WikiLeaks: Influencing Rajapaksa ‘Requires Psychology’ Akashi Emphasised
“Since Norway preferred not to deliver the private messages to the Sri Lankan government to preserve its facilitator role, participants accepted that ambassadors in Colombo should meet with Rajapaksa separately. Participants rejected an EU suggestion for high-level visits by Co-Chair officials from capitals. German Ambassador to Sri Lanka Weerth raised concern that these visits are often “spun” by the government to imply international support for its actions. Ambassador Blake disagreed, stating Boucher’s last visit led to positive results. Akashi seconded this view, but emphasized that influencing Rajapaksa ‘requires psychology,’ as his southern constituency is nationalistic and irritated by what it perceives as outside interference.” the US Embassy Oslo informed Washington.
Placing a comment the US Embassy Oslo wrote “the The Oslo meetings offered a good opportunity to exchange views on current strategy and dispel the rumors that Co-Chair unity is fragmenting. While participants agreed that there is little to no progress to report since the Co-Chairs met in Washington in November, there was also a sense that the rising economic consequences of the conflict, the Tigers, stronger than expected showing in recent engagements in the north and east, are for the first time exerting political pressures on President Rajapaksa from his southern base to give peace a chance and address the human rights problem. Participants also agreed that the Co-Chairs continue to have an important role and must press forward in their efforts to encourage a credible All Parties outcome, greater progress on human rights, and greater humanitarian access in the north and east.”
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