From: <a href="http://www.aftenposten.no/spesial/wikileaksdokumenter/article3954286.ece">Aftenposten</a><br>
Date: 20.12.2002

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002337 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT
FOR SA, SA/INS, S/CT, EUR/NB; NSC FOR E. MILLARD E.O. 12958: 
DECL: 12-20-12 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, ECPS, CE, NO, External Relations, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT: Import of radio equipment for Tamil
Tigers sparks controversy for GSL and Norwegian facilitators
Ref: Colombo 1891
(U) Classified by Lewis Amselem, Deputy Chief of Mission. Reasons 1.5 (b, d).

1. (C)
SUMMARY: The recent import of radio equipment for the LTTE has
stirred controversy, with critics asserting that the
government and the Norwegian facilitators have gone too far in
pleasing the Tigers. In response, the GSL says it assisted in
the import of the equipment in exchange for the LTTE´s
agreement to work within broadcasting regulations. The
Norwegians underscore that they were working to further the
peace process at GSL request. The incident has left a bad
taste in everyone´s mouth. At the same time, it is important
not to miss the fact that this was an instance where the
Tigers paid heed to government regulations, something they
never did in the past.  END SUMMARY.

Import of Radio Equipment
-------------------------

2. (SBU)
The recent import of radio equipment into Sri Lanka for the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has stirred
controversy. The equipment in question was brought into
Colombo harbor last month in a shipping container. Because the
consignment was for the Norwegian Embassy, no duty was
paid. The Norwegian Embassy has confirmed that it turned the
consignment over to the GSL´s Peace Secretariat, which then
passed the items over to the LTTE with the assistance of the
Defense Ministry. At some point in this process, the LTTE´s
radio station, the "Voice of the Tigers," was legalized by the
GSL as a private entity and given permission to broadcast.

3. (SBU)
(((Note: It is not exactly clear what sort of radio equipment
the LTTE was importing, but it is believed to have consisted
of items that would allow the Voice of the Tigers radio to
upgrade its FM capability. At this time, the Voice of the
Tigers has very limited FM and short-wave capabilities,
allowing the station to be dimly heard in parts of the north
and east -- See Reftel for additional background. Some press
reports state that the FM-upgrade equipment cost about USD
90,000 and that the equipment was bought in Singapore. It is
not clear what range the new equipment will allow the Voice of
the Tigers to have. The Indian government reportedly has
expressed concerns to the GSL that the equipment will allow
LTTE broadcasts to reach Tamil Nadu. End Note.)))

Controversy Erupts 
------------------

4. (SBU)
When word of the equipment import leaked out, critics pounced
on the GSL and the Norwegians accusing them of going too far
to please the Tigers. The radical, Sinhalese chauvinist
Janantha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party was particularly
vociferous, asserting that the government was helping sponsor
the LTTE´s "propaganda" campaign. (Note: Many Sri Lankans are
allergic to the mere mention of the Voice of the Tigers: the
station has broadcast some pretty bloodcurdling stuff in the
past, including salutes to the LTTE´s terrorist acts.) Some
newspapers criticized the government for undertaking the
import effort in "secret." Norway was particularly hard hit,
with critics asserting (in wildly inaccurate fashion -- see
below) that the GoN -- acting of its volition -- was importing
equipment for the LTTE in an effort to save the group from
paying duties to the legitimate government.

GSL, Norwegian Response
-----------------------

5. (C)
In response to the flak, the government stressed that it was
allowing the import of the equipment because the LTTE had
agreed to accede to GSL broadcasting regulations. Ambassador
Bernard Goonetilleke, the chief of the Peace Secretariat, told
us that this was an important concession by the LTTE because
for the first time the group had conceded that its radio
station should follow GSL-set procedures like all other
stations in the country. In any case, Goonetilleke noted, the
Tigers could have tried to import the equipment illegally, as
they have done in the past. If they had done so successfully,
the government would not have had any leverage over their
broadcasting capabilities, which it now has to some degree.

6. (C)
For their part, the Norwegians, who have largely kept mum in
public, have told us that they were only working to further
the peace process at GSL request. Norwegian Ambassador
Westborg told us that the Sri Lankan government had
specifically requested his Embassy´s assistance several months
ago. The GoN only agreed to help if the equipment was provided
to the Peace Secretariat -- and not directly to the
LTTE. Press reporting to the effect that the Norwegian
government was out to assist the LTTE by undermining GSL
authority was an outright falsehood, he emphasized.

COMMENT
-------
7. (C)
The incident has left a bad taste in everyone´s mouth. The
Norwegians, who have come under so much criticism from
anti-peace process elements, feel particularly aggrieved at
the charges.  The GSL admits that it did a poor job of
communicating what it was doing. This failure, in turn, helped
set up the Norwegians for criticism. Overall, while the
incident did not really do too much damage to the peace
process, its handling provided skeptics of the process some
ammunition. At the same time, it is important not to miss the
fact that this was an instance where the Tigers paid heed to
government regulations, something the group never did before
the peace process was launched. END COMMENT.

8. (U) Minimize considered.

WILLS
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