SRI LANKA: LTTE CHIEF PRAISES INDIA, CALLS SRI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001079 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: LTTE CHIEF PRAISES INDIA, CALLS SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT "GENOCIDAL" AS ARMY NEARS KILINOCHCHI Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT O. BLAKE, JR. REASONS: 1.4(b,d). ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In his annual "Heroes' Day" speech, a defiant LTTE supremo Prabhakaran professed his commitment to a peaceful solution of the conflict, but labeled the government's pursuit of a military solution racist and genocidal. He criticized "so-called Peace Sponsors" who "impaired" negotiations by banning the LTTE and halting political and humanitarian activities that supported the Tigers' freedom struggle. Prabhakaran downplayed past "friction" between India and the LTTE and stated that the LTTE had never looked at India as an enemy force. The speech came amid Sri Lankan government claims that the fall of the Tigers' administrative capital, Kilinochchi, was imminent. Some analysts interpret the speech as a justification for claims that the government's refusal to negotiate left the Tigers with no other option than to step up attacks against civilian targets in Colombo and the south. End Summary. Prabhakaran: We Want a Peaceful Solution -------------- ¶2. (U) After extolling the virtues of the fallen Heroes of the Tamil Eelam struggle, LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran recounted the LTTE efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. (Note: the complete text of the speech is available at www.tamilnet.com.) He argued that the armed struggle was "thrust on us by inevitable needs" and characterized LTTE participation in the Norwegian-sponsored peace talks as honest and diligent. Prabhakaran contrasted the Tiger's approach with, in his words, the "racist" attitude of the Sinhalese state that sought to "wipe out the national life and resources of the Tamils and subjugate the Tamil nation to military despotism." He called the government genocidal and yet said the LTTE was continuing to "exercise patience" in the face of military rampages by the armed forces. ¶3. (U) Defense Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella, however, dismissed Prabhakaran's desire for a peaceful solution. Rambukewella told one newspaper that "by remaining silent about laying down arms, he has proved that he is not ready for talks." He categorized the speech as "a please for pardon" following the loss of much of the territory the LTTE once controlled. Peace Sponsors Unhelpful -------------- ¶4. (U) Without naming the U.S., Prabhakaran criticized "so-called" Peace Sponsors who had labeled the LTTE a terrorist organization. Without identifying the case of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, Prabhakaran also criticized unnamed countries for taking legal action against those who sought to support the Tamil Eelam cause through political and humanitarian actions. India Singled Out for Attention -------------- ¶5. (U) The one international actor Prabhakaran did name, and devoted considerable attention to, was India. After downplaying past LTTE "friction" with India, the LTTE leader thanked the people and leadership of Tamil Nadu in particular, and India in general for raising their voices in support of the Tigers cause and urged them to continue to work to build stronger bonds between the LTTE and India as well as seek to halt the military actions of the Sri Lankan government. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: Prabhakaran's speech came as government troops appeared poised to capture the Tiger's administrative capital, Kilinochchi. Defense Spokesman Rambukwella stated this week that the fall of the city was "imminent." Many COLOMBO 00001079 002 OF 002 expected the government to steal the LTTE leader's thunder by declaring the city liberated just prior to the annual address; however, torrential rains sharply curtailed military activities and impeded the army's progress. Some observers anticipated a sharp LTTE counter-attack prior to the speech. Prabhakaran's emphasis on the Tiger's commitment to a peaceful solution relies on a highly selective reading of the group's past actions, of course. Several analysts felt that Prabhakaran's speech was intended to make the case that the LTTE could no longer rely on the international community to rein in the Sri Lankan government's excesses. If so, he may be setting the stage for an intensified LTTE campaign against military, economic, or even civilian targets in the south. The LTTE leader's elaborate praise of India implies he sees New Delhi as his best bet at present for forcing the government to the negotiating table. However, in Embassy's view, the horrific terrorist attacks in Mumbai on the same day as Prabharakan's speech render it even less likely that the Indian government would intervene soon to stop the GSL's military offensive. Blake