Voting for Fonseka for all the wrong reasons?
The Presidential election of 2010 has brought out some of the most glaring delusions and dilemmas which shape the political stance of the Opposition, and which confront the voter, in particular. The run up to the election of 26th January has largely shown how bankrupt the political elements opposing President Rajapaksa are, which indeed is a great political tragedy – for while President Rajapaksa’s track record concerning notions of good governance is somewhat dismal, the alternative that is offered to the voter in the form of Sarath Fonseka and his political allies, is abysmal. In supporting Fonseka, numerous problems are conveniently forgotten, and people seem to be imagining that a country under the leadership of Fonseka would be a very beautiful, splendid and different one – where corruption doesn’t exist, where ‘executives’ will not rule, and where human rights would be guaranteed to all. Fonseka promises ‘change’, but it lacks coherence, direction and is frighteningly unsustainable, in the long term.
The choice of voting in President Mahinda Rajapaksa for a second term would have been an easy one by any measure, if Ranil Wickremasinghe had been his opposing candidate. The former is popular for defeating the LTTE, the latter is not so for reasons we all know. But the entry of General Fonseka changed all that, and all of a sudden, you were (are) faced with two ‘war heroes’; one who gave the much required political leadership, the other who gave a brave military leadership.
However, at the time of Fonseka’s entry into politics, ‘good governance’ wasn’t what he really wanted to ensure. His entry was largely motivated by personal grievances, even animosity and hatred towards the Rajapaksas (especially Mahinda and Gotabaya), as his famous and (again) controversial letter of resignation of November, 2009 very clearly shows. It didn’t take long for the man to call President Rajapaksa a ‘tin-pot dictator’; a statement that placed Fonseka firmly, on par, with the rest of the politicians who are well known for their outrageous remarks and character vilification. This wasn’t the change that was required; and was disadvantageous for many who loved Fonseka, for he was a man who could have received greater admiration than that received by our run-of-the-mill politician. Furthermore, it was never explained to us, why this man who claimed to have forgiven the likes of Ranil, Mangala, Ravi and Kiriella for their past utterances was unable to forgive, with what seems to be a rather delicate, humane and forgiving heart of his, a President and a Defence Secretary who gave him all the necessary powers to fight the LTTE to the end.
The suspicion that Fonseka is in it for personal revenge, and not really to ensure democracy, was made very clear when he stated that Gotabaya Rajapaksa made ‘stupid’ orders to shoot LTTE leaders who would try to surrender with white flags; as was told by him to the Sunday Leader. Sarath Fonseka, it should be noted, did not retract what he said. He merely clarified, and thereafter reiterated his point in subsequent interviews. Frederica Jansz, to her great credit, stood by her story. This was followed by a most coruscating account of the final stages of the war, written by DBS Jeyaraj; in which he alleges that it was Fonseka’s Special Task Force personnel who shot the surrendering LTTE leaders, and not Brig. Shavendra Silva’s 58th Division, and certainly not under the orders of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. This compelling and most damaging accusation leveled by DBS Jeyaraj was never countered squarely by the Fonseka camp.
The reasons are quite obvious. While Fonseka’s sole intention has been to pin down Gotabaya, he finds himself utterly lonely within his camp when it comes to the issue of ‘war crimes’. Apart from, perhaps, MP Sajith Premadasa (and Karu Jayasuriya, who was part of the government but crossed over before May 2009), there has been no credible voice from the Opposition that has come out decisively, declaring that the Armed forces did not commit war crimes during the conflict, or that they will be defended; only a reluctant ‘thanks’ by Ranil, and that hilarious spectacle when Mangala thanked Ranil for not signing the Rome Statute. And the UNP, by and large, has taken a very calculated approach, under Ranil’s leadership, by remaining silent on the issue; knowing very well that ‘war crimes’ is the only issue on which the government could be stumped, brought down.
