Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 143912 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AORC AS AF AM AJ ASEC AU AMGT APER ACOA ASEAN AG AFFAIRS AR AFIN ABUD AO AEMR ADANA AMED AADP AINF ARF ADB ACS AE AID AL AC AGR ABLD AMCHAMS AECL AINT AND ASIG AUC APECO AFGHANISTAN AY ARABL ACAO ANET AFSN AZ AFLU ALOW ASSK AFSI ACABQ AMB APEC AIDS AA ATRN AMTC AVIATION AESC ASSEMBLY ADPM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AGOA ASUP AFPREL ARNOLD ADCO AN ACOTA AODE AROC AMCHAM AT ACKM ASCH AORCUNGA AVIANFLU AVIAN AIT ASECPHUM ATRA AGENDA AIN AFINM APCS AGENGA ABDALLAH ALOWAR AFL AMBASSADOR ARSO AGMT ASPA AOREC AGAO ARR AOMS ASC ALIREZA AORD AORG ASECVE ABER ARABBL ADM AMER ALVAREZ AORCO ARM APERTH AINR AGRI ALZUGUREN ANGEL ACDA AEMED ARC AMGMT AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU ABMC AIAG ALJAZEERA ASR ASECARP ALAMI APRM ASECM AMPR AEGR AUSTRALIAGROUP ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AIDAC AOPC ANTITERRORISM ASEG AMIA ASEX AEMRBC AFOR ABT AMERICA AGENCIES AGS ADRC ASJA AEAID ANARCHISTS AME AEC ALNEA AMGE AMEDCASCKFLO AK ANTONIO ASO AFINIZ ASEDC AOWC ACCOUNT ACTION AMG AFPK AOCR AMEDI AGIT ASOC ACOAAMGT AMLB AZE AORCYM AORL AGRICULTURE ACEC AGUILAR ASCC AFSA ASES ADIP ASED ASCE ASFC ASECTH AFGHAN ANTXON APRC AFAF AFARI ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AX ALAB ASECAF ASA ASECAFIN ASIC AFZAL AMGTATK ALBE AMT AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN AGUIRRE AAA ABLG ARCH AGRIC AIHRC ADEL AMEX ALI AQ ATFN AORCD ARAS AINFCY AFDB ACBAQ AFDIN AOPR AREP ALEXANDER ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI ATRD AEIR AOIC ABLDG AFR ASEK AER ALOUNI AMCT AVERY ASECCASC ARG APR AMAT AEMRS AFU ATPDEA ALL ASECE ANDREW
EAIR ECON ETRD EAGR EAID EFIN ETTC ENRG EMIN ECPS EG EPET EINV ELAB EU ECONOMICS EC EZ EUN EN ECIN EWWT EXTERNAL ENIV ES ESA ELN EFIS EIND EPA ELTN EXIM ET EINT EI ER EAIDAF ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECTRD EUR ECOWAS ECUN EBRD ECONOMIC ENGR ECONOMY EFND ELECTIONS EPECO EUMEM ETMIN EXBS EAIRECONRP ERTD EAP ERGR EUREM EFI EIB ENGY ELNTECON EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ECOSOC EEB EINF ETRN ENGRD ESTH ENRC EXPORT EK ENRGMO ECO EGAD EXIMOPIC ETRDPGOV EURM ETRA ENERG ECLAC EINO ENVIRONMENT EFIC ECIP ETRDAORC ENRD EMED EIAR ECPN ELAP ETCC EAC ENEG ESCAP EWWC ELTD ELA EIVN ELF ETR EFTA EMAIL EL EMS EID ELNT ECPSN ERIN ETT EETC ELAN ECHEVARRIA EPWR EVIN ENVR ENRGJM ELBR EUC EARG EAPC EICN EEC EREL EAIS ELBA EPETUN EWWY ETRDGK EV EDU EFN EVN EAIDETRD ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ ETEX ESCI EAIDHO EENV ETRC ESOC EINDQTRD EINVA EFLU EGEN ECE EAGRBN EON EFINECONCS EIAD ECPC ENV ETDR EAGER ETRDKIPR EWT EDEV ECCP ECCT EARI EINVECON ED ETRDEC EMINETRD EADM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ETAD ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS ESSO ETRG ELAM ECA EENG EITC ENG ERA EPSC ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EIPR ELABPGOVBN EURFOR ETRAD EUE EISNLN ECONETRDBESPAR ELAINE EGOVSY EAUD EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EINVETRD EPIN ECONENRG