Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06COLOMBO1692
2006-10-13 10:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: LTTE CLAIMS A WIN IN ENGAGEMENT ON
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001692
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PREF MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: LTTE CLAIMS A WIN IN ENGAGEMENT ON
JAFFNA DEFENSE LINE
REF: COLOMBO 1670 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Charge' d' Affaires James R. Moore for reasons 1.4(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001692
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PREF MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: LTTE CLAIMS A WIN IN ENGAGEMENT ON
JAFFNA DEFENSE LINE
REF: COLOMBO 1670 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Charge' d' Affaires James R. Moore for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) Summary: Over 100 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and
an unknown number of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
cadres were killed in a two-day battle at the Forward Defense
Line (FDL) in Muhamalai, Jaffna October 11-12. This was the
highest one-day death toll since the 2002 ceasefire agreement
(CFA). The Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) has described the
engagement as "defensive," but appear to have lost an
unexpected number of soldiers. Pro-LTTE media played up the
engagement as representing a major GSL offensive. However,
no credible reports indicate an SLA attempt to push towards
LTTE-controlled Elephant Pass at the neck of the Jaffna
peninsula. The LTTE said the operations would endanger peace
negotiations planned for October 28-29 in Geneva. However,
Defense Ministry spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella told the
media that the military would continue to mount "defensive
operations" as necessary. End Summary.
Fighting at the Forward Line
--------------
2. (C) Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe
confirmed to PolOff that the SLA continued to fire mortar and
artillery rounds on LTTE targets at Muhamalai for a second
day on October 12, aided by Sri Lanka AIR FORCE (SLAF)
bombing raids. He said that both the GSL and LTTE had
returned to their original FDL positions following the
battle, however. Also on October 12, according to
Samarasinghe, two suspected-LTTE claymore bombs exploded in
Jaffna town, killing three pro-government Eelam People's
Democratic Party (EPDP) "bicycle cadres" and two policemen.
High Casualties Unexpected
--------------
3. (C) As of October 13, GSL officials estimated the October
11-12 death toll at between 129 and 133. The LTTE claimed
that more than 200 SLA soldiers had been killed. The GSL, in
turn, claimed to have killed 200 Tiger cadres. One GSL
source told us on October 13 that between 500 and 1000
soldiers had been wounded, and that the death toll also
probably exceeded official estimates. Military spokesman
Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told PolOff on October 12 that
78 troops comprising "a whole company" were missing -- and
presumed dead in light of the LTTE's claim to have the bodies
of 74 soldiers. On the evening of October 12, the LTTE
handed over 74 bodies to the International Committee for the
Red Cross (ICRC).
TNA Sees Major Offensive
--------------
4. (C) In an October 12 press conference, pro-LTTE Tamil
National Alliance (TNA) Members of Parliament Gajendrakumar
Ponombalam and Suresh Premachandra touted the battle as an
LTTE victory, claiming the LTTE had "successfully repelled"
the SLA. Ponnombalam urged the Co-chairs and the
international community to "take concrete steps" to pressure
the GSL to halt its "military agenda" and warned that the
action had diminished prospects for peace talks.
A Time for Restraint
--------------
5. (C) COMMENT: It appears likely that GSL security forces
attempted to consolidate their gains on the FDL before the
October 28-29 peace talks. The Sri Lankan Army may have been
trying to take out LTTE artillery positions about 5
kilometers behind the front line. However, counter to recent
trends, the Tigers appear to have acquitted themselves well
on this occasion. The apparent LTTE success may serve to
COLOMBO 00001692 002 OF 002
deflate some of the Sri Lankan military's bravado about their
recent string of successes against the LTTE. In any case,
any further escalation of hostilities would further undermine
the basis for a meeting in Geneva at the end of October. In
this context, the Department spokesperson's well-timed
statement calling for restraint received broad media play
here, appearing on the front pages of both English-language
and vernacular newspapers. We should lose no opportunity to
reinforce this message in the coming days. The visit of A/S
Boucher on October 19 and 20 will present another occasion to
try to rein in some of the more belligerent elements on the
government side.
