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