OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 039 (03/11/04)

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000439

SIPDIS

OFFICIAL INFORMAL

FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/14
TAGS: AMGT CE MV LTTE
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 039 (03/11/04)

Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reasons
1.5 (b) and (d).

CONTENTS: FONSEC'S REMARKS RE KARUNA

FONSEC'S REMARKS RE KARUNA
--------------


1. (C) The Ambassador met March 11 with Foreign
Secretary Bernard Goonetilleke. As Goonetilleke is also

SIPDIS
chief of Sri Lanka's Peace Secretariat, the discussion
focused mostly on the situation in the east.
Goonetilleke -- who is clearly spending much time on the
matter -- made the following key points:

-- Goonetilleke said he believed that a recent report
that cadre in the east had absconded with Tiger funds
may have been one of the factor's that precipitated
Karuna's split (the Indian DCM mentioned this same
report to the DCM yesterday -- see Colombo 435). On
this point, he related that on February 19 the Tigers
asked the Sri Lankan military for a helicopter to
transport Karuna and Trinco Tiger leader Pathuman to the
Vanni. Goonetilleke felt that this was Karuna "being
summoned" to the Vanni to account for the missing money.
This request was never approved (the Defense Ministry
and President's office never gave the green light),but
a March 1 request for a helicopter to take Pathuman to
the Vanni was. Goonetilleke said he felt that Tiger
intelligence chief Pottu Aman was "out to get" Karuna
over this money matter and other items.

-- Goonetilleke said he thought that Karuna might have
more fighting troops than Prabhakaran. He doubted,
however, whether Karuna had enough military supplies or
money to sustain his cadre if fighting began. Barring
an independent line to the Tamil diaspora, Goonetilleke
thought that ultimately, logistics would do Karuna in.
Goonetilleke added that he did not think that the Vanni
would launch a full-scale attack on the east, but rather
would try to "starve Karuna out" and entice his cadre
away.

-- The GSL plans to remain removed from the LTTE
dispute. One main item that the GSL was concerned
about, Goonetilleke said, was that any fighting between
pro-Karuna and pro-Prabhakaran factions in the east be
contained in LTTE-controlled areas, and not spill over
into the areas that the GSL controls.

-- Goonetilleke related that he had heard a report that
Karuna had, earlier today, offered to rejoin the Vanni
if he was ensured "independence" in the east.
Goonetilleke did not think that the dispute could be
papered over at this point, however.
(POL)

LUNSTEAD