EDRC ESENV EB ENER ELTNSNAR EURN ECONPGOVBN ETTF ENVT EPIT ESOCI EFINOECD ERD EDUC EUM ETEL EUEAID ENRGY ETD EAGRE EAR EAIDMG EE EET ETER ERICKSON EIAID EX EAG EBEXP ESTN EAIDAORC EING EGOV EEOC EAGRRP EVENTS ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ETRDEMIN EPETEIND EAIDRW ENVI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC EDUARDO EGAR EPCS EPRT EAIDPHUMPRELUG EPTED ETRB EPETPGOV ECONQH EAIDS EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN ESF EINR ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN EIDN ETRK ESTRADA EXEC EAIO EGHG ECN EDA ECOS EPREL EINVKSCA ENNP ELABV ETA EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EUCOM EAIDASEC ENR END EP ERNG ESPS EITI EINTECPS EAVI ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EADI ELDIN ELND ECRM EINVEFIN EAOD EFINTS EINDIR ENRGKNNP ETRDEIQ ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD EAIT ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ EWWI ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EHUM EFNI EOXC EISNAR ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM EMW ETIO ETRDGR EMN EXO EATO EWTR ELIN EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EINVETC ETTD EIQ ECONCS EPPD ESS EUEAGR ENRGIZ EISL EUNJ EIDE ENRGSD ELAD ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO ENTG ETRDECD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS
KPKO KIPR KWBG KPAL KDEM KTFN KNNP KGIC KTIA KCRM KDRG KWMN KJUS KIDE KSUM KTIP KFRD KMCA KMDR KCIP KTDB KPAO KPWR KOMC KU KIRF KCOR KHLS KISL KSCA KGHG KS KSTH KSEP KE KPAI KWAC KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPRP KVPR KAWC KUNR KZ KPLS KN KSTC KMFO KID KNAR KCFE KRIM KFLO KCSA KG KFSC KSCI KFLU KMIG KRVC KV KVRP KMPI KNEI KAPO KOLY KGIT KSAF KIRC KNSD KBIO KHIV KHDP KBTR KHUM KSAC KACT KRAD KPRV KTEX KPIR KDMR KMPF KPFO KICA KWMM KICC KR KCOM KAID KINR KBCT KOCI KCRS KTER KSPR KDP KFIN KCMR KMOC KUWAIT KIPRZ KSEO KLIG KWIR KISM KLEG KTBD KCUM KMSG KMWN KREL KPREL KAWK KIMT KCSY KESS KWPA KNPT KTBT KCROM KPOW KFTN KPKP KICR KGHA KOMS KJUST KREC KOC KFPC KGLB KMRS KTFIN KCRCM KWNM KHGH KRFD KY KGCC KFEM KVIR KRCM KEMR KIIP KPOA KREF KJRE KRKO KOGL KSCS KGOV KCRIM KEM KCUL KRIF KCEM KITA KCRN KCIS KSEAO KWMEN KEANE KNNC KNAP KEDEM KNEP KHPD KPSC KIRP KUNC KALM KCCP KDEN KSEC KAYLA KIMMITT KO KNUC KSIA KLFU KLAB KTDD KIRCOEXC KECF KIPRETRDKCRM KNDP KIRCHOFF KJAN KFRDSOCIRO KWMNSMIG KEAI KKPO KPOL KRD KWMNPREL KATRINA KBWG KW KPPD KTIAEUN KDHS KRV KBTS KWCI KICT KPALAOIS KPMI KWN KTDM KWM KLHS KLBO KDEMK KT KIDS KWWW KLIP KPRM KSKN KTTB KTRD KNPP KOR KGKG KNN KTIAIC KSRE KDRL KVCORR KDEMGT KOMO KSTCC KMAC KSOC KMCC KCHG KSEPCVIS KGIV KPO KSEI KSTCPL KSI KRMS KFLOA KIND KPPAO KCM KRFR KICCPUR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KFAM KWWMN KENV KGH KPOP KFCE KNAO KTIAPARM KWMNKDEM KDRM KNNNP KEVIN KEMPI KWIM KGCN KUM KMGT KKOR KSMT KISLSCUL KNRV KPRO KOMCSG KLPM KDTB KFGM KCRP KAUST KNNPPARM KUNH KWAWC KSPA KTSC KUS KSOCI KCMA KTFR KPAOPREL KNNPCH KWGB KSTT KNUP KPGOV KUK KMNP KPAS KHMN KPAD KSTS KCORR KI KLSO KWNN KNP KPTD KESO KMPP KEMS KPAONZ KPOV KTLA KPAOKMDRKE KNMP KWMNCI KWUN KRDP KWKN KPAOY