Indian official tell US neither Lankan government nor LTTE respect international community – Wikileaks
December 17, 2010 08:01 am
An Indian official had warned US that the situation in Sri
lanka is “beyond bleak” and that neither the government nor the LTTE fighting
in the island nation’s north have any “regard” for the international community and
request a briefing on China’s aid to Colombo, Wikileaks revealed today.
In a cable dated 27 April 2007, the then Indian External
Affairs Ministry Joint Secretary Mohan Kumar is reported to have conveyed to theUS that “The situation in Sri Lanka is “bad,
really bad - beyond bleak” in Kumar’s judgment. Characterizing the government
and the LTTE as two sets of people with scant regard for the international
community, Kumar was skeptical that political progress could be achieved
anytime soon.”
The Cable further states that, “Kumar said it would be
helpful to get the American assessment of the port being built in Hambantota,
which he estimated Chinawas willing to spend $500 million to help develop. He noted that China has increased its influence with President
Rajapaksa, opining that Rajapaksa had a “soft spot” for China following his visit to Beijing in March.”
Cable excerpt;
The situation in Sri Lanka is “bad, really bad -
beyond bleak” in Kumar’s judgment. Characterizing the government and the LTTE
as two sets of people with scant regard for the international community, Kumar
was skeptical that political progress could be achieved anytime soon. He
confirmed reports that the Indian Navy has stepped up patrols in the Palk
Strait, and said that Indiaand Sri Lankaare doing coordinated patrolling to prevent the smuggling of weapons from the
Tamil Nadu coast. Kumar said it would be helpful to get the American assessment
of the port being built in Hambantota, which he estimated China was
willing to spend $500 million to help develop. He noted that China has increased its influence with President
Rajapaksa, opining that Rajapaksa had a “soft spot” for China following his visit to Beijing in March.
Full cable;
Friday, 27 April 2007, 12:27 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002037 SIPDIS SIPDIS EO
12958 DECL:
01/11/2012 TAGS PREL, PGOV,BG”>BG,BM, CE, IN SUBJECT: INDIAN OFFICIAL SEES BANGLADESH AT CROSSROADS, SRI LANKA DETERIORATING, BURMA RELATIONS BECOMING UNIDIMENSIONAL Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)
Summary
Indian officials warn US
counterparts the situation in Sri lanka is “beyond bleak” and that neither
the government nor Tamil separatists fighting in the island nation’s north
have any “regard” for the international community ... and request a
briefing on China’s aid to Colombo. Key passage highlighted in yellow
1. (C) Summary. In a meeting with PolCouns on April 26, MEA Joint Secretary
Mohan Kumar:
-- said that the caretaker government in Bangladesh has reached a crossroads
by allowing Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia to return, stating such a move
weakens the government and will force it to reassert itself in some way; --
suggested the U.S., UK and India agree on
a core message to give the Bangladeshi caretaker government, one that supports
the government while it remains on a path toward credible elections but
clarifies that the military needs to remain out of politics; -- provided his
assessment that Chief Advisor Fakhruddin is not in control of the government,
but rather the executor for a military which looms in the background; --
praised the progress which has been made between the Indian Border Security
Forces and the Bangladeshi Rifles; -- asked for U.S. assistance in getting
Bangladesh to open its economy; -- stated Indian influence in Burma is waning,
suggesting that U.S. pressure to bring Burma before the UN Security Council was
counterproductive; -- denied reports that India had provided Rangoon with T-55
tanks; -- offered to verify whether India will fulfill a request by a Burmese
general to provide infantry weapons and ammunition; -- confirmed that the
Indian Navy is stepping up patrols in the waters between India and Sri Lanka;
and -- expressed concern over China’s participation in the port project in
Hambantota, Sri Lanka.
End Summary.
BangladeshAt a Crossroads
--------------------------
2. (C) PolCouns met April 26 with Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint
Secretary (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldivesand Myanmar) Mohan Kumar to
discuss India’s
assessment of recent events in the region. Also initially in attendance was
British High Commission PolCouns Alex Hall-Hall, who had coincidentally been
discussing Bangladeshwith Kumar when PolCouns walked in. Kumar and Hall-Hall described their
conversation, agreeing that the recent decision by the caretaker government
(CTG) in Bangladeshto allow Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia to return had put that country at a
crossroads. The government had gone back on its strategy to remove the two
women from the political scene, they assessed, would be weakened, and the
question now was whether the government will reassert itself by pushing the
election schedule forward, or by digging in its heels and seeking to remain in
power longer. Kumar presented a third option, that either the military or one
of the women would stir up civil unrest, which could then be used as a pretext
by the military to step in and take political control, although he admitted he
did not believe a military coup was likely. Kumar suggested that now would be
an opportune moment for the U.S., UK and
India to agree on a core message to take to the caretaker government, pressing
for elections and voter list reforms, providing support for the government as
long as it sticks to a schedule for elections, and making clear that the
military needs to remain out of politics. Hall-Hall noted that any coordination
needed to remain invisible to the Bangladeshi public in order to avoid the
perception of some sort of conspiracy.
