KUMARATUNGA SAYS READY TO SIGN JOINT MECHANISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000558

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER EAID CE LTTE
SUBJECT: KUMARATUNGA SAYS READY TO SIGN JOINT MECHANISM
WITH LTTE

Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reason 1.4(D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: President Kumaratunga told Ambassador March
17 that she believes establishing a joint mechanism with LTTE
for administration of tsunami reconstruction is necessary.
One issue remains to be resolved. Once it is, she is ready
to sign and does not believe her coalition partner the JVP
will walk out as they have threatened. END SUMMARY


2. (C) After discussing reconstruction effort with President
Kumaratunga May 17 (septel),Ambassador asked Kumaratunga
about status of efforts to reach agreement with the LTTE on a
"joint mechanism" for administration of reconstruction effort
in North and East. Kumaratunga said she believed such a
mechanism was absolutely necessary and they were close to
agreement. Only one real substantive issue remained, that of
control of the ocean areas. The GSL had proposed that the
mechanism cover the area two kilometers inland from the high
tide mark. The LTTE responded that there was much debris
under the ocean which needed to be cleared. They wanted the
area under the mechanism to extend two kilometers out to sea.


3. (C) Kumaratunga said that no government could cede
sovereignty over the adjacent seas to a rebel group, so this
proposal was unacceptable. The GSL had counter-proposed that
a neutral international organization--perhaps a UN agency--be
put in charge of clearing the ocean areas. The Norwegians
had presented this idea to the LTTE, but they had not yet
responded. The response was being slowed down because LTTE
negotiator Tamilchelvan was now touring Europe.


4. (C) Ambassador said that we and others in the
international community strongly supported the establishment
of the mechanism. It was not only crucial for the delivery
of reconstruction assistance in the North and East, but could
also set a tone which could lead to progress in the peace
talks. If she signed, she would have our support.


5. (C) Kumaratunga repeated that she also believed in the
necessity of establishing the mechanism. Ambassador asked if
she thought her coalition partner, the radical JVP party,
would walk out if she signed, as they had threatened. She
said they would not--they were bluffing. She claimed that
her arch-rival, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe,
was paying JVP members to stir up trouble for her. At any
rate, she said, she was the President with the mandate of the
people, and there were times when you just had to make a
decision.


6. COMMENT: Kumaratunga was forceful and appeared sincere
in her determination to go ahead with the joint mechanism
agreement. She was also confident that she could bring the
JVP to heel. Others in her own party, such as Foreign
Minister Kadirgamar, seem less enthused, and we will see if
they can find ways to delay things.
LUNSTEAD