By Colombo Telegraph
“While few Sri Lankans think of the JVP when they think about political reconciliation, we believe they are sincere in wanting to move the country forward to a new era of national peace and inter-ethnic cooperation.” the US Embassy Colombo reported to Washington.
The US Ambassador Patricaia Butenis met the JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe and JVP MP Sunil Handunneththi on January 15, 2010. In the meeting they discussed the JVP’s version of a United, multiethnic, multi–lingual Sri Lanka, JVP’s support for Sarath Fonseka’s presidential candidacy, JVP’s support for a truth commission instead of a war crimes trial and JVP’s view of the involvement of the international community in Sri Lankan internal affairs.
The cable classified as a “CONFIDENTIAL” by the Ambassador Butenis. According to the cable she has reported to Washington “This presidential election has had many surprising developments, not the least of which is the alliance between the old arch-enemies of the right-liberal UNP and the neo-Marxist JVP.” “This represents, in part, opportunism on the part of both parties. But it also reflects the highly polarizing character of Rajapaksas. The JVP supported Rajapaksa in 2005 but h alienated them by appointing cross-over (mostly UNP) MPs to ministerial positions coveted by the JVP, and the latter has been looking to settle the score ever since. At the same time, the JVP position appears to be more than opportunism and paybacks.” Butenis further wrote.
The Colombo Telegraph earlier published part of the cable with the following related news reports.
WikiLeaks :JVP is a reformed Marxist party- Somawansa said to US Ambassador
WikiLeaks: Rajapaksa has an inferiority complex
WikiLeaks: There is no “International Conspiracy” against Sri Lanka
We now publish the full cable related to the JVP-US discussion. Read the below cable for further details;
VZCZCXRO6699 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHLM #0053/01 0251022 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 251022Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1157 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2293 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 9315 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 7570 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 5395 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3730 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 5320 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0181 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 0842 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 4442 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 9878 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 7165 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0176 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0023 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000053 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2020 TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE SUBJECT: LEFTIST JVP EXPLAINS SUPPORT FOR FONSEKA COLOMBO 00000053 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: AMBASSADOR PATRICIA A. BUTENIS. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a January 15 meeting with Ambassador, neo-Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party chief Somawansa Amarasinghe and JVP MP Sunil Hanunnetti discussed the JVP's vision of a united, multiethnic, multi-lingual Sri Lanka; their support for Sarath Fonseka's presidential bid; their support for a truth commission, instead of a war crimes trial; and their view of the involvement of the international community in Sri Lankan internal affairs. END SUMMARY. JVP REVAMPING IMAGE ------------------- ¶2. (C) Amarasinghe described the JVP as a reformed Marxist Party, which stood for a united, multiethnic, multi-lingual Sri Lanka, with equality for all. He emphasized that they were not a nationalist party and believed strongly in multiparty democracy. The JVP was even in favor of a Tamil prime minister. The JVP also believed in devolving power as far as possible, including allowing villages to decide on the allocation of funds. On election violence, Amarasinghe claimed that although JVP members were forceful at demonstrations, they were very disciplined and avoided violence. He asserted that the JVP had never engaged in political violence during peacetime. (NOTE: The latter claim might only hold true if one accepted the JVP line that the 1971 and 1987-89 JVP insurrections, in which thousands lost their lives, could be considered "wartime." END NOTE.) SUPPORT FOR FONSEKA ------------------- ¶3. (C) Regarding JVP support for Sarath Fonseka's presidential campaign, Amarasinghe cited several reasons: 1) He was the only person who could defeat President Rajapaksa; 2) the JVP had never supported the current government (NOTE: This strains credulity. The JVP supported Rajapaksa in 2005 then grew increasingly alienated as Rajapaksa favored his own party supporters over the JVP in government appointments. END NOTE.); 3) Fonseka was willing to eliminate the executive powers of the president; 4) his focus was on education and health issues, not the military; 5) he was well-respected by the people; 6) he was very direct; and, 7) he had a broad vision for the future of Sri Lanka. Amarasinghe went on to add that Fonseka was marginalized after the military defeat of the LTTE because he was in favor of reconciling with former LTTE members. This convinced the JVP that Fonseka truly was committed to uniting the nation. THE JVP AND RAJAPAKSA --------------------- ¶4. (C) Amarasinghe was very critical of President Rajapaksa, saying he had a very narrow vision and an inferiority complex, which stemmed from the fact that he was not from one of the traditional power families. As a result, he suspected everyone, especially "learned people." WAR CRIMES ---------- ¶5. (C) On the JVP's position on the war-crimes issue, Amarasinghe said there were human-rights violations in every war. In the last year of the Sri Lankan war, however, there were, in fact, far fewer human-rights violations then ever before. In terms of moving forward, he favored the idea of a "truth and reconciliation commission," not a war-crimes trial. He added that the JVP had issued a statement in favor of this approach, which was provided to the Ambassador. INTERNATIONAL "INTERFERENCE" COLOMBO 00000053 002.2 OF 002 ---------------------------- ¶6. (C) Amarasinghe