SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT STATES READINESS FOR PEACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001508 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PREF MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT STATES READINESS FOR PEACE TALKS BUT CRITICIZES CO-CHAIRS' STATEMENT REF: COLOMBO 1483 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: CDA James R. Moore for reasons 1.4(b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: In response to the Co-Chairs' statement following their September 12 meeting in Brussels that peace talks should take place in Oslo next month, the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) expressed readiness to engage in negotiations but strongly criticized an alleged lack of prior consultation. The announcement by Norwegian Development Minister and peace facilitator Erik Solheim that the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had agreed "without preconditions" to resume peace talks was quickly qualified by GOSL officials. Other interlocutors considered the initiative unlikely to bear fruit unless the Rajapaksa government can widen its political support and override the defense establishment's pursuit of a pronounced military advantage. End Summary The Road to Elephant Pass -------------- ¶2. (C) In the run-up to the Co-Chairs' meeting in Brussels, military engagement between government forces and LTTE cadres continued. On the evening of September 11, Sri Lankan Air Force strikes targeted LTTE artillery positions at Pallai and Pooneryn on the Jaffna Peninsula. Sporadic ground fire continued between the two sides near the Forward Defense Line (FDL) at Muhamalai into the afternoon of September 12, according to Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe. Violence continued in Trincomalee on September 12, when an LTTE claymore bomb exploded on a main road, killing three policemen and injuring three others. Defense Spokesman Back Steps -------------- ¶3. (C) Statements in Brussels on September 12 by Norwegian Development Minister and peace facilitator Erik Solheim and EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner that both the Government of Sri Lanka and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam had expressed willingness to resume talks without preconditions, were qualified the same evening by Defense Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella, who denied to media that the GOSL had agreed to restart negotiations unconditionally and blasted the Co-Chairs for naming a time and venue for talks without prior consultation. He added that the GOSL is "always for peace" and the ceasefire agreement "is still in full force." His comments were frontpaged in all dailies on September 13. Foreign Secretary: No Consultation Leaves Government in Bind -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) In a September 13 conversation with Charge', Foreign Secretary Palihakkara welcomed the LTTE's willingness to SIPDIS return to negotiations and reiterated the GOSL's readiness to enter into a mutual, verifiable ceasefire. He expressed displeasure, however, that the Co-Chairs did not consult with the GOSL regarding the proposed time frame and venue of talks prior to the announcement in Brussels, saying this put the GOSL "in a difficult spot." Palihakkara added that the government is ready to talk even if violence continues. ¶5. (C) Palihakkara said the Peace Secretariat would release a statement later in the day (full text follows) announcing that the GOSL welcomes the Co-Chairs' efforts, while addressing "several factual inaccuracies." In particular, said Palihakkara, the GOSL objects to the Co-Chairs' mention in its statement of the Sri Lanka Air Force bombing a school in Mullativu, which the government strongly contends was an LTTE training camp. Peace Secretariat: "We Are Not Children" -------------- COLOMBO 00001508 002 OF 003 ¶6. (C) Peace Secretariat Director of Policy Shana Kajaysinka, in a conversation with Charge', was far less retrained about the Co-Chairs' statement. Faulting the lack of prior consultation and factual irregularities, he said that while he expected such treatment from the Norwegians, he was surprised that the U.S., Japan, and EU were signatories to the statement. He characterized the GOSL as "perturbed" by the Co-Chairs' attitude toward a sovereign state, adding "we are not children" to be told what to do." "Puzzling" Stance -------------- ¶7. (C) The British High Commissioner in Colombo, addressing a mine action event on September 13, called the GOSL's response to the Norwegian announcement "puzzling." Citing the Northern Ireland conflict as an example, he said that although "the Sri Lankan security forces seem to have had the better of the fighting" the international community remains adamant that the national problem cannot be solved militarily. Meanwhile, National Peace Council Director Jehan Perera told poloff September 13: "The GOSL knows it has to talk at some point, but there are mixed feelings within the government about talks now. The defense establishment is keen to pursue its perceived military advantage at this stage." President Rajapaksa, Perera added, is sending mixed signals, expressing readiness for peace talks while securing a military advantage. UNP Sees Talks Contingent On Parties' Consensus -------------- -------------- ¶8. (C) In a September 13 meeting with Charge', opposition