But the danger in being silent is this: ‘war crimes’ could also be the only weapon left for Ranil to bring down Fonseka, in case Fonseka is elected, and international pressure is brought to bear upon Fonseka. And at that moment, Ranil would have no qualms whatsoever of sending his gallant leader packing. In a sense, this could be a trap that Fonseka has fallen into, and will find difficult to get out of, unless of course he adopts a military stance; which would not be too difficult with the JVP backing him to the hilt. And an Opposition which is silent on ‘war crimes’ is today supporting the man accused of committing war crimes; which raises a lot of troubling concerns.
What is equally alarming, and this adds to the confusion inherent in the Fonseka-camp today, is the support he received from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). The TNA was the proxy, the alter ego, of the LTTE. And its claim over the years has been that the Sri Lankan Army was a most brutal one; which raped and murdered Tamil women, girls and children, which killed innocent Tamil civilians, and which carried out a campaign of genocide against them. How then could the majority within the TNA come to believe that this man who was part of that alleged brutal outfit, who had ordered the killing of their political masters carrying white flags, was fit enough to lead the nation of which they were citizens? Is there a hidden ploy to elect Fonseka and oust him; which would greatly benefit the demands of the TNA which still come out now and then wrapped up in the old and ragged secessionist garb.
Isn’t there also a grand game of deception at play here? Fonseka remains absolutely silent on the 13th Amendment or a ‘political solution’ (silence which is quite amusing, for a man who talked about going beyond 13A during his first press conference), and TNA remains mum on what it exactly needs in terms of a political solution: the intention of both being, it seems, to get into power and ‘take it from there’. And this mutual approach is greatly disturbing, and the question posed by Prof. Sumanasiri Liyanage whether the TNA is getting ready for the second phase of its Eelam struggle is a pertinent one. On the other hand, TNA’s deception has virtually thrown it into a political dustbin. It is far removed from what I believe is the most pragmatic two-point programme it could have adopted, as pointed out by Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka – i.e. full implementation of the 13th Amendment within a specific time-frame and a move towards equal rights legislation. And while Rajapaksa offers 13A as a start, TNA chooses a man who doesn’t promise anything. This raises reasonable suspicion as to the ulterior motives of both Fonseka and the TNA; suspicion that promises nothing in terms of ethnic reconciliation and greater unity. Is this acceptable ‘change’?
And what of political stability and democracy with the JVP’s overpowering support? (did the TNA forget?). How can there be greater reconciliation with a JVP that does not even believe in 13A which plays such a prominent role within the alliance? In the face of the JVP, terms such as ‘13A’ or ‘political solution’ are redundant. And when you consider the eclectic mix of parties within the Opposition having contradictory and conflicting ideas, the most immediate problem that a Fonseka-presidency would face is not ethnic reconciliation but inter-party reconciliation. And such a situation takes us back, rather than forward, as a nation.
That Fonseka promises us nothing much in terms of getting rid of corruption which is rampant within the Rajapaksa administration is clear by the unaddressed and unmet accusations of serious corruption charges leveled against Fonseka and his relations. And more importantly, that Fonseka lacks a proper vision as regards the rule of law, human rights and the independence of the judiciary is also seen by the role that is played by former CJ Sarath N. Silva; a brilliant legal mind which gave all types of dubious, even flawed, judgments during his tenure. The Sunday Leader, which editorially supports Fonseka, calls him the ‘bully’ in its recent edition. And Silva adds greater confusion when he says what would really happen if Fonseka is elected is not the ‘abolishing’ of the Executive Presidency (because Fonseka cannot ‘abolish himself’) but rather a whittling down of the powers of the President.
And if Fonseka’s promise of the rule of law and human rights is to be realized, I do not think it can be through Silva’s magic wand: given Silva’s tragic attitude towards international human rights law in particular, as signified most pitifully in his Singarasa case judgment of 2006. Can Fonseka be considered to be really thinking of human rights protection and the rule of law when he gets the assistance of a man who thought, one fine day in 2006 that the ICCPR rights are not part of Sri Lankan law, and then forgot about it and thought that they were in fact part of our law in 2008?
