JOURNEY TO JAFFNA: THE LTTE VIEW OF THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 07 COLOMBO 001476


DEPT FOR SA/INS

CINCPAC FOR FPA

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS PREL CE
SUBJECT: JOURNEY TO JAFFNA: THE LTTE VIEW OF THE
PEACE PROCESS; A FIRSTHAND LOOK

REF: (A) COLOMBO 1377 (B) COLOMBO 1175 (C) COLOMBO
1026


1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


2. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1989, AN OFFICIAL
AMERICAN VISITED THE LTTE-DOMINATED JAFFNA PENINSULA.
POLOFF WAS PART OF A FACT-FINDING VISIT BY DIPLOMATS
FROM TWELVE WESTERN MISSIONS WHICH WAS ORGANIZED BY
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC)
(REF B). LTTE SPOKESMAN ANTON BALASINGHAM, FLANKED BY
OTHER TOP LTTE OFFICERS, PROVIDED A TWO-HOUR BRIEFING
FOR THE DIPLOMATS IN WHICH THE LTTE'S VIEW OF THE
PEACE PROCESS FEATURED PROMINENTLY. THE LTTE
PERSPECTIVE WAS ANCHORED IN PROFOUND DISTRUST OF THE
GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY THE SECURITY FORCES, AND THE
BELIEF THAT THE LTTE HAS MADE MAJOR CONCESSIONS IN THE
SEARCH FOR PEACE, INCLUDING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A
FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WITHIN A UNITED SRI LANKA
IN LIEU OF TAMIL EELAM--AN INDEPENDENT TAMIL
HOMELAND. BALASINGHAM FELT THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
WERE NOT GOING WELL, LARGELY BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT
HAS NOT BEEN TAKING THE PEACE TALKS SERIOUSLY ENOUGH,
ESPECIALLY IN FAILING TO IMPLEMENT CONDITIONS THE LTTE
REGARDS AS ESSENTIAL CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES.
THE LTTE HAS ALSO NOT BEEN SATISFIED WITH THE
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT DELEGATES TO THE
PEACE TALKS, NOR WITH THE FREQUENCY OR DURATION OF THE
TALKS. BALASINGHAM ALSO EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION AT THE
FAILURE OF THE GOVERNMENT TO PRODUCE A PROPOSED
FRAMEWORK FOR A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT--WHICH WOULD FORM
THE BASIS OF POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS.


3. BIO NOTES ON BALASINGHAM ARE IN PARAS 27 AND 28.
WE ARE ALSO REPORTING BY SEPTEL ON THE STATE OF THE
JAFFNA ECONOMY AND THE PROPOSED RECONSTRUCTION AND
REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR THE NORTH; THE SECURITY
SITUATION IN JAFFNA AND POINT PEDRO TOWNS; THE
OPERATIONS OF NON-LTTE GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN
JAFFNA--INCLUDING THE GOVERNMENT; AND LIFE ON THE
JAFFNA PENINSULA. END SUMMARY.

--------------
JOURNEY TO JAFFNA
--------------


4. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1989, AN EMBOFF HAS MADE
AN OFFICIAL TRIP TO THE JAFFNA PENINSULA, STRONGHOLD
OF THE LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM (LTTE) WHO
HAVE BEEN WAGING A BLOODY ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD INSURGENCY
AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA. ARRANGED BY THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) AS A
FACT-FINDING JOURNEY (REF B),POLOFF, TOGETHER WITH
REPRESENTATIVES OF ELEVEN OTHER WESTERN MISSIONS,
VISITED JAFFNA FOR TWO DAYS. DURING THE TRIP, THE
GROUP WAS GIVEN A BRIEFING BY THE LTTE IN WHICH THE
PEACE PROCESS FEATURED PROMINENTLY. THE GOVERNMENT
AGENT WAS GIVEN EQUAL TIME TO BRIEF THE DIPLOMATS; HE
FOCUSED ON THE PROPOSED REHABILITATION AND
RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM (SEPTEL). THE DIPLOMATIC GROUP
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
SITUATION OF THE NORTH--VISITING THE JAFFNA TEACHING
HOSPITAL, THE UNIVERSITY OF JAFFNA, AND THE POINT
PEDRO HOSPITAL; AND MEETING WITH THE SRI LANKA RED
CROSS, SAVE THE CHILDREN (UK),THE COUNCIL OF
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND A CROSS-SECTION OF
COMMUNITY LEADERS (SEPTEL).

