SRI LANKA: AIR FORCE RAIDS TARGET KILINOCHCHI;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001828

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PREF MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AIR FORCE RAIDS TARGET KILINOCHCHI;
FIVE CIVILIANS KILLED NEAR HOSPITAL; CO-CHAIR AMBASSADORS
EXPRESS REGRET

REF: COLOMBO 1824 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake for reasons 1.4(b,d).


1. (C) Summary: The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM)
confirmed that the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) bombed a
target November 2 in Kilinochchi, the de-facto capital of the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Vanni
region. Several bombs hit close to the hospital there,
causing damage and setting off panic. The GSL military
claimed that an LTTE planning meeting was taking place there.
The SLMM confirmed that the bombs killed five civilians,
including two teenagers. The Co-Chair ambassadors in Sri
Lanka met following a November 3 briefing by the SLMM to
draft a reaction statement to the Kilinochchi bombing (Note:
Full text in para 8). Ambassador Blake told Foreign Secretary
Palihakkara that the Kilinochchi bombing was ill considered
in a politically significant city at a very sensitive time
following the stalling of peace talks in Geneva October 28-29
(reftel). Palihakkara said he understood the Ambassador's
position and agreed (please strictly protect Palihakkara's
candor). End Summary.

Air Raids On Tiger Capitol
--------------


2. (C) The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) confirmed that
the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) bombed a target November 2 in
Kilinochchi, the de-facto capital of the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Vanni region. Several bombs
hit close to the hospital there, causing damage and setting
off panic. The SLMM confirmed that the bombs killed five
civilians, including two teenagers. A GSL military spokesman
told the press that the SLAF had hit an LTTE military target.



3. (C) A military spokesperson reported that separate SLAF
raids targeted LTTE military installations in Mannar and
Batticaloa on November 3. SLMM Head of Mission Lars Solvberg
told Co-Chair ambassadors that monitors in the SLMM's
Kilinochchi office reported on the morning of November 3 air
raids near the Forward Defense Line (FDL) at Muhamalai,
Jaffna, and over the LTTE-controlled Pooneryn peninsula,
which parallels the FDL.


4. (C) Following the Kilinochchi raids, LTTE Political Wing
leader and head of Geneva delegation S. P. Tamilselvan
released a communiqu to Norwegian Development Minister and
peace negotiator Erik Solheim, copied to the Co-Chair
Ambassadors. Tamilselvan claimed the "Government gave its
assurances in front of the international community and press
at Geneva that they would initiate no military action,"
adding the GSL "intends to force the island into a full-scale
war." (Full text faxed to SCA/INS)

SLMM Briefs Co-Chairs
--------------


5. (C) Co-Chair ambassadors attended a briefing on the
Kilinochchi bombings on the evening of November 3 at SLMM
Headquarters. A Kilinochchi-based SLMM monitor told
ambassadors he had witnessed two kfir jets "flying low - four
to five thousand feet" yesterday before hearing several
explosions. He and two other monitors went first to the LTTE
Peace Secretariat where, he noted; "we could see confusion in
their faces. They were not faking." The monitors said they
arrived at the site of the explosions within 25 minutes
"before it was impossible to hide evidence of a military
installation." They documented the five civilian deaths and
pressure and shrapnel damage to the hospital's roof and
windows. The Co-Chair ambassadors in Sri Lanka met following
their November 3 briefing by the SLMM to draft a reaction
statement to the Kilinochchi bombings. (Note: Full text to

COLOMBO 00001828 002 OF 002


follow.)

Government Responds
--------------


6. (C) Ambassador spoke with Foreign Secretary Palihakkara
the afternoon of November 3 to express the USG's concern
about the attack. Ambassador noted that even if there were
LTTE operatives in the building, it was difficult to defend
any military action so close to a civilian hospital so soon
after the return of the LTTE delegation to Kilinochchi from
Geneva. After checking with Chief of Defense Staff Perera,
Palihakkara called the Ambassador back to explain that the
military had intelligence that an LTTE military planning
meeting was to take place there. He further maintained that
the hospital was 1.5 km from the house. Ambassador responded
that the SLMM had visited the site and confirmed it was only
600 meters from the hospital. The Ambassador reiterated that
this was an ill considered attack in a politically
significant city at a very sensitive time. Palihakkara said
he understood the Ambassador's comments and agreed with them
(please strictly protect Palihakkara's candor).

Time for Marker
--------------


7. (C) Comment: The Co-Chairs have consistently condemned all
offensive military actions. However, the GSL definition of
defensive actions has grown increasingly fungible. The
Co-Chair Ambassadors therefore felt it was important to lay
down a marker that both sides should refrain from all
military action. The Kilinochchi bombing was particularly
ill considered because it took place close to a hospital in
the politically symbolic city that the LTTE considers its de
facto capitol. End comment.

Full Text of Co-Chair Ambassadors' Statement
--------------


8. (U) Begin text:

Tokyo Co-Chair Ambassadors Express Deep Regret Over
Kilinochchi Bombing

The Co-Chair (EU, Japan, Norway and the US) Ambassadors in
Sri Lanka express their deep regret over the bombing of a
house in Kilinochchi on 2 November 2006 that resulted in the
death of five civilians. The explosion also damaged the
Kilinochchi District Hospital and caused patients to flee.

The Co-Chairs expect both the Government of Sri Lanka and the
LTTE to refrain from military action.

This latest attack comes at a delicate time when both sides
should seek to build confidence and compromise to ensure
further rounds of talks can soon be agreed and an escalation
to the conflict can be avoided.

End Text.
BLAKE