Conclusion
The current support for Fonseka, it should be noted, is driven by a lot of anti-Rajapaksa sentiment, and only that. There is no cohesion within the Opposition camp. Some support Fonseka, and only him. Others support those supporting him, and not Fonseka. And many of the parties which are rallying behind Fonseka do so, not because he is the hope for the future, but because their sole intention is to throw Rajapaksa out. Such a political alternative does not promise hope. Rather it leads to a lot of uncertainty, doubt and eventually, internal friction; and it could easily dissipate causing much chaos.
Mano Ganeshan, talking to Al Jazeera, said something that he will never be able cry out from Fonseka’s political platform; i.e. it is ‘not that we believe totally in Sarath Fonseka … we have no choice’. This is a damning indictment. Listening to Mano, a different thought struck me: is this Fonseka-campaign a move to oust Rajapaksa, or really, a move to oust Ranil Wickremasinghe? Is Rajapaksa the true ‘villain’ here, or is it an exaggerated anti-Rajapaksa cry that shows its bitterness, by implication, over Ranil? This again throws up a lot of doubt on what this Fonseka coalition is really gearing towards, in a post-election period. Ousting Rajapaksa would never address the underlying problem of a ‘leadership deficit’ within the UNP or the Opposition, which is also a national problem today; it would only exacerbate it.
Much of this would not have been the case if the UNP had been able to find for itself a credible and popular leader apart from Ranil, who could promise the kind of change that is truly needed today. This has not happened. Until that happens, until there is greater vision and clarity as to what the Opposition wants to do with this nation and her people, continuity, I am sad to say, is a safer option than change.
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Kalana:
Sri Lankan’s are faced with a very difficult choice. It is like between the devil and the deep blue sea.
In what way that MR is better than SF or even TNA I wonder? The promises of MR have been nothing but shallow and unreliable, to put it mildly. He had this golden opportunity to bring peace after a torturous 30-year war but what he did to innocent civilians is despicable and ruthless, locking them up in internment camps. Instead of ushering towards a period of peace his ego got the better of him. It is now an acknowledged fact that the IDPs were released not because of the vociferous local and foreign demands but the mere entry into the “battlefield” by SF against MR did the trick. Right or wrong, the SF candidacy had forced MR to come to terms with reality in many of the burning issues that confronts SL. Now MR is gasping for the breath and there are many who believe that for a man who squandered his chances through his egoistic journey, having won the war, and as many and I did, he is facing the same fate as Winston Churchill after WW2.
Yes, I agree with you that many who support SF do so to teach MR some lessons. Frankly I do not even have the slightest remorse for a man who jockeyed with his destiny and failed to do the right thing when he had the chance to do so. After all, between two evils, isn’t it politically savy to line behind one to defeat the other? In that, I am with Mano.
Excellent article. I think you have articulated what a lot of Sri Lankans have been thinking. The Fonseka camp, in my opinion is running on nothing but an anti-Rajapaksa platform ie hate is the driving force and not policy. That is really dangerous.
Very good analysis. There is also the correct reason for not voting SF into power: the only way of herding his cats, should he win, is martial law. My own assessment is that an SF win is unlikely.
Jansee,
Thanks. But how about Fonseka’s 10 promises? You could have easily come up with a better manifesto, don’t you think? If that is what the Opposition could offer us, god help us! Wasn’t Fonseka part of that team which ‘locked up’ the Tamils in the North? Was he that lone and courageous individual who fought hard for the rights of the Tamils within the Rajapaksa regime? If Rajapaksa is so bad (am not saying he isn’t), I also wonder why the choice is such a tough and difficult one. The more you probe into this question of why this choice is such a difficult one, the easier it would be to figure out the real problems of the fonseka-camp. And then try to figure out whether those problems could be resolved in any democratic manner with a former military man at the top.
Sampah, thank you.
Dear Srilankans,
Please Go and Vote.
It would be a sheer stupidity to vote against Rajapakshe.
Don’t let those LTTE monsters come out again.
-An Indian from Tamilnadu
Correct analysis. SL will never get any better by electing either of these. My major problem with Fonseka is lack of operational machanisam to execute what he is willing to do if he is elected. No UNF or JVP will work with Fonseka for long as they do today will leads to mess in administration. Mahinda will accelarate what he is doing now in correuption and lawlessness during his next turm. This desaster situation will never end up for next 5-10 years until we find a correct leader and people undestand politics beyond party politics.
