“Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa offered his interpretation of the government security forces’ January victory in Vakarai to Ambassador and DATT on February 5 and explained the government’s current military strategy. Gothabaya noted that the security forces encountered predominantly younger, less committed Tiger cadres in Vakarai. The GSL’s redevelopment efforts in the east, he theorized, would head off any re-infiltration by the Tigers and allow the security forces to “devote their full forces” elsewhere. In particular, the military would seek to neutralize the LTTE’s navy, the “Sea Tigers.” Gothabaya was silent on whether the Army would attempt a major offensive in the North.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The classified diplomatic cable details a meeting the US ambassador had with Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The “Confidential” is cable signed by the US Ambassador to Colombo Robert O. Blake on February 05, 2007.
The ambassador wrote; “Ambassador, DATT and PolMilOff met Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) Defense Secretary (and brother to the President) Gothabaya Rajapaksa on February 5. Rajapaksa offered his interpretation of the government security forces’ January victory in Vakarai and explained the GSL’s current military strategy. Ambassador commended the Secretary for conducting a successful battle with such low civilian causalities, after the initial shelling incident. Gotabaya claimed that no civilians had been killed and only 40 soldiers had been killed in action in the two and a half month fight for Vakarai. He emphasized that the military had been able to minimize civilian and troop causalities by surrounding Vakarai with small Special Forces teams rather than large battalions and moving without a “logistical tail” open to Tiger (LTTE) ambush.”
“According to the Defense Secretary, the security forces encountered predominantly younger Tiger cadres in Vakarai, at least 40 percent under the age of 18, and noticeably less well-trained. These cadres also appeared to be less committed to fighting for the LTTE, he said, indicating why they were willing to flee in the end. Many more of these cadres underwent forced recruitment than in previous years, claimed Gothabaya: “We can see that the lower-ranked cadres have not come out willingly. They have little motivation to fight. They aren’t committed, and in fact try to escape. We have intelligence that elsewhere in Batticaloa district LTTE cadres are waiting for a battle in which they can surrender.” The security forces captured a number of Tiger cadres in Vakarai. On the other hand, very few made use of the cyanide capsule all wear around their necks for that eventuality, according to the Secretary.” he further wrote.
Placing a comment Blake wrote; “Gothabaya assured us that the President remains committed to the peace process “without delay, and without respect to the military.” We understand that the security forces will try to consolidate the GSL’s hold on the east, and that the military will also pursue Sea Tiger and artillery targets in the east and in the Tiger’s northern Vanni stronghold. Gothabaya was silent on whether the Army would attempt a full-scale invasion of the north, as earlier GSL statements had suggested. The Defense Secretary appears to have realized, however, that winning Tamil hearts and minds will be crucial to the GSL’s consolidation of its new hold on the east.”
