He stood on the dais in his usually immaculate white national dress and the inimitable Kurakkan satakaya (maroon shawl) around his neck. It was on the same soil, centuries ago, the last King of Kandy, Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe ordered the child hero, Madduma Bandara beheaded.
Centuries after those historic events, President Rajapaksa, stood there to take the salute from his valiant armed forces, on the 62nd anniversary of Sri Lanka's Independence.
“Now I am addressing you from the place where the child hero, Madduma Bandara, son of Keppetipola’s sister, sacrificed his life without display of any fear. Please remember the hearts of your sons and daughters too are filled with unlimited love for the motherland similar to that of Madduma Bandara. Your sons and daughters have unlimited love for me for the same reasons,” he said.
In terrain where warriors of yore once wielded swords and spears, some 2000 troops from the tri-services, including Commandos and Special Forces, marched past clutching a variety of new assault rifles. Display of mechanised units and a fly past were absent. However, a few Dvora patrol craft from the Navy scanned the waters of the Kandy Lake.
Great joy
Yet, there was a distinct difference in the ceremonies last Thursday to mark freedom won six decades and two years ago. This was the first for troops since the military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). It was just eight months earlier, in May last year. LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's body was found near the coastal Nandikadal area bullet riddled and beheaded. The troops who took part in that victory were reflecting their newly-won glory whilst thousands witnessed it and millions of other Sri Lankans watched it live on television. That included the families of those troops who could not be at the parade. They had paid the supreme sacrifice. There were also those troops who lost a limb or suffered other injuries.
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| The opposition protest rally against the alleged rigging of the presidential election. Pic by Saman Kariyawasam |
The occasion was another moment of great joy for Rajapaksa, who only a week earlier was declared winner of the Presidential Election with an overwhelming majority. His address to the nation began with remarks that the ceremonies were "after the liberation of the entire country from terrorist threat for the first time in thirty years." Even if there was a conscious reduction of the display of military might at the parade, the Government made up for it. Yet, disappointing enough, national enthusiasm on freedom day countrywide, in the form of display of flags or other activity, was much less than in previous years.
Crowds were thronging the Kandy suburb of Pallekele to see the Deyata Kirula exhibition where military equipment, photographs, models, weaponry captured from defeated Tiger guerrillas were all on display. Many of the aircraft and naval craft had to be taken by road in the stealth of the night because Kandy in the central highlands has no airfield. The choking traffic on the roads showed the public interest. The continued exploitation of military success, the most singular achievement of the Rajapaksa administration that perhaps contributed to his victory the previous week, remained important. With parliamentary elections ahead, the exhibition, a "winning hearts and minds operation" was well planned.
A proclamation dissolving Parliament, a prelude to nominations, was due last Friday. However, the Sunday Times learnt the process was delayed due to astrological considerations. It is now to be carried out on February 9 or 10. Officials said there were auspicious times on both dates and Rajapaksa would pick the best one. The Commissioner of Elections will then announce a date for nominations within two weeks. The Government expects parliamentary elections to be held in the first week of April.
On Friday, Rajapaksa left with a large entourage to Russia. There, among other matters, he will sign a US $ 300 million credit line. Among the main highlights of the deal is Moscow's offer to repair or replace all Russian-origin military equipment that is damaged or unusable. They include assault rifles, armoured personnel carriers, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The only condition is that such equipment has been originally purchased from Russian agencies.
In the past few months, consultations have been going on through diplomatic channels between Colombo and Moscow both for Rajapaksa's visit and the impending US $ 300 million credit line. The fact that the two matters have been successfully concluded emboldens Government's position in the international arena. When troops fought the separatist war, China was the largest supplier of military hardware.
Now, in the post-war era, Russia is extending support to further modernise and improve Sri Lanka's military capability.
Both Russia and China are members of the UN Security Council and have thus become two strong allies for Rajapaksa to ward off pressure on Sri Lanka from western nations to probe alleged war crimes and deal with human rights issues. Matters relating to Rajapaksa's visit to Russia were worked out during Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to Sri Lanka in October last year. The credit line was also the subject of detailed discussions between officials of the Finance Ministry in Colombo and a visiting Russian military delegation.
