Cablegate: Suspected Ltte Suicide Bomber Surrenders at U.S.

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001930

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DS AND SA

SENSITIVE

E.O/ 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER CE LTTE
SUBJECT: Suspected LTTE suicide bomber surrenders at U.S.
Embassy

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On November 7, 2005 an individual
claiming to be an LTTE suicide bomber came to AmEmbassy
Colombo and requested asylum. After an interview to determine
that there was no threat or information involving U.S. facilities or
personnel he was given into the custody of the police. The EAC has
concluded that no change to Embassy security posture is necessary.
End Summary.

2. (SBU) On Monday November 7, 2005 RSO was advised that an
individual claiming to be an LTTE suicide cadre (Black Tiger) was
at the front gate requesting to speak to an American.

3. (SBU) RSO conducted the interview through an LES Embassy
employee fluent in Tamil. The Subject identified himself as
JEEVARATNAM ; DOB: AUGUST 25th 1983
KATTANKUDDY, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka; National Identity Card
Number: 832383171V. Subject stated that he wanted to leave the
LTTE and requested assistance going to the United States. Subject
was accompanied by H.H.R. Chandana, National Identity Card No.
673500927 who is employed by the Sun Asian Travel Company.

4. (SBU) Subject advised that he was an LTTE suicide cadre who
been assigned to kill either Karuna Amman (breakaway LTTE
Eastern Commander) or Douglas Devananda (leader of anti-LTTE
Eelam People?s Democratic Party, EPDP). Subject advised that he
had voluntarily joined the LTTE when he was fifteen after hearing
recruitment speeches in his school in the Batticaloa district of Sri
Lanka. He stated that in 2003 he was accepted into the Black Tigers
as a suicide cadre. After his acceptance he underwent training in th
northern part of Sri Lanka. The training included a course which he
identified as ?brainwashing? which took the form of a two hour
class once a week over a six month period.

5. (SBU) Subject stated that because he is a Batticaloa (Eastern)
Tamil he was sent to Batticaloa to find ways to get closer to Karuna
Amman and assassinate him. He was also assigned to travel
between Vavuniya in north central Sri Lanka and Batticaloa to
engage in reconnaissance and also to identify some contacts of
Karuna or Douglas Devananda.

6. (SBU) Subject states that the reason he wanted to leave the LTTE
was related to his family. He asked permission from the LTTE to go
home and see his family but they refused to grant him leave on
several occasions, with the explanation he was working for an
important unit. At that point he decided that he wanted to leave the
LTTE.

7. (SBU) According to Subject, he was recently assigned to do a
reconnaissance of H.H.R Chandana (who accompanied him to the
embassy) and kill him. Subject advised that the LTTE suspected
that Chandana, a Sinhalese living in Batticaloa married to a Tamil, i
a government spy. Subject alleges that when he discovered that
Chandana?s wife is a close relative of his and that Chandana is not
an informant for the government forces he returned without killing
him. He later sought Chandana?s assistance in escaping the LTTE.
Subject then decided to approach the U.S. Embassy and request
asylum.

8. (SBU) Subject reiterated several times that he was unaware of any
threat to U.S. Government or facilities. At the conclusion of this
interview, subject and companion were released into the custody of
the Sri Lankan Police.

9. (SBU) Shortly after subject was taken into custody an LTTE
suicide vest was found in vicinity of the Prime Minister?s residence
which is 100 meters from the Embassy. Multiple security force
contacts have told us that the recovered LTTE suicide vest does not
appear to be related to the Embassy walk-in although they continue
to investigate. Security forces also noted that their initial questio
indicates that he is a LTTE Black Tiger. Multiple government
sources also maintain that the walk-in was in fact trying to seek US
assistance and was not at the U.S. Embassy as part of an effort to
carry out an operation against the Embassy.

10. (SBU) The Emergency action committee met on November 9
and determined that, based on current information, no change in
Mission security posture is necessary. However, we have briefed our
counter-surveillance teams and guards in order to increase
awareness.
11. (SBU) On the afternoon of 9 November RSO met with the
Director of Sri Lanka?s Internal Intelligence service. The Director
advised that his officers are assisting the police in this investigat
He re-iterated that there is no threat to the American Embassy or its
personnel. There has been brief mention of the walk-in in the local
press. In response to press inquiries, we have limited our comments
to confirmation that a walk-in was handed over to the police.

LUNSTEAD

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