--------------
LTTE BRIEFS THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
--------------


5. A TWO-HOUR BRIEFING WAS PROVIDED BY LTTE
SPOKESMAN, ANTON BALASINGHAM, FLANKED BY OTHER TOP
LTTE LEADERS--TAMILCHELVAM (HEAD OF THE POLITICAL
SECTION),DOMINIC (HEAD OF ADMINISTRATION),RAVI (HEAD
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT),BALAKUMAR (DESCRIBED AS A
SENIOR LTTE MEMBER AND FORMER HEAD OF EELAM
REVOLUTIONARY ORGANIZATION OF STUDENTS (EROS)),
ILANGKUMARAN (HEAD OF EDUCATION),AND SELVANAYAGAM
(ECONOMIC ADVISOR, WHO ALSO ACTED AS A TRANSLATOR FOR
RAVI). MR. BALASINGHAM'S AUSTRALIAN-BORN WIFE, ADELE
BALASINGHAM, ALSO ATTENDED THE MEETING.


6. THE BRIEFING WAS CONDUCTED IN A QUITE FORMAL
MANNER AT THE POLITICAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE LTTE--THE
VENUE OF THE THREE ROUNDS OF PEACE TALKS CONDUCTED TO
DATE BETWEEN THE LTTE AND THE GOVERNMENT. THE LTTE
TEAM SAT FACING THE DIPLOMATS; EACH GROUP AT A
SEPARATE LINE OF TABLES. IN BETWEEN WAS A STAND
PROMINENTLY FEATURING PHOTOGRAPHS OF LTTE SUPREME
LEADER, VELUPILLAI PRABHAKARAN (WHO THE VISITING
DIPLOMATS NEVER MET),AND TOPPED BY A SMALL FLAG OF
TAMIL EELAM. BALASINGHAM, SELVANAYAGAM (BY FAR THE
OLDEST MEMBER OF THE LTTE TEAM) AND MRS. BALASINGHAM
SPOKE FLUENT ENGLISH. IT APPEARED THAT THE REST OF
THE GROUP SPOKE LITTLE, IF ANY, ENGLISH. MRS.
BALASINGHAM'S PRESENCE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN FOR THE
PURPOSE OF ENSURING THAT THERE WERE NO ENGLISH
LANGUAGE MISUNDERSTANDINGS--ESPECIALLY SINCE MOST OF
THE DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES WERE NOT NATIVE ENGLISH
SPEAKERS. CONSISTENT WITH THEIR APOLITICAL STANCE,
ICRC REPRESENTATIVES DID NOT ATTEND THE MEETING.


7. BALASINGHAM OPENED THE BRIEFING BY STATING THAT
THE LTTE FELT THE VISIT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE
IT WOULD ENABLE THE DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS TO OBSERVE FOR
THEMSELVES THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS UNDER
WHICH PEOPLE LIVED ON THE JAFFNA PENINSULA, TO
UNDERSTAND THE LTTE POSITION IN THE ON-GOING SEARCH
FOR A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT TO THE ETHNIC CONFLICT, AND
TO ASSESS THE NEEDS FOR THE PROPOSED REHABILITATION
AND RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM. HE SAID THAT THE PEACE
PROCESS HAS IN A "CRUCIAL AND CRITICAL TIME", AND
INDICATED THAT PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WERE NOT GOING
WELL. THE TONE OF HIS PRESENTATION HAS REASONABLE AND
MEASURED; HE CLEARLY MADE AN EFFORT NOT TO BE OVERLY
CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNMENT. AFTER SPEAKING FOR ABOUT
FORTY MINUTES, HE ENTERTAINED QUESTIONS.


8. BALASINGHAM THANKED THE ICRC FOR FACILITATING THE
TRIP, AS WELL AS FOR ITS LAUDABLE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS
ON BEHALF OF THE TAMIL PEOPLE. HE ALSO STATED THAT
FROM COLOMBO IT HAS VERY HARD FOR THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
TO KNOW WHAT THE TIGERS WERE THINKING, AND EXPRESSED
HIS HOPE THAT DIPLOMATIC VISITS WOULD CONTINUE.

