VZCZCXRO0933
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCG #1856/01 2371105
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251105Z AUG 06
FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9453
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1909
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4836
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 0579
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1252

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 001856 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR IN
SUBJECT: TAMIL NADU CONGRESS PRESSES DMK TO TAKE FIRM STAND AGAINST 
LTTE 
 
REF: Chennai 1816 and previous 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: A quiet walk-out of Congress legislators from the 
Tamil Nadu assembly on August 22 brought into media focus the policy 
differences between the DMK and the Congress -- partners in the UPA 
alliance -- on the sensitive Sri Lankan Tamil issue.  Despite the 
tactical show of protest, however, Congress sources confided to Post 
that DMK-Congress relations remain cordial.  The Congress continues 
to trust Karunanidhi's skills in balancing between the party's 
Pan-Tamil sympathies and the GOI's security concerns. END SUMMARY. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
CONGRESS DEMUR DMK'S TOLERANCE OF LTTE SUPPORTERS 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶2. (SBU) On August 22, Congress legislators quietly walked out of 
the Tamil Nadu Assembly, mildly registering their dissent on the DMK 
government's perceived tolerance of Tamil Nadu's LTTE supporters. 
The low-key walk-out was officially undeclared and lasted only a few 
minutes.  It generated much media interest, however, due to the 
significance of DMK-Congress relations both at the Center and in the 
state: while the UPA government at the Center survives on DMK 
support, the Congress party is one of the main supporters of the 
DMK's minority government in Tamil Nadu. 
 
--------------------------------- 
VAIKO'S SPEECH CAUSES THE FLUTTER 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) The walkout was fallout from MDMK leader Vaiko's August 21 
pro-LTTE speech at a party meeting in Chennai.  The media widely 
reported the speech in which Vaiko cited his earlier warning to 
Prime Minister Singh that any Indian assistance to GoSL would lead 
to a "Kashmir-like situation" in Tamil Nadu.  "Tamil Eelam (an 
independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka) is the only solution to the 
Sri Lankan ethnic issue and no force on earth can prevent it," Vaiko 
stated, criticizing the GOI's position that the issue should be 
resolved within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.  Vaiko also 
called for a demonstration at the Sri Lankan High Commission in New 
Delhi on August 30 and a rally in Chennai on September 1 to condemn 
the GoSL's "atrocities" against the Tamils. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Chief Minister Karunanidhi made light of Vaiko's speech and 
advised his angry Congress allies not to attach too much 
significance to it.  The Chief Minister reiterated that his 
government is with the Centre on this issue and will continue to 
support the decisions taken by the Centre. He later assured the 
Congress legislators on their return to the Assembly that the law 
will take its own course against whoever speaks in a manner which 
poses a challenge to the unity and integrity of India. 
 
¶5. (SBU) On August 23, two local Congress workers went further and 
lodged a police complaint demanding the arrest of Vaiko.  In 2002, 
Vaiko had been arrested under the now defunct Prevention of 
Terrorism Act (POTA) for making a similar speech at Madurai and was 
kept in prison for 19 months by the former Chief Minister 
Jayalalithaa. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
DMK-CONGRESS RELATIONS INTACT, SAYS CONGRESS LEADER 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶6. (SBU) Notwithstanding the tactical show of displeasure, Congress' 
Chief Whip in the Assembly, Peter Alphonse, told Post on August 24 
that DMK-Congress relations remain cordial.  "We have no problems; 
we are sailing in the same boat," he said.  According to Alphonse, 
the Chief Minister himself is happy that, with the Congress' strong 
views on the issue, he can take strong action against LTTE 
supporters, should that become necessary.  Alphonse believes the 
views expressed by the Congress will help the DMK remain firm 
against any pro-LTTE activity in Tamil Nadu. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The Congress leaders were reassured by recent action by the 
Tamil Nadu police.  On August 19, the MDMK's South Chennai district 
secretary Manimaran was arrested on the charge of making an 
 
SIPDIS 
"inflammatory speech" on August 17 in support of the outlawed LTTE. 
 
 
¶8. (SBU) Journalist sources point out that the DMK has realized 
there is little electoral gain to be had from supporting the LTTE. 
Although a few party workers remain sympathetic to the LTTE and its 
supporter Vaiko, DMK decisions are more influenced by leaders, such 
as Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran, who attach greater value to the 
party's relations with the Congress.  Following Maran's major tiff 
with Vaiko during the May state elections, five DMK MPs had formally 
asked Prime Minister Singh in June for increased security for Maran 
 
CHENNAI 00001856  002 OF 002 
 
 
and demanded close scrutiny of Vaiko's international connections. 
 
 
--------------------------------- 
LTTE-CRITICS SUPPORT U.S. ARRESTS 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Meanwhile, the arrest of 13 LTTE-related persons in the 
U.S. received coverage in South Indian media but passed off without 
popular reaction.  At an American Chamber of Commerce breakfast on 
August 24, N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, applauded the tough 
line taken by the USG and criticized the softer position of the 
Europeans.  Speaking with us later, Ram was particularly scathing 
toward Scandinavians whom he believed were confused or oblivious to 
the tactics employed by the LTTE.  Ram believes the LTTE will never 
achieve its objective of a separate state, but neither was it 
possible to forcibly suppress the desire for such a state among many 
Tamils. 
 
------------------------------- 
THE BALANCING ACT WILL CONTINUE 
------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the DMK still displays sympathies toward 
the Sri Lankan Tamil cause, there seems to be no willingness to 
confront the GOI, which itself  refrains from provocative actions 
about Sri Lanka out of respect for Tamil sentiments.  Unless the 
Government of Sri Lanka causes major problems to the GoTN through 
sustained attacks on Tamil civilians or on fleeing refugees, 
Karunanidhi's balancing act will continue. END COMMENT. HOPPER