Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COLOMBO465
2008-05-13 12:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES PROSPECTS FOR
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C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000465
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES PROSPECTS FOR
PEACE WITH TAMIL LEADER
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000465
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES PROSPECTS FOR
PEACE WITH TAMIL LEADER
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) On May 12 Ambassador met with V. Anandasangaree,
President of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) to
discuss devolution of power and prospects for peace.
Anandasangaree stressed that the LTTE is not the sole
representative of the Tamil people, and that the government
should talk with other actors. He commended the Ambassador
for being one of the few international spokespersons to get
this right. He pointed to Tamil constituencies living
outside the LTTE-held north, i.e. "more than half the Sri
Lankan Tamil population (that) lives peacefully" among
Sinhalese and Muslims in the South, and the large Tamil
diaspora in Europe, Scandinavia, the U.S., and Canada.
Anandasangaree emphasized that a political solution to the
conflict should be couched in terms of the Indian federalist
model, which can be sold easily to the Sri Lankan people, as
well as to Indian Tamils. Ambassador pointed out that many
of the All Party Representative Committee proposals are based
on the Indian model, which Anandasangaree acknowledged.
2. (C) Anandasangaree informed Ambassador that Sri Lankan
Air Force night raids in the Vanni have stopped, following a
letter that Anandasangaree sent to President Rajapaksa on
April 17. His letter urged the President to end the night
aerial attacks because they are "sure to cause immense
hardship and innumerable casualties among civilians."
3. (C) Anandasangaree was critical of the government's
decision to appoint Minister of Social Services and Social
Welfare and EPDP Leader Douglas Devananda as Chairman of the
newly established Special Task Force Committee for Northern
Development to oversee development and resettlement in the
North. The Task Force is seen as a prelude to a future
Northern Provincial Council. Anandasangaree noted
Devananda's and the EPDP's history of serious election abuses
and alleged human rights violations in the north.
4. (C) COMMENT: Anandasangaree is one of the few remaining
moderate Tamil politicians who have not been killed by the
LTTE. He does not sit in parliament. He often supports the
government and is a potential future candidate for governor
of the Northern Province, but does not hesitate to criticize
the GSL about human rights and other problems.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES PROSPECTS FOR
PEACE WITH TAMIL LEADER
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) On May 12 Ambassador met with V. Anandasangaree,
President of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) to
discuss devolution of power and prospects for peace.
Anandasangaree stressed that the LTTE is not the sole
representative of the Tamil people, and that the government
should talk with other actors. He commended the Ambassador
for being one of the few international spokespersons to get
this right. He pointed to Tamil constituencies living
outside the LTTE-held north, i.e. "more than half the Sri
Lankan Tamil population (that) lives peacefully" among
Sinhalese and Muslims in the South, and the large Tamil
diaspora in Europe, Scandinavia, the U.S., and Canada.
Anandasangaree emphasized that a political solution to the
conflict should be couched in terms of the Indian federalist
model, which can be sold easily to the Sri Lankan people, as
well as to Indian Tamils. Ambassador pointed out that many
of the All Party Representative Committee proposals are based
on the Indian model, which Anandasangaree acknowledged.
2. (C) Anandasangaree informed Ambassador that Sri Lankan
Air Force night raids in the Vanni have stopped, following a
letter that Anandasangaree sent to President Rajapaksa on
April 17. His letter urged the President to end the night
aerial attacks because they are "sure to cause immense
hardship and innumerable casualties among civilians."
3. (C) Anandasangaree was critical of the government's
decision to appoint Minister of Social Services and Social
Welfare and EPDP Leader Douglas Devananda as Chairman of the
newly established Special Task Force Committee for Northern
Development to oversee development and resettlement in the
North. The Task Force is seen as a prelude to a future
Northern Provincial Council. Anandasangaree noted
Devananda's and the EPDP's history of serious election abuses
and alleged human rights violations in the north.
4. (C) COMMENT: Anandasangaree is one of the few remaining
moderate Tamil politicians who have not been killed by the
LTTE. He does not sit in parliament. He often supports the
government and is a potential future candidate for governor
of the Northern Province, but does not hesitate to criticize
the GSL about human rights and other problems.
BLAKE