Finally have to ask all to VOTE RESPONSIBLY.
Sri Lankans,
If you are not seeing this Generals behavior and interior motive based on hate and vote for him, you desrve the hell that is going to come to you. I do not think you are such a foolish nation. Gotabaya and M.R are visionaries not just leaders, they belong to the category of Lincoln in America.
Vote for a leader who has shown results, not promises.
Nice article. Fonseka goes to jail with Ranil’s help after international inquiry. Who will be your President then.
Time to think about the country but not the party, friends.
Dear kalana,
thanks for this analyses. The reasons put forward to support both the main candidates seem to be flawed. Highlighting past success or creating a phobai about the future. There isn’t a proper analyses on the future policies on education,health,economy etc.
Dear Uuoflanka said
if what you propose happens
“Fonseka goes to jail with Ranil’s help after international inquiry. Who will be your President then.”
Mahinda and Gota too will have to join him.
Who will be your president then?
SF is with the most ruthless killers of SL.JVP on one side,UNP on the other and TNA backing.We have to understand the fact that TNA did not change their Manifesto of 2005 and they still have the same demands.They include that all the demands by LTTE terrorists.Unfortunately SF blinded with his greedyness for power signed for that.Ranil the biggest traitor who betrayed our heroes at Millenium city and then tried to save LTTE leadership from annihilation by going to Noraway during the last battle now put forward SF to get power again.Our people with short memories forgot how MR organized from our village people to commanders to confront LTTE .This kind of organizing power no body had before.So the whole SL was after our forces except the traitors of UNP and Tigers to stop bomb blasts everywhere.SF would never done anything without Gota and the President and our country forever thank Gota and President also for the standing agianst the huge pressure by the West who thought we are their backyard.We saw huge demonstrations,newspaper head lines on every day basis in UK .USA and in all western countries asking stop the war to save LTTE leaders .That was the reason all foreign ministers came to us and press President to stop war.But Gota and President who got real backbones(Ranil has a worm there) stood firm and kicked their asses and this was in SL first time after Seethawaka Rajasingha and we have appreciate it and vote for the President and not for a betrayer who betrayed our war heroes(Sudu kodi)and Ranil who is a born traitor
Everyone seems to forget that the reason for Fonseka to help annihilate the LTTE was not his love for the country but his unforgiving vengeance against the LTTE for the suicide attempt to kill him. Vengeance is now directed at Mahinda for depriving Fonseka of his ambition. Electing such a vengeful man as President would only bring chaos and destruction to our beloved country.
YES, NICE ANALYSE. U REALLY GOT WHAT PEOLES HEAR SAYS. FONSEKA WAS A HERO. BUT HIS HYPOCRATIC AGENDA FOR POWER AND PERSONAL GAIN PUT HIM INTO PROLTTE’S. SF NEVER WIN HEAR OF MAJORITY SINHALESE. IF FOR THE MISFORTUNE U GET POWER,SINHALESE NEVER ALLOW U TO CONTINUE.U BETTER FOR PRO-LTTER’S.GO THERE AND HAVE LIFE IN NORTH GIVING ALL AGAIN TO TERRORISTS.
As for myself, I’m voting against Fonseka, not necessarily for Mahinda. Fonseka is the candidate endorsed by Tamil racists, Muslim extremists, the Tamil refugee diaspora, NGOs, EU and the US – all of whom had worked against our war victory and economic independence.
As for democratic reforms and eliminating nepotism and corruption, I’m resigned to the reality that this is not going to happen in my lifetime. Going by Fonseka’s track record with Hicorp, fundamental rights cases, sexual abuse of women soldiers etc, he’s going to be worse than Mahinda.
I believe in cordial relations with the West, but China is more important to us. The West are yesterday’s powers, and China tomorrow’s. There should be no confusion as to which horse we should back. Mahinda is clearly favoured by China, and there must be a reason for it.