KEIM KGICKS KIPT KREISLER KTAO KJU KLTN KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KQ KWPR KSCT KGHGHIV KEDU KRCIM KFIU KWIC KNNO KILS KTIALG KNNA KMCAJO KINP KRM KLFLO KPA KOMCCO KKIV KHSA KDM KRCS KWBGSY KISLAO KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KCRI KX KWWT KPAM KVRC KERG KK KSUMPHUM KACP KSLG KIF KIVP KHOURY KNPR KUNRAORC KCOG KCFC KWMJN KFTFN KTFM KPDD KMPIO KCERS KDUM KDEMAF KMEPI KHSL KEPREL KAWX KIRL KNNR KOMH KMPT KISLPINR KADM KPER KTPN KSCAECON KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KCSI KNRG KAKA KFRP KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KQM KQRDQ KWBC KMRD KVBL KOM KMPL KEDM KFLD KPRD KRGY KNNF KPROG KIFR KPOKO KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KHIB KOEM KDDG KCGC
PGOV PREL PK PTER PINR PO PHUM PARM PREF PINF PRL PM PINS PROP PALESTINIAN PE PBTS PNAT PHSA PL PA PSEPC POSTS POLITICS POLICY POL PU PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOG PARALYMPIC PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL POLITICAL PROV PRUM PBIO PAK POV POLG PAR POLM PHUMPREL PKO PUNE PROG PEL PROPERTY PKAO PRE PSOE PHAS PNUM PGOVE PY PIRF PRES POWELL PP PREM PCON PGOVPTER PGOVPREL PODC PTBS PTEL PGOVTI PHSAPREL PD PG PRC PVOV PLO PRELL PEPFAR PREK PEREZ PINT POLI PPOL PARTIES PT PRELUN PH PENA PIN PGPV PKST PROTESTS PHSAK PRM PROLIFERATION PGOVBL PAS PUM PMIG PGIC PTERPGOV PSHA PHM PHARM PRELHA PELOSI PGOVKCMABN PQM PETER PJUS PKK POUS PTE PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PERM PRELGOV PAO PNIR PARMP PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PHYTRP PHUML PFOV PDEM PUOS PN PRESIDENT PERURENA PRIVATIZATION PHUH PIF POG PERL PKPA PREI PTERKU PSEC PRELKSUMXABN PETROL PRIL POLUN PPD PRELUNSC PREZ PCUL PREO PGOVZI POLMIL PERSONS PREFL PASS PV PETERS PING PQL PETR PARMS PNUC PS PARLIAMENT PINSCE PROTECTION PLAB PGV PBS PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PKNP PSOCI PSI PTERM PLUM PF PVIP PARP PHUMQHA PRELNP PHIM PRELBR PUBLIC PHUMKPAL PHAM PUAS PBOV PRELTBIOBA PGOVU PHUMPINS PICES PGOVENRG PRELKPKO PHU PHUMKCRS POGV PATTY PSOC PRELSP PREC PSO PAIGH PKPO PARK PRELPLS PRELPK PHUS PPREL PTERPREL PROL PDA PRELPGOV PRELAF PAGE PGOVGM PGOVECON PHUMIZNL PMAR PGOVAF PMDL PKBL PARN PARMIR PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PDD PRELKPAO PKMN PRELEZ PHUMPRELPGOV PARTM PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPEL PGOVPRELPINRBN PGOVSOCI PWBG PGOVEAID PGOVPM PBST PKEAID PRAM PRELEVU PHUMA PGOR PPA PINSO PROVE PRELKPAOIZ PPAO PHUMPRELBN PGVO PHUMPTER PAGR PMIN PBTSEWWT PHUMR PDOV PINO PARAGRAPH PACE PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOVAU PGOF PBTSRU PRGOV PRHUM PCI PGO PRELEUN PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PMR PRTER PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PRELNL PINOCHET PAARM PKPAO PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA POPDC PRELC PHUME PER PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PAUL PHALANAGE PARTY PPEF PECON PEACE PROCESS PPGOV PLN PRELSW PHUMS PRF PEDRO PHUMKDEM PUNR PVPR PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PBT PAMQ

