Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COLOMBO98
2007-01-17 12:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: ARMY MAKES GAINS IN CAMPAIGN TO TAKE
how-toVZCZCXRO0089 OO RUEHBI DE RUEHLM #0098 0171239 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 171239Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5164 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0122 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 9803 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 6743 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 4807 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3448 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0496 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 3540 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 0516 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2618 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7309 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5046 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1714 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000098
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: ARMY MAKES GAINS IN CAMPAIGN TO TAKE
VAKARAI
REF: COLOMBO 38 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: DCM JAMES R. MOORE FOR REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000098
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: ARMY MAKES GAINS IN CAMPAIGN TO TAKE
VAKARAI
REF: COLOMBO 38 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: DCM JAMES R. MOORE FOR REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe
confirmed to pol FSN on January 16 that the security forces,
through AIR strikes and ground movements, made progress
against LTTE defenses both north and south of Vakarai on
January 16. However, they have not yet captured the
strategic bridge at Panichchankerni. (Note: The LTTE may have
made preparations to blow up this bridge should the army try
to cross it. End note.) Pro-LTTE Tamilnet reported January 17
that fighting was ongoing in the area. The Army and Security
Task FORCE also claim to have captured additional Tiger camps
in Ampara and Batticaloa districts, for a total of twelve in
the last couple of weeks.
2. (C) DATT's military sources indicated January 16 that the
army was "consolidating" its position roughly one kilometer
from the bridge, having broken through three lines of LTTE
defenses. They added that the army cannot push forward in a
more serious ground offensive in Vakarai while the ground in
the surrounding marsh land remains wet due to the prolonged
rainy season. However, they confirmed media reports of at
least 30 Tiger cadres and three soldiers killed in the
battles.
3. (C) COMMENT: The security forces' current push to take
Vakarai explains Defense Secretary Gothabaya's reluctance to
authorize a visit by an ICRC humanitarian needs assessment
team to the area. Following a January 11 review of remaining
food supplies in Vakarai, the Government Agent, ICRC, and
UNHCR agreed that the need was urgent. We will work with the
UN organizations, the ICRC, and other donor countries to urge
the government to permit another relief convoy. However, it
is hard to see that government security forces could
countenance a humanitarian resupply mission during the
current hot phase of the ongoing struggle for Vakarai.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: ARMY MAKES GAINS IN CAMPAIGN TO TAKE
VAKARAI
REF: COLOMBO 38 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: DCM JAMES R. MOORE FOR REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe
confirmed to pol FSN on January 16 that the security forces,
through AIR strikes and ground movements, made progress
against LTTE defenses both north and south of Vakarai on
January 16. However, they have not yet captured the
strategic bridge at Panichchankerni. (Note: The LTTE may have
made preparations to blow up this bridge should the army try
to cross it. End note.) Pro-LTTE Tamilnet reported January 17
that fighting was ongoing in the area. The Army and Security
Task FORCE also claim to have captured additional Tiger camps
in Ampara and Batticaloa districts, for a total of twelve in
the last couple of weeks.
2. (C) DATT's military sources indicated January 16 that the
army was "consolidating" its position roughly one kilometer
from the bridge, having broken through three lines of LTTE
defenses. They added that the army cannot push forward in a
more serious ground offensive in Vakarai while the ground in
the surrounding marsh land remains wet due to the prolonged
rainy season. However, they confirmed media reports of at
least 30 Tiger cadres and three soldiers killed in the
battles.
3. (C) COMMENT: The security forces' current push to take
Vakarai explains Defense Secretary Gothabaya's reluctance to
authorize a visit by an ICRC humanitarian needs assessment
team to the area. Following a January 11 review of remaining
food supplies in Vakarai, the Government Agent, ICRC, and
UNHCR agreed that the need was urgent. We will work with the
UN organizations, the ICRC, and other donor countries to urge
the government to permit another relief convoy. However, it
is hard to see that government security forces could
countenance a humanitarian resupply mission during the
current hot phase of the ongoing struggle for Vakarai.
BLAKE