Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COLOMBO499
2008-05-22 12:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: TENSIONS RISE FOLLOWING SEVERAL
how-toVZCZCXRO0859 OO RUEHBI DE RUEHLM #0499 1431229 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 221229Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8166 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0910 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7899 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 6076 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4412 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2055 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 4396 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3491 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 8511 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5960 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0662 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2791 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000499
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: TENSIONS RISE FOLLOWING SEVERAL
KILLINGS IN BATTICALOA
REF: COLOMBO 483
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 000499
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: TENSIONS RISE FOLLOWING SEVERAL
KILLINGS IN BATTICALOA
REF: COLOMBO 483
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) On May 22, a TMVP member named Santhan and his
bodyguard were shot dead near the Divisional Secretary's
office in Kattankudy (Batticaloa District),the home
electorate of Pillaiyan's chief rival for the post of Chief
Minister, M.L.A.M. Hisbullah. Santhan's wife successfully
contested the Batticaloa Local Council elections in March on
the TMVP ticket. Santhan, who had long had a reputation as a
bully and thug, reportedly canvassed votes for his wife by
intimidating both Tamil and Muslim civilians. According to
Embassy contacts, he had earned many enemies within the
Muslim community by extorting money from Muslim businesses.
2. (C) Shortly after Santhan and his bodyguard were killed,
TMVP cadres shot at least three Muslims who were standing
next to the petrol station near the border between Kattankudy
and Arayampathy. Embassy contacts report that the bodies
remain in the road, public transport has been shut down, and
shops are closed. Muslim shop owners in Batticaloa town
gathered at the police station seeking protection, and were
escorted to Kattankudy, their hometown, on TMVP orders. A
curfew has been imposed on Kattankudy.
3. (C) COMMENT: It is not clear who Santhan's assassins
were, although the apparent revenge killings by the TMVP show
that they hold Muslims responsible, rather than the LTTE.
Hisbullah, who is also known for employing rough campaign
tactics, took his oath today as one of four ministers in the
new Eastern Province government under Chief Minister
Pillaiyan. However, today's incidents may indicate that the
Tamil/Muslim ethnic rift that has opened in the East in the
wake of the dispute over the chief ministership has only been
papered over by Hisbullah's agreeing to join the new
administration. Embassy contacts describe the situation in
Batticaloa as tense amid fears that the violence may
escalate, particularly following Santhan's funeral on May 23.
We will closely monitor the situation in the area and report
any new developments septel.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: TENSIONS RISE FOLLOWING SEVERAL
KILLINGS IN BATTICALOA
REF: COLOMBO 483
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) On May 22, a TMVP member named Santhan and his
bodyguard were shot dead near the Divisional Secretary's
office in Kattankudy (Batticaloa District),the home
electorate of Pillaiyan's chief rival for the post of Chief
Minister, M.L.A.M. Hisbullah. Santhan's wife successfully
contested the Batticaloa Local Council elections in March on
the TMVP ticket. Santhan, who had long had a reputation as a
bully and thug, reportedly canvassed votes for his wife by
intimidating both Tamil and Muslim civilians. According to
Embassy contacts, he had earned many enemies within the
Muslim community by extorting money from Muslim businesses.
2. (C) Shortly after Santhan and his bodyguard were killed,
TMVP cadres shot at least three Muslims who were standing
next to the petrol station near the border between Kattankudy
and Arayampathy. Embassy contacts report that the bodies
remain in the road, public transport has been shut down, and
shops are closed. Muslim shop owners in Batticaloa town
gathered at the police station seeking protection, and were
escorted to Kattankudy, their hometown, on TMVP orders. A
curfew has been imposed on Kattankudy.
3. (C) COMMENT: It is not clear who Santhan's assassins
were, although the apparent revenge killings by the TMVP show
that they hold Muslims responsible, rather than the LTTE.
Hisbullah, who is also known for employing rough campaign
tactics, took his oath today as one of four ministers in the
new Eastern Province government under Chief Minister
Pillaiyan. However, today's incidents may indicate that the
Tamil/Muslim ethnic rift that has opened in the East in the
wake of the dispute over the chief ministership has only been
papered over by Hisbullah's agreeing to join the new
administration. Embassy contacts describe the situation in
Batticaloa as tense amid fears that the violence may
escalate, particularly following Santhan's funeral on May 23.
We will closely monitor the situation in the area and report
any new developments septel.
BLAKE