Read the cable below for further details;
VZCZCXRO7914 OO RUEHBI RUEHLMC DE RUEHLM #0214/01 0361312 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 051312Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5314 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0174 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 9859 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 6803 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 4871 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3501 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0579 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 3593 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2670 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7372 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5103 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1770 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000214 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, MCC FOR S GROFF, D NASSIRY, E BURKE AND F REID E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY RECKONS TIGER GROUND FORCES WEAKENED, BUT SEA TIGERS STILL FIERCE REF: A. COLOMBO 189 ¶B. COLOMBO 158 Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa offered his interpretation of the government security forces' January victory in Vakarai to Ambassador and DATT on February 5 and explained the government's current military strategy. Gothabaya noted that the security forces encountered predominantly younger, less committed Tiger cadres in Vakarai. The GSL's redevelopment efforts in the east, he theorized, would head off any re-infiltration by the Tigers and allow the security forces to "devote their full forces" elsewhere. In particular, the military would seek to neutralize the LTTE's navy, the "Sea Tigers." Gothabaya was silent on whether the Army would attempt a major offensive in the North. End summary. Cadres Forego Cyanide -------------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador, DATT and PolMilOff met Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) Defense Secretary (and brother to the President) Gothabaya Rajapaksa on February 5. Rajapaksa offered his interpretation of the government security forces' January victory in Vakarai and explained the GSL's current military strategy. Ambassador commended the Secretary for conducting a successful battle with such low civilian causalities, after the initial shelling incident. Gotabaya claimed that no civilians had been killed and only 40 soldiers had been killed in action in the two and a half month fight for Vakarai. He emphasized that the military had been able to minimize civilian and troop causalities by surrounding Vakarai with small Special Forces teams rather than large battalions and moving without a "logistical tail" open to Tiger (LTTE) ambush. ¶3. (C) According to the Defense Secretary, the security forces encountered predominantly younger Tiger cadres in Vakarai, at least 40 percent under the age of 18, and noticeably less well-trained. These cadres also appeared to be less committed to fighting for the LTTE, he said, indicating why they were willing to flee in the end. Many more of these cadres underwent forced recruitment than in previous years, claimed Gothabaya: "We can see that the lower-ranked cadres have not come out willingly. They have little motivation to fight. They aren't committed, and in fact try to escape. We have intelligence that elsewhere in Batticaloa district LTTE cadres are waiting for a battle in which they can surrender." The security forces captured a number of Tiger cadres in Vakarai. On the other hand, very few made use of the cyanide capsule all wear around their necks for that eventuality, according to the Secretary. Resettlement and Development ---------------------------- ¶4. (C) As the conflict has dragged on, noted the Defense Secretary, "families have not been willing to contribute SIPDIS their children. Their motivating factor was an independent state. They thought they didn't get enough from Sinhalese governments. Now we are making an effort to provide basic requirements -- electricity, education, roads, houses -- and the people see the difference." Ambassador revised reports that the GSL planned to resettle retired Sinhalese military officers in Tamil areas. Gothabaya denied this and other speculation by the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and others that the GSL is pursuing a "Sinhalization" program in the east, adding that the Sinhalese population in Trincomalee district has decreased from 31 percent to 21 percent since ¶1981. Presidential Advisor (and brother) Basil Rajapaska was COLOMBO 00000214 002 OF 002 overseeing the Resettlement Ministry's early work to resettle Tamil civilians in Vakarai, Gothabaya said, where the GSL hoped to provide electricity within ten days. ¶5. (C) Gothabaya said the GSL would use "minimum police force" to maintain GSL control of Vakarai and other "liberated" areas in the east, such as Sampur, "so we can concentrate our full forces on other things." He affirmed that the GSL would implement development projects soon to minimize the threat of re-infiltration by the LTTE. "There must be a reaction from normal civilians to reject the LTTE," he said, adding that the International Labor Organization (ILO) is considering a livelihoods project in Vakarai, while the French government may be willing to rebuild the A15 highway. Sea Tigers Strong ----------------- ¶6. (C) While the LTTE's ground forces are clearly weaker following the security forces' victories in the east, Gothabaya said, the LTTE's navy, the "Sea Tigers," remain strong. The Sea Tiger attack on a GSL food convoy at Point Pedro, Jaffna in January emboldened the LTTE by their sinking of two dvora "fast boats" and made the Sri Lankan Navy timid, he thought. "The Navy is no longer as aggressive. It wants to protect its assets, so the Sea Tigers have more leeway. We must neutralize the Sea Tigers. We must give the Navy some help by finding and destroying more Sea Tiger bases and assets." In the Defense Secretary's view, the January 27 Sea Tiger attack attempt on Colombo's port targeted a naval ship donated by India, rather than commercial vessels. Nevertheless, the LTTE would continue to seek soft targets in Colombo and the south as "part of their demoralization plan." Overall Strategy ---------------- ¶7. (C) Comment: Gothabaya assured us that the President remains committed to the peace process "without delay, and without respect to the military." We understand that the security forces will try to consolidate the GSL's hold on the east, and that the military will also pursue Sea Tiger and artillery targets in the east and in the Tiger's northern Vanni stronghold. Gothabaya was silent on whether the Army would attempt a full-scale invasion of the north, as earlier GSL statements had suggested. The Defense Secretary appears to have realized, however, that winning Tamil hearts and minds will be crucial to the GSL's consolidation of its new hold on the east. BLAKE
gamini / January 7, 2014
Commendations coming from the very God Fathers distorting ground reality, to mislead the whole world, after supporting their brief carriers, to commit their favourite past time of reducing Human Population through Wars, to sell their arms to prosper their War Industry and their hegemony to continue.
