Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO4443
2006-08-08 03:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN: SUPPORTING THE CEASEFIRE IN SRI LANKA
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004443
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2016
TAGS: PREL CE JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN: SUPPORTING THE CEASEFIRE IN SRI LANKA
REF: STATE 128399
Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Carol Reynolds.
Reason: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004443
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2016
TAGS: PREL CE JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN: SUPPORTING THE CEASEFIRE IN SRI LANKA
REF: STATE 128399
Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Carol Reynolds.
Reason: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Japan is disappointed by the lack of
progress toward peace in Sri Lanka and is reconsidering its
approach to dealing with the LTTE, according to MOFA's Sri
Lanka country officer. Tokyo is thinking of taking "tangible
measures," likely declaring the LTTE to be a terrorist
organization, if the LTTE fails to return to negotiations.
Japan's Special Representative to Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi
has offered to travel to Sri Lanka this month to meet with
LTTE leader Velupilli Prabhkaran before making any
recommendation on how to proceed; Prabhkaran has not yet
responded. In the meantime, Japan will press both sides to
end the violence. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Per reftel instructions, Embassy Tokyo Political
Officer met August 7 with Kiichiro Iwase, country officer for
Sri Lanka in MOFA's Southwest Asia Division, to share talking
points concerning the recent violence in Sri Lanka. Iwase
reviewed Japan's long involvement in the Sri Lankan peace
process, noting Japan's past strategy premised on the belief
that economic development would convince the people that a
better future lies in pursuing peaceful solutions to their
grievances, rather than war. Japan has already expended
approximately two-thirds of the USD 4.5 billion it pledged
for economic assistance at the 2003 Sir Lanka conference
Tokyo and the lives of the people have been improved.
Unfortunately, however, the peace process has not progressed
as Japan had hoped.
3. (C) Consequently, according to Iwase, Japan is now
rethinking its earlier decision to maintain "decent"
relations with the LTTE. On July 24, Japan's Special
Representative for Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi gave an interview
carried in the Sri Lankan press in which he indicated Japan
is reconsidering its stance and thinking about taking
"tangible measures" against the LTTE if the group does not
return to negotiations. These "tangible measures," Iwase
said, would include following the lead of other countries by
declaring the LTTE a terrorist organization. Japan is aware,
however, that the LTTE recently demanded that those countries
in the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission who are members of the
EU, namely Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, withdrawal from the
Mission. Given the EU's recent determination that the LTTE
is a terrorist organization, the LTTE now considers the three
to be "hostile" and no longer impartial. Akashi has offered
to meet this month with LTTE leader Velupilli Prabhkaran, who
the Japanese believe is the ultimate decision maker for the
Tamil Tigers, before making any decision; Prabhkaran has not
yet responded. An attempt by Akashi to meet with Prabhkaran
last May was unsuccessful. In the meantime, Tokyo will
continue to press all parties for an end to the violence,
Iwase stressed in conclusion.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2016
TAGS: PREL CE JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN: SUPPORTING THE CEASEFIRE IN SRI LANKA
REF: STATE 128399
Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Carol Reynolds.
Reason: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Japan is disappointed by the lack of
progress toward peace in Sri Lanka and is reconsidering its
approach to dealing with the LTTE, according to MOFA's Sri
Lanka country officer. Tokyo is thinking of taking "tangible
measures," likely declaring the LTTE to be a terrorist
organization, if the LTTE fails to return to negotiations.
Japan's Special Representative to Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi
has offered to travel to Sri Lanka this month to meet with
LTTE leader Velupilli Prabhkaran before making any
recommendation on how to proceed; Prabhkaran has not yet
responded. In the meantime, Japan will press both sides to
end the violence. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Per reftel instructions, Embassy Tokyo Political
Officer met August 7 with Kiichiro Iwase, country officer for
Sri Lanka in MOFA's Southwest Asia Division, to share talking
points concerning the recent violence in Sri Lanka. Iwase
reviewed Japan's long involvement in the Sri Lankan peace
process, noting Japan's past strategy premised on the belief
that economic development would convince the people that a
better future lies in pursuing peaceful solutions to their
grievances, rather than war. Japan has already expended
approximately two-thirds of the USD 4.5 billion it pledged
for economic assistance at the 2003 Sir Lanka conference
Tokyo and the lives of the people have been improved.
Unfortunately, however, the peace process has not progressed
as Japan had hoped.
3. (C) Consequently, according to Iwase, Japan is now
rethinking its earlier decision to maintain "decent"
relations with the LTTE. On July 24, Japan's Special
Representative for Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi gave an interview
carried in the Sri Lankan press in which he indicated Japan
is reconsidering its stance and thinking about taking
"tangible measures" against the LTTE if the group does not
return to negotiations. These "tangible measures," Iwase
said, would include following the lead of other countries by
declaring the LTTE a terrorist organization. Japan is aware,
however, that the LTTE recently demanded that those countries
in the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission who are members of the
EU, namely Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, withdrawal from the
Mission. Given the EU's recent determination that the LTTE
is a terrorist organization, the LTTE now considers the three
to be "hostile" and no longer impartial. Akashi has offered
to meet this month with LTTE leader Velupilli Prabhkaran, who
the Japanese believe is the ultimate decision maker for the
Tamil Tigers, before making any decision; Prabhkaran has not
yet responded. An attempt by Akashi to meet with Prabhkaran
last May was unsuccessful. In the meantime, Tokyo will
continue to press all parties for an end to the violence,
Iwase stressed in conclusion.
SCHIEFFER