[i]`The Tamil diaspora wants Mahinda to be defeated,` said David Poopalapillai, national spokesman for the Canadian Tamil Congress. `The climate would change and the rays of hope would come. It would bring some change in the country in the political climate,` he said. [/i]
We’re not going to let Fonseka be elected and bring rays of hope to the likes of Poopapillai. If he does get elected with sacks of cash from the West and NGOs, they should prepare for a national uprising. We will not allow an Iranian Shah to be installed in our country.
Hell, I have no difficulty in choosing between the two; If I could vote, it would be for none other than Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Stop this pretentious, politically correct nonsense. Simply put, the terrorists have finally been defeated, and Sri-Lanka – whether you doomsday people want to admit it or not – is a much safer and happier place.
So, don’t just sit there like a bump on a log. Man, let’s roll up our sleeves, and work for our country! Forget about money, let’s do some REAL work this time, boys and gals.
Deal All,
Anyway We cant say both are 100% perfect or not. There some issues with both parties. Thats human been.
Thing is another 6 years is too much for MR. My openion is any president we have to restricet only for 6 years. Otherwise they are playing hell. We have enough experience with earlier ones. Hope all are agree with me. Then we have no choice. This time we have to vote SF. Next time if he be the same we can go with another candicate.
Quite surprised to see the level of importance most of the commentators here have placed here on unsubstantiated accusations on Sarath Fonseka to say he doesnt deserve to be elected.
Even if we assume all those are true, still Mahinda Rajapaksa has been a failure in many things which he himself has promised except for the war – which is never a single person’s achievement but rather includes each one of us for whatever the sacrifices we all have made in different contexts – and he expects people to vote him as a “gratitude”.
The only reason why a vote to Sarath Fonseka, even if it is a protest vote against Mahinda Rajapakse, would be worth is that it gives the message to politicians that Sri Lankan citizens no longer tolerate inefficiency & impunity at the highest level rather “if you are not up to the requirement – the door is open for you”.
This will give a stronger message in the case of a regime change thaat even Sarath Fonseka will have to be mindful and responsible – unlike Rajapaksa has been – as president or else he will meet the same fate at the next election.
So we give the message that there is no “by default’ election or second term – but only on performance and our vote is a responsible vote.
Do you want MR to continue his old ways for another 6 years? I do not thing so. simple answer is we need a change. we need t try out something different. Le Quan yui is not a popular among people who have liberel viewes. but he had a dicepline to bring singapoer to the status which is in right now. if we do not try out different conmbinations we will not become a first world country ever. remeber if SF is elected this is only through peoples votes. forget about his miltary back ground and he is retired and ask for a legitimate mandate. we have a chance to bring up a diceplene society where sri lankans never had before.
Sri Lankans will never let the ego of this confused retired army general to drag the country to another dark age again. He should pack up his things to request political asylum by January 27th.
goood artical thanks.If fonseka is elected, SLFP and their alliance will bring legislation in parliament to abolish the presidency (this parliament or the next) and the UNP and their alliance will willingly support such legislation. Then military option is the only option left fonseka, the scary thing is the whole military is not behind him and we will have a disastrous division in the military. Nice work patricia! the expert in regime change.
