LTTE SMUGGLING AND ONGOING FISHERIES DISPUTE RAISE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 000198 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER EFIS IN CE SUBJECT: LTTE SMUGGLING AND ONGOING FISHERIES DISPUTE RAISE TEMPERATURE IN TAMIL NADU REFS: (A) CHENNAI 0086 (B) CHENNAI 0143 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The recent upswing in smuggling by Tamil Tigers has combined with an ongoing fisheries dispute to mobilize anti-Sri Lanka sentiment in Tamil Nadu. Possibly in an effort to tamp down on smuggling by the Tigers, the Sri Lankan Navy has allegedly fired on Indian fishing vessels resulting in two deaths. The deaths have seriously embarrassed Tamil Nadu's DMK-led government, forcing representatives of the ruling party to literally march to the Sri Lankan mission in Chennai as well as demand action from India's central government. END SUMMARY. -------------- -------------- TAMIL FISHERMEN ATTACKED; SRI LANKA DENIES INVOLVEMENT -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Within a span of 12 days, two Tamil Nadu fishermen died after the Sri Lankan Navy allegedly fired on their vessels in the Palk Strait. Most recently, on March 10 five fishermen came under fire killing one and injured two others. Media reports quoted an injured fisherman as saying: "When a fast craft of the Sri Lankan Navy approached us, we pleaded with them not to open fire. They did not listen and opened fire indiscriminately." Earlier, on February 26, another Tamil Nadu fisherman died in similar circumstances. Tamil Nadu officials say there have been at least six such attacks since February 14. ¶3. (SBU) For its part, the government of Sri Lanka denies that its navy attacked the Tamil fisherman. Sri Lanka has suggested that the Tigers may have attacked the fisherman in an effort to embarrass the government of Sri Lanka. According to reports carried in the Chennai media, Sri Lanka unequivocally stated that its vessels have not crossed the international marine boundary line and therefore could not have been involved in the incidents, which occurred in Indian waters. Chief Minister Karunanidhi of Tamil Nadu brushed aside the Sri Lankan claim, relying on the eyewitness accounts of the fisherman who blamed the Sri Lankan Navy. ¶4. (SBU) But Sri Lanka would have an understandable motivation for firing on boats from Tamil Nadu: Tiger weapons smuggling. Recent months have seen increased smuggling of supplies by the Tigers from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka using fishing vessels (Ref B). Tamil Nadu police announced on March 9 that 41 people, including 16 Sri Lankans, had been arrested in the cases of smuggling bomb-making supplies and weapons to Sri Lanka. A Tamil Tiger smuggling network, which the police are actively pursuing, appears to be operating in Tamil Nadu. ¶5. (SBU) The matter is further complicated by Sri Lankan concerns about Tamil fisherman poaching in Sri Lankan waters. According to security analyst and former Indian Army intelligence officer Colonel Hariharan, Tamil Nadu fishermen routinely cross the international boundary line to fish prawns on the Sri Lankan side. He said that Sri Lanka would have long ago stopped Tamil Nadu's fisherman from working Sri Lankan waters if it were not for the ongoing Tamil insurgency. -------------- --- RULING DMK SUPPORTS JOINT PATROLS - AND RETHINKS -------------- --- ¶6. (SBU) Outrage at the attacks on fisherman has resulted in protests, blockading of roads, and political posturing by all parties in Tamil Nadu. Feeling the heat, the ruling DMK organized a march led by five senior state ministers, including the Chief Minister's son and heir apparent, to the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission where they staged a peaceful demonstration. The assembled DMK leaders demanded an immediate stoppage of the "undeclared war" against fishermen of Tamil Nadu. Simultaneously, a team of Tamil Nadu Members of Parliament and Union Ministers met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging his intervention. ¶7. (SBU) Briefing newsmen after the demonstration, CM Karunanidhi supported the Sri Lankan President Rajapakse's idea of joint patrolling along the International Maritime Boundary Line by Indian and Sri Lankan forces, but the next day he clarified that it is up to the Center to decide. On the third day, he further diluted the position and reportedly expressed skepticism over effectiveness of the proposal. Karunanidhi had earlier written two letters to Prime Minister Singh urging the government of India to engage with Sri Lanka on the issue as it was causing great tension in his state. When the firings continued, Karunanidhi changed the tone and vaguely threatened retaliation, writing that "if the atrocities on Tamil fishermen continued, then no one should think that the hands of Tamils will only be fishing in that sea." A senior journalist viewed Chief Minister's threat as empty rhetoric, "meant for the Tamil galleries." CHENNAI 00000198 002 OF 002 ¶10. (SBU) COMMENT: It remains to be seen whether the idea of joint patrolling will be acceptable to the government of India. The problem of Tamil Nadu fishermen routinely crossing the marine boundary has defied solution for decades. The problem is now compounded by the smuggling activity taking place under the cover of fishing. The recent midsea attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen began immediately following a series of seizures of war merchandise from boats plying between Tamil Nadu and northern Sri Lanka (reftel A). Tamil Nadu police themselves claimed that one of the boats the Indian Coast Guard seized with arms (reftel B) was lined with powerful explosives, probably intended to attack a Sri Lankan ship or harbor. While cracking down on the Tiger smuggling network, the Tamil Nadu government cannot afford to antoganize the numerically significant fishermen community altogether. Tamil Nadu will therefore continue to press the central government to diplomatically engage Sri Lanka on the issue. END COMMENT. ¶11. (U) This message has been coordinated with Embassy New Delhi. HOPPER