
By Colombo Telegraph –

Sampanthan was realistic about the dim prospects for any Sri Lankan government to take up the issue.
“While he believed the Tamil community was “vulnerable” on the issue and said he would not discuss “war crimes” per se in parliament for fear of retaliation, Sampanthan would emphasize the importance of people knowing the truth about what happened during the war” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable is classified as “SECRET” and recounts details of a meeting the US Ambassador has had with Tamil National Alliance leader R. Sampanthan . The cable was written on January 15, 2010 by the US Ambassador to Colombo, Patricia A. Butenis.
Ambassador Butenis wrote “he said he believed accountability was important and he welcomed the international community’s — especially the diaspora’s — interest in the issue. But Sampanthan was realistic about the dim prospects for any Sri Lankan government to take up the issue. Granting that governments in power do not investigate their own, Sampanthan nevertheless said it was important to the health of the nation to get the truth out. While he believed the Tamil community was “vulnerable” on the issue and said he would not discuss “war crimes” per se in parliament for fear of retaliation, Sampanthan would emphasize the importance of people knowing the truth about what happened during the war. We also have asked Sampanthan repeatedly for his ideas on an accountability mechanism that would be credible to Tamils and possible within the current political context, but he has not been able to provide such a model.”
Below we give the relevant part of the cable;
VZCZCXRO9281 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSL DE RUEHLM # 0032/01 0151223 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 151223Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1120 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2264 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 9286 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 7541 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 5373 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3699 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 5298 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0159 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 0824 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 4420 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 9847 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 7136 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0154 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0001 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY Friday, 15 January 2010, 12:23 S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000032 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB EO 12958 DECL: 01/15/2020 TAGS PGOV, PREL, PREF, PHUM, PTER, EAID, MOPS, CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA WAR-CRIMES ACCOUNTABILITY: THE TAMIL PERSPECTIVE REF: A. 09 COLOMBO 1180 B. COLOMBO 8 COLOMBO 00000032 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: AMBASSADOR PATRICIA A. BUTENIS. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)
¶6. (S) Other Tamil politicians have not made public statements on accountability and are generally more pragmatic in their thinking. In our multiple recent discussions with TNA leader R. Sampanthan, he said he believed accountability was important and he welcomed the international community’s — especially the diaspora’s — interest in the issue. But Sampanthan was realistic about the dim prospects for any Sri Lankan government to take up the issue. Granting that governments in power do not investigate their own, Sampanthan nevertheless said it was important to the health of the nation to get the truth out. While he believed the Tamil community was “vulnerable” on the issue and said he would not discuss “war crimes” per se in parliament for fear of retaliation, Sampanthan would emphasize the importance of people knowing the truth about what happened during the war. We also have asked Sampanthan repeatedly for his ideas on an accountability mechanism that would be credible to Tamils and possible within the current political context, but he has not been able to provide such a model.
BUTENIS
Gerard Thurai / January 24, 2012
Sampanthan’s sense of Tamil vulnerability stems from, both, the SL Government as well as those elements of the Tamil diaspora that harbour sympathy for the LTTE’s violent solution. The last thing that such dinosaurs want is viable, credible and vocal opposition from within Tamil ranks. The LTTE in exile will continue to threaten and intimidate those who dare to speak out against them, just as they have always done.
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shan / January 24, 2012
BASICALLY SAMPANTHAN IS A PUPPET OF THE DIASPORA TERROR NETWORK. HE’S BEEN FULLY CONTROLLED BY THE OVERSEAS NETWORK. BUT INSTEAD HE SHOULD LEARN TO THINK ON HIS OWN & TRY TO HELP THE COMMUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD.
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Karunarathna miilawa / January 24, 2012
If Sampanthan is scared to raise the issue, it clearly shows the threats ordinary citizens face.
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DG US / January 24, 2012
That is because teh Rajapakse regime MURDERED 5 Tamil MP’s between 2005 and 2009. That is NOT all what they and whom they MURDERED…
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mallika hettiarachchi / January 24, 2012
everyone is feared except Rajapaksas and their boot lickers
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prasanna / January 24, 2012
Just Desserts For Pragakaran cheer leader sampanthan …… Peelamist should be scared!
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veer / January 24, 2012
Because TNA committed war crimes by supporting LTTE.
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a lawyer / January 24, 2012
sampandan was more fearfull with LTTE. has ever condemned the killing of innocent sinhalese during war time. he did not worried about the killing of tamils by the LTTE either.
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Junta / January 24, 2012
This usually happens if you bank all your hopes on sucide terrorism. Kicking them out of the country gradualy would be the only solution.
As for Tamil problem…What excactly is their problem?
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AJITH / January 24, 2012
All are fearing about RAJAPAKSAS including Indian government
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shan / January 25, 2012
SAMPANTHAN MAKES OVERSEAS TRIPS TO MEET & GET IDEAS FROM THE DIASPORA TERROR NETWORK ABOUT HIS NEXT MOVEMENT.. ONE OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS …..OF COURSE SAMPANTHAN NEEDS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM DIASPORA & LEGAL IDEAS TO FIGHT FORWARD HIS BELEIVES…….
SAMPANTHAN’S CAMPAIGN WILL ONLY PUT THE POOR TAMIL COMMUNITY INTO MOER & MORE STRUGGLE RATHER THAN SOLVING PROBLEMS…..
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