Rajapaksa, in his freedom day address to the nation, referred to the late D.S. Senanayake's remarks on the first Independence Day in 1948. Senanayake had declared, "the meaning of freedom is to curtail sorrows and enhance happiness." There indeed was some irony over the remarks.
Sorrows there were in substantial sections of the community where happiness was the furthest.
Firstly, a main shareholder with Rajapaksa in the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas, retired General Sarath Fonseka, was not there at the ceremonies. He retired prematurely as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and had turned bitter adversary after becoming the 'common presidential candidate' of the main opposition parties. The days ahead of the Independence Day ceremonies were to see new developments that caused heartburn and sorrow in many quarters.
Military purge
It began with remarks by Gen. Fonseka at a news conference on January 31 (Saturday). He said that many changes had been made in the Sri Lanka Army with officers who worked with him being removed from their posts whilst some have been sacked. He added, "I heard that 13 Army personnel including three Majors General, two Brigadiers and four Colonels have been sacked. Brigadier Duminda Keppetiwalana was arrested last (Friday) night on charges that he was connected to the killing of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga."
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| President Rajapaksa together with security forces chiefs and the IGP listening to the National Anthem being sung by children at the Independence Day celebrations in Kandy. Pic by Gemunu Wellage |
The Sunday Times learnt Gen. Fonseka had tried to persuade some of the officers he mentioned to turn up at the news conference. Those concerned had not been willing. It was thereafter that he made the remarks that some officers were "removed from their posts whilst others have been sacked." Officially, no such measures had been taken by the time Gen. Fonseka uttered those words at the news conference. Army Commander Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya had only summoned a group of officers individually to tell them about official reports that had alleged they were linked to Gen. Fonseka's polls campaign and other activities. Hence, they were advised that they would be retired compulsorily without prejudice to their right to pensions.
A high-ranking source at Army Headquarters said that last Monday (February 1) 14 officers, five Majors General, five Brigadiers, a Colonel, a Lieutenant Colonel and two Captains were sent on compulsory leave. "The Commander of the Army took the decision in terms of Army Officers Regulations 1992," the source said. Section 39 of the Regulation, the source added, was enforced. This section reads:
"An officer may be called upon to retire or resign his commission for misconduct or in any circumstances within the opinion of the President requires such action. An officer so called upon to retire or resign his commission may request an interview with the Secretary in order that he may be given an opportunity of stating his case."
The officers who have been sent on compulsory retirement are;
Major General Jammika Liyanage. He was Commandant of the Army Volunteer Force; Major General Rajitha de Silva who was attached to the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff (OCDS); Major General Jayanath Perera. He was re-called from the National Defence Academy in China where he was following a course; Major General Samantha Sooriyabandara. He was one time Defence Attache at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington D.C. He was last serving at the Security Force Headquarters, Jaffna; Major General Mahesh Senanayake. He was attached to Army Headquarters; Brigadier Bimal Dias. He was attached to Security Force Headquarters, Mullaitivu; Brigadier Duminda Keppetiwalana. He was Commandant of the Army Combat Training School, Ampara; Brigadier Janaka Mohotti. He was Logistics Co-ordinator of Army's 22 Division; Brigadier Athula Hennedige. He was Commander of the 221 Brigade; Brigadier Wasantha Kumarapperuma. He was Commander, 553 Brigade; Colonel Tilak Ubeywardena. He was attached to the Military Police; Colonel L.J.M.C.P. Jayasundera of the Vijayaba Infantry Regiment (VIR), Captain R.M.R. Ranaweera of the Vijayaba Infantry Regiment (VIR), Captain B. Krishantha of the Sri Lanka National Guard (SLNG).
This is the second time since the 1992 regulations came into force that a group of officers in the Sri Lanka Army have been sent on compulsory retirement. The first was carried out by then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. It came after the 1999 debacles where Tiger guerrillas overran military installations in Oddusuddan, Nedunkerni, Olumadu, Mullaitivu and other areas in the Wanni. The then Army Commander Srilal Weerasuriya appointed his Chief of Staff Lionel Balagalle to head a Court of Inquiry to probe the debacles.