my sympathy is towards the unp,but i support mahinda . i do not want military democracy ,and dictatorship of the proletariat.i predict 60% for mahinda,30% for fonseka.slfp votes wont split,unp votes will split,many would not vote.jvp has ,the maximum 200000 .tna is splitt,s.l.tamil vote is split.s.l.an tamils of indian origin are for mahinda.rauf hakkeem is not hon.ashroff. ranjit de mel berlin
The forthcoming Sri Lankan Presidential elections can be viewed as a Chess board with hidden hands manipulating the Opposition’s pieces. Who are these “hidden hands”? The TNA backed by the Tamil diaspora and defeated LTTE, the Norwegians, certain top politicians of the Democratic Party in USA which had donations poured into their coffers during the US Presidential elections in 2008 by the Tamil Organizations in USA that supported terrorists LTTE, the UN which is influenced by Navi Pillai – a Tamil herself and a sympathizer of the terrorits LTTE, various NGO’s that showed sympathy toward the LTTE but kept quiet when it came to atrocities committed against innocent civilians by the LTTE terrorists over the past three decades, certain Canadian, UK and Australian politicians who have a large number of Tamils in their constituencies, Tamil Nadu politics heralded by Karunanidhi and other jokers like himself and a number of other parties with hidden agenda against a united Sri Lanka. The idea of supporting Sarath Fonseka is to be able to create mayhem once again in the Island so that the remnants of the terrorists will once again be able to raise their ugly heads and embark on their third phase of the Eelam struggle. And with the country in chaos with the Sinhalese people and parties divided, this will be the best opportunity for them to score. Moreover, with Sarath Fonseka and the traitors that back him who are willing to give up everything that the Sri Lanka Military gained by defeating the terrorist LTTE, the country will eventually be split and the terrorist elements will be able to declare their separate state with the backing of all these “hidden hands” that will not stop helping them achieve their goal. The most sensible thing for the patriot Sri Lankan people to do is to ensure a win for President Rajapakse and ensure that these “hidden hands” are severed once and for all. On his part, Pres. Rajapakse should pardon Sarath Fonseka who can then embark on a decent political career without aligning himself with the UNP or JVP but groom himself to be seen by the people as a respectable candidate to contest the Presidential elections in future. On the other hand, Sarath Fonseka can still go back home to America after the current election results are announced. As for Ranil W, he will be recognized as the longest serving Leader of the Opposition breaking the record held by Anura Bandaranaike.
Very good analysis.
An army man is not suitable to run the country. Fonseka may have played an important role in the victory, but at the moment he is in bed with the very people who were opposing the war and ridiculing him. I cannot see how the policies of the various parties that have crowded together behind Fonseka could have an agreement on anything if they come to power. They are such disparate elements. The end result would be instability for the country.
Kalana:
TQ for your comments.
Soon after the war with the LTTE was over and despite the widespread concern over the heavy civilian casualties I, like many others, hoped that MR would now usher the country towards peace and reconciliation. Pray tell me, whether the South or the North, what peace and reconciliation had been forthcoming? Instead, he ruthlessly and mercilessly imprisoned 300,000 of his own citizens. The was was waged, and mind you to this MR beats his loud drums on same, with a cry to release the people from treachery but he not only lied but his act was nothing more than utter disgust, with people who supposedly liberated having guns pointed at them and locked up in caged camps.
One reason, and only one reason that springs to my mind. For whatever reason SF is challenging MR, and as many have voiced as for personal reasons, it was this challenge that finally made MR relent and see his own utter foolishness in not taking the Tamil civilians into his confidence and extend his hands of friendship. Today, almost all the extremists of the South are labeling the TNA with all sorts of names. Where were all these zealots and newsmedia in voicing the concern of the IDPs who were locked in those camps. And enough of that crap that it was to weed out LTTE remnants and clearing the mines. The LTTEs have long ago bolted and those who were left were only civilians and quite funny isn’t it, the moment the challenge by SF became apparent, the IDPs were freed.
I am for a bright new SL where all can live in peace and harmony but if you ask me, this man MR is nothing more than a charade. I wonder what did he do with the APRC proposals? May be it was some divine intervention that while he was getting away with his dreams on the clouds as unstoppable the rains did pour to dampen his spirits and for a good measure I belief.
Neither deserve my vote!
voters should elect one of these two. There is no other alternatives.Politics played by MR is known while SF´S politics is not known. Keepingthe same leader for another 6 years as several of you have already pointed out, is not fine for the country, after all when looking at all the degree of the abuses that have come to light these days. Alone, the Mervin´s thuggery to be in action further and further without bringing him to jail can be the best example for any simple citizen of the country to feel that current leader ´s governance is obviously bound with lawlessness. And the worst of the worst has been funds abuse that were donated for the sake of tsunami victims many of who still remain without proper shelters. And all other funds abuses in terms of whatever the chinathanya or building houses for army men.. as citizen of the coutnry it is must thatthey need to consider all these when using their votes this time. If you donthave a big choice, it is best to give new comer a chance rather than electing known devil. As a retired army co he could better lead the nation reducing the corruption and using all those funds for the development of th coutnry. Even if one feels pay hikes of 10k rps is an unthinkable sum, perhaps, it can easily be done, if all the funds that have been abused could better be used for the develoment ofthe country and to provide all relief for the poor masses who re the majority.
we need a stable country for the next few years specially to confront the west n diaspora allegations, only MR can provide it!!
