COLOMBO 001948
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS
NSC FOR DORMANDY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2014
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, CE, NO, LTTE - Peace Process
SUBJECT: "LOW KEY" NORWEGIAN VISIT TO WANNI; THREE
CO-CHAIRS TO DISCUSS JVP ANTI-NORWAY CAMPAIGN WITH PRESIDENT
REF: COLOMBO 1919
Classified By: James F. Entwistle, Deputy Chief of Mission. 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) Summary: Norwegian Ambassador,s December 2 meeting
with Thamilchelvan produced no breakthroughs but kept lines
of communication open. Thamilchelvan told him Prabhakaran,s
recent policy speech had not been intended as a threat or
ultimatum; he also reiterated LTTE commitment to maintaining
the cease-fire. Norwegian envoy Solheim will visit
Kilinochchi December 15. Co-chair representatives agreed
that Japan, the EU and the U.S. would call on President
Kumaratunga to express concern over the JVP-orchestrated
anti-Norway campaign. End Summary.
2. (C) The Sri Lanka co-chairs met December 3 to discuss the
previous day,s Norwegian meeting with the Liberation Tigers
of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Kilinochchi and to coordinate
co-chair action in the face of a Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
(JVP)-orchestrated against Norwegian efforts here. DCM
represented the U.S.
"Low Key" Visit to Wanni
------------------------
3. (C) Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar briefed on his
December 2 one-day trip to LTTE headquarters in Kilinochchi
which had been at his initiative. Brattskar had wanted one
last meeting with LTTE political chief Thamilchelvan before
Brattskar goes home for the holidays and for an Sri Lanka
Monitoring Mission (SLMM) conference in Copenhagen (he
departs December 11 and is scheduled to return to Colombo
January 10). Brattskar said he had intentionally kept the
visit "low key" by only informing the Government of Sri Lanka
(GSL) at the last minute to avoid leaks to the press. He had
also asked the LTTE not to discuss the visit with the press
although his presence in Kilinochchi inevitably "leaked out."
Asked by journalists if he was carrying a message from the
GSL, Brattskar had stated that he was not. Brattskar noted
that he had given GSL Peace Secretariat chief Jayantha
Dhanapala a readout on his trip earlier in the day.
Speech Analysis with Thamilchelvan
----------------------------------
4. (C) Brattskar said he had gone through LTTE chief
Prabhakaran,s Heroes, Day speech with Thamilchelvan "line
by line." During that discussion, Thamilchelvan reiterated
the LTTE,s commitment to maintaining the cease-fire
agreement (CFA) and told Brattskar the speech had not been
intended as a threat or as an ultimatum. Asked why the
speech had not included the usual LTTE references to
"internal or external self-determination," Thamilchelvan said
his boss had wanted to focus the speech instead on the
humanitarian needs of the Tamil people and how those needs
could be assuaged by implementation of the LTTE,s Interim
Self-Governing Authority (ISGA) proposal. Thamilchelvan used
the same line when Brattskar asked why the speech had
included no reference to the situation in the East or to
breakaway faction chief Karuna. Brattskar opined to the
other co-chair reps that Prabhakaran had not wanted to
dignify Karuna with a reference in the speech and was
reluctant to draw attention to the East where LTTE efforts to
regain control are mixed.
5. (C) Brattskar asked Thamilchelvan to explain the internal
inconsistency in the speech between the stated readiness to
resume negotiations and the stated lack of faith in the
GSL,s intentions and abilities to pursue a peace process.
Thamilchelvan responded by "launching into a history lesson"
on Sinhalese perfidy, concluding that in spite of it all the
LTTE was willing to move ahead and negotiate the ISGA. Asked
to clarify the speech reference to "advancing the freedom
struggle," Thamilchelvan "had no specific answer." Brattskar
told Thamilchelvan that it was important that Prabhakaran had
indicated in the speech a willingness to negotiate ISGA
details rather than taking a "take it or leave it" approach.
6. (C) Moving beyond the speech, Brattskar told
Thamilchelvan ("as I always do") that the LTTE needed to make
periodic public reaffirmations of its "commitment to Oslo and
to democratic principles." Thamilchelvan said he had made
these commitments during his recent travels in Europe.
Brattskar said that was fine but public reiterations are
necessary. Thamilchelvan "just smiled." Brattskar noted
that he had so far only had a very brief telephonic readout
from Eric Solheim on his meeting with Balasingham in London.
