SRI LANKA: LTTE-PROXY PARTY EMPHASIZES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001605 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PREF MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: LTTE-PROXY PARTY EMPHASIZES HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN NORTH REF: A. COLOMBO 1581 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. COLOMBO 1366 Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake for reasons 1.4(b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary. The Ambassador met with Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members of parliament Gajendakumar Ponnombalam, Suresh Premachandran, and Pathmini Sithamparanathan on September 29. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)-proxy members of parliament emphasized their concern for the "desperate" humanitarian situation on the Jaffna peninsula, including disappearances and extrajudicial killings. The Ambassador told them that the United States respects the Government of Sri Lanka's right to defend itself in the war on terror, but does not believe there is a military solution to the conflict. The Ambassador noted that we have called for an end to military offensives and greater attention to human rights in all meetings with GSL officials. End Summary. TNA Says Government Concerned But Inactive -------------- ¶2. (C) The soft-spoken Pathmini Sitharamparanathan alleged that, according to a report by the independent Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission, 50 civilians were abducted in August and 44 in September in Jaffna, and 131 civilians were killed during those months. (Note: the HRC report, released in September, reported over 400 people as missing in Jaffna since June.) Ponnombalam added, "previously these were people involved with politics. Lately they are innocent civilians with no affiliations. Civilians are terrified, because now there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the killings." ¶3. (C) The English-savvy Ponnombalam said that he and other TNA parliamentarians had spoken to President Rajapaksa five times, as well as Development and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe about the killings and abductions. "They seem genuinely concerned when we meet with them," he said, "but on the ground the situation doesn't improve." Peace Talk Prospects -------------- ¶4. (C) Regarding the LTTE's commitment to resuming peace talks, Ponnombalam said, "The LTTE has expressed willingness to talk, but they expect the GSL to stop the violence. We were encouraged by the (September 12) Co-chairs' statement." He placed the onus on the GSL to cease "militarily undermining" the LTTE. He noted that following the February 2006 talks in Geneva on the Ceasefire Agreement, "the LTTE was not responsible for any violations for the first one and a half months. After the April assassination of newly-elected TNA MP Vigneswaran in Trincomalee, the LTTE began using violence again. The GSL has a history of not implementing its agreements." Ponnombalam continued, "We truly believe that no matter what we say here, the defense establishment is dictating the terms. We don't buy that the president has no control. If the GSL can control the military to address the humanitarian situation, then there are hopes for talks." The Ambassador agreed that the human rights situation must be dealt with at the highest level of the government, and noted that the US and other Co-chairs have a regular dialogue with the GSL on human rights. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Although members of the TNA are admitted LTTE-apologists, some, like Gajen Ponnombalam, are relatively moderate with a genuine commitment to Tamil constituents within the constraints of their alliance to the LTTE. The Ambassador noted that because we do not have direct interaction with the LTTE, it is doubly important that we have regular dialogue with the TNA to share perspectives and relay messages. We undertook to meet again during the third COLOMBO 00001605 002 OF 002 week of October to discuss these issues in more detail. Continued close attention to human rights will reinforce to the Tamil people our firm commitment to a just peace through political means. BLAKE