SRI LANKA RESPONDS TO LTTE ULTIMATUM AND OTHER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001217

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2015
TAGS: PGOV PTER CE LTTE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA RESPONDS TO LTTE ULTIMATUM AND OTHER
CEASE FIRE DEVELOPMENTS.

REF: A) COLOMBO 1181

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SUMMARY
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1 (C) On Jul 12 2005 the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL)
responded to the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) 14
day ultimatum for a review of security procedures issued on
Jun 30; stating that the GSL will continue the confidence
building measure of escorting certain unarmed convoys between
the Northern and Eastern Provinces but will not expand these
measures until the LTTE undertakes other confidence building
measures. The Director of the Peace Secretariat expressed
support for discreet talks between the GSL and LTTE aimed at
defusing the covert killings and looks for Norway to
facilitate. On Jun 10 in the east, two LTTE political cadres
and two civilians were killed when their office was attacked
by persons unknown. END SUMMARY.

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ULTIMATUM
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2. (SBU) In response to the LTTE ultimatum demanding a
complete review of Sri Lankan Army (SLA) escort procedures
(Ref A),the GSL delivered a written response via the Sri
Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). The GSL stated that current
security measures are a confidence building measure, not a
right under the cease fire agreement (CFA) and that while it
will continue to provide the current level of security, it
will neither expand nor institutionalize the practice. The
GSL response further called on the LTTE to show their own
confidence building measures. The GSL will provide security
for transit between the Northern and Eastern provinces but
not inside the Eastern province; believing those routes are
an LTTE method for reinforcing against the Karuna faction.
The GSL has requested the SLMM to be present on buses with
the LTTE and SLA escorts.

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SIDE TALKS
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3. (C) In a conversation between the Ambassador and
Jayantha Dhanapala of the Peace Secretariat, Jayantha agreed
with the Ambassador's suggestion on low profile, bracketed
talks to bolster the cease fire (Ref A). However, GSL is
waiting for the Norwegian facilitators to raise the issue,
since peace talks have not occurred in two years. The
Ambassador offered to relay the message to the Norwegian
Charge d' Affaires Oddvar Laegreid. The Norwegians are still
contemplating a response after being stunned by Foreign
Minister Kadirgamar's unprovoked comment in the
government-owned Daily News that "if Norway is unable to
plead this cause (of democracy) with the conviction and
determination it deserves it should stand aside".

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ATTACK
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4. (SBU) On the morning of Jul 10 a van of unidentified
gunmen opened fired on a farmhouse used as an LTTE field
office in Trincomalee. The rifle and grenade attack killed
two LTTE cadres and two civilians. One of the LTTE had been a
LTCOL in the Sea Tigers (LTTE Naval branch) before changing
to unarmed political work. The LTTE accuses the government
of complicity in the attack since the van allegedly had to
pass through SLA checkpoints, both coming and going. The GSL
denies any involvement.

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COMMENT
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4. (SBU) The response of the GSL will be seen by the LTTE as
nearly a refusal of their ultimatum. This will only fuel the
LTTE allegation that the GSL is involved on some level in
attacks on traveling LTTE cadres. Recognizing the need for
talks to curb the extra judicial killing is a step in the
right direction, but waiting for the Norwegian facilitator to
raise the subject will allow more time and more killings to
pass. The attack in Trincomalee only raised the mistrust
between parties. Retaliation by the LTTE is expected with
targets likely to be SLA higher level intelligence operatives
and members of the Karuna faction. Meanwhile, local Tamil
press reports that all TNA MP's have been summoned to
Kilinochi on Jul 17, and that some type of dramatic
announcement may be made at that time.
LUNSTEAD