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Bedrock Barney / January 7, 2014
The US has a American citizen in charge of all armed services personnel in SL. Why would they want to change that situation? All the international posturing is for show, the current situation works best for them.
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gamini / January 7, 2014
It is news that MR has received the ‘Star of Palestine’ award. MR was a crusader for Palestine then like how MR was representing the Mother’s Front fighting for Human Rights of the oppressed. The UNP govts in the past could not allow Israel to open Diplomatic Offices here as MR opposed violently. After MR became President, MR signed bilateral Agreements with Israel a country they loathed. The following week after signing Bilateral Agreements with Israel, it was ironic to see the Palestine President paying a visit here as a Guest of MR. This would have not been possible if not for the Americans arranging the visit of the Palestinian President, just to diffuse any tension that would have resulted from the Bilateral Agreements and also to mislead the masses that MR is still with the Palestine cause. Then again the President of Palestine agreeing to visit Sri Lanka after we signed Bilateral Agreements with Israel, a country they are at war with, shows how much influence the Americans wield over countries that are supposed to be inimical to them and their allies. For the skulduggery and deceit the Americans have been indulging in, today Nature is richly paying them, where temperatures have dropped below -30* C and life is hell for the country. This is nothing but retribution.
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ravivararo / January 7, 2014
with the “Star of Palestine” award MARA will go to Israel(enemy of Palestine) who trained brave LTTE.
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Punakku recycler / January 8, 2014
Brave LTTE? Yeah I liked the bravery they diplayed on their numerous marathons and tactical withdrawals. They showed bravery with distinction during the last few months when they were hiding behind old women and children, knees shivering in fear of our soldiers. Such brave, much valour, wow!
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ravivararo / January 7, 2014
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Keep in mind that US has not Commended Gota For Conducting A Successful Battle With Low Civilian Causalities not during 2009. US is very serious about last stage of war.
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crazyoldmansl / January 7, 2014
See, just like Ratheeka no? Then congratulations, now war crimes. Theese UN and USA are the same, the same, the same., I hope that the Rajapissas give both of them a very had kick or two.
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M.Sivananthan / January 9, 2014
Most of the LTTE and UNP morons will keep silence on this news because they think USA is their GOD!
USA invades countries to get oil. But our LTTE goons also expect USA to invade Sri Lanka and give their Eelam. But what the hell these Tamil LTTE morons give in return? I hope few sacks of Panang Kottai and Puliyang Kottai!
USA backed the LTTE through Catholic church but USA now knows they are useless and beggers for dollars. Now USA tries to “sweet” the Rajapakse government.
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Saro / January 10, 2014
Gotabaya recently said US supplied military intelligence for SL Airforce to bomb LTTE arms shipments in the international waters. US also said she imprisoned 34 LTTE supporters who collected money and tried to buy sophisticated weapons including anti-aircraft. US also preach freedom fighters not to use violence in their struggle. Sri Lanka does not want to keep the promises made to India, US and other countries that it would resolve the ethnic problem once they help to crush LTTE. Crushing LTTE is different from killing, abductions, torture, rape of civilians and other violations of human rights. US want the allegations investigated by Sri Lanka so that next time around there will be no arms conflict.
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