--------------
PROFOUND DISTRUST REIGNS
--------------


9. THROUGHOUT BALASINGHAM'S PRESENTATION, HE CLEARLY
REFLECTED A DEEPLY FELT MISTRUST OF THE GOVERNMENT--
AND ESPECIALLY THE SECURITY FORCES. THE LTTE IS
INTENSELY AWARE OF BEING SURROUNDED BY GOVERNMENT
FORCES--ESTIMATED BY THEM TO BE 25,000 STRONG. THE
TIGERS SAID THEY SEE THE THE ARMY-CONTROLED KAYTS
ISLANDS TO THE WEST, THE PALALI AIRBASE AND
ARMY-CONTROLED COAST TO THE NORTH, THE ELEPHANT PASS
ARMY BASE TO THE SOUTHEAST, THE POONERYN ARMY BASE TO
THE SOUTHWEST, AND THE NAVY ON THE ADJACENT SEAS.
THEY ALSO DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS THE VICTIMS OF A
BRUTAL WAR AND A STRANGULATING GOVERNMENT-IMPOSED
ECONOMIC EMBARGO. IN SHORT, THEY PAINTED A PICTURE OF
THE TAMIL PEOPLE OF JAFFNA AS HAVING BEEN UNDER SIEGE
FOR YEARS AND AS HAVING BORNE UNTOLD SUFFERING AS A
RESULT. THEY REMIND VISITORS THAT THE BOMBING OF
JAFFNA TOWN CEASED ONLY IN EARLY 1994 AND SHELLING
OCCURRED WELL INTO THE LATTER PART OF THE YEAR.
POLOFF OBSERVED SIGNIFICANT, THOUGH NOT DEVASTATING,
WAR DAMAGE IN JAFFNA TOWN. THE VISITING DIPLOMATS
WERE GIVEN EXTENSIVE LISTS OF WAR DAMAGE ON THE JAFFNA
PENINSULA, WHICH WILL FORM THE BASIS FOR THE PROPOSED
REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.
CONTRIBUTING TO THE SIEGE MENTALITY, THE LTTE
CONSIDERS THE TAMIL PEOPLE TO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY
VICTIMIZED THROUGH SYSTEMATIC DISCRIMINATION BY THE
GOVERNMENT.


10. BALASINGHAM DID, HOWEVER, VOICE SOME CONFIDENCE
IN PRESIDENT CHANDRIKA KUMARATUNGA, INDICATING THAT
THE LTTE FELT SHE SINCERELY DESIRED PEACE AND HAD AN
UNPRECEDENTED MANDATE FOR PEACE FROM THE SINHALESE
PEOPLE--WHICH HE CHARACTERIZED AS A RADICAL
TRANSFORMATION IN SINHALESE THINKING.


11. MANY IN THE LTTE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THE
BELIEVE THAT HARDLINERS IN THE GOVERNMENT SECURITY
FORCES WANT TO RESUME THE WAR, AND STILL INTEND TO
LAUNCH AN OFFENSIVE ON JAFFNA. THE LTTE ARGUED THAT
THE SECURITY FORCES HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED
THEIR OFFENSIVE POSTURE (ASIDE FROM THAT REQUIRED BY
THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES). BALASINGHAM CITED
RECENT STATEMENTS BY MINISTER OF DEFENSE ANURUDDHA
RATWATTE IN WHICH HE SAID THAT THE ARMED FORCES SHOULD
STAND READY TO INFLICT CRUSHING MILITARY DEFEAT ON THE
TIGERS IN THE EVENT THAT THE PEACE PROCESS FAILS. HE
ALSO CHARGED THAT THE ARMY WAS ARBITRARILY RESTRICTING
THE FLOW OF GOODS WHICH WERE RECENTLY TAKEN OFF THE
EMBARGO LIST--BUT WHICH THE ARMY FEELS HAVE MILITARY
APPLICATION, E.G., CEMENT.

