Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COLOMBO1428
2007-10-17 08:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
TAMIL LEADER REFLECTS ON THE CONFLICT, THE EAST
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001428
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/INS, USPACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV CE
SUBJECT: TAMIL LEADER REFLECTS ON THE CONFLICT, THE EAST
AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
(C) Summary: In a meeting with Ambassador in early October,
Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, who represents Jaffna in
Parliament, stated that the GSL is likely to pursue a
military solution to Sri Lanka's conflict, in part because
"Sinhala ideology rejects power sharing." He expressed
support for UN human rights monitors given the failure of Sri
Lankan institutions to check human rights abuses.
Ponnambalam urged the international community not to support
the GSL's development program in the east because it would
further the GSL objective of de-merging the north and east.
The Ambassador countered that the merger was a question for
future peace negotiations, while failure to engage now in the
east could have highly destabilizing consequences for the
Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese communities there. Ponnambalam
said Tamilchelvan's September 24 statement urging the UN
General Assembly to recognize the concept of the sovereignty
of the Tamil people and provide opportunities similar to
those given to the people of East Timor and Kosovo, was a
recognition by the LTTE leadership that it cannot mobilize
its people behind the idea of federalism. End summary.
GSL Interested in Military Solution
--------------
2. (C) Ambassador first welcomed Ponnambalam back after a
prolonged absence out of the country due to security
concerns. Ponnambalam said he was pleased to be back after
more than a month in Europe with other TNA Parliamentarians.
Asked for his views on the political situation, Ponnambalam
expressed skepticism the GSL would pursue a political
settlement. Their priority is a military solution, he said.
He elaborated that President Rajapaksa has taken the ruling
SLFP party toward the nationalist JVP platform to keep the
JVP at bay and pre-empt UNP and other efforts to persuade
them to vote against the Government budget.
3. (C) Ponnambalam expressed concern that the UNP had
started to distance itself from its previous principled
positions in favor of a negotiated solution, also to try to
attract JVP support. For the climate to be conducive for
negotiations, the country needs some sort of rapprochement
between UNP and SLFP so they can work together, he said. He
expressed appreciation for the Ambassador's public statements
urging the two major parties to cooperate for the national
interest.
4. (C) Ponnambalam noted it is a difficult time for Tamil
moderates. He urged the international community to take
steps to make it harder for GSL to pursue a military agenda.
The Ambassador detailed the numerous statements he, U/S Burns
and A/S Boucher had made in favor of a negotiated solution
and the impossibility of a military solution. Ponnambalam
urged the international community to think about targeted
sanctions against members of the government.
Support UN Monitors
--------------
5. (C) Turning to human rights, Ponnambalam described the
scope of the problem in familiar terms and expressed the
TNA's support for the deployment of human rights monitors.
He lamented the failure of Sri Lankan institutions to stop
the violations and the insufficient votes the European Union
and others have to pass a resolution in the Human Rights
Council against Sri Lanka. The Ambassador provided
Ponnambalam a copy of the statement issued by U/S Burns after
his meeting with Foreign Minister Bogollogama on the human
rights message given by the U/S.
Should Donors Help in the East?
--------------
6. (C) Ponnambalam said the international community should
understand that supporting the GSL's development program in
the east could be counterproductive because it would further
the GSL objective of de-merging the north and east. The
Ambassador explained that most donors believe that the
sensitive issue of whether to re-merge the north and east can
only be resolved through negotiations between the parties,
including the Muslims. Since there was no immediate prospect
COLOMBO 00001428 002 OF 002
for negotiations, it is important to work with the GSL to
encourage a reconstruction and stabilization process in the
east that could serve as a model and confidence builder for
how the north might be managed as part of a future
settlement. A failure to engage could have highly
destabilizing consequences for all three communities in the
east, he argued.
Tamilchelvan Statement on Tamil Sovereignty
--------------
7. (C) The Ambassador asked Ponnambalam why LTTE leader
Tamilchelvan had made a statement on September 24 ahead of
the UN General Assembly meetings urging the Assembly to
"recognize the concept of the sovereignty of the Tamil
people....and provide appropriate opportunities to the Tamil
people to express their aspirations as have been given to the
people of East Timor and Kosovo." Did not such statements
feed into the hands of Sinhalese hard-liners who argue that
the Government should not negotiate with the LTTE because the
LTTE's objective is a separate state? Ponnambalam responded
that the idea of federalism is in itself a recognition of
Tamil sovereignty. Speaking frankly, he stated that the LTTE
needs to mobilize its people, but they can't do that behind
the idea of federalism.
Expectations for Heroes Day Speech?
--------------
8. (C) The Ambassador asked what the international community
should expect from Prabakharan's Heroes Day speech at the end
of November? Are predictions of a unilateral declaration of
independence accurate? Ponnambalam dodged the question. He
responded that the LTTE understands that if it ever returns
to negotiations, it will have to transform itself and become
pluralistic. The immediate problem it faces is the lack of a
credible negotiating partner in the South because Sinhala
ideology rejects power sharing, he said.