3. (C) Kumar said Indiais concerned with the time frame for Bangladeshi elections, given -- in his
analysis -- that the government has been weakened. He believed the interim
government would benefit by moving up elections to the first quarter of 2008.
He noted that he had been the notetaker for the April 4 meeting between Prime
Minister Singh and Chief Advisor Fakhruddin, and his impression was that
Fakhruddin “was not a free agent.” Fakhruddin made no commitments and could not
clearly explain the government’s strategy, leading Kumar to believe Fakhruddin
was merely the executor of the military’s political control.
4. (C) Kumar stated that good progress had been made in talks between India’s Border Security Forces and the Bangladesh
NEW DELHI00002037 002 OF 002
Rifles. The five-day February meeting between high-level officials was “fantastic,”
he said, adding that guards on both sides of the border have cooperated better
since the meeting. (Note: Kumar’s comments echo what Bangladesh Embassy
Political Minister Mashfee Binte Shams told Poloff earlier in the week, that
the BSF and BDR have relieved border tensions and improved communications. End
Note.)
5. (C) The U.S. and UK could help Indiaby pressing Bangladeshto open its economy and trade, Kumar suggested. Companies such as Tata, which
have made efforts to enter the Bangladeshi manufacturing market, are reporting
to Kumar that the CTG is impeding its entry into Bangladesh. Kumar said he has met
with representatives of the Asian Development Bank, who have been positive
regarding the potential for infrastructure projects in the region, but in terms
of assisting with India-Bangladesh trade have only suggested some smaller
connectivity projects.
6. (C) PolCouns referred to press accounts of the recent visit to New Delhi by Burmese
Quartermaster General Lt. Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, which reported that
Lt. Gen Tin had come requesting infantry weapons and ammunition in return for
the junta’s help in flushing out insurgents based along the border. Kumar said
he was unaware of any promises Indiamade to provide such materiel, but would check on the report’s veracity. He
stated India is losing
influence -- and gas deals -- in Burmato China, and suggested that
American pressure on Indiato press the junta on democracy and human rights was counterproductive. The
more the U.S. presses India to bring Burmabefore the UN Security Council, he said, the more the Burmese tell Indiato “go to hell.” PolCouns strongly countered, pointing out the junta’s horrible
record on human rights and democracy dating back years, and stressed to Kumar
that any assistance to the Burmese regime by Indiawould be poorly received by Washington.
7. (C) India-Burma relations have deteriorated to being unidimensional,
Kumar said, with the only cooperation being on the anti-insurgency campaign
along the border. India is
not getting any gas contracts from Burma(“We’re getting screwed on gas” were Kumar’s exact words, reflective of his
candid nature), nor is it getting the transit rights it seeks which would
open a bridge to East Asia. Burmese officials
have told Kumar that they “hate” the Chinese and would prefer not to cooperate
with China, but do so
because they feel Beijing is more reliable than New Delhi. He claimed a
recent report that India was
planning to provide Burmawith T-55 tanks was untrue.
8. (C) The situation in Sri
Lanka is “bad, really bad - beyond bleak” in
Kumar’s judgment. Characterizing the government and the LTTE as two sets of
people with scant regard for the international community, Kumar was skeptical
that political progress could be achieved anytime soon. He confirmed reports
that the Indian Navy has stepped up patrols in the Palk Strait, and said that India and Sri Lanka are doing coordinated
patrolling to prevent the smuggling of weapons from the Tamil Nadu coast. Kumar
said it would be helpful to get the American assessment of the port being built
in Hambantota, which he estimated China was willing to spend $500
million to help develop. He noted that Chinahas increased its influence with President Rajapaksa, opining that Rajapaksa
had a “soft spot” for Chinafollowing his visit to Beijingin March.
9. (SBU) Bio note. Kumar confirmed he has been selected to become the Deputy
Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Paris, likely to assume
the position in August. KAESTNER
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