VZCZCXRO5291
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCG #1426/01 1921101
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111101Z JUL 06
FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8911
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1796
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4802
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 0549
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1232

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 CHENNAI 001426 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PTER PHUM IN CE
SUBJECT: TAMIL NADU: NO POPULAR SUPPORT FOR SRI LANKAN 
TERRORISTS; REFUGEE FLOW CONTINUES 
 
REF: A) CHENNAI 0062, B) CHENNAI 0898 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Tamil Nadu Government (GoTN) and the 
state's political parties across the board continue to voice 
sympathy for the Tamils of Sri Lanka but there is little 
evidence of a groundswell of support in Tamil Nadu for the 
LTTE or other militant groups.  In a recent meeting with 
Consul General Hopper, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. 
Karunanidhi said his government will balance India's needs 
for security with humanitarian concerns for Sri Lankan 
Tamils while also dealing with the refugees.  Regarding 
possible Indian or international roles in the matter, or 
suggestions for a solution to the crisis, Karunanidhi was 
content to defer to the Government of India.  Meanwhile, 
4,540 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees have arrived in Tamil Nadu 
since January 2006, bringing the total number of Sri Lankan 
refugees in Tamil Nadu camps to over 55,000.  END SUMMARY 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
SRI LANKAN SHADOWS OVER TAMIL NADU POLITICS? 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) The worsening security situation in Sri Lanka and 
the resumed flow of refugees from the island have brought 
the Sri Lankan Tamil issue back to the headlines in Tamil 
Nadu. Statements by various political parties, news reports 
on the pathetic state of housing in the refugee camps, a 
fact-finding mission of state ministers to the camps, and 
news reports about the interaction between the GOI and the 
GoTN, all suggest that the issue has returned to center 
stage in Tamil Nadu politics. 
 
------------------------------------- 
BACKGROUND: THE BIG CHANGE SINCE 1991 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Although the Sri Lankan Tamil issue remains 
sensitive in Tamil Nadu and all political parties approach 
it cautiously, the state's major parties seem to be now more 
or less in sync with the Government of India on the issue. 
Post's political sources point out that the situation is 
drastically different from what it was in the 1980's when 
the two major Dravidian parties, the DMK and the AIADMK, 
vied with each other in supporting Sri Lankan Tamil militant 
groups.  Since the Rajiv Gandhi assassination in 1991, the 
AIADMK party under Jayalalithaa has always remained strident 
in its anti-LTTE stance.  No longer bound to compete with 
the AIADMK on the issue and sensing the change in popular 
mood toward the LTTE, the DMK also dismounted the tiger 
shortly thereafter.  The DMK's bitter experience of its 1990 
dismissal from power for their controversial support of the 
LTTE also may have played a role in their decision, 
according to our contacts. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
MEETING WITH KARUNANIDHI REVEALS HIS CAUTION 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Our July 3 meeting with DMK Chief Minister 
Karunanidhi revealed Karunanidhi's cautious approach to the 
Tamil issue.  Karunanidhi told us that his government has 
adopted a balanced approach, taking into account both 
India's security requirements and humanitarian concerns for 
Sri Lankan Tamils.  He expressed his personal concern for 
the "innocent Tamils" of Sri Lanka caught in the conflict. 
When asked what he would like the Government of India to do 
to solve the problem, Karunanidhi replied that it was up to 
the Union Government to decide.  Tamil Nadu's role, he said, 
is limited to providing assistance to the refugees.  On 
questions about a possible role for the international 
community, Karunanidhi was again content to defer to the 
Government of India. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
SMALLER PARTIES VOCAL IN SUPPORT, BUT KNOW THEIR LIMITS 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) With the major Dravidian parties, the AIADMK and 
the DMK distancing themselves from the LTTE, only a few 
smaller parties are left drumming up ideological support for 
the Tigers.  These parties include the MDMK party of Vaiko, 
the PMK of Ramadoss, the Dalit Panthers of India (DPI and 
known as "Viduthalai Siruthaigal" in Tamil) of 
Thirumavalavan, and a few quasi-political organizations such 
as the Dravida Kazhagam (DK) of K. Veeramani and the 
Tamizhar Deseeya Iyakkam (Tamil National Movement) of P. 
Nedumaran. 
 