Seven senior officers were sent on compulsory leave for being 'singularly and collectively' responsible for the Wanni reversals. They were: Major General Wasantha Perera, then Security Forces Commander, Wanni, Major General Gamini Gunasekera (then GOC - 56 Division), Brigadier T.M. Bohran (then officiating GOC - 55 Division), Colonel Athula Lankadeva (Commanding Officer, 561 Brigade), Major B.V. U. Chandrasiri (Commanding Officer, 20th Battalion, Sri Lanka National Guard), Major Mora Mudali (Deputy Commander, 11th battalion of Gemunu Watch) and Major M.D. Ilangasinghe (Commanding Officer of the 15th Volunteer Battalion of the Sinha Regiment).
It is important to note that on the first occasion, the Wanni military debacles, it was for military reasons that seven senior officers were sent on compulsory retirement. It came after a military court of inquiry investigated the reasons that led to the debacles and placed responsibility on them. Of course, the officers in question denied the charges but could not challenge then President Kumaratunga's decision. On that occasion the officers were told that they were allowed to retain their vehicles for a month. Those living in official quarters were also allowed to remain there for three months.
‘Strong evidence”
However, in the case of the 14 officers removed last week, it is different. There have been no Courts of Inquiry and some complained no charges were preferred against them. Yet, Defence Ministry sources insisted that the action against the officers concerned was based on "strong evidence" and was made "after careful consideration of each case." These sources declined to elaborate except to add that they had the right to appeal to the Defence Secretary. Besides the compulsory retirement of officers, several other changes in top posts have been made in the Army hierarchy as well as outside and more are expected. On Friday, a retired Major General in the Army who served as intelligence advisor to the Foreign Ministry and had a seat in the National Security Council was relieved of his functions.
The compulsory retirement of these officers came as Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detectives continued a mutli-faceted inquiry, all centring on Gen. Fonseka. Last week the Sunday Times in a front page exclusive lead story reported that Gen.Fonseka's arrest was imminent and it remains so.
The Sunday Times has learnt the senior detectives probing the matter have been in regular consultation with Attorney General Mohan Peiris. As our front page report today reveals, the probe has now taken a new turn. Gen. Fonseka is to face charges under military laws instead of civil laws.
The main probe centres on what the CID claims is a plot to overthrow the Government and assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa. They allege that the plot had been hatched whilst Gen. Fonseka as well as other leading opposition personalities stayed at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel on the night of the polls on January 26.
Detectives say surveillance cameras at the hotel had been switched off and hotel security staff debarred from entering more than 70 rooms Gen. Fonseka's entourage had rented. The hotel's Security Manager, Major (retd.) Ranjit Dayaratne, was taken into custody this week after it was reportedly claimed that he switched off the cameras. However, others in the retired General's entourage questioned by detectives had claimed they did so, and not the Security Manager.
Gen. Fonseka has strongly dismissed allegations of any attempt to overthrow the Government or assassinate Rajapaksa. "This is only an attempt to frame me and even assassinate me," he said this week. His aides insisted that security considerations were the main cause for the retired General and other leading opposition personalities to stay at the hotel that night. "The idea was to pool all their security contingents to protect themselves," said one aide, a former military officer, who did not wish to be identified. He said, "We received information that our candidate will be arrested that night. We wanted to protect him."
However, CID detectives have a different story. They insist that the probe is continuing and they have unravelled many aspects. A retired Major General, who once held top positions including Colonel Commandant of the Commando Regiment, now in custody, detectives claim, has been recruiting retired soldiers countrywide, particularly those who have served as commandos. He had travelled to many towns with the help of another retired Major General (now being sought after by detectives). Their mission, allegedly with Rs 72 million paid by an ex-Army Major, was to recruit former soldiers.
Some of those recruited had been paid a monthly fee of over Rs 50,000, they said. Detectives claim that in every district, a retired Army officer had been placed in charge of Gen. Fonseka's activities during elections. The retired General's aides admitted there were a large group of retired military personnel but insisted they were all engaged in polls related work.
Another aspect, detectives say, are grenades and assault rifles found at a Temple in Maligawatte. They allege that the items had been transported to the temple premises in a Montero which was purportedly hired by campaign staff of Gen. Fonseka for Rs 75,000 a month. Detectives claim that the vehicle in question, driven by a driver named Balan, had been hidden in a house in Badulla.