United National Party (UNP) member of Parliament and former peace negotiator G.L. Peiris questioned whether the GOSL currently has the ability or political will to fully commit to talks. President Rajapaksa is constrained by his lack of a parliamentary majority and his alliance with the ultra-nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) parties. In addition, he said, no structure or serious road map has been put forward for talks. Peiris suggested the GOSL's ability to seriously engage in peace talks would depend on the outcome of discussions that commenced on September 11 between President Rajapaksa and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. An alliance between the UNP and the President's Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Peiris opined, would give Rajapaksa greater political maneuverability and a broader mandate to pursue peace negotiations. This week, both parties are expected to announce the composition of their working groups that will discuss a common way forward toward a peace settlement. Tamil Leaders Say Tigers Ready to Talk -------------- ¶9. (C) Member of Parliament Suresh Premachandran of the LTTE-proxy Tamil National Alliance (TNA) told POL FSN on September 13: "The LTTE has already sent their signal to the Norwegians that they are prepared to talk unconditionally. We very much welcome the peace talks." Dr. K. Vigneswaran, General Secretary of the TNA-rival All Sri Lanka Tamil United Front (AITUF),told poloff: "Basil Rajapaksa (the President's brother) may have told the Norwegians the GOSL was ready to talk so that the GOSL could save face in the Co-Chairs' statement. Now, Rambukwella's denial is meant to satisfy the JVP and JHU. The GOSL is not actually interested in an alliance with the UNP." Nationalist Spoilers -------------- ¶10. (C) Representatives of the Sinhalese nationalist JVP and the Buddhist monk-led JHU argued to POL FSN that the GOSL must not consider peace talks with the LTTE until government forces gain full control of Elephant Pass and the LTTE's COLOMBO 00001508 003 OF 003 artillery base on Pooneryn Peninsula, west of the FDL. Not surprisingly, both argued that Norway should not facilitate future peace talks. Comment -------------- ¶11. (C) Comment: It is clear that the GOSL found the Co-Chairs' September 12 statement and its direct language on human rights abuses and NGO access and conditions a bitter pill to swallow. Stung by the substance of the report, the government chose to focus on instead on alleged inaccuracies and a lack of prior consultation on the venue and timing of future talks. We will continue to press the GOSL on the need for genuine commitment to restarting the peace process and to seriously addressing, with international assistance, human violations by both sides, points the Ambassador will make when he returns from Brussels tomorrow and meets with Foreign Secretary Palihakkara and Defense Secretary Gothabaya SIPDIS Rajapaksa. A unified approach by the SLFP and the UNP to restarting peace negotiations could provide fresh momentum. However, without greater pragmatism and commitment by both the government and LTTE, getting to Oslo in October may be a tall order. End Comment. ¶12. (U) Full Text of the Government of Sri Lanka Secretariat for Coordination of the Peace Process - Begin Text: The Government is appreciative of the efforts made by the Co-chair members to resume peace talks. The Government reaffirms the declaration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 22 August 2006, following a meeting with the Co-Chair Ambassadors in Sri Lanka that the Government remains ready to engage in talks with the LTTE following a clear commitment by the LTTE Leader to a comprehensive and verifiable cessation of hostilities. The Government is pleased that the Co-Chair members have endorsed this approach and stated that the LTTE must abide by all agreements and renounce terrorism and violence. The Government notes with great concern certain elements of the Co-Chair statement of 12 September 2006. The procedural irregularities of the statement in making commitments regarding dates and venue without prior consultation with the Government. The Government deeply regrets that the statement contains factual inaccuracies such as the alleged bombing of a school in Mullaitivu which is grossly misleading. It is important to note that the peace process in Sri Lanka is conducted between a democratically elected government of a sovereign State and an armed group practicing terrorism. It has been the experience in the past that the LTTE has always used peace talks as a period to enhance its military capabilities. The Government hopes that the Co-Chairs and the Facilitator will do the utmost to ensure that the past practices of the LTTE are not repeated in this instance. In this regard, the Government would urge the international community to put in place a practical mechanism to prevent the illegal procurement of arms and an effective blockade to the induction of weapons by the LTTE. This is an essential element to ensure a successful progression towards a political settlement. While the Government notes the above concerns, it remains fully committed to participate at peace talks with the LTTE. However, the specific modalities relating to dates and venue must be discussed and agreed between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Facilitator. End Text. MOORE