Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COLOMBO1554
2007-11-16 10:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: TRO DESIGNATION WELCOMED BY GOVERNMENT
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001554
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, S/CT, AND EEB/ESC/TFS
TREASURY/TSDN FOR J PHILIPP, P LURIE AND M DRAKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2012
TAGS: KTFN PTER PREL SL
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: TRO DESIGNATION WELCOMED BY GOVERNMENT
COLOMBO 00001554 001.2 OF 003
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PLEASE ZFR COLOMBO MRN 1554 IMI 1554. NEW ADDRESSEES
HAVE BEEN ADDED AND CABLE HAS BEEN RESENT UNDER COLOMBO
MRN 1565.
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BLAKE
COLOMBO 00001554 002 OF 003
the government's "military agenda," the Ambassador disagreed,
stating the designation was an action against the financing
of terrorism and did not change the U.S. view that no
military solution to the conflict was possible. To a
question regarding the view that the LTTE had in the past not
negotiated for peace in good faith, the Ambassador noted that
the United States' recent provision of radar and small craft
was intended to make the LTTE realize that it would not
become easier for the group to replenish its arms, and that
the LTTE should not expect to get a better political deal by
prolonging the conflict. Asked the value of the TRO assets
frozen, the Ambassador replied that we do not release that
information.
TAMIL HERO SAYS PEOPLE WILL SUFFER
--------------
6. (SBU) Also today, Ambassador met with elderly Sri Lankan
Olympic and cricket hero Nagalingam Ethirveerasingham, a
Tamil who has close connections to the TRO and some in the
LTTE leadership. Ethirveerasingham was subdued about the TRO
designation, saying it came as a surprise. He added that the
impact of the freeze was less significant to the LTTE than to
displaced persons and tsunami victims, who would suffer as a
result of it. He said he hoped the TRO might be able to
establish that it was fully independent of the LTTE, just as
his own sports organization had by having its own governing
council, financial means, and operations manual. He expected
that TRO would engage lawyers to explore appeal or
de-listing.
AUSTRALIA, CANADA, UK NOT SURPRISED
--------------
7. (C) DCM and EconOff on November 15 informed the
Australian, Canadian, and British High Commissioners of the
forthcoming TRO designation. None had heard from their
capitals about consultations that the USG had initiated on
the topic, but they were not surprised to hear of the United
States' planned action. All agreed that TRO does genuine
humanitarian work but appeared likely to have functional
links to the LTTE. Australian High Commissioner French said
that his government had conditioned financial assistance to
partners in Sri Lanka on none of the money going to the LTTE
or the TRO. Canadian High Commissioner Bogdan thought the
U.S. freeze on TRO might cause the group to shift its
activities to Canada to make up the shortfall in revenue from
the United States. Acting British High Commissioner
Owen-Edmunds asked what the implications of the asset freeze
would be on multilateral organizations like UNICEF, some of
which worked with the TRO.
8. (SBU) Action Request: Post would still welcome guidance,
if possible, on the implication of the designation for
multilateral organizations like UNICEF which funded TRO
relief work in the past. We do not have details, but it
appears possible that some multilateral agencies may continue
to have programs involving TRO as an implementing partner.
9. (C) Comment: Post will report further on media,
government, and public reactions to the TRO designation. It
is already clear that, as expected, the government is playing
the U.S. action as a major show of support for the government
COLOMBO 00001554 003 OF 003
and against the LTTE. Tamil politicians are also reacting
through a political lens. Upcountry People's Front Member of
Parliament P. Radhakrishnan, who is a member of the governing
coalition, told PolOff he was disappointed with the U.S.
action, which would "strengthen the hand of the government
against minorities."
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, S/CT, AND EEB/ESC/TFS
TREASURY/TSDN FOR J PHILIPP, P LURIE AND M DRAKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2012
TAGS: KTFN PTER PREL SL
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: TRO DESIGNATION WELCOMED BY GOVERNMENT
COLOMBO 00001554 001.2 OF 003
-------------- --------------
PLEASE ZFR COLOMBO MRN 1554 IMI 1554. NEW ADDRESSEES
HAVE BEEN ADDED AND CABLE HAS BEEN RESENT UNDER COLOMBO
MRN 1565.
-------------- --------------
BLAKE
COLOMBO 00001554 002 OF 003
the government's "military agenda," the Ambassador disagreed,
stating the designation was an action against the financing
of terrorism and did not change the U.S. view that no
military solution to the conflict was possible. To a
question regarding the view that the LTTE had in the past not
negotiated for peace in good faith, the Ambassador noted that
the United States' recent provision of radar and small craft
was intended to make the LTTE realize that it would not
become easier for the group to replenish its arms, and that
the LTTE should not expect to get a better political deal by
prolonging the conflict. Asked the value of the TRO assets
frozen, the Ambassador replied that we do not release that
information.
TAMIL HERO SAYS PEOPLE WILL SUFFER
--------------
6. (SBU) Also today, Ambassador met with elderly Sri Lankan
Olympic and cricket hero Nagalingam Ethirveerasingham, a
Tamil who has close connections to the TRO and some in the
LTTE leadership. Ethirveerasingham was subdued about the TRO
designation, saying it came as a surprise. He added that the
impact of the freeze was less significant to the LTTE than to
displaced persons and tsunami victims, who would suffer as a
result of it. He said he hoped the TRO might be able to
establish that it was fully independent of the LTTE, just as
his own sports organization had by having its own governing
council, financial means, and operations manual. He expected
that TRO would engage lawyers to explore appeal or
de-listing.
AUSTRALIA, CANADA, UK NOT SURPRISED
--------------
7. (C) DCM and EconOff on November 15 informed the
Australian, Canadian, and British High Commissioners of the
forthcoming TRO designation. None had heard from their
capitals about consultations that the USG had initiated on
the topic, but they were not surprised to hear of the United
States' planned action. All agreed that TRO does genuine
humanitarian work but appeared likely to have functional
links to the LTTE. Australian High Commissioner French said
that his government had conditioned financial assistance to
partners in Sri Lanka on none of the money going to the LTTE
or the TRO. Canadian High Commissioner Bogdan thought the
U.S. freeze on TRO might cause the group to shift its
activities to Canada to make up the shortfall in revenue from
the United States. Acting British High Commissioner
Owen-Edmunds asked what the implications of the asset freeze
would be on multilateral organizations like UNICEF, some of
which worked with the TRO.
8. (SBU) Action Request: Post would still welcome guidance,
if possible, on the implication of the designation for
multilateral organizations like UNICEF which funded TRO
relief work in the past. We do not have details, but it
appears possible that some multilateral agencies may continue
to have programs involving TRO as an implementing partner.
9. (C) Comment: Post will report further on media,
government, and public reactions to the TRO designation. It
is already clear that, as expected, the government is playing
the U.S. action as a major show of support for the government
COLOMBO 00001554 003 OF 003
and against the LTTE. Tamil politicians are also reacting
through a political lens. Upcountry People's Front Member of
Parliament P. Radhakrishnan, who is a member of the governing
coalition, told PolOff he was disappointed with the U.S.
action, which would "strengthen the hand of the government
against minorities."
BLAKE