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05COLOMBO1971, SRI LANKA: POLLING PEACEFUL; TIGER INTIMIDATION

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05COLOMBO1971.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05COLOMBO1971 2005-11-17 11:02 2011-08-26 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Colombo
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001971 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PTER CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA:  POLLING PEACEFUL; TIGER INTIMIDATION 
KEEPS NUMBERS DOWN IN NORTH AND EAST 
 
REF: COLOMBO 1965 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
-------- 
 
1.  (SBU)  As of mid-day on November 17, voting in the 
presidential election was proceeding peacefully in the 
central and southern parts of the country.  Virtually no 
voters had crossed from territory controlled by the 
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the north and east 
to cast their ballots, however, and turn-out among voters in 
Government-controlled areas bordering Tiger territory was 
reportedly sparse as well.  In the turbulent eastern district 
of Batticaloa suspected LTTE cadres had thrown grenades at 
empty polling stations the night of November 16, but no 
injuries were reported.  Secretary of Public Security, Law 
and Order Tilak Ranaviraja told the Ambassador after polls 
closed at 4:00 p.m. local time that there would be no curfew 
tonight.  The low-to-no turnout reported among Tamil voters 
in the north and east is expected will hurt severely the 
prospects of opposition United National Party (UNP) candidate 
Ranil Wickremesinghe.  End summary. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN, CENTRAL AND 
SOUTHERN FRONTS 
--------------------------------------- 
 
2.  (SBU) On November 17, informal Embassy election 
monitoring teams deployed in various districts in western, 
central and southern regions of the country reported that 
polling in the presidential election appeared to be 
proceeding in a largely peaceful manner.  Embassy teams 
reported no evidence of illegal campaigning/canvassing in the 
vicinity of polling stations in these areas, although one 
team in the southeastern district of Moneragala was told by 
police of reports that some upcountry or "hill" Tamil voters 
had been assaulted by pro-Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) 
"thugs."  In the central district of Matale, on the other 
hand, long lines of voters, some of them with small children 
in tow, began queuing early in the morning to cast their 
ballot.  Turnout was also reportedly strong in Colombo and 
its environs.  Local election monitors at some polling 
stations in the north-central district of Anuradhapura 
reported almost an 80 percent turnout rate, while our Embassy 
team in the southern district of Galle reported a 75 percent 
turnout rate.  A seasoned political organizer in the 
battleground southwestern district of Kalutara, where voting 
lines were similarly long, told our team there that this 
election was the most closely contested race he had 
participated in in nearly two decades.  We have received no 
reports of a curfew being imposed,  Secretary of Public 
Security, Law and Order Tilak Ranaviraja told the Ambassador 
after polls closed at 4:00 p.m. local time that there would 
be no curfew tonight. 
 