Comment and Bio Information
--------------
9. (C) Ponnambalam represents Jaffna as a member of the
Tamil National Alliance in Parliament. He has unmatched
political pedigree among Tamils. His grandfather founded and
led the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, Sri Lanka's oldest Tamil
party. His father Kumar Ponnambalam also led the ACTC and
was assassinated in 2000. Although he is only 33 years old,
Ponnambalam already is a respected Tamil leader. Despite
many threats against him, he eschews security, opting instead
to leave the country periodically.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/INS, USPACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV CE
SUBJECT: TAMIL LEADER REFLECTS ON THE CONFLICT, THE EAST
AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
(C) Summary: In a meeting with Ambassador in early October,
Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, who represents Jaffna in
Parliament, stated that the GSL is likely to pursue a
military solution to Sri Lanka's conflict, in part because
"Sinhala ideology rejects power sharing." He expressed
support for UN human rights monitors given the failure of Sri
Lankan institutions to check human rights abuses.
Ponnambalam urged the international community not to support
the GSL's development program in the east because it would
further the GSL objective of de-merging the north and east.
The Ambassador countered that the merger was a question for
future peace negotiations, while failure to engage now in the
east could have highly destabilizing consequences for the
Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese communities there. Ponnambalam
said Tamilchelvan's September 24 statement urging the UN
General Assembly to recognize the concept of the sovereignty
of the Tamil people and provide opportunities similar to
those given to the people of East Timor and Kosovo, was a
recognition by the LTTE leadership that it cannot mobilize
its people behind the idea of federalism. End summary.
GSL Interested in Military Solution
--------------
2. (C) Ambassador first welcomed Ponnambalam back after a
prolonged absence out of the country due to security
concerns. Ponnambalam said he was pleased to be back after
more than a month in Europe with other TNA Parliamentarians.
Asked for his views on the political situation, Ponnambalam
expressed skepticism the GSL would pursue a political
settlement. Their priority is a military solution, he said.
He elaborated that President Rajapaksa has taken the ruling
SLFP party toward the nationalist JVP platform to keep the
JVP at bay and pre-empt UNP and other efforts to persuade
them to vote against the Government budget.
3. (C) Ponnambalam expressed concern that the UNP had
started to distance itself from its previous principled
positions in favor of a negotiated solution, also to try to
attract JVP support. For the climate to be conducive for
negotiations, the country needs some sort of rapprochement
between UNP and SLFP so they can work together, he said. He
expressed appreciation for the Ambassador's public statements
urging the two major parties to cooperate for the national
interest.
4. (C) Ponnambalam noted it is a difficult time for Tamil
moderates. He urged the international community to take
steps to make it harder for GSL to pursue a military agenda.
The Ambassador detailed the numerous statements he, U/S Burns
and A/S Boucher had made in favor of a negotiated solution
and the impossibility of a military solution. Ponnambalam
urged the international community to think about targeted
sanctions against members of the government.
Support UN Monitors
--------------
5. (C) Turning to human rights, Ponnambalam described the
scope of the problem in familiar terms and expressed the
TNA's support for the deployment of human rights monitors.
He lamented the failure of Sri Lankan institutions to stop
the violations and the insufficient votes the European Union
and others have to pass a resolution in the Human Rights
Council against Sri Lanka. The Ambassador provided
Ponnambalam a copy of the statement issued by U/S Burns after
his meeting with Foreign Minister Bogollogama on the human
rights message given by the U/S.
Should Donors Help in the East?
--------------
6. (C) Ponnambalam said the international community should
understand that supporting the GSL's development program in
the east could be counterproductive because it would further
the GSL objective of de-merging the north and east. The
Ambassador explained that most donors believe that the
sensitive issue of whether to re-merge the north and east can
only be resolved through negotiations between the parties,
including the Muslims. Since there was no immediate prospect
COLOMBO 00001428 002 OF 002
for negotiations, it is important to work with the GSL to
encourage a reconstruction and stabilization process in the
east that could serve as a model and confidence builder for
how the north might be managed as part of a future
settlement. A failure to engage could have highly
destabilizing consequences for all three communities in the
east, he argued.
Tamilchelvan Statement on Tamil Sovereignty
--------------
7. (C) The Ambassador asked Ponnambalam why LTTE leader
Tamilchelvan had made a statement on September 24 ahead of
the UN General Assembly meetings urging the Assembly to
"recognize the concept of the sovereignty of the Tamil
people....and provide appropriate opportunities to the Tamil
people to express their aspirations as have been given to the
people of East Timor and Kosovo." Did not such statements
feed into the hands of Sinhalese hard-liners who argue that
the Government should not negotiate with the LTTE because the
LTTE's objective is a separate state? Ponnambalam responded
that the idea of federalism is in itself a recognition of
Tamil sovereignty. Speaking frankly, he stated that the LTTE
needs to mobilize its people, but they can't do that behind
the idea of federalism.
Expectations for Heroes Day Speech?
--------------
8. (C) The Ambassador asked what the international community
should expect from Prabakharan's Heroes Day speech at the end
of November? Are predictions of a unilateral declaration of
independence accurate? Ponnambalam dodged the question. He
responded that the LTTE understands that if it ever returns
to negotiations, it will have to transform itself and become
pluralistic. The immediate problem it faces is the lack of a
credible negotiating partner in the South because Sinhala
ideology rejects power sharing, he said.
Comment and Bio Information
--------------
9. (C) Ponnambalam represents Jaffna as a member of the
Tamil National Alliance in Parliament. He has unmatched
political pedigree among Tamils. His grandfather founded and
led the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, Sri Lanka's oldest Tamil
party. His father Kumar Ponnambalam also led the ACTC and
was assassinated in 2000. Although he is only 33 years old,
Ponnambalam already is a respected Tamil leader. Despite
many threats against him, he eschews security, opting instead
to leave the country periodically.
BLAKE