"It appears to have been along the same lines of my talk with
Thamilchelvan."
Norwegian Travels
-----------------
7. (C) Brattskar said Solheim will now arrive in Colombo
late on December 13 and will travel to Kilinochchi on
December 15. In the face of the current peace process
stasis, Brattskar said the Norwegians intend to send someone
out "every 4-6 weeks or so" just to keep lines of
communications open. Solheim is not expecting any
significant developments during his visit just as Brattskar
had not expected any in his December 2 trip to Kilinochchi.
Co-Chair Support of Norway
--------------------------
8. (C) Turning to the matter of the JVP-orchestrated
campaign against Norwegian facilitation efforts (reftel),
co-chair reps agreed on a meeting with President Kumaratunga
to express support for Norway and to seek an explanation of
how government coalition members could be allowed to behave
in such fashion. Brattskar said Helgesen strongly supported
the idea but felt it best that Norway not participate, "since
you,ll be talking about us." Thus, it was agreed that
Japan, the EU and the U.S. should call on the President.
Japanese Ambassador Suda will request an appointment. All
agreed it would be important to put out a brief press
statement immediately thereafter. DCM agreed to craft a
first draft for circulation.
9. (C) Brattskar laughingly noted that that morning he had
presented the Minister of Culture, a JVP member, with a GON
check to support the purchasing of books for cultural centers
across the country. "I gave a speech saying Norway supports
the masses." Brattskar noted the minister seemed to have no
qualms about taking Norwegian money. (The ceremony was
prominently featured on the front page of the December 4
English language Mirror newspaper.)
Comment
-------
10. (C) Despite the vituperative JVP-led campaign against
them and the current stalemate in the peace process, the
Norwegians intend to continue their methodical circuit ride
between the two sides. President Kumaratunga is reported to
be privately "furious" about the JVP anti-Norway campaign.
Her reaction to the presentation by "three legs" of the
co-chairs should indicate whether she plans to do anything
about it. End Comment.
LUNSTEAD
12/6/2004 5:29
04. 26.11.2002: Oslo meeting reaps lavish, upbeat press coverage
"C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 002195 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, SA/PD FOR IRWIN; AND S/CT NSC FOR E. MILLARD E.O. 12958:
DECL: 11-26-12
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, EAID, KPAO, CE, NO, LTTE - Peace Process, Political Parties
SUBJECT: OSLO MEETING REAPS LAVISH, UPBEAT PRESS COVERAGE; DEPUTY SECRETARY´S REMARKS EARN PRAISE
Refs: Colombo 2184, and previous (U) Classified by Lewis Amselem, Charge d´Affaires. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Oslo meeting on the Sri Lankan peace process has received lavish, upbeat press coverage. Deputy Secretary Armitage´s remarks -- which were specifically highlighted in the press coverage -- earned special praise. President Kumaratunga has not yet issued a public statement on the meeting, but members of her party are planning a rally in Colombo today protesting the GSL´s peace initiative. Our preliminary assessment is that the Oslo meeting provided the peace process a solid boost. END SUMMARY. ------------------------------------ OSLO GARNERS LAVISH, UPBEAT COVERAGE ------------------------------------
2. (SBU) The November 25 Oslo ""Sri Lanka Peace Process Support Meeting"" received lavish and upbeat press coverage back home. In November 26 newspaper editions, coverage was front-page and above-the-fold, with large photo spreads. With most of the focus on Deputy Secretary Armitage´s remarks (see more in Para 6), representative headlines from the major papers included: -- ""Daily News"" (English): ""U.S. urges LTTE to Renounce Terrorism"" -- ""Daily Mirror"" (English): ""United States urges Tigers to Give Up Terror"" -- ""The Island"" (English): ""PM Calls on Global Community to Help Lanka Now"" -- ""Dinamina"" (Sinhala): ""America Says LTTE should Publicly Declare that they have Given Up Armed Confrontation"" -- ""Lankadeepa"" (Sinhala): ""Armitage -- LTTE should Give Up Idea of Separate State and Armed Struggle""
3. (SBU) Most editorials portrayed the Oslo meeting as a key boost for the peace process. The editorial in ""The Island,"" a paper that invariably takes a strongly anti-peace process tack, did not mention the Oslo meeting, however. (Note: ""The Island"" preferred to lambaste putative plans by the government to allow a re- broadcast on a government radio channel of LTTE leader´s V. Prabhakaran´s annual ""Heroes´ Day"" address on November 27 -- see Reftel.)
