorities" and they have their own
nation. As such, when these two nations are having
problems, the USG should treat the LTTE and GSL as
equals.

Stop USG Military Assistance to GSL
--------------


5. (C) Another popular theme the MPs focused on was the
USG grant of a Coast Guard cutter to the GSL under the
Excess Defense Articles Program. Sivanesan claimed that
the USG has disturbed the balance of power in Sri Lanka
by giving the GSL the warship. By encouraging the GSL
to strengthen its military, the USG is against the Tamil
nation. The Tamil people were disappointed the USG has
chosen to strengthen the GSL. Pro-LTTE website
TamilNet's July 16 coverage of the meeting with poloff
headlined, "US military assistance weakening peace
process - TNA."


6. (C) Eelaventhen, the sole TNA national list
appointee, demanded that when the USG gives money for
rehabilitation of the North and East, it should funnel
this money to the LTTE. Poloff noted that the LTTE's
FTO status made this impossible. Eelaventhen conceded
that the money should be given to NGOs - but under no
circumstances should the USG give money directly to the
GSL for rehabilitation in the North and East.

Promote ISGA as the Basis for Peace Talks
--------------


7. (C) Former Jaffna mayor Raviraj, who acted as
translator for most of his fellow MPs, noted the
importance of the Interim Self Governing Authority
(ISGA) as the basis for peace talks. He explained that
because the Sub-Committee for Immediate Rehabilitation
and Humanitarian Needs (SIHERN) and the North East
Rehabilitation Fund (NERF) failed to work, the ISGA is
now needed. The USG should pressure the GSL to start
peace talks based on the LTTE's request for an ISGA.

Stop Making Statements Against the LTTE
--------------


8. (C) Raviraj also stressed that the international
community, especially the USG, needs to be neutral about
human rights. He was not happy with recent USG
statements against the LTTE (referring to Mission's July
9 press statement condemning the July 7 suicide bombing
in Colombo and calling on the GSL and LTTE to take steps
to halt violence in the east). Raviraj complained that
the USG did not make statements when LTTE cadre are
killed in the east and that the MPs would like the USG
to stop making statements against the LTTE.

Pressure GSL to Stop Helping Karuna
--------------


9. (C) Finally, Raviraj raised the issue of breakaway
eastern LTTE leader Karuna. He stated that the GSL is
engaged in destroying the Tamil nation through Karuna
and that the USG should "exert pressure" on the GSL to
stop Sri Lankan Military Intelligence from its
involvement with Karuna.


10. (C) At various points in the conversation, poloff
reiterated the USG stance that the LTTE must renounce
terror in word and deed in order to be de-listed,
including ceasing assassinations and child recruitment,
among other activities. Where appropriate, poloff noted
that the LTTE's FTO status prohibited assistance to the
Tigers, but did give an overview of USG assistance in to
people in the North and East and cited examples of DoD
(BRAVA humanitarian medical mission),DoS (demining),
and USAID programming.

Comment
--------------

11. (C) Heated rhetoric aside, the TNA has close links
to the Tigers, but they are not the LTTE. Most of the
MPs' requests were not new, but did seem more focused
(and intransigent) than usual. Their resentment of the
USG FTO designation of the LTTE indicates the degree to
which they crave acceptance from the international
community. Our public statements are intended to give
the message to the LTTE that they will not gain
international recognition until they change their ways,
and our military cooperation is intended to send the
message that a stronger Sri Lankan military makes a
return to war less of an option. Based on the heated
reaction from these MPs, the LTTE has heard the
messages.


LUNSTEAD