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