By Colombo Telegraph –

“Tentative reports are emerging of divisions in the LTTE regarding the direction of the peace process. Milinda Moragoda, a key Sri Lankan government official involved in peace process issues, told us that the GSL had intercepted LTTE communications indicating that there was some dissonance toward LTTE spokesman Anton Balasingham’s management of the peace process.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

The feeling among some in the LTTE was that Balasingham was taking too soft a line towards the GSL

The Colombo Telegraph found the relevant leaked cable from the WikiLeak database. The cable is classified as “SECRET” by the Deputy Chief of Mission W. Lewis Amselem and written by the US Ambassador Ashley Wills on October 1, 2002.

Ambassador Wills wrote “While it was not clear, Moragoda continued, the feeling among some in the LTTE was that Balasingham was taking too soft a line towards the GSL.” “Meanwhile, other contacts report that regional tensions in the LTTE remain a factor, with leaders in the east (Karuna, Karikalan) more hard-line than most of the leadership in the north. That said, there are reports of hard-liners in the north, too: Ponnambalam told polchief that Colonel Banu, a high-level military official based at LTTE headquarters in Kilinochchi, was known to be quite apprehensive about the peace process and what he saw as its negative effect on the LTTE’s military preparedness.” the ambassador further wrote.

Placing a comment Ambassador Wills wrote “Little is known about the nature of the LTTE decision-making process, except that Prabhakaran seems firmly in charge. Thus, the real issue is who has influence on Prabhakaran. What we are hearing is bit fuzzy, but it potentially may indicate that a hard-line, irreconcilable element may be trying to marginalize Balasingham in order to slow down the peace process.”

Below we give a part of the secret cable;

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001828

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, S/CT

NSC FOR E. MILLARD

LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958:  DECL:  10-01-12
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINS PINR PREL CE LTTE
SUBJECT:  LTTE Update:  Tigers reportedly have success
in recruiting; Divisions in the LTTE re peace process?

Refs:  (A) Colombo 1815

-      (B) Colombo 1299, and previous

(U) Classified by W. Lewis Amselem, Deputy Chief of
Mission.  Reasons 1.5 (b, d).
---------------------------
Divisions re Peace Process?
---------------------------

¶5.  (S/NF) Tentative reports are emerging of divisions
in the LTTE regarding the direction of the peace
process.  Milinda Moragoda, a key Sri Lankan government
official involved in peace process issues (Amcit--pls
protect), told us that the GSL had intercepted LTTE
communications indicating that there was some dissonance
toward LTTE spokesman Anton Balasingham's management of
the peace process.  While it was not clear, Moragoda
continued, the feeling among some in the LTTE (NFI) was
that Balasingham was taking too soft a line toward the
GSL.

¶6.  (S/NF) Meanwhile, other contacts report that
regional tensions in the LTTE remain a factor, with
leaders in the east (Karuna, Karikalan) more hard-line
than most of the leadership in the north.  That said,
there are reports of hard-liners in the north, too:
Ponnambalam told polchief that Colonel Banu, a high-
level military official based at LTTE headquarters in
Kilinochchi, was known to be quite apprehensive about
the peace process and what he saw as its negative effect
on the LTTE's military preparedness.

¶7.  (S/NF) Comment:  Little is known about the nature of
the LTTE decision-making process, except that
Prabhakaran seems firmly in charge.  Thus, the real
issue is who has influence on Prabhakaran.  What we are
hearing is a bit fuzzy, but it potentially may indicate
that a hard-line, irreconcilable element may be trying
to marginalize Balasingham in order to slow down the
peace process.  End Comment.
WILLS