SRI LANKA PROTESTS IMPROMPTU VISIT BY ICELANDIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001384

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA PROTESTS IMPROMPTU VISIT BY ICELANDIC
DIPLOMAT TO TIGER TERRITORY


Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. Reasons: 1.4(b, d).


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: An Icelandic diplomat on a tourist visa
paid an impromptu visit to the Tamil Tiger de facto capital,
Kilinochchi. Icelandic FSO Bjarni Vestmann, who apparently
was under consideration for a position with the Sri Lanka
Monitoring Mission (SLMM),decided to accompany the SLMM on a
relatively routine trip to the Tiger-held Vanni. A diplomatic
brouhaha between the Sri Lankan government, the Icelandic
Foreign Ministry and the SLMM ensued when a picture of
Vestmann shaking hands with LTTE political wing chief
Tamilchelvan appeared on Tamil Tiger websites. Both the
government of Iceland and the SLMM have reportedly
apologized. As a result of the incident, Sri Lankan security
forces will likely check diplomatic vehicles entering the
Tiger-held Vanni more closely for some time. End summary.


2. (C) In a meeting with Ambassador and Pol Chief, Incoming
Norwegian Ambassador Tore Hattrem and his political officer,
Erik Nurnberg, confirmed press accounts that Icelandic
Foreign Service Officer Bjarni Vestmann had visited
Kilinochchi without GSL clearance on October 2 and met LTTE
political wing chief Tamilchelvan. Vestmann, who had arrived
in Sri Lanka on a tourist visa, was reportedly scouting the
possibility of a tour with the Nordic-led Sri Lanka
Monitoring Mission. The SLMM then brought him along on a
more-or-less routine trip to Kilinochchi, the de facto Tamil
Tiger capital.


3. (C) Hattrem said the Tigers became aware of Vestmann's
presence and arranged a handshake between him and
Tamilchelvan, which they then put up on their website. The
Norwegians doubted that Vestmann had engaged in substantive
talks with the Tigers. The SLMM called the Norwegian Embassy
soon afterwards to report the encounter and express regret
over the incident.


4. (SBU) The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry protested
Vestmann's unauthorized visit to the Tiger capital to the
Foreign Ministry of Iceland, demanding the diplomat's
"recall." The Sri Lankan MFA reported receiving an
"unqualified written apology" on October 3. Embassy received
a fax from the GSL Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace
Process regarding the "Inappropriate visit to Kilinochchi by
Icelandic tourist." The SCOPP note added, "... it was noted
that sometimes vehicles belonging to established agencies
such as the SLMM were not checked. SLMM agreed that, in view
of what had transpired, it was appropriate that the Ministry
of Defence exercise greater caution and ensure that checking
of all vehicles and the individuals traveling in them be
carefully done."


5. (SBU) According to media reports, on October 4 GSL
security forces turned back other SLMM monitors seeking to
cross into the Vanni at Omanthai when the latter refused to
submit to identity checks and searches.


6. (C) COMMENT: The GSL has turned down numerous requests
from the Norwegian Embassy and UN agencies for travel to the
Vanni in recent months on the grounds that such visits confer
legitimacy on the Tigers. The incident is not likely to be
helpful to SLMM's relations with the host government.
Tighter controls on diplomatic vehicles seeking to cross over
to the Tiger-held Vanni will not be conducive to critical
humanitarian relief operations or to efforts to advance the
peace process. While the turning back of the most recent
SLMM convoy is troubling, we hope that the damage done by the
episode will be temporary.
BLAKE