--------------
CONCESSIONS IN THE SEARCH FOR PEACE
--------------


12. IN SPITE OF ITS DISTRUST OF THE GOVERNMENT, THE
LTTE SAYS IT HAS MADE MAJOR CONCESSIONS IN THE SEARCH
FOR PEACE. FOREMOST AMONG THESE HAS BEEN THE OFFER TO
GIVE UP THEIR QUEST FOR TAMIL EELAM--AN INDEPENDENT
TAMIL HOMELAND. IN EXCHANGE, BALASINGHAM STATED, THE
LTTE WILL ACCEPT A "FEDERAL FORM OF AUTONOMY FOR THE
TAMILS OF THE NORTH AND EAST, INCLUDING THEIR OWN
LEGISLATURE AND JUDICIAL POWERS, WITHIN A UNITED SRI
LANKA". BALASINGHAM REFUSED TO BE PINNED DOWN ON THE
DETAILS OF THE DIVISION OF POWER IN SUCH A FEDERAL
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, BUT SUGGESTED THAT THE AMERICAN
OR AUSTRALIAN SYSTEMS MIGHT SERVE AS MODELS, WHILE THE
INDIAN SYSTEM WOULD NOT. HE INDICATED, HOWEVER, THAT
THE "COLLECTIVE ASPIRATIONS" OF THE TAMIL PEOPLE FOR
SELF-DETERMINATION AND A GUARANTEE OF THEIR RIGHTS
WOULD HAVE TO BE BE INCORPORATED INTO ANY SUCH SYSTEM.


13. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT BOTH THE NORTHERN AND
EASTERN PROVINCES, THE "TRADITIONAL HOMELANDS OF THE
TAMIL-SPEAKING PEOPLE", WOULD HAVE TO BE CONTROLLED BY
TAMILS IN ANY FEDERAL ARRANGEMENT--THOUGH HE DID
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE MUSLIMS HAD SPECIAL CONCERNS AND
CONCEDED THAT A MEASURE OF AUTONOMY WOULD BE NECESSARY
FOR THEM IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE EAST. IN DISCUSSING
THE ROLE OF THE NON-LTTE TAMILS IN THE PROPOSED
FEDERAL SYSTEM, BALASINGHAM INDICATED THAT THE LTTE
INTENDED TO FORGE A DEMOCRATIC STATE IN THE NORTHEAST
WHICH WOULD INCLUDE ALL TAMILS--THOUGH HE WENT ON TO
MENTION THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL PROBLEM WITH THOSE
TAMILS WHO HAD BORNE ARMS AGAINST THE LTTE.
BALASINGHAM SUGGESTED THAT THE CURRENT EFFORTS BY THE
GOVERNMENT TO FORMULATE A NEW CONSTITUTION SHOULD
FOCUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FEDERAL CONSTITUTION,
AND INDICATED THAT THE LTTE SHOULD BE CONSULTED IN
THIS PROCESS.


14. COMMENT: SIX MONTHS AGO THE TIGER DEMAND FOR AN
INDEPENDENT TAMIL EELAM--COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND
NONNEGOTIABLE IN THE VIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT--SEEMED,
PERHAPS, THE MOST INTRACTABLE OBSTACLE TO PEACE. IN
THIS CONTEXT, THE LTTE CONCESSION TO PARTICIPATE IN A
FEDERAL SYSTEM, IF GENUINE, REPRESENTS A MAJOR STEP
FORWARD IN THE PEACE PROCESS. BALASINGHAM CLEARLY
UNDERSTANDS THE POTENT PROPAGANDA VALUE OF EMPHASIZING
THE "SHIFT" IN THE TIGER POSITION. THE TRUE EXTENT OF
THE SHIFT, HOWEVER, IS UNLIKELY TO BE APPARENT UNLESS
AND UNTIL SERIOUS POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN. END
COMMENT.


15. THE LTTE ALSO CITES ITS AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE CURRENT CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES AS A MAJOR
PEACE CONCESSION. HARDLINERS AMONG THE LTTE CADRE SEE
THE CESSATION AS DISADVANTAGEOUS--PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT
GIVES THE GOVERNMENT BREATHING SPACE TO RE-ARM,
RE-EQUIP AND RE-TRAIN. BALASINGHAM ALSO POINTED TO
THE LTTE RELEASE OF PRISONERS LAST SEPTEMBER AS A
FURTHER CONCESSION.

