Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COLOMBO1161
2008-12-29 12:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS 8 OUTSIDE OF CIVIL
how-toVZCZCXRO5951 PP RUEHBI DE RUEHLM #1161 3641239 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 291239Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9090 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1200 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 8199 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 6415 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4619 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2478 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 4574 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3680 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 8842 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 6227 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO 0801 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3070 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS COLOMBO 001161
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER ASEC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS 8 OUTSIDE OF CIVIL
DEFENSE FORCE CAMP
UNCLAS COLOMBO 001161
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER ASEC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS 8 OUTSIDE OF CIVIL
DEFENSE FORCE CAMP
1. (U) At about 8:45 a.m. on December 28, a presumed LTTE
suicide bomber killed himself, seven Civil Defense Force
(CDF) personnel and one civilian in an attack on a CDF office
in Wattala, a northern Colombo suburb. (Note: the Civil
Defense Force, formerly the Home Guards, are roughly
analagous to the National Guard in the U.S. End Note) At
least 17 others were injured in the bombing, some seriously.
According to Sri Lankan press reports, the attacker entered
the compound after visiting a weekly fair held at a nearby
church. CDF guards stopped him at a checkpoint, preventing
him from entering the office. The bomber then exploded his
suicide vest.
Nadesan Gives Intervew;
Previews More Attacks to Come
--------------
2. (SBU) The attack comes a week after LTTE Political Wing
Chief Nadesan conductd interviews with the BBC and Reuters.
Observers interpreted his statements to mean that the LTTE
would begin to switch from conventional to guerilla tactics,
attacking more "soft" targets in the South - such as military
checkpoints. Nadesan specifically mentioned economic targets
that would place pressure on the government as it struggles
under a growing level of debt.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: As the LTTE continues to lose territory in
the North we can expect to see a corresponding increase in
the number of attacks in the South. These attacks, as
Nadesan previewed, are intended to increase the economic and
other costs to the government of continuing its offensive in
the North.
Blake
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER ASEC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS 8 OUTSIDE OF CIVIL
DEFENSE FORCE CAMP
1. (U) At about 8:45 a.m. on December 28, a presumed LTTE
suicide bomber killed himself, seven Civil Defense Force
(CDF) personnel and one civilian in an attack on a CDF office
in Wattala, a northern Colombo suburb. (Note: the Civil
Defense Force, formerly the Home Guards, are roughly
analagous to the National Guard in the U.S. End Note) At
least 17 others were injured in the bombing, some seriously.
According to Sri Lankan press reports, the attacker entered
the compound after visiting a weekly fair held at a nearby
church. CDF guards stopped him at a checkpoint, preventing
him from entering the office. The bomber then exploded his
suicide vest.
Nadesan Gives Intervew;
Previews More Attacks to Come
--------------
2. (SBU) The attack comes a week after LTTE Political Wing
Chief Nadesan conductd interviews with the BBC and Reuters.
Observers interpreted his statements to mean that the LTTE
would begin to switch from conventional to guerilla tactics,
attacking more "soft" targets in the South - such as military
checkpoints. Nadesan specifically mentioned economic targets
that would place pressure on the government as it struggles
under a growing level of debt.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: As the LTTE continues to lose territory in
the North we can expect to see a corresponding increase in
the number of attacks in the South. These attacks, as
Nadesan previewed, are intended to increase the economic and
other costs to the government of continuing its offensive in
the North.
Blake