INDIAN FRICTION WITH LTTE GROWS

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 23722

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - TEXT

E.O. 12356: 9/25/88
TAGS: PREL, IN, CE, PINS
SUBJ: INDIAN FRICTION WITH LTTE GROWS

REF: COLOMBO 6523

1. (C) SUMMARY. ON SEPTEMBER 24 THE INDIAN MINISTRY OF
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ISSUED ANOTHER WARNING TO THE LTTE
THAT IT WILL RESPOND MORE FORCEFULLY IF THE TAMIL
MILITANT ORGANIZATION DOES NOT STOP HAMPERING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SRI LANKA PEACE ACCORD. THE MEA
SPOKESMAN BLAMED THE LTTE FOR INSTIGATING AND
ENGINEERING A VIOLENT CONFRONTATION SEPTEMBER 23
BETWEEN SRI LANKAN CIVILIANS AND ELEMENTS OF THE
INDIAN PEACE KEEPING FORCE (IPKF). THE GROWING THREAT
OF SUCH CLASHES BETWEEN SRI LANKANS AND INDIAN TROOPS
APPARENTLY LIES BEHIND THE DECISION TO SEND SEVERAL
BATTALIONS OF INDIAN POLICE INTO THE NORTHERN AND
EASTERN PROVINCES OF SRI LANKA (REFTEL). THERE IS
GROWING SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSITION THAT IF THE LTTE
CONTINUES ITS PROVOCATIONS, THE INDIAN FORCES SHOULD
MOVE MORE DECISIVELY AGAINST IT. END SUMMARY.

2. (U) THE MEA SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT A CROWD OF 900
TO 1000 PEOPLE--MAINLY LTTE SUPPORTERS WITH WOMEN AND
CHILDREN IN THE VANGUARD--COLLECTED IN FRONT OF THE
IPKF CAMP IN MANNAR, OSTENSIBLY WANTING TO PRESENT A
PETITION TO THE LOCAL INDIAN MILITARY COMMANDER.
WHILE ARRANGEMENTS WERE BEING MADE FOR RECEIVING THE
PETITION, THE LTTE SUPPORTERS REPORTEDLY STARTED
THROWING STRONES, SHOUTING SLOGANS, AND PUSHING THE
CROWD INTO THE CAMP. THE IPKF FIRED FIVE ROUNDS. TWO
PERSONS REPORTEDLY WERE WOUNDED BY THE FIRING AND 17
INJURED N THE RESULTING STAMPEDE. ACCORDING TO THE
LTTE, ONE OF THE PERSONS WOUNDED BY GUNFIRE
SUBSEQUENTLY DIED. ACCORDING TO THE MEA SPOKESMAN,
THE USE OF INNOCENT WOMEN AND CHILDREN AS A COVER FOR
THE VIOLENT DEMONSTRATION WAS "REPREHENSIBLE AND
COWARDLY." HE WARNED THEAT INDIAN TROOPS WOULD BE
"COMPELLED TO RESPOND WITH EVEN STRONGER MEASURES IF
VIOLENCE IS DELIBERATELY PROVOKED BY THE LTTE."

3. (U) ACCORDING TO MAJOR INDIAN NEWSPAPERS ON
SEPTEMBER 25, BOTH THE INDIAN AND SRI LANKAN
GOVERNMENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GROWING IPKF-CIVILIAN
TENSIONS IN THE NORTH AND AGREED THAT THE DEPLOYMENT
OF THE INDIAN PARALIMITARY RESERVE POLICE FORCE
(REFTEL) IS NECESSARY FOR CROWD-CONTROL DUTIES. "IT
WAS FELT BY BOTH COUNTRIES THAT FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF
INDIA THE ARMY MUST NOT BE USED REGULARLY TO PREVENT
ETHNIC OR OTHER RIOTS EXCEPT IN EXTREME EMERGENCIES
AND FOR VERY SHORT PERIODS. IT IS ALSO FELT THAT THE
PRESENCE OF THE ARMY SOMETIMES ACTS AS AN IRRITANT TO
GROUPS WHICH HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN WARFARE FOR QUITE
SOME TIME. . . . IT IS LIKELY THAT THE CRPF UNITS
WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH TEARGAS SHELLS, RUBBER BULLETS,
AND OTHER EQUIPMENT TO COUNTER SUCH VIOLENT
DEMONSTRATIONS BY MOBS. . . . THESE FORCES CAN ALSO BE
USED FOR PATROLLING AREAS FROM WHERE REPORTS OF
COLONIZATION BY SINHALAS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED."

4. (C) COMMENT. SUCCESSIVE GOI WARNINGS TO THE LTTE
HAVE BEEN GIVEN HIGH EMPHASIS IN THE INDIAN MEDIA.
THERE APPEARS TO BE A GROWING SENTIMENT AMONG INFORMED
INDIANS--WHICH IS BEGINNING TO BE EXPRESSED IN
NEWSPAPER COMMENTARIES--THAT THE IPKF MUST MOVE
DECISIVELY AND FAST TO PREVENT THE INDO-SRI LANKA
ACCORD FROM GOING "THE WAY OF THE PUNJAB ACCORD."
THERE IS CONCERN THAT THE GOOD WILL WHICH THE GOI WON
AMONG TAMILS BY ITS AIR-DROP IN JUNE IS BEING ERODED
BY LTTE PROPOGANDA ALLEGING THAT THE IPKF IS ACTING AS
AN ALLY OF THE COLOMBO GOVERNMENT. "THE SITUATION CAN
BE SAVED AND THE ATMOSPHERE CREATED FOR MODERATE
LEADERS TO COME INTO THE OPEN," THE TIMES OF INDIA
STATES, "ONLY IF THE INDIAN TROOPS MOVE QUICKLY AND
DISARM THE LTTE COMPLETELY."


DEAN