MOORE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PREF MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: LTTE CLAIMS A WIN IN ENGAGEMENT ON
JAFFNA DEFENSE LINE
REF: COLOMBO 1670 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Charge' d' Affaires James R. Moore for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) Summary: Over 100 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and
an unknown number of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
cadres were killed in a two-day battle at the Forward Defense
Line (FDL) in Muhamalai, Jaffna October 11-12. This was the
highest one-day death toll since the 2002 ceasefire agreement
(CFA). The Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) has described the
engagement as "defensive," but appear to have lost an
unexpected number of soldiers. Pro-LTTE media played up the
engagement as representing a major GSL offensive. However,
no credible reports indicate an SLA attempt to push towards
LTTE-controlled Elephant Pass at the neck of the Jaffna
peninsula. The LTTE said the operations would endanger peace
negotiations planned for October 28-29 in Geneva. However,
Defense Ministry spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella told the
media that the military would continue to mount "defensive
operations" as necessary. End Summary.
Fighting at the Forward Line
--------------
2. (C) Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe
confirmed to PolOff that the SLA continued to fire mortar and
artillery rounds on LTTE targets at Muhamalai for a second
day on October 12, aided by Sri Lanka AIR FORCE (SLAF)
bombing raids. He said that both the GSL and LTTE had
returned to their original FDL positions following the
battle, however. Also on October 12, according to
Samarasinghe, two suspected-LTTE claymore bombs exploded in
Jaffna town, killing three pro-government Eelam People's
Democratic Party (EPDP) "bicycle cadres" and two policemen.
High Casualties Unexpected
--------------
3. (C) As of October 13, GSL officials estimated the October
11-12 death toll at between 129 and 133. The LTTE claimed
that more than 200 SLA soldiers had been killed. The GSL, in
turn, claimed to have killed 200 Tiger cadres. One GSL
source told us on October 13 that between 500 and 1000
soldiers had been wounded, and that the death toll also
probably exceeded official estimates. Military spokesman
Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told PolOff on October 12 that
78 troops comprising "a whole company" were missing -- and
presumed dead in light of the LTTE's claim to have the bodies
of 74 soldiers. On the evening of October 12, the LTTE
handed over 74 bodies to the International Committee for the
Red Cross (ICRC).
TNA Sees Major Offensive
--------------
4. (C) In an October 12 press conference, pro-LTTE Tamil
National Alliance (TNA) Members of Parliament Gajendrakumar
Ponombalam and Suresh Premachandra touted the battle as an
LTTE victory, claiming the LTTE had "successfully repelled"
the SLA. Ponnombalam urged the Co-chairs and the
international community to "take concrete steps" to pressure
the GSL to halt its "military agenda" and warned that the
action had diminished prospects for peace talks.
A Time for Restraint
--------------
5. (C) COMMENT: It appears likely that GSL security forces
attempted to consolidate their gains on the FDL before the
October 28-29 peace talks. The Sri Lankan Army may have been
trying to take out LTTE artillery positions about 5
kilometers behind the front line. However, counter to recent
trends, the Tigers appear to have acquitted themselves well
on this occasion. The apparent LTTE success may serve to
COLOMBO 00001692 002 OF 002
deflate some of the Sri Lankan military's bravado about their
recent string of successes against the LTTE. In any case,
any further escalation of hostilities would further undermine
the basis for a meeting in Geneva at the end of October. In
this context, the Department spokesperson's well-timed
statement calling for restraint received broad media play
here, appearing on the front pages of both English-language
and vernacular newspapers. We should lose no opportunity to
reinforce this message in the coming days. The visit of A/S
Boucher on October 19 and 20 will present another occasion to
try to rein in some of the more belligerent elements on the
government side.
MOORE