By Colombo Telegraph –

“Note: The U.S. team repeatedly asked interlocutors about continuing reports of Muslim extremism in the east. Most observers had little clear- cut information about the matter and Muslim interlocutors denied it was a factor. Nonetheless, the team did notice many new mosques under construction and various “Islamic foundation” offices operating in Muslim towns. It is hard to see how eastern Muslims could afford to pay for the construction of all the new mosques, so it would seem possible that Middle Eastern money is coming in, as some claim.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

Ashley Wills

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable discusses the situation in the Eastern province under the ceasefire agreement. The “Confidential” cable written on November 14, 2002 and signed by the US Ambassador to Colombo E. Ashley Wills.

“When queried, Sri Lankan security forces replied that they had not seen any Arabs or Pakistanis visiting the region. GSL officials added that they just were not sure what was going on in Muslim areas, however. They had heard of small extremist groups with names like “Jihad” and “Osama” operating in the east, but did not think they were much of a threat to the peace. Pro-LTTE Tamils that the team met with repeatedly claimed that Muslims were radicalized, and armed and dangerous. One pro-LTTE figure, V. Kamaladas, the head of a local NGO Forum for the east, basically indicated that the U.S. and the LTTE should join together to defeat the Muslims!” the ambassador further wrote.

We give below the relevant part of the cable;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 002133 

SIPDIS 

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, S/CT; NSC FOR H. THOMAS;
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 

E.O. 12958:  DECL:  11-14-12
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM MOPS ECON SOCI CE LTTE
SUBJECT:  Tigers gradually expand network of control in
the east, as security forces watch and Muslims fret 

Refs:  (A) Colombo 2101 

-      (B) Colombo 1180, and previous 

(U) Classified by Ambassador E. Ashley Wills.  Reasons
1.5 (b, d). 

¶1.  (C) SUMMARY:  A Mission team visited Sri Lanka's
Eastern Province on November 12.  On the surface, the
situation in Batticaloa and Ampara Districts seemed
calm, with the ceasefire sparking increased business
activity and civilian bustle.  Amid this positive news,
there were clear and troubling indications that the
Tamil Tigers are gradually strengthening their political
and military position.  GSL security forces seemed
marginalized, with human rights observers expressing
deep concern about LTTE activities.  Muslims were
increasingly worked up about the apparent surge in LTTE
influence.  Given the disturbing trends acting under the
surface calm, continued communal friction and violence
appear a near certainty.  END SUMMARY.

=================
Deep Muslim Anger
================= 

¶9.  (C) Muslims are increasingly worked up about the
apparent surge in LTTE influence.  In a meeting with a
group of Muslims at Southeastern University, the team
was told that Muslims felt that the LTTE was slowly but
surely working to take over the Eastern Province.
M.L.A. Cader, the vice-chancellor of the university, was
adamant that eastern Muslims had to take steps to ensure
that the government in Colombo heard their concerns.
Muslims felt they were being "abandoned" and "sold out"
by a government eager to make peace at any price with
the LTTE.  Cader bitterly criticized Rauf Hakeem, the
head of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), asserting
that Hakeem did not care about eastern Muslims and was
only interested in maintaining his ministerial position
in the government.  On the human rights side, Cader
admitted that "LTTE pressure" on Muslims was a bit less
of late.  Cader thought that this was clearly a tactic
on the LTTE's part meant to quiet critics, while the
group continued its efforts to isolate Muslims and
marginalize the security forces.  In response to Cader's
concerns, the U.S. team underscored strong support for
the peace process, stressing that the U.S. urged all
sides to work together and exercise restraint. 

¶10.  (C) (((Note:  The U.S. team repeatedly asked
interlocutors about continuing reports of Muslim
extremism in the east.  Most observers had little clear-
cut information about the matter and Muslim
interlocutors denied it was a factor.  Nonetheless, the
team did notice many new mosques under construction and
various "Islamic foundation" offices operating in Muslim
towns.  It is hard to see how eastern Muslims could
afford to pay for the construction of all the new
mosques, so it would seem possible that Middle Eastern
money is coming in, as some claim.  When queried, Sri
Lankan security forces replied that they had not seen
any Arabs or Pakistanis visiting the region.  GSL
officials added that they just were not sure what was
going on in Muslim areas, however.  They had heard of
small extremist groups with names like "Jihad" and
"Osama" operating in the east, but did not think they
were much of a threat to the peace.  Pro-LTTE Tamils
that the team met with repeatedly claimed that Muslims
were radicalized, and armed and dangerous.  One pro-LTTE
figure, V. Kamaladas, the head of a local NGO Forum for
the east, basically indicated that the U.S. and the LTTE
should join together to defeat the Muslims!  End
Note.)))

WILLS

Related posts to this cable;

WikiLeaks: Hakeem Only Interested In Maintaining His Ministerial Position

Other related posts;

WikiLeaks: No Concrete Signs “Jihadis” Are Gaining Ground In Sri Lanka – G8 Ambassadors In SL

WikiLeaks: There Is Little To Suggest Sri Lanka’s Muslim Population Harbors Extremists – US

WikiLeaks: Muslim Militancy In Sri Lanka – Four Groups Based In Colombo – Former US Intelligence Officer

WikiLeaks: Political Islam In Sri Lanka And The Maldives

WikiLeaks: A Growing Wahhabi Presence In Eastern Province – Muslim Leaders