Comments on: General Sarath Fonseka and politics

By: niranjan

niranjan — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:15:51 +0000

SF is an army officer. He is not a politician. The UNP should contest on its own without SF or forming allainces with the JVP. Ranil W will get the support of the minorities since he takes a non-chauvinist line plus a section of the Sinhalese the business community included. The UNP should stick to its principles even though it will cost them the elections.

By: SinchoSL

SinchoSL — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:36:14 +0000

Gama:

why do you think that general SF could be the most powerful leader to govern the country next? SF deserves the highest honour for what he himself sacrified for over 3 decades, but has he ever gained records in srilanken politics so that he can convince the average in sl, that he could become the most powerful leader for us. Should he be the most suitable choice according to you in terms of elemintation of corruption? Are there any other countries in the region where you can feel former millitary leaders as head of states did their best in bringing their countries progress -setting free those from corruption and being able to implement their millitary strategies. We have minorities folks in sl who have been there for ages and their grievances can only be solved only by pragamatic political leaders. MR could achieve to become malaysiaÂ´s Mahathir equivalence
if all other political leaders in the country could support in his efforts in the rapid development process in srilanka. Even if one would not agree with a considerable fraction of ministers in the present regime, there still exist a powerful fraction there. If one could just see how they defended themselves in Geneva sessions recently, this can easily be understandable. SF can only help the country in achieving better disipline in all defence forces in sl. In controlling corruptions, u need to have a good police for the country. If SF WHOLEHEARTEDLY feel about working further for the country even after entering his retirement as an ununiformed highly respected personality, he can help srilanken Police in their work rebuilding disipline. SF is the war hero and he has gained experience only in the defence forces. In this way only SRILANKENS can respect him further as countryÂ´s MOST RESPECTED war hero. If he would become a caricature of totally bankrupted UNP, he can only lose his respect within a shorter period of time.

By: Observer

Observer — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:27:11 +0000

Humanist, may I add…

“Considering the number of “undesirable elements”, too bad there is a shortage of first class tickets to the Bermuda Triangleâ€¦ ”

I think you have solved the mystery. Those planes didn’t crash, but they tried to land in the water. Those silly people buying first class tickets to the ocean…

Oh and it’s not a fight between is Weerya and Maraya. There’s a Sooraya and the Maraya who’s trying to be the Weeraya. But he’s already a Weerya! Wow.. I think I just blew my brains out…

By: Observer

Observer — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:20:17 +0000

Ahhh.. Of course! All politics is farce.. not just ours. Why do you think I love programs like Yes Minister and the Daily Show.
Still I thought a joke should be constructed in a meaningful way. In a stand up situation I’d say you’d probably get an awkward silence with that version.

By: Humanist

Humanist — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:37:57 +0000

Observer, you are missing the point here. Some things about our political life are not about fact, but about farce – man, how can we survive without it?

By: Observer

Observer — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:08:45 +0000

You do realise Bermuda triangle is not a country to have an ambassadorial post? You might want to tweak that joke a little bit so it’s somewhat consistent with geographical facts.

By: Humanist

Humanist — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:50:49 +0000

Curioser and curioser – a mara yudde between weeraya and maraya.

Considering the number of “undesirable elements”, too bad there is a shortage of first class tickets to the Bermuda Triangle…

What next in wonderland?

By: CheeLanka

CheeLanka — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:34:32 +0000

Just heard this wickedly clever new ballad on the streets of Colombo:
Weeraya loku wela
MaRaya baya wela
Mehema giyothin eya
Weerayage Maaraya!

This may be unprintable, but sums up the grim situation pretty well!

By: Justice

Justice — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:38:16 +0000

Lionel’s views and concerns are real.Hope there is a true change of heart and approach by General SF.
If he meant what he said when he addressed the audience in the Washington DC.Does he realise that society need to be demilitarised through out the country for democracy to florish? The need to stand against all forms of fundermentalism including the sinhala buddhist fundermentalism.
One has to question the sincerity of his change of heart.Is this only to be elected or a real statesmanship? Only time will tell.

By: Nimal Sandaruwan

Nimal Sandaruwan — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:29:22 +0000

The West and the “International Community” backed the regime of the MR. However now it is now obvious that have decided that they need a regime change in SL to get rid of the Slobodan Milosevic of Colombo using a “People’s General”. But they know that it will be impossible to perform a “coloured revolution” in Sri Lanka. The main opposition party is so bankrupt and discredited amongst the ordinary Sri Lankans, in that they cannot find someone from their ranks to run for the presidency. That is why, for the first time in history, they have permitted, the ruling elite in Sri Lanka to go for a serving military commander â€“ a person who had been part of an army that brutally killed so many southern youth in 1971, 1989-1990 and in the 35 years of war against oppressed Tamils â€“ as their representative.

The radical, “left”. “liberal” intelligentsia, “human rights” activists in Sri Lanka have been instrumental of such changes of regimes in Sri Lanka in the past (for example in 1994). In 2009-10, it is the “Platform for Democracy” that has accepted the contract for the ruling class and the “international Community”. So you have people like Bopage who is feeling out before joining the campaign.