Indeed a good analysis !
We actually could have gone deeper in to both parties activities – we all know that Rajapakse is no saint, nor the best governor one could dream of. However, given the two options, I totally agree that he would be a man with a better mission than SF and the people around him. At least we see some development after the disastrous time we had under Chandrika K.
jansee,
Thanks. Re. your point about the ‘crap’ about weeding out the LTTE, wasn’t it Fonseka who said that that should be the policy? Why was he so disgruntled when he heard MR say that the Army is too powerful and that further recruitment would have a damaging effect? Why was Fonseka so upset when GR and MR did not want to give him too much power in terms of command responsibility over the Armed Forces? Did Fonseka want so much authority and power simply to release the innocent civilians in the North? I seriously don’t think so, and he certainly doesn’t have the moral right, now, to claim that MR has taken too much time to release the civilians. The APRC, I agree, was somewhat hilarious; in that it took so much time for it to come out with an ‘interim proposal’ which talked about the need to implement 13A as a start. But what does Fonseka promise us? While he is silent on the issue, he is pretty vague when he says that he would begin a reconciliation process. Isn’t it a reinventing of the same wheel? And going by the manifesto put out by the two, MR’s is far more clear and specific on the issue. In a sense, what many have forgotten is that whatever one might say about grand solutions to the conflict, if we cannot begin with 13A, we will never begin anything in the first place. A majority, at this moment, I do not think readily support anything that goes way beyond 13A. To talk of anything beyond 13A is therefore unrealistic – and that is why Fonseka, by once saying that going beyond 13A is necessary and then being silent about it, causes alot of confusion in many of us. And what has been the position of his main legal-man in the camp, Sarath N Silva? Silva thinks that it’s difficult to implement 13A – as he said just before leaving office, whereas before that, I think, he mumbled ’13 plus’ (whatever that means). So you would see how utterly confused the Opposition camp is on this matter. MR, on the other hand, has been more specific on what he can give (even though I agree, that he has been foot-dragging since May-2009). However, he has reached a point (may be thanks to Fonseka’s entry into politics, as you would put it), where he has to deliver now. We can never imagine what politicians would do when they come to power. But if it’s a choice between MR’s clarity vs. SF’s incoherence and confusion, I would go with the former.
Kalana:
Good day to you.
Looking at the profile of both candidates, there cannot be any doubt that MR stamps his mark as an experienced and astute politician. Who can forget the radically racial statements SF mad when he was the army commander? What did MR do as the President and CIC? Even if we are to go with the argument that SF was either wholly or partly responsible for the misery of the IDPs, what was MR as President and CIC doing? I would agree that both are the obverse and reverse of the same coin but as President, MR is answerable and not SF.
Yes, SF has entered the arena with a full force of animosity towards the Rajapakse brothers. It is quite obvious. However, whether this is good or bad is debatable. Put it this way. There can be nor certainty that SF would fulfill his pledges. There is only hope hanging on a thin line that he would keep his promises. This, at least, talks of the future but there cannot be any doubt of who and what MR is? He went on a roller coaster when every sane person was cautioning him to move the country into an era of peace and reconciliation. Alas, he was flying in the clouds and screwed-up the wonderful opportunity to become a statesman – but rather he wanted to remain as a politician, as he had done in his forty-years political life.
Perhaps he may have acted more wisely had he known of a formidable opponent, and someone within his inner circle, was readying himself to challenge him. Even all those he tried to resolve in a hurried manner was after the whole world knew of the challenge that would come his way.
