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