By: CheeLanka

CheeLanka — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:09:02 +0000

President Bean,
Having read your remark above, Boggles apparently asked his staff to immediately find out where this Bermuda Triangle is, because he has not yet visited this place with his massive entourage!
How we all wish we could give Boggles a one-way, first class ticket there…

By: President Bean

President Bean — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:06:44 +0000

Is it true that President Rajapaksa has appointed General Sarath Fonseka as the Ambassador to the “Bermuda Triangle.”

By: PB

PB — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:31:51 +0000

What exactly is the need and Who’s need it is, is the point here. As SF says it is the controversy on the ownership of the victory. No word about it, he owns a part of it. Yet all the forces men who put their life in to it have that ownership. The glory is of all Sri lankans. And we all pay the tribute to all who worked to gain it. And if a politician claims his part of it in an election people will consider that in voting.
BUT according to what SF says he deserves a lot ( of cource i agree) and HE HAS THE RIGHT TO BETRAY IT ALL AND JOIN THOSE WHO PULLED THE LEG OF THE FRONT THAT LEAD US TO THE VICTORY! PUTTING IT ALL AT RISK AGAIN.just o teach a lesson…. this is absurd.
if he come for election it’s up to the people to decide. but he has no right to join with all these traitors and come as their candidate. Even with this suggestion ( or by letting it to be spread) he had disrupted all the happiness in the victorious minds who enjoy the thought that we are united again.
I thought that the age that our nation suffered due to lack of unity is over. But i’m very distressed that thare are these funny joker fellows who’l betray all glory that they and we as countrymen enjoy for their thick headedeness of for …………..

By: saman

saman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:58:14 +0000

“They say if you can’t beat em, join em! These are good times! I’m just gonna sit back, relax and watch the drama unfold. Meantime enjoy the “kanapita” talks as well â€“ the most enjoyable aspect.”

Well said.

SF feels he is useless after the war.
There is no challange, no sanspence etc. to keep him going as militory man. So he thinks he can have exciting life in politics. Best of luck to him and best luck to JVP and other strike organzers.
Even CEB and GMOA watch out.

By: Susantha

Susantha — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:14:25 +0000

UNP policy must change and accept to work with commitment to destroy Tamil self determination and Tamil national aspirations.Then UNP can easily come to power.

By: Gama

Gama — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:29:58 +0000

We shall not gauge normal SF with SF in Army uniform. During his period as the army commander, he had to work as a strong army commander and operate the Army to the biggest issue we had at that time. He did it well. No military commander in the world could become an ideal commander with zero critics. He might have had to talk with some strategic and stimulating answers to attract young boys to army. Who join the army? Most of them are Sinhala youths. We saw during that period there were queues of youth to join the forces. It is because he strategically addressed the Sinhala youth. It was a requirement at that time. Now the situation is different. We do not see that there are reasons for General SF to deviate from specifications of a democratic leader. Sri Lanka should have a strong leader to destroy corruption, to restore political decency and establish discipline in the country.
The surprising thing is all argue for probable bad side. Why can’t we see any probable good out comes? There is no doubt General SF will become the best President in Sri Lanka run the country well and better than anybody else.

By: Observer

Observer — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:01:21 +0000

They say if you can’t beat em, join em! These are good times! I’m just gonna sit back, relax and watch the drama unfold. Meantime enjoy the “kanapita” talks as well – the most enjoyable aspect.

By: C W Fernando

C W Fernando — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:51:22 +0000

Ranil is trying to put Gen. Fonseka on to Gen. Janaka’s boat.

By: Kumar David

Kumar David — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:44:21 +0000

OK it is clear that on balance Lionel does not like a Sarath Fonseka (SF) presidential candidature. But I think I am correct in saying that Lionel does not like a Mahinda Rajapakse (MR) candidature either. So Lionel’s article does not take us one jot further in answering the crucial question ‘What Next?’.

Let me say that it is too early to make a decision on the opposition candidate yet; of course discussion, and hence Lionel’s contribution, is welcome.

What we need to focus on NOW are the following:
(1) Consolidating a joint opposition (JO) since the principal task of the moment is resisting the trend to dictatorship and the erosion of democracy
(2) Securing some understanding about how the Minorities and the Left can enter a working arrangement with the JO – who the candidate is, will have a bearing on this
(3) Since SF, if fielded, and MR will split the chauvinist and the Sinhala vote, would it be better to field a Tamil candidate in the first stage? (I understand there is provision for indicating a second preference on the ballot – is this correct?)
(4) AND MOST IMPORTANT, using the election as a launch-pad for consolidating a movement with 6 years worth of stamina, whatever the outcome of the two elections, to persist with the tasks mentioned in (1).

kumar

By: Sinhala_Voice

Sinhala_Voice — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:29:56 +0000

There is NO DOUBT that G.S.C.Fonseka is a genuine perosn in ALL sense of the word.

But the question is WHAT can he do in power other than topple Mahinda Rajapakse administration.

If you think he will just disappear after toppling Mahinda Rajapaske WELL YOU WOULD BE QUITE WRONG TO THINK THAT……..

Best scenario for Sri Lanka is a government with a Parliamentary Majority of 2/3 and a President who is willing to conduct and participate in a dialogue to solve the Political Rules of the Game…..That is ALL.