4. (U) Television and radio also provided significant coverage of the meeting. Opening remarks by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) special negotiator Anton Balasingham, and Deputy Secretary Armitage were given special attention.
5. (SBU) ""TamilNet,"" the pro-LTTE website, provided several stories on the Oslo meeting. Most of its reporting, predictably, focused on Balasingham´s remarks. Reflecting a newfound commitment to balanced reporting, however, TamilNet also provided a thorough review of Deputy Secretary Armitage´s remarks, including his call for the LTTE to renounce, terrorism, violence, and separatism. ------------------------------- SPECIAL PRAISE FOR U.S. REMARKS -------------------------------
6. (C) In discussions with a wide variety of contacts, Deputy
Secretary Armitage´s remarks drew special praise. Most of the comments focused on that section of the remarks that referred to the LTTE. Reaction included: -- Kethesh Loganathan, an analyst at the Center of Policy Alternatives, a local think-tank, told us that the U.S. presence at the meeting was constructive in underscoring international support for the peace process. In addition, the Deputy Secretary´s remarks had set ""clear-cut boundaries"" (renounce terrorism and violence, etc.) that the LTTE needed to absorb fully if the group wanted increased international acceptance. -- Taranjit Sandhu, the polcouns at the Indian High Commission, also praised the Deputy Secretary´s remarks. He stressed that the comments re the LTTE should prove beneficial in convincing the group that it needed to do more to convince the international community that it had transformed itself. Sandhu went on to express some concern that the LTTE might get the wrong message from the meeting and believe that the fact that it was allowed to be present at all signified international acceptance. -- Harim Peiris, a spokesman for President Kumaratunga, told us that he thought that the Deputy Secretary´s remarks were positive and should prove ""bracing"" for the LTTE. It was important that the group not believe that it had already earned international acceptance. -- Joseph Pararajahsingham, a senior Tamil National Alliance MP, welcomed U.S. participation at the Oslo meeting. While not commenting directly on the Deputy Secretary´s remarks re the LTTE, Pararajahsingham was SIPDIS not critical of those remarks either. He said he thought Oslo was a great success for the peace process. (Note: Pararajahsingham is extremely pro-LTTE. He said he had just gotten back to Colombo from a LTTE ""Heroes´s Day"" celebration in his hometown of Batticaloa.) (Note: TamilNet cited Balasingham as welcoming U.S. participation in the Oslo meeting by stating: ""The American participation in this meeting is an extraordinarily important matter for us because it reinforces the point that the LTTE is a crucial partner in resolving the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka."") ---------------------- OPPOSITION PLANS RALLY ----------------------
7. (C) President Kumaratunga, who has long been at odds with Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, has not yet come out with a public statement in reaction to the Oslo meeting. Her assistant, Harim Peiris, said he would hold a press conference tomorrow to review the president´s stance. Peiris seemed to indicate that the president would not be taking a negative position, but that her reaction would be positive-themed.
8. (C) In the meantime, members of Kumaratunga´s People´s Alliance (PA) party are planning a rally in Colombo today (November 26) protesting the GSL´s handling of the peace process. Several senior PA MPs reportedly plan to participate in the rally, including Anura Bandaranaike (the president´s brother), Mangala Samaraweera, and Dinesh Gunarwardena. MPs from the radical Janantha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) will also participate. (Note: Judging from previous anti-peace process rallies, most of the crowd will consist of JVP supporters.) Queried about the rally, Peiris separated the president´s office from it, asserting that the rally did not involve President Kumaratunga. -------
COMMENT -------
9. (C) It is still early, but our preliminary assessment is that the Oslo meeting provided the peace process a solid boost. Per expectations (see Reftels), most of the focus at the meeting reportedly was on the message that the international community supports the peace process -- and not on pledging by donors. That political message was well received and was amplified significantly by U.S. participation. In addition, based on the press coverage, our message re the LTTE was also broadcast loud-and-clear. Whether the LTTE picked up on our message -- aside from Balasingham´s publicized comments to the effect that the LTTE could not totally forswear violence at this time -- will be tested in the first instance on November 27 by the substance of Prabhakaran´s annual address (see Reftel). END COMMENT.
10. (U) Minimize considered. AMSELEM"
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