OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 057 (04/15/04)

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000646

SIPDIS

OFFICIAL INFORMAL

FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/14
TAGS: AMGT CE MV LTTE
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 057 (04/15/04)


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

CONTENTS: UPDATE ON THE SITUATION IN THE EAST
- OATH-TAKING FOR JVP MINISTERS

UPDATE ON THE SITUATION IN THE EAST
--------------


1. (C) FYI. This is an update to our April 14 front-
channel (Colombo 628) about the crumbling of rebel Tiger
commander Karuna's forces in the east:

-- The whereabouts of Karuna remain a mystery. Although
speculation remains rife that Karuna is either in Sri
Lankan military custody or in discussions with the GSL,
military contacts are close-mouthed on the subject and
have not confirmed contacts with Karuna. There are also
rumors that Karuna has left the country. Contacts at
the Norwegian-run Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM)
state that they are unaware of Karuna whereabouts.

-- SLMM personnel have resumed their monitoring duties
in the eastern districts that were formerly under
Karuna's control and report that the situation there is
largely calm and quiet.

-- UNICEF is reporting that a large number (upwards of
150) child combatants were released on April 11 by the
LTTE in the east (as mentioned in Colombo 628). This is
in addition to 100 or so child combatants who earlier
had deserted Karuna's ranks. The total estimate is that
upwards of 400-500 children may have been released from
the LTTE's clutches in recent days. UNICEF is working
rapidly with its local partners in the east to process
the children and return them home.

-- The pro-LTTE website, "TamilNet," is reporting that
"Lt. Col." Neelan, a high ranking LTTE intelligence
operative, was killed by Karuna's men as the rebel
commander fled his bases in the east during the LTTE's
April 9-10 assault. Neelan (if this is the same fellow
and it seems to be) was a close associate of LTTE
intelligence head Pottu Amman and, along with Pottu
Amman and LTTE leader Prabhakaran, is alleged to have
been involved in the planning that led to the
assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991.

-- TamilNet has also reported that all 22 MPs in the pro-
LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) are scheduled to meet
with the Tiger leadership in Kilinochchi on Friday,
April 16. This will be the TNA MPs' first meeting with
the Tigers since the collapse of Karuna's faction, and
may be an opportunity to resolve differences between the
majority of the TNA MPs who remained pro-Prabhakaran and
those who had demonstrated some degree of loyalty to
Karuna. (We would say that those who showed some sort
of inclination toward Karuna are in some trouble.)
(POL)

OATH-TAKING FOR JVP MINISTERS?
--------------


2. (C) FYI. There are some reports that the Janatha
Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MPs who boycotted the April 10
ministerial swearing-in ceremony could take their oaths
as ministers and deputy ministers within a few days (see
Colombo 637 for background). On the other hand, we have
heard that President Kumaratunga is on holiday in the
tea plantation region of Nuwara Eliya until April 18,
which would make any imminent swearing in highly
unlikely. Other contacts suggest that SLFP-JVP tensions
could be protracted as the party attempts to negotiate
their grievances over ministerial appointments with the
President. The situation appears up in the air at this
point. (POL)

LUNSTEAD