expressed opposition to any outside "interference" seeking to impose solutions on Sri Lanka, such as the UK government's drafting of a new constitution without consulting Sri Lankans. (NOTE: We assume Amarasinghe was referring to the joint British-Sri Lankan drafting of a constitution in 1948, which adopted many terms from British usage but also took into account local conditions. END NOTE.) Nevertheless, he went on to say that all countries had to surrender some of their sovereignty when they signed international agreements and that this gave other countries the right to interfere to some extent in other nations' affairs. He also said that there was no international conspiracy against Sri Lanka, claiming instead that the president's raising this issue was a sign of his election desperation. COMMENT ------- ¶7. (C) This presidential election has had many surprising developments, not the least of which is the alliance between the old arch-enemies of the right-liberal UNP and the neo-Marxist JVP. This represents, in part, opportunism on the part of both parties. But it also reflects the highly polarizing character of the Rajapaksas. The JVP supported Rajapaksa in 2005 but he alienated them by appointing cross-over (mostly UNP) MPs to ministerial positions coveted by the JVP, and the latter has been looking to settle the score ever since. At the same time, the JVP position appears to be more than opportunism and paybacks. While few Sri Lankans think of the JVP when they think about political reconciliation, we believe they are sincere in wanting to move the country forward to a new era of national peace and inter-ethnic cooperation. BUTENIS
Palawatta - kandy / November 2, 2011
Buggers are changing that is good news! ;)
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Nalin De Silva / November 2, 2011
one thing for sure: America always had “an active interest” to move our country “forward”.
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Anonymous / November 2, 2011
Watch out!! JVP is the perfect cat’s paw to stir up Sri Lanka.
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S. P. Yamuna / November 2, 2011
Even before I read this 2nd comment, It struck to me that US is trying to use JVP to destroy our country. They are trying to use our own people to destroy our country. Pour money into JVP and aiming to suck the flesh of Mother Lanka. Now that it says we have got oil ….Oh! Please Watch Out! Think what they did to other countries. I mean those politicians. What I see that even common people of US do not approve what their heads do to the world. We and those people want peace. JVP! money can make you really foolish!
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JE - Sri Lanka / November 2, 2011
Really ? Forward, but in what direction?
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Raja / November 2, 2011
to a new era of national peace and inter-ethnic cooperation.
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Lal Rathnayake / November 2, 2011
More than 800,000 died in Rwanda due to ethnic conflicts within 100 days. ( 10% of the population). Where was their “national peace and inter-ethnic cooperation?”
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MS / November 2, 2011
i think the US believes that the sun shines out of its arse!
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DG US / November 2, 2011
Ugly Americans are also freaking dumb. These diplomats have no idea what is happening in America, but become experts in local politics. But they could not save a single Tamil in 3 years.. BS…. and all talk…
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Lak W / November 2, 2011
heh ….. could the Tamils save tamils either ????
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DG US / November 2, 2011
How about the Sinhalese killing each other??? Have you forgotten the 100,000 Sinhala Youth (Non JVP) killed in 1971-1972, and 1987-1989. What did the Sinhala Ponniahs? What did the JVP -Sinhala Terrorist do? They could only murder their own Sinhalese selling Indian Parripu and Medicine.. Yes, the Tamils could not save the Tamils from the chemical bombs and the War Criminals. That does not mean Tamils who have no MOD budget of $2.2 Billion dollars, will keep quiet. There are different ways and smart ways to fight in the 21st century.. The whole civilized world is the battlefield now.
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Lak W / November 2, 2011
oh I get it … it is the Battlefield Earth now :) will see
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Keerthi Ilangakoon / November 2, 2011
If the report is true and if JVP is really honest about their political goals, too bad they are falling apart now (which is not unusual for a Sri LANKAN political party)
Seriously, their involvement in Uni’s must be with all good spirit then ha :-)
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Sam / November 2, 2011
My foot… These JVPers destroyed SL quite simalar to LTTE. These idiots will never never agree to something positive done by either SLFP or UNP. They always use the uni students achive their political targets.
It looks like USA is going to use desparetd JVPs for their benifit.. I bet these JVPs will not be able to get 2 seats in the next election..RIP JVP
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G.T.Appuhami / November 2, 2011
HE.US ambassador,what you said 100% corect if jvp come to power sri lanka will take forward.they have progresseve plan to clear exsisting problem in sri lanka.all most last 7 years MR (Courrent regiment) in sri lanka drive away uncivilise path.
( no law and order,)
G.T.Appuhami
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sam / November 2, 2011
We need another R Premadasa type leader to get wipe these JVPs from SL.
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Jim Hardy / November 3, 2011
Some of the above foolish comments reflects their ignorance about the JVPs good sides after coming to mainstream politics..
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Lion / November 3, 2011
Us assessment is perfectly correct but unfortunately when the people of our country is going to realize this?
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sam / November 4, 2011
Mate we can remember very well what they did in 70s and 80s…. read the history if you live in another country..Now the lastest plan of JVP is to win 2 seats in the next election …
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