---------------------- 
NO-SHOWS IN THE NORTH 
---------------------- 
 
3.  (SBU)  As feared (Reftel), the Liberation Tigers of Tamil 
Eelam (LTTE)-sponsored day of mourning reduced turnout among 
voters in LTTE-controlled areas to a mere dribble, and 
depressed voting levels among Tamils in government-controlled 
territory bordering these areas as well.  After the polls had 
been open for two hours at the checkpoint at Omanthai in the 
northern district of Vavuniya, not a single person had 
crossed over to vote, International Committee for the Red 
Cross (ICRC) personnel who staff the "no-man's land" between 
the two territories told our Embassy monitoring team 
(7,000-10,000 individuals make the crossing for various 
purposes on an average day).  Our team reported that 
approximately 20 buses provided by the government to ferry 
voters to cluster polling stations were sitting idle, while 
scores of election officials and monitors were milling about, 
waiting for something to do.  When our team returned to the 
checkpoint at 2:00 p.m. local time, local poll monitors 
reported that only 50 out of 128,000 registered voters had 
showed up, most of whom are believed to have previously 
resettled on the government-controlled side.  At a polling 
station midway between Mannar and Vavuniya no one from 
LTTE-controlled territory had crossed over to vote as of 
about 11:00 a.m., according to local poll monitors, but they 
had heard of a bus with six voters crossing over to another 
polling station elsewhere in Mannar.  Turnout in 
government-controlled territory in Mannar was also reportedly 
light, with reports of voters complaining of difficulty in 
obtaining transportation to the polling stations. 
 
4.  (SBU)  Voters were similarly scarce in the northern 
district of Jaffna.  At one polling station visited by our 
Embassy team there, a total of 10 voters had turned up as of 
noon.  Across the street from another polling station, our 
team observed a sign in Tamil exhorting the local population 
not to "compromise Eelam" by voting.  Local businesses in 
Jaffna town were largely shuttered on election day, in 
observance of the day of "mourning."  (In contrast, most 
businesses in Mannar town were open, although vehicular 
traffic was reportedly light.)  Local police told our team in 
Jaffna of reports of LTTE cadres visiting voters door-to-door 
the previous evening, warning them not to vote.  Local 
election monitors complained that suspected LTTE cadres were 
conducting surveillance of polling stations to intimidate 
voters.  If so, their campaign to discourage voting seemed to 
be working.  The head EU monitor in Jaffna estimated voter 
turnout in the district at 6 percent--including from the 
government-controlled areas.  The Government Agent put it 
even lower--at a mere 1.5 percent. 
 
--------------------------- 
IN THE EAST, MUSLIMS VOTE; 
TAMILS GIVE IT A MISS 
--------------------------- 
 
5.  (SBU)  The perennially turbulent eastern district of 
Batticaloa saw several empty polling stations attacked by 
grenades by suspected LTTE the night before elections. 
Violence on the day of the election itself, however, was 
limited (at least for Batticaloa); one bomb blast occurred 
mid-morning at a vote counting center in Batticaloa town, 
injuring one policeman.  Turnout among Muslim voters was 
good, although there were reports of fisticuffs between 
supporters of rival politicians in at least one location, but 
turnout among Tamil voters was reportedly only about 2 
percent at mid-day, according to Deputy Inspector General 
(DIG) of Police Rohan Abeywardena, and there were no reports 
of voters crossing over from the LTTE-controlled area.  Our 
Embassy team in the ethnically diverse eastern district of 
Trincomalee reported that turnout there was higher, including 
among Tamil voters, with the overall rate estimated at about 
60 percent by mid-day. 
 
--------- 
COMMENT 
--------- 
 
6.  (SBU) We do not expect a winner to be announced until 
about mid-day November 18 (assuming the Election Commissioner 
does not call for re-polling in any area), and the outcome of 
voting in the south and central region, according to everyone 
we have talked to, remains too close to call.  (Note: 
According to constitutional lawyer Rohan Edirisinghe, the 
apparent LTTE interference in certain areas in the north and 
the east will not be enough for the Election Commissioner to 
declare the polls invalid since his mandate does not cover 
Tiger activities.  End note.)  Apart from the LTTE-mandated 
boycott in the north and east, the comparative lack of 
reports we have received so far of electoral 
violence/fraud/intimidation/tampering could make this one of 
freest and fairest elections seen in Sri Lanka in a long 
time.  As noted reftel, however, the low-to-no turnout from 
LTTE-controlled territories will benefit Sri Lanka Freedom 
Party (SLFP) candidate Mahinda Rajapakse and severely hurt 
the prospects of Ranil Wickremesinghe, the pro-peace process 
opposition United National Party (UNP) candidate.  A source 
in Rajapakse's campaign contacted poloff just before polls 
closed to report the SLFP'ers were feeling very "confident"; 
a UNP MP the Ambassador had talked with a few hours before 
sounded more restrained--but not disconsolate. 
LUNSTEAD