Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COLOMBO75
2008-01-16 11:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: LTTE STRIKES CIVILIAN BUS IN THE
how-toVZCZCXRO3698 OO RUEHBI DE RUEHLM #0075 0161135 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161135Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7568 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0690 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7678 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5858 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4222 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1774 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 4232 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3328 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 8285 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5792 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0511 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2590 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 000075
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, DS/IP/SCA, AND DS/ITA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS ASEC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: LTTE STRIKES CIVILIAN BUS IN THE
SOUTHEAST, KILLING 24
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 000075
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, DS/IP/SCA, AND DS/ITA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS ASEC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: LTTE STRIKES CIVILIAN BUS IN THE
SOUTHEAST, KILLING 24
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) On January 16 at 7:30 am, a claymore mine exploded
near Buttala, in Sri Lanka's southeastern Uva Province,
hitting a civilian bus. At least 24 people were killed,
including several women and children, and more than 60 were
wounded. Chief of Defense Staff Donald Perera confirmed to
Ambassador that five to six LTTE gunmen fired on the bus
after the explosion. The gunmen also shot three farmers
working in a nearby field, he said. A second explosion hit a
Sri Lanka Army vehicle in nearby Galge around 9:45 am,
injuring at least 3 army personnel. Perera noted that the
second blast was intended to target security forces
responding to the first incident.
2. (C) Military and police contacts tell us that the LTTE
is engaging in the South to prevent increased GSL operations
in the North and to destabilize the country. Our contacts
also point out that attacks in the South, where many soldiers
are from, will only harden the resolve of the military
against the Tigers.
3. (U) Post issued the following statement to condemn the
attack:
Colombo, January 16, 2008: The United States strongly
condemns today's vicious terrorist attack on a civilian bus
in Uva Province that killed at least 24 persons, including
many women and children, and injured more than 60 others. We
express our condolences to the victims and their families.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, it
bears all the hallmarks of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam. The targeting of civilians serves to foster fear and
cause further suffering among the Sri Lankan people. Only a
political solution to the country's conflict offers a way out
of the current cycle of escalating violence.
4. (C) COMMENT: This attack was likely planned to
coincide with the official end of the 2002 Ceasefire
Agreement today. We anticipate an increase in attacks
involving civilians as hostilities continue to escalate.
Post will continue to closely monitor the security situation.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, DS/IP/SCA, AND DS/ITA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS ASEC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: LTTE STRIKES CIVILIAN BUS IN THE
SOUTHEAST, KILLING 24
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) On January 16 at 7:30 am, a claymore mine exploded
near Buttala, in Sri Lanka's southeastern Uva Province,
hitting a civilian bus. At least 24 people were killed,
including several women and children, and more than 60 were
wounded. Chief of Defense Staff Donald Perera confirmed to
Ambassador that five to six LTTE gunmen fired on the bus
after the explosion. The gunmen also shot three farmers
working in a nearby field, he said. A second explosion hit a
Sri Lanka Army vehicle in nearby Galge around 9:45 am,
injuring at least 3 army personnel. Perera noted that the
second blast was intended to target security forces
responding to the first incident.
2. (C) Military and police contacts tell us that the LTTE
is engaging in the South to prevent increased GSL operations
in the North and to destabilize the country. Our contacts
also point out that attacks in the South, where many soldiers
are from, will only harden the resolve of the military
against the Tigers.
3. (U) Post issued the following statement to condemn the
attack:
Colombo, January 16, 2008: The United States strongly
condemns today's vicious terrorist attack on a civilian bus
in Uva Province that killed at least 24 persons, including
many women and children, and injured more than 60 others. We
express our condolences to the victims and their families.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, it
bears all the hallmarks of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam. The targeting of civilians serves to foster fear and
cause further suffering among the Sri Lankan people. Only a
political solution to the country's conflict offers a way out
of the current cycle of escalating violence.
4. (C) COMMENT: This attack was likely planned to
coincide with the official end of the 2002 Ceasefire
Agreement today. We anticipate an increase in attacks
involving civilians as hostilities continue to escalate.
Post will continue to closely monitor the security situation.
BLAKE