CHENNAI 00001426  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) Veeramani told Post on June 16 that the DK's hope 
and the hope of others of like mind is that the Government 
of India will stay out of the situation in Sri Lanka. 
Recognizing that any GOI involvement if it were to occur, 
would likely be in support of the GOSL, he believes that a 
hands-off approach is the best he can realistically hope 
for.  He was critical of the U.S. characterization of the 
LTTE as a terrorist organization and believes that the EU's 
decision to categorize the LTTE in like manner is due to 
urging by the U.S.  Veeramani wants the U.S. to refrain from 
providing support to the GoSL military because, he says, 
such support will be used to engage in a genocidal war 
against the Tamils. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Even these smaller parties are unwilling to openly 
confront the GOI by organizing strikes against the ban on 
LTTE or by urging the GOI to intervene in Sri Lanka on 
behalf of the Tamils.  Two days after meeting with Post, 
Veeramani joined Chief Minister Karunanidhi and other 
parties -- including the anti-LTTE Congress party -- in 
mildly urging the GOI to find a way for lasting peace in Sri 
Lanka.  Talking with Post, Dr. Ramdoss of the PMK took great 
care to disavow any personal contacts with the LTTE and said 
his support is limited to the "just cause" of Sri Lankan 
Tamils.  Ramdoss believes an Indian model of federalism 
should be enough to satisfy the aspirations of the Tamils. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
NO EVIDENCE OF MONEY OR ARMS FLOWING TO LTTE 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Sri Lanka's new Deputy High Commissioner at Chennai 
Mr. P.M. Amza recently told us that there is no evidence for 
ongoing transfer of money or arms from Tamil Nadu to the 
LTTE.  However, smuggling for profit may be taking place. 
State police officers have in the past told Post that low- 
key sea-route smuggling of materials such as cycle tires, 
medicines, or fuel might be going on from the southern Tamil 
Nadu districts to the LTTE controlled areas in northern Sri 
Lanka. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
50-60 REFUGEES CONTINUE TO LAND EVERY DAY 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, meanwhile, are 
continuing to flow into Tamil Nadu.  Since January, 4540 
refugees have landed, bringing the official number of 
refugees in the Tamil Nadu refugee camps to approximately 
55,000.  According to the Organization for Eelam Refugee 
Rehabilitation (OfERR) founder-treasurer Chandrahasan, 
however, the actual number of refugees in the camps is 9,000 
more, since not all of those living in the camps are 
registered on the official rolls.  UNHCR Repatriation 
officer Vadeja Bharati informed Post that the flow is 
continuing.  "On average, it is 50-60 per day.  On some days 
over a hundred come in," he said.  Sri Lankan Deputy High 
Commissioner Amza believes that the LTTE is pushing the 
Tamils of the island to flee to Tamil Nadu. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
POOR CONDITIONS OF CAMPS, GOTN ALLOTS SOME MONEY 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶10. (SBU) Observing the new wave of refugees, the media has 
focused on the dilapidated housing at the Mandapam transit 
camp in Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu, where all 
refugees are initially lodged.  "The civic facilities in the 
camps are creating nightmares for the residents," reported 
the New Indian Express on June 6.  According to the report, 
many of the 1,955 houses in the transit camp are unsuitable 
for living and have no electricity.  The report also 
mentioned that leaking pipes, overflowing septic tanks, and 
lack of good drinking water have made the refugees 
vulnerable to diseases.  On Chief Minister Karunanidhi's 
tasking, two state ministers visited the Mandapam camp in 
June and reported the need to repair houses, toilets, roads 
and electrical lines.  The GoTN sanctioned $60,000 for the 
purpose, although it is uncertain whether the amount is 
sufficient to meet the need. 
 
------------------------------------ 
TAMIL NADU POLICE SCREENING REFUGEES 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶11. (SBU) The Hindu newspaper reported on June 29 that a 
 
CHENNAI 00001426  003 OF 003 
 
 
sizeable number of refugees given asylum in Tamil Nadu had 
undergone "self defense" training by the LTTE before 
arriving in India.  The Director General of Tamil Nadu 
police has provided assurances that the state police have 
adequate mechanisms to screen the refugees.  Only confirmed 
refugees are allowed to occupy the open camps at Mandapam. 
Those whose antecedents are doubtful are quarantined at a 
separate camp in Mandapam for one month.  If any suspects 
are found to have been trained by militant groups in Sri 
Lanka or are drop-outs of such a group, they are sent to one 
of two "Special Camps" at Chengalpattu or Cheyyar. 
According to the Director General's press release of June 
30, 24 Sri Lankan Tamils are lodged in the Special Camp at 
Chengalpattu of whom six are LTTE drop-outs or agents, three 
are members of other militant groups, 11 are smugglers and 
four are involved in criminal cases. 
 
¶12. (SBU) COMMENT: Given the backdrop of the Indian mood 
change that occurred after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in 
1991, the major Tamil Nadu political parties' expressions of 
concern for Sri Lankan Tamils are at best lip service.  As 
long as the LTTE is seen to be engaged in provocative and 
terrorist activities, sympathy for their cause will be 
subdued.  However, if the conflict between the Sri Lankan 
army and the Tamils were to cause major human rights 
violations against Tamils, the DMK might force the GOI to 
pressure the GoSL to use restraint. 
 
¶13. (SBU) One characteristic feature of the small Tamil 
parties that support the LTTE is their leaders' strategy to 
raid the low-class and low-caste mass base of the Dravidian 
parties.  The Dravidian movement used Tamil linguistic 
chauvinism in the 60's to mobilize support from lower class 
and castes, who are seen as being easily swayed by emotion. 
The pro-LTTE party leaders hoped, and may still be hoping, 
to recreate such mobilization using pan-Tamil sentiments. 
Dr. Ramdoss of the PMK (essentially a party of the most 
backward Vanniar caste), Thirumavalavan of DPI (a party of 
Dalits), Veeramani (representing the pure Dravidian 
movement), and Vaiko (aiming for a "renaissance" of 
authentic Dravidianism), all belong to this category.  On 
the other side, opinion leaders sharply opposed to the pro- 
LTTE parties are those with a more national outlook, and 
many of them are Brahmin by caste.  Jayalalithaa (AIADMK 
chief), N. Ram (Editor, The Hindu), Cho Ramaswamy (Editor 
Thuglak), and Subrahmanian Swamy (Janata Party) all belong 
to this group.  The DMK position on Sri Lanka reflects what 
the party, now an ally of the Congress and a major player on 
the national scene, seems to have learned from its own 
success and the relatively poor showing of the smaller pro- 
LTTE parties in recent state elections - the LTTE has little 
popular support in Tamil Nadu.  END COMMENT 
 
HOPPER