MEETING WITH NATIONALIST JVP PARTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001372

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/INS, USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CE
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH NATIONALIST JVP PARTY


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


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador met for a spirited but cordial
hour with JVP Parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa, on
October 1 at the JVP Party-Headquarters. Weerawansa expressed
dissatisfaction with President Rajapaksa's failure to reduce
inflation and corruption but said the JVP has not decided
whether to support possible efforts to bring down the
Government during the November budget debates. Weerawansa
disagreed with US support for a negotiated solution,
insisting that the LTTE must be defeated militarily. End
Summary.

Dissatisfied with Government
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2. (SBU) Weerawansa stated that the country is going through
economic difficulties at present due to military operations
in the north and east against the LTTE, waste and government
corruption. He asserted that President Rajapaksa has failed
to arrest the situation, but also noted that the UNP does not
have a program to do any better. He said the JVP thinks that
the economy can be developed by adopting methods practiced in
China and some of the Latin American countries. Income
generating programs must be initiated within the country and
not depend on foreign assistance. He blamed the media for not
giving adequate coverage to JVP ideology and policies. He
noted, for example, that the JVP,s statement criticizing the
increase in flour prices had not been picked up by the
electronic or print media.

But No Decision on Whether to Support UNP Efforts
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3. (SBU) Asked whether the JVP expects to support the
Government budget in November, Weerawansa responded that the
JVP has not decided on its stance on the forthcoming budget
of the government, but expects it to be a "people friendly"
budget. He expressed doubt that the UNP would try to bring
down the government because the UNP does not have sufficient
votes to do so. The UNP can not win the confidence of the
people of this country until and unless it agrees that the
LTTE must be destroyed and wiped out militarily, he
maintained.


4. (SBU) Weerawansa said the JVP is committed to support the
government as long as the military battle continues against
the LTTE. The JVP believes that every single LTTE member must
be killed. People have gained confidence in the government
with their recent military successes like the expulsion of
the LTTE from the east and the sinking of several LTTE arms
ships on the high seas. The people will stomach difficulties
such as the escalating cost of living, if the government is
sincerely engaged in the war against the LTTE. The UNP can
never mobilize people against the war. The JVP may support
UNP to fight waste and corruption of the government. The JVP
also demands the government establish local government
authorities in the east for people to enjoy rights of
democracy.

If Saddam, Why Not Prabakharan?
--------------


5. (SBU) Weerawansa asked the Ambassador why, if America can
kill Saddam Hussein, is Sri Lanka criticized for trying to
kill Prabakharan? Why does the US insist on a political
solution in Sri Lanka when it pursues a military solution in
Iraq? The Ambassador responded that the U.S. did not kill
Saddam Hussein. He was executed by Iraqi authorities after a
fair and public trial. The Ambassador also denied any
contradiction between our policies in Iraq and Sri Lanka.
The United States has made great efforts to restore democracy
and ensure real power-sharing between the Sunnis, Shi,a and
Kurdish communities, and has advocated power-sharing in Sri
Lanka through the All Parties process.

US Must Help Defeat LTTE, Not Call for Negotiation

COLOMBO 00001372 002 OF 002


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6. (SBU) Weerawansa responded that if President Bush wants to
eradicate terrorism globally, the US must help Sri Lanka to
fight the LTTE. The JVP appreciated the US tracking down and
arresting LTTE activists in America and in other countries,
but does not agree with the US suggestion for the government
to negotiate with the LTTE. The JVP believes that nothing
should be discussed with the LTTE until and unless they agree
to lay down arms. This is where the UNP made mistakes. They
were "lap dogs" of the international community. The JVP would
never allow this government to be that, Weerawansa concluded.
The Ambassador responded that the U.S. has done a great deal
on many fronts to help Sri Lanka defend itself against the
LTTE. But he stressed the U.S. view that the LTTE cannot be
defeated purely by military means; there must also be a
political strategy to address the underlying causes of the
conflict.

Comment
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7. (C) Weerawansa is one of the JVP,s most charismatic
young leaders. His views are shared by other southern
Sinhalese Buddhists, not just JVP stalwarts. His position
within the party is somewhat precarious, however. Many of
his party colleagues consider him too close to the
Rajapaksas, both Gothabaya and Basil. Further, rumors abound
that he has used his political connections to make illicit
millions on shady transactions. One of the JVP,s signature
issues is the fight against corruption, so it can hardly
afford the appearance of taint. Because of this, Wimal was
the subject of proceedings in early 2007 to exclude him from
the party. Some other JVP Members of Parliament have founded
a separate caucus within the party, which could be a prelude
to a split. Nevertheless, Wimal is probably correct that for
most JVPers, an alliance with the UNP opposition (which
signed the 2002 Cease-fire Agreement with the hated Tigers)
would be a bridge too far. The JVP also stands to lose a
large number of its 37 Parliamentary seats in the event of
new elections. We therefore think it likely that at the last
minute the JVP will find a way to preserve its own unity,
hold its nose, and vote with the government on the budget.
The JVP often criticizes the US so this was a good
opportunity to engage one of the JVP firebrands and perhaps
temper their future attacks.
BLAKE