-------------- --------------
LTTE: GOVERNMENT FAILS TO TAKE PEACE TALKS SERIOUSLY
-------------- --------------


16. BALASINGHAM EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE PEACE
PROCESS, STATING THAT PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WERE NOT
GOING WELL. THE PRIMARY REASON, HE FELT, WAS THAT THE
GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BEEN TAKING THE TALKS SERIOUSLY
ENOUGH. SPECIFICALLY, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT
SERIOUSLY ADDRESSED ISSUES OF MAJOR CONCERN TO THE
LTTE--THE TOTAL LIFTING OF THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO, THE
OPENING OF A LAND ROUTE BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE
SOUTH, THE ABANDONMENT OF THE POONERYN ARMY CAMP, AND
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.


17. IN ADDITION, THE LTTE SAYS THAT THE GOVERNMENT
DELEGATES TO THE FIRST THREE ROUNDS OF PEACE TALKS
WERE INEXPERIENCED AND POORLY PREPARED AMATEURS. NO
POLITICAL DECISION-MAKERS OR SENIOR GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS, WHO MIGHT HAVE SUBSTANTIVE IMPACT ON THE
PEACE PROCESS, WERE INCLUDED. MOREOVER, BALASINGHAM
DESCRIBED THE FIRST THREE ROUNDS AS "BRIEF
DISCUSSIONS"--THE GOVERNMENT DELEGATES SPENDING NO
MORE THAN A FEW HOURS IN JAFFNA DURING EACH
ROUND--WITH NO PROPER AGENDA, LACK OF TIME TO CLEARLY
AND THOROUGHLY DISCUSS THE ISSUES, AND NO JOINT
STATEMENT. LTTE FRUSTRATION ON THIS POINT WAS
UNDERSCORED BY THE ROUSING RECEPTION RECENTLY GIVEN AN
INDEPENDENT VISIT TO JAFFNA BY MEMBERS OF THE SRI
LANKA PARLIAMENT (REF C). BALASINGHAM DESCRIBED THE
ON-GOING EXCHANGE OF LETTERS BETWEEN THE LTTE AND THE
GOVERNMENT, UPWARDS OF 50 TO DATE, AS UNPRODUCTIVE.
RATHER THAN OFFERING CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS, HE
CHARACTERIZED THE LETTERS AS TENDING TO POINT FINGERS
AND ASSIGN BLAME FOR THE HICCUPS IN THE PEACE
PROCESS. THE LTTE HAS FURTHER INTERPRETED THE LETTERS
IT RECEIVES FROM THE GOVERNMENT AS BEING DELIBERATELY
WRITTEN IN A MANNER WHICH WOULD ALLOW THEM TO LATER BE
RELEASED TO THE PRESS AS EVIDENCE OF TIGER
INTRANSIGENCE IN THE PEACE PROCESS. BALASINGHAM
POINTED OUT THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL
PROGRESS, THE LTTE AND THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE ABLE TO
EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS FACE-TO-FACE AND AT LENGTH.


18. THE LACK OF A PROPOSED FRAMEWORK FOR A POLITICAL
SETTLEMENT (ORIGINALLY PROMISED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR
EARLY FEBRUARY) APPEARED TO DEEPLY FRUSTRATE
BALASINGHAM. HE NOTED THAT IT SEEMED UNFAIR THAT THE
GOVERNMENT WOULD ACCUSE THE LTTE OF NOT BEING SERIOUS
ABOUT POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS IN THE ABSENCE OF THE
POLITICAL FRAMEWORK WHICH THE TIGERS HAVE REPEATEDLY
DEMANDED BE OFFERED AS THE BASIS FOR SUCH
NEGOTIATION. (NOTE: PRESIDENT KUMARATUNGA HAS SINCE
INVITED THE LTTE TO BEGIN POLITICAL TALKS IN EARLY
APRIL, PROMISING TO PROVIDE THEM FRAMEWORK PROPOSAL IN
ADVANCE AND SUGGESTING THAT GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATORS
WOULD BE PREPARED FOR AT LEAST A TWO DAY STAY. SO
FAR, THE TIGERS HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO THE OFFER.) .
END NOTE.)