Let me say this: Prabhakaran was ruthless in his endeavours and the people had to go through untold suffering and we need not and could not expect him to turn over as an angel. However, the President pursued this war with one largely highlighted commitment – to free the people from the clutches of the LTTE. The people were bombed. Many died for want of food and medicine and finally when they ran to freedom or when they were freed – MR just locked them up in internment camps with guns pointing at them. MR lied to them and treated those citizens like garbage. This is even worst than what Brutus did to Caesar. How on earth is one supposed to trust this man? To put it frankly, it is not that the hope is SF should or would win – rather MR should or would lose. Hard it may seem but for one who is such a duplicity – hoping and trusting that he would truly unite the races is absolutely far-fetched.
dear mr senaratne!
u have no idea what u have done! your report stands out like NO OTHER!!! this is the beauty of exellent writing, reporting, journalism, investigation and thinking outside the box! and u have interpreted it very attractively. im blessed to have read this!!! where can i your writings in the future?
Dear Nish from Los Angeles,
I’ve always felt uncomfortable with such high praise, and I do not think I deserve it. But anyway – thank you! (‘blessed’? – oh c’mon, you can’t be serious!).
Where will you find my articles in the future, you ask me. If I do write, some of them will certainly be on Groundviews, thanks to Sanjana. But I hope I get to write more positive pieces as well; and for this, I hope our politicians will do positive things in the future – MR , SF or anyone else…!
All the best, Kalana
I’ll give SF a month before he resorts to military rule in the very remote chance if he wins. Soon as he gets frustrated working with this polar opposite bunch he will call on the military to meet his objectives.
The highest priority objective for him is settling a personal vendetta. This may be an acceptable (still not right) attitude in war but not in civil society. As he says, literally within 48 hours he will destroy his opponents leaving no opposition. Then he will sideline the coalition that pulled votes for him. Why would he need them now? There won’t be another election until he dies or a social uprising over throws him with mass casualties.
If people are that foolish, then they truly deserve what will come about. I am willing to collectively receive this punishment long as everyone else realises what a silly bunch they were! I come from a disciplinary back ground. I can take military rule, so bring it on!! We need harsh lessons to appreciate the value of liberty and freedom. It’s the only lesson worth sacrificing your life trying to learn. Who knows, I may even have to lug in trenches with these same idiots (after they realise) trying to win back our rights with home made weapons one day… Sigh! Deal with it when I wake up to that nightmare…
MR has been given his chance. 4 years.
MR’s margin of victory in 2005 was only 180,000. Ranil lost in 2005 due to the disenfranchisement of approx. 500,000 UNP voters. So don’t degrade the man. Just face the facts and accept the truth.
The cheating won MR that election.
The Northern Tamil vote didn’t really count but now Tiran Alles says that MR paid the LTTE 180 million bucks to stop the Northern Tamils from voting. It seems the conspiracy was really between the betel leaf and the tiger. Those who voted for MR were taken for a good ride. Completely deceived, supported the cheating and were made to feel like utter fools! Admit it.
MR can’t seem to kick the deception habit. He still feeds and pays people, hoping for their support. But who really pays? You and I, the citizen in the street.
Let’s look into the future and what the country needs – mostly good governance, free from corruption.
Give SF a chance. He can’t be worse than MR.
HI Kalana,
I read this post but it is unclear as to whether you have understood that Sarath Fonseka was put forth by the UNP as a “figurehead”. Please clarify. Thanks.
Hi Liveinfear,
True, I never understood what one meant by ‘figurehead’, because it didn’t mean anything. What do you mean by a ‘figurehead’ within this context? Some one who would have left after winning the election? Well, what happened I think was this – the UNP looked around, it saw that it didn’t have a proper ‘head’ to run, so they had to find some ‘head’ which could pose a challenge to MR. So they found SF, asked him to contest, perhaps believing that after his victory, he would abolish the Executive Presidency, and 1) leave SL and return to his children in the US and live happily ever after, or 2) accept the post of Bribery Commissioner (as Ranil wanted him to), enabling Ranil to be the Executive PM! May be this was the kind of scenario that you thought might have happened if a ‘figurehead’ ran for Presidency…? But surely, whether SF was a figurehead or not, all knew that he wasn’t going to do either (1) or (2) above! So the characterization of SF as a ‘figurehead’ isn’t that useful in the final analysis, L.
Today, the ‘figurehead’ is about to lose his ‘head’ – which is quite saddening. But that’s a different topic altogether. Thanks, L.