SRI LANKA: LTTE DEBRIEFS CO-CHAIRS; GOVERNMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001812 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PREF MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: LTTE DEBRIEFS CO-CHAIRS; GOVERNMENT TELLS LTTE TO CEASE HOSTILITIES BEFORE JAFFNA HIGHWAY WILL OPEN; GROUND FIRE AND AIR STRIKES CONTINUE REF: A. COLOMBO 1802 ¶B. COLOMBO 1792 Classified By: DCM James R. Moore for reasons 1.4(b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) delegation gave a post-mortem on the Geneva talks to Co-Chair Ambassadors minus the U.S. this morning, November 1. Political Wing leader S.P. Tamilselvan claimed the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) had not heeded the LTTE's "humanitarian" demand to open the A9 highway through to the Jaffna peninsula and was not prepared to discuss a substantive way forward. In public statements October 31, GSL Geneva delegation leader Nimal de Silva suggested the A9 could be opened if the LTTE ceased hostilities, while Defense spokesman Keheliya Rambukwela called on the Tigers to allow ICRC ships to carry food and supplies to Jaffna. Meanwhile, Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) security forces and the LTTE exchanged mortar and artillery fire at a Forward Defense Line in Trincomalee district and the Sri Lanka Air Force conducted raids over the Tiger-controlled "Vanni" to neutralize artillery positions. End Summary. Tigers Express Disappointment in GSL to Co-Chairs -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) The Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE gave a post-mortem on the Geneva talks to Co-Chair Ambassadors minus the U.S. this morning, November 1. The Co-Chairs met the Tiger delegation at an airport hotel in Colombo on arrival from Geneva. Norwegian Ambassador Brattskar accompanied them by helicopter to Kilinochchi later in the day. The German Ambassador gave DCM a readout after the meeting. ¶3. (C) Tamilselvan reported that after the opening session in Geneva on October 28, when the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) delegation indicated they wanted to discuss core political issues, the LTTE team phoned Prabhakaran to ask if they had such a mandate. Prabhakaran agreed, but rather than encompassing core issues, the talks got bogged down on the issue of the A9 highway connecting the Jaffna peninsula and the LTTE-controlled Vanni to the south. Tamilselvan maintained that the humanitarian situation associated with the closing of the A9 was a core issue for the LTTE. ¶4. (C) The GSL, however, was adamant that it was not prepared during the Geneva session to discuss the opening of the A9. The LTTE delegation expressed to Co-Chairs their disappointment that the GSL, in their view, was driven by a military agenda at the talks. The LTTE team told the Co-Chairs that they now expect a major offensive by the Sri Lanka Army at the Muhamalai Forward Defense Line (FDL) in Jaffna. ¶5. (C) The LTTE also criticized to the Co-Chairs the GSL for allegedly showing one face to the international community - its pursuit of peace and interest in a political solution - without discussing seriously those objectives in Geneva. Tamilselvan argued that the GSL was not prepared to discuss a political solution, and that the GSL's opening statement had been little more than a recitation of LTTE ceasefire violations rather than a way forward. ¶6. (C) The LTTE delegation told Co-Chair Ambassadors that they were not opposed to the continuation of talks, but acknowledged that a new date had not been set. The Co-Chairs questioned the contradiction of this stance, noting that the Tigers say they want talks, but insist on the re-opening of the A9 as a prerequisite. Tamilselvan was not forthcoming in his response to this question, claiming the LTTE leadership would have to "reflect" on this point. ¶7. (C) The Co-Chairs brought two principal messages to the COLOMBO 00001812 002 OF 002 Tigers in today's meeting. First, the Tigers must show maximum restraint and adhere to the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA). Second, any serious escalation of the conflict could prevent the Co-Chairs from performing a useful role. Government Keeps Up Pressure on the LTTE -------------- ¶8. (C) In October 31 statements to the media, Geneva delegation leader Health Minister Nimal de Silva suggested the A9 could be opened if the LTTE ceased hostilities. Defense spokesman Keheliya Rambukwela, on the other hand, said the A9 would remain closed for the time being and questioned the LTTE's sincerity on humanitarian issues, calling on the Tigers to allow ICRC ships to carry food and supplies to Jaffna. In a November 1 conversation with poloff, United National Party (UNP) advisor Dinesh Weerakoody said he thought that while the GSL Peace Secretariat might wish to consider reopening the land route to Jaffna, the defense establishment would not allow it. Military Engagement As Usual -------------- ¶9. (C) Meanwhile on November 1, a military spokesperson confirmed to POL FSN that GSL security forces and the LTTE exchanged mortar and artillery fire at a Forward Defense Line in Trincomalee district and the Sri Lanka Air Force conducted raids over the Tiger-controlled "Vanni" to neutralize artillery positions. Toward Consensus or Polarization? -------------- ¶10. (C) Comment: The Norwegians have cautioned the international community not to see the Geneva talks as a complete failure, despite the lack of flexibility of the GSL and the LTTE on the A9 issue. We and other Co-Chairs see the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP) as a possible way forward. Eighty percent of the "southern" Sinhalese polity support the two parties combined. Such a large bloc committed to a negotiated settlement could provide a strong mandate for peace to the GSL. However, such an alliance could also polarize the south, leading the hardline defense establishment to react by pursuing a more aggressive military campaign against the LTTE. End comment. BLAKE