19. THE LTTE QHAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT
RECOGNIZE IT AS AN EQUAL PARTNER IN THE PEACE PROCESS;
AND BRISTLED AT RECENT UNILATERAL ACTIONS TAKEN BQ THE
GOVERNMENT--THE OPENING OF THE ELEPHANT PASS ROAD,
RELOCATION OF THE POONERYN CAMP AND THE PROPOSED
FRENCH MEDIATOR IN THE PEACE PROCESS (REF A). THE
LTTE VIEW IS THAT SUCH DECISIONS SHOULD BE NEGOTIATED
BILATERALLY. THEY FEEL THAT "IMPERIALLY" DISPENSED
UNILATERAL DECISIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT WEAKEN THEIR
NEGOTIATING POSITION AND MAKE IT APPEAR IN JAFFNA AS
IF THEY ARE CAVING-IN TO THE GOVERNMENT. THEY
THEREFORE INTEND TO REJECT SUCH DECISIONS
OUT-OF-HAND. (COMMENT: WHILE BALASINGHAM STATED THAT
THE LTTE CURRENTLY SEES NO ROLE FOR A FOREIGN
MEDIATOR, BELIEVING THAT THE LTTE AND THE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ETHNIC PROBLEM
THEMSELVES, HE DID SAY THAT THE LTTE WOULD SEEK OUT
FOREIGN INTERVENTION SHOULD THE PEACE TALKS FAIL. HE
REFUSED TO BE DRAWN OUT ON WHAT WOULD CONSTITUTE THE
FAILURE OF THE PEACE TALKS, AND WHAT FORM THE FOREIGN
INTERVENTION MIGHT TAKE. END COMMENT.)

--------------
CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES
--------------


20. VIEWING THEMSELVES AS UNDER SIEGE, THE LTTE HAS
FOCUSED ON FOUR GOVERNMENT CONCESSIONS WHICH THEY SAY
ARE ESSENTIAL TO BUILDING UP THE CONFIDENCE OF THE
LTTE IN THE GOVERNMENT--THE TOTAL LIFTING OF THE
ECONOMIC EMBARGO, THE OPENING OF A LAND ROUTE BETWEEN
THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH, THE ABANDONMENT OF THE
POONERYN ARMY CAMP, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. DURING THE BRIEFING, BALASINGHAM
STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE MEASURES TIME AND
AGAIN.


21. IF PEACE IS TO BE ACHIEVED, AND REHABILITATION
AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE NORTH TO OCCUR, THE LTTE
MAINTAINS THAT THE PEOPLE NEED UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO
GOODS AND MATERIALS. ITEMS WHICH STILL REMAIN
UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY ARE EMBARGOED--SUCH AS FUEL,
SPARE PARTS, AND FERTILIZER--PARALYZE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. THE LTTE CLAIMS THAT THE EMBARGO DOES
NOT PREVENT THEM FROM PROCURING THE MATERIALS AND
SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAINTAIN ITS MILITARY CAPABILITY.
THE EMBARGO, IT SAYS, THEREFORE MERELY HAMSTRINGS THE
DEVELOPMENT OF ORDINARY PEOPLE.


