Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CHENNAI50
2007-01-19 10:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Chennai
Cable title:  

PDAS Mann in Chennai: Visas, Refugees and Politics

Tags:  PGOV PREL PREF PHUM CMGT IN CE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2555
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCG #0050 0191028
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191028Z JAN 07
FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0574
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2204
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1288
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 0679
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4942
UNCLAS CHENNAI 000050 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM CMGT IN CE
SUBJECT: PDAS Mann in Chennai: Visas, Refugees and Politics

UNCLAS CHENNAI 000050

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM CMGT IN CE
SUBJECT: PDAS Mann in Chennai: Visas, Refugees and Politics


1. (SBU) Summary: During his December 16-17 visit to Chennai, SCA
bureau Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Steven Mann met with
visa staff and viewed visa processing, had talks with Sri Lankan
refugee leaders and discussed politics and Indo-U.S. relations with
journalist-insider Malini Parthasarathy. End summary.

A "Super Saturday" of Visa Processing
--------------


2. (U) Ambassador Mann arrived at post's visa unit just in time to
observe the end of "Super Saturday" processing during which 800
applicants were interviewed (one of post's two working Saturdays in
December). NIV managers walked Ambassador Mann through the visa
process and briefed him on the Mission's on-going efforts to
eliminate the visa appointment backlog, including, particularly,
Chennai's work to meet south India's huge and growing demand for
visa services. Interviewing officers demonstrated for Ambassador
Mann the high-tech tools provided by the NIV system for screening
applicants, documenting interviews and initiating necessary
clearances. Later, Ambassador Mann had an opportunity to meet in a
casual setting with most of post's 16 entry-level consular
officers.

Discussion with Tamil Refugee Leader
--------------


3. (SBU) In a subsequent meeting with Sri Lankan Refugee Leader S.C.
Chandrahasan, Ambassador Mann discussed the situation in Sri Lanka
and the status of the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India.
Chandrahasan, leader of the Organization for Eelam Refugees
Rehabilitation (OfFEER) and himself a refugee in India since 1983,
outlined the educational progress of the refugees, commented on the
status of the LTTE which he feels is facing a recruiting problem,
and stated that he believes that now is a critical moment in the Sri
Lanka situation as the entire world has focused energy and attention
there. Mr. Chandrahasan reiterated his request that U.S. officials
continue to inquire about the status of the Tamil refugees when
meeting with Indian government officials.


4. (SBU) Chandrahasan, a good post contact and frequent source for
our reporting on Sri Lankan refugee issues, told Ambassador Mann
that there currently are 100 Sri Lankan Tamil refugee camps spread
throughout the state of Tamil Nadu, with 30 camps having been added
to accommodate the 16,000 new arrivals in 2006. Commenting on the
current state of the LTTE, Chandrahasan said the LTTE appears to be
facing a recruitment problem. According to information Chandrahasan
received, the LTTE is telling young men not to marry as they are
needed for the war. He said he sees the LTTE as monolithic, with
Prabhakaran systematically eliminating all other senior leadership,
refusing to trust anyone and assuming a bunker position. Describing
his attitude as positive but realistic, Chandrahasan said this a
critical time in Sri Lankan politics as the whole world's attention
is focused on the problem.

Journalist on Indo-U.S. Relations
--------------


5. (SBU) Malini Parthasarathy, Director of The Hindu and a member
of the family that controls the newspaper, told Ambassador Mann she
is optimistic about the long-term prospects for Indo-U.S. relations
so long as the two countries can overcome the short-term challenges
posed by implementation of the civil-nuclear agreement. Malini said
see foresees strong resistance to the agreement from the Left, and
she suggested that U.S. officials should seek out approachable left
party leaders with to explain the agreement.


6. (SBU) Malini, who is considered close to Sonia Gandhi,
underscored her admiration for the Congress leader and for Prime
Minister Singh, and she praised the strong and effective
relationship between the two. She predicted that the Congress would
gain strength leading up to the 2009 elections. Moving to Tamil
Nadu politics, Malini characterized the recent statements against
the civil nuclear agreement by opposition leader and former Chief
Minister J Jayalalitha as politically motivated maneuvering in order
to separate herself and her party from the ruling DMK party, which
is allied with Congress at the Center.

Hopper