MILITARY ATTACKS IN SRI LANKA: TAMIL NADU URGES CENTER TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 002555 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV IN CE SUBJECT: MILITARY ATTACKS IN SRI LANKA: TAMIL NADU URGES CENTER TO "RETHINK AND FIND AN ANSWER" REF: A) Colombo 1884 B) New Delhi 7305 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Pro-Eelam Tamil rhetoric has again gone into high pitch in Tamil Nadu following the recent Sri Lankan army attacks in Tamil areas (ref a) and in anticipation of the upcoming India visit of Sri Lankan President Rajapakshe. Chief Minister Karunanidhi cited the recent attacks on Tamil civilians and asked the question: "How long India is going to keep patience?" He urged the Center to "rethink and find an answer" to the problem. Top DMK sources tell post that the DMK will not embarrass the Center or the Congress on the issue, but they will ask Prime Minister Singh to diplomatically restrain the Government of Sri Lanka from continuing its military attacks. Meanwhile, refugees continue to trickle into Tamil Nadu, with this year's arrivals now exceeding 16,000. END SUMMARY HOW LONG WILL INDIA KEEP PATIENCE?, ASKS KARUNANIDHI ¶2. (SBU) On November 9, in a public statement titled "Sinhalese Army on the Rampage," Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi said that "hundreds of Tamils staying as refugees have been brutally killed by bombings" at Mattakkallappu in Sri Lanka. He said this occurred even before memories had faded of the gruesome attacks on innocent children in Sencholai a few months ago. Pointing out that even a Norwegian peace team came under fire, Karunanidhi said, "I wish to bring to the notice of the Central Government the pertinent question which has now arisen as to how long India is going to keep patience. The time is now ripe to rethink and find an answer." Continuing in the same vein on November 11, Karunanidhi reportedly told the press corps in the Tamil Nadu city of Trichy that the Center should think of an appropriate solution to end the war in Sri Lanka, and that he would express his views on the situation to Prime Minister Singh when an opportunity arises. WE WANT TO PUT PRESSURE ON SRI LANKA, SAYS DMK MINISTER ¶3. (SBU) Highly placed and influential DMK Treasurer and state Power Minister Arcot Veerasamy told post on November 13 that the Chief Minister's purpose is to urge Prime Minister Singh to put diplomatic pressure on Sri Lanka in order to restrain it from carrying out military attacks on the Tamil population. "If the present trend continues," Veerasamy said, "the Tamil population will be wiped out." He added that the DMK will not embarrass the GOI or the Congress party on the issue: "We understand the sensitivities the Congress party has, particularly after the (Rajiv Gandhi) assassination." Veerasamy pointed out that since 1991 the DMK has stayed away from supporting the LTTE. That policy will continue, he said. DMK PLEASED WITH PM SINGH'S COMMENT ¶4. (SBU) Veerasamy mentioned that the DMK is pleased with the Prime Minister's assurances, made in response to Karunanidhi's November 9 statement, that he is equally concerned over the human tragedy in Sri Lanka. According to The New Indian Express newspaper (11/11/06),Union Shipping Minister T.R. Balu (DMK) met the PM on behalf of Karunanidhi to seek immediate, appropriate intervention by India to end the unprovoked and indiscriminate offensive of the Sri Lankan army against innocent Sri Lankan Tamils. Balu handed over a copy of Karunanidhi's November 9 statement to the PM, whereupon the PM made his comments. JOURNALIST EXPECTS MORE ACTION BEFORE RAJAPAKSE VISIT ¶5. (SBU) Senior Correspondent of New Indian Express, K.N. Arun sees Karunanidhi's statement in the context of the upcoming India visit of Sri Lanka President Rajapakse. Pro-LTTE parties and organizations such as the MDMK of Vaiko, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and the Dravida Kazhagam have raised objections to the visit of Rajapakse. The MDMK has announced plans to hold a rally on November 17 in front of the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai to protest the visit. According to Arun, some of Karunanidhi's constituencies also have urged him to speak out on the issue, but Karunanidhi still has no intention of dictating terms to the Center. Arun told post that before the Rajapakse visit takes place, the Prime Minister may consult with Karunanidhi, either directly or through National Security Advisor Narayanan. REFUGEES CONTINUE TO TRICKLE IN; NUMBER CROSSES 16,000 ¶6. (SBU) Meanwhile, Tamil refugees continue to trickle into Tamil CHENNAI 00002555 002 OF 002 Nadu. According to the Organization for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation, 16,046 refugees have reached India since January. The flow had peaked in August when 5769 people landed. In September it fell to 3749 and in October, perhaps due to rough sea conditions, the number dwindled to 735. In the first 12 days of November another 134 people have arrived. Tamil Nadu Rehabilitation Commissioner PWC Davidar (protect) told post that the numbers do not pose a major concern to the governments of India or Tamil Nadu. According to him, the DMK government is quietly doing its best to create favorable conditions to the refugees. The Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary expressed the same views recently when we met with him on SIPDIS other subjects. ¶7. (SBU) Citing contacts with recently arrived refugees, South Indian newspapers have prominently reported the harsh living conditions in Jaffna after the closure of the A-9 Highway. According to the reports, short supply has raised the price of rice from Rupees 35 to 150. Likewise, kerosene is said to be sold at Rupees 150 and petrol at Rupees 500, forcing people to flee. DMK STILL NOT FOR CONFLICT WITH THE CENTER ¶8. (SBU) COMMENT: In addition to pacifying some sections of his constituency through expressions of sympathy for the suffering Tamils of Sri Lanka, Karunanidhi seems to have a genuine desire to influence the GOI dialogue with Colombo - to the extent possible without alienating the sensitive Congress establishment. Despite the strong words in Karunanidhi's November 9 statement, he is unlikely to allow the issue to develop into a conflict with the Center. END COMMENT HOPPER