22. IN THE SAME VEIN, THE LTTE ARGUES THAT THE
OPENING OF A LAND ROUTE BETWEEN JAFFNA AND THE SOUTH
IS ESSENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT HAS FOCUSED
ON THE POONERYN ROUTE AS THE ROUTE OF CHOICE, AND HAS
STATED THAT THE OPENING OF THIS ROUTE CAN ONLY BE
ACCOMPLISHED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ABANDONMENT OF
THE THREE-YEAR-OLD POONERYN ARMY CAMP (THE SCENE IN
NOVEMBER, 1993 OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLE IN THE
ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD INSURGENCY) WHICH WAS BUILT SO AS TO
STRATEGICALLY BLOCK THE POONERYN ROAD. CONTINUED LTTE
INSISTENCE THAT POONERYN BE ABANDONED, IN SPITE OF
GOVERNMENT MOVES TO RELOCATE THE CAMP 500 METERS FROM
THE ROAD, HAS LED TO GOVERNMENT CHARGES THAT THE LTTE
HAS BEEN DISSEMBLING--SEEKING A STRATEGIC MILITARY
GOAL UNDER THE GUISE OF CONFIDENCE-BUILDING.
NONETHELESS, BALASINGHAM TOLD THE DIPLOMATS THAT THE
LTTE VIEWS THE ABANDONMENT OF POONERYN AS AN ISSUE IN
AND OF ITSELF, QUITE SEPARATE FROM THE ISSUE OF THE
OPENING OF A LAND ROUTE. HE CLEARLY STATED THAT, FOR
THE LTTE, THE ABANDONMENT OF THE POONERYN CAMP HAS
BECOME A SYMBOL OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO THE
PEACE PROCESS AND OF ITS INTENT TO ABANDON ITS
MILITARY PLANS TO INVADE JAFFNA. HE CLAIMED THAT THE
LTTE RECOGNIZES THE LEGITIMATE SECURITY NEEDS OF THE
GOVERNMENT FORCES, NOTING THAT THE LTTE IS NOT
DEMANDING THE REMOVAL OF THE THIRTY-YEAR-OLD ARMY CAMP
AT ELEPHANT PASS. IN HIS VIEW, "EGOTISTS" IN THE ARMY
DO NOT WANT TO LET POONERYN GO, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT
THE ABANDONMENT OF THE CAMP WOULD BE "A BITTER PILL
FOR THE ARMY TO SWALLOW".


23. THE LTTE ALSO SAYS A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IS
ESSENTIAL FOR THE PERMANENT REHABILITATION AND
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE NORTH. BALASINGHAM STATED THAT
PROBLEMS IN CLARIFYING MODALITIES OF THE CESSATION OF
HOSTILITIES AGREEMENT HAD BEEN COMPLICATING A
PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT. (HE DID NOT CLARIFY
WHAT THESE PROBLEMS WERE.) WHEN ASKED WHY THESE
MODALITIES HAD NOT BEEN WORKED OUT PRIOR TO THE
SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT, HE SHEEPISHLY REVEALED THAT
THE LTTE AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD PROCEEDED QUICKLY WITH
THE SIGNING OF THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES AGREEMENT
BECAUSE PRESIDENT KUMARATUNGA WANTED TO SIGN THE
DOCUMENT ON THE BIRTHDAY OF HER FATHER--WHO WAS
ASSASSINATED WHILE PRIME MINISTER.


24. COMMENT: INTERESTINGLY, BALASINGHAM CONVEYED THE
IMPRESSION THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSED 39
BILLION RUPEE REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION
PROGRAM WAS NOT REGARDED BY THE LTTE AS A
PRE-CONDITION FOR PEACE TALKS--A VIEW CONTRARY TO
EARLIER TIGER PRONOUNCEMENTS ON THE SUBJECT.
BALASINGHAM PORTRAYED FREE TRADE (UNEMCUMBERED BY THE
PRESENCE OF SECURITY FORCES) AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF
PEACE AS ESSENTIAL FOR THE SUCCESSFUL FULFILLMENT OF A
REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.
NONETHELESS, ALTHOUGH PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE PEACE
PROCESS AT THE MOMENT, THE LTTE APPEARS VERY SERIOUS
ABOUT THE REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM,
AND PRESENTED THE DIPLOMATIC GROUP WITH A VOLUMINOUS
NEEDS ASSESSMENT (SEPTEL). END COMMENT.


