TAMIL NADU CONGRESS PRESSES DMK TO TAKE FIRM STAND AGAINST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 001856

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR IN
SUBJECT: TAMIL NADU CONGRESS PRESSES DMK TO TAKE FIRM STAND AGAINST
LTTE

REF: Chennai 1816 and previous


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: A quiet walk-out of Congress legislators from the
Tamil Nadu assembly on August 22 brought into media focus the policy
differences between the DMK and the Congress -- partners in the UPA
alliance -- on the sensitive Sri Lankan Tamil issue. Despite the
tactical show of protest, however, Congress sources confided to Post
that DMK-Congress relations remain cordial. The Congress continues
to trust Karunanidhi's skills in balancing between the party's
Pan-Tamil sympathies and the GOI's security concerns. END SUMMARY.


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CONGRESS DEMUR DMK'S TOLERANCE OF LTTE SUPPORTERS
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2. (SBU) On August 22, Congress legislators quietly walked out of
the Tamil Nadu Assembly, mildly registering their dissent on the DMK
government's perceived tolerance of Tamil Nadu's LTTE supporters.
The low-key walk-out was officially undeclared and lasted only a few
minutes. It generated much media interest, however, due to the
significance of DMK-Congress relations both at the Center and in the
state: while the UPA government at the Center survives on DMK
support, the Congress party is one of the main supporters of the
DMK's minority government in Tamil Nadu.

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VAIKO'S SPEECH CAUSES THE FLUTTER
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3. (SBU) The walkout was fallout from MDMK leader Vaiko's August 21
pro-LTTE speech at a party meeting in Chennai. The media widely
reported the speech in which Vaiko cited his earlier warning to
Prime Minister Singh that any Indian assistance to GoSL would lead
to a "Kashmir-like situation" in Tamil Nadu. "Tamil Eelam (an
independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka) is the only solution to the
Sri Lankan ethnic issue and no force on earth can prevent it," Vaiko
stated, criticizing the GOI's position that the issue should be
resolved within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. Vaiko also
called for a demonstration at the Sri Lankan High Commission in New
Delhi on August 30 and a rally in Chennai on September 1 to condemn
the GoSL's "atrocities" against the Tamils.


4. (SBU) Chief Minister Karunanidhi made light of Vaiko's speech and
advised his angry Congress allies not to attach too much
significance to it. The Chief Minister reiterated that his
government is with the Centre on this issue and will continue to
support the decisions taken by the Centre. He later assured the
Congress legislators on their return to the Assembly that the law
will take its own course against whoever speaks in a manner which
poses a challenge to the unity and integrity of India.


5. (SBU) On August 23, two local Congress workers went further and
lodged a police complaint demanding the arrest of Vaiko. In 2002,
Vaiko had been arrested under the now defunct Prevention of
Terrorism Act (POTA) for making a similar speech at Madurai and was
kept in prison for 19 months by the former Chief Minister
Jayalalithaa.

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DMK-CONGRESS RELATIONS INTACT, SAYS CONGRESS LEADER
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6. (SBU) Notwithstanding the tactical show of displeasure, Congress'
Chief Whip in the Assembly, Peter Alphonse, told Post on August 24
that DMK-Congress relations remain cordial. "We have no problems;
we are sailing in the same boat," he said. According to Alphonse,
the Chief Minister himself is happy that, with the Congress' strong
views on the issue, he can take strong action against LTTE
supporters, should that become necessary. Alphonse believes the
views expressed by the Congress will help the DMK remain firm
against any pro-LTTE activity in Tamil Nadu.


7. (SBU) The Congress leaders were reassured by recent action by the
Tamil Nadu police. On August 19, the MDMK's South Chennai district
secretary Manimaran was arrested on the charge of making an

SIPDIS
"inflammatory speech" on August 17 in support of the outlawed LTTE.



8. (SBU) Journalist sources point out that the DMK has realized
there is little electoral gain to be had from supporting the LTTE.
Although a few party workers remain sympathetic to the LTTE and its
supporter Vaiko, DMK decisions are more influenced by leaders, such
as Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran, who attach greater value to the
party's relations with the Congress. Following Maran's major tiff
with Vaiko during the May state elections, five DMK MPs had formally
asked Prime Minister Singh in June for increased security for Maran

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and demanded close scrutiny of Vaiko's international connections.


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LTTE-CRITICS SUPPORT U.S. ARRESTS
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9. (SBU) Meanwhile, the arrest of 13 LTTE-related persons in the
U.S. received coverage in South Indian media but passed off without
popular reaction. At an American Chamber of Commerce breakfast on
August 24, N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, applauded the tough
line taken by the USG and criticized the softer position of the
Europeans. Speaking with us later, Ram was particularly scathing
toward Scandinavians whom he believed were confused or oblivious to
the tactics employed by the LTTE. Ram believes the LTTE will never
achieve its objective of a separate state, but neither was it
possible to forcibly suppress the desire for such a state among many
Tamils.

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THE BALANCING ACT WILL CONTINUE
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10. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the DMK still displays sympathies toward
the Sri Lankan Tamil cause, there seems to be no willingness to
confront the GOI, which itself refrains from provocative actions
about Sri Lanka out of respect for Tamil sentiments. Unless the
Government of Sri Lanka causes major problems to the GoTN through
sustained attacks on Tamil civilians or on fleeing refugees,
Karunanidhi's balancing act will continue. END COMMENT. HOPPER