--------------
COMMENT
--------------


25. BALASINGHAM, SPEAKING FOR THE LTTE, PRESENTED A
RATIONAL VIEW OF THE LTTE POSITION AND CONCERNS
ANCHORED IN HISTORICAL GRIEVANCES AND INTENSIFIED BY
BROKEN PROMISES AND POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP BY
SUCCESSIVE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENTS. THE LTTE'S STATED
AIM OF RESOLVING THE ETHNIC CONFLICT THROUGH A FORMULA
GRANTING SELF-DETERMINATION FOR THE TAMIL PEOPLE
WITHIN A UNITED SRI LANKA IS, ON ITS FACE, A
REASONABLE POSITION. TO SUSPICIOUS SINHALESE (AND
SKEPTICAL DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS),HOWEVER, THE APPARENT
TIGER REASONABLENESS COULD JUST AS READILY BE A CLEVER
PLOY TO MASK THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO TAMIL
EELAM AND TO STRENGTHEN THEIR STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC
POSITION VIS-A-VIS THE GOVERNMENT. THE GOVERNMENT,
REMEMBERING THE SUDDEN AND MURDEROUS PRE-EMPTIVE
STRIKE OF THE LTTE WHICH HERALDED THE START OF EELAM
WAR TWO IN 1990, FINDS IT AS HARD TO TRUST THE TIGERS
AS THE TIGERS SAY IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO TRUST
THE GOVERNMENT.


26. THE MEANS OF RESOLVING THE ENSUING DILEMMA WILL
LARGELY DEPEND ON THE ABILITY OF THE LTTE AND THE
GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION AND
TO KEEP ON TALKING. MEANWHILE, FOR US, AND FOR OTHER
OBSERVERS, OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS THIS TO INTERACT MORE
DIRECTLY WITH THE LTTE AND OBSERVE THE SITUATION IN
THE LTTE-CONTROLLED NORTH CAN ONLY HELP US TO ASSESS
BETTER THE APPROPRIATENESS OF AND OPTIONS FOR AN
INTERNATIONAL ROLE AS THE GOVERNMENT-LTTE DIALOGUE
DEVELOPS. END COMMENT.

--------------
BALASINGHAM BIO NOTES
--------------


27. BALASINGHAM CAME ACROSS AS VERY BRIGHT,
PERSUASIVE, ARTICULATE AND PROFESSIONAL. HE IS
COMPLETELY FLUENT IN ENGLISH. BALASINGHAM'S BRIEFING
WAS WELL-PREPARED AND PRESENTED IN A REASONABLE AND
RATIONAL TONE; HE AVOIDED BEING OVERLY CRITICAL OF THE
GOVERNMENT. HE SEEMED CLEAR ABOUT HIS OBJECTIVES; AND
GAVE THE IMPRESSION OF BEING SINCERELY TROUBLED AND
APPREHENSIVE AS HE DESCRIBED THE FALTERING PEACE
PROCESS. HE ALSO APPEARED TO BE A POWER TO RECKON
WITH IN THE LTTE HIERARCHY. DURING THE BRIEFING,
THERE WAS NOTICEABLE DEFERENCE TO HIM BY THE OTHER
LTTE LEADERS--AT ONE POINT WHEN A QUESTION ABOUT THE
LTTE'S PRIORITIES FOR RECONSTRUCTION CAUSED RAVI
(THROUGH HIS INTERPRETER) TO STUMBLE, AND SOME DEBATE
TO ENSUE, BALASINGHAM DEFTLY CUT IN, PROVIDING THE
ANSWER. HE ALSO CONFIDENTLY INITIATED THE PRIVATE
MEETING WITH POLOFF; AN ACT WHICH IMPLIED CONSIDERABLE
AUTHORITY.


28. IN THE MIDST OF THE WEIGHTY DISCUSSIONS, THERE
WERE SOME LIGHT TOUCHES. THE BALASINGHAMS BROUGHT
THEIR DOG--A MEDIUM SIZE MUTT--TO THE BRIEFING. THE
DOG ROMPED IN THE MIDST OF FORMAL HANDSHAKES AND STERN
LTTE CEREMONIAL GUARDS. MRS. BALASINGHAM (AND AGAIN
THE DOG) ACCOMPANIED BALASINGHAM TO HIS NIGHTTIME
MEETING WITH THE POLOFF AS WELL. (MRS. BALASINGHAM
OFFERED NO SUBSTANTIVE COMMENTS DURING EITHER
MEETING.) LTTE CADRE ARE FORBIDDEN TO SMOKE--WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF BALASINGHAM, A CHAIN SMOKER, WHO HAS A
SPECIAL EXEMPTION FROM PRABHAKARAN. IRONICALLY,
TOBACCO, SMUGGLED TO INDIA, IS AN IMPORTANT CASH CROP
ON THE PENINSULA.


SCHAFFER