This was after news spread that Police Special Task Force (STF) commandos had raided the Maligawatte Temple and arrested its chief incumbent, Ven. Uvatenne Sumana Thera. CID detectives raided the house and recovered the vehicle. They allege that the vehicle had been hidden there with the help of a retired Major who had been placed in charge of the Badulla district.
Detectives say they have unravelled the origins of how the weapons came to be hidden in the temple. A group had first gone to Anuradhapura, stayed at a guesthouse and met up with an underworld agent. He had reportedly been paid Rs 700,000. Thereafter, the weapons and the grenades had been collected from another person in Modera, they claimed. Already 36 persons including ex-military officials are in custody and the detectives are on the lookout for more. That includes three journalists who were closely associated with the retired General when he was Commander of the Army.
Besides CID investigations into the alleged attempt to overthrow the Government and assassinate President Rajapaksa, several other probes have been initiated. One is a detailed investigation into the brutal murder of Lasantha Wickrematunga, Editor of the Sunday Leader, in January last year. Also being probed are a series of other attacks on media personnel, abductions, threats and intimidation.
The Sunday Times learns that Brigadier Duminda Keppetiwalana, who was Commander of the Army's 211 Brigade in Colombo was interviewed by CID detectives in this regard.
The Sunday Times learns that detectives have begun to unravel shocking details of how murder, abductions, attacks, threats and intimidation were carried out on media personnel in the past year or more. Some of those involved in these acts have been identified. At least two of them have been holding the ranks of Major and had served in an intelligence unit which functioned under General Fonseka when he was Commander of the Army. Needless to say that Gen. Fonseka will have some explaining to do when these matters are brought out in the public domain.
Polls Chief sings different tune
These developments came as Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake, on Wednesday insisted that the counting of votes on the night of January 26 had been carried out correctly. "I reject all allegations of impropriety," he told a news conference. If they are not happy, anyone can go to Courts within 21 days of the results being announced, he said. Of course, Dissanayake was to sing a different tune this week. The man, who said he was unhappy and would leave office at the end of the presidential polls, declared he had changed his mind. He would conduct the parliamentary polls, he said, much to the delight of some of his colleagues who told him "subha anagathayak." That was Rajapaksa's campaign slogan.
As his news conference ended, a delegation led by Gen. Fonseka were waiting to meet Dissanayake to complain about a bundle of ballot papers found in a partly burnt dump in the Ratnapura district. Besides some spoilt votes, there had been at least 45 ballot papers crossed in favour of the opposition candidate. Dissanayake said he would order an internal inquiry, but he conceded that marked ballot papers cannot be found anywhere other than in his custody. These ballot papers were reportedly from the Ratnapura Technical College polling booth. It seems that, at last, the opposition has been able to come up with some prima facie evidence of vote-rigging.
Dissanayake was to also say that he was staying to oversee the forthcoming parliamentary elections because the joint opposition wants him to stay. The joint opposition delegation that met him inlcuded Gen. Fonseka, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Somawansa Amarasinghe, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Mahajana wing) leader Mangala Samaraweera and Democratic People's Front leader Mano Ganeshan.
They insisted that they never made any formal request for the Election Commissioner to continue, but they do say that they suggested, casually, that they preferred him being there to some unknown person being appointed by the President to the post in the absence of the 17th Amendment and an Independent Election Commission (which, by-the-way, Dissanayake thought fit to condemn during his news conference).
Many in the opposition, especially in the UNP, have proposed that they formally ask Dissanayake to step down in view of his conduct during the Presidential poll. They argue that Dissanayake, 68, by his own admission, is unable to stand up to the pressures exerted on him, and that the parliamentary election will only be a repeat of the presidential election. So, they ask; why should they allow such a repeat.
Others however, contend that the Election Department without Dissanayake is worse than it with him, and they should not open the door for an absolute political stooge to be appointed to the post.
Just a day ahead of their meeting with the Commissioner of Elections, Gen. Fonseka and other opposition leaders held a meeting with representatives of the Colombo-based diplomatic community. It was held at the SLFP (M) office at Kotte-Sri Jayawardenapura Road. Joining Gen. Fonseka were United National Front (UNF) leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, Karu Jayasuriya, Ravi Karunanayake, Mangala Samaraweera, Vijitha Herath (JVP), Sharmila Perera (Democratic People's Front) and Attorney at Law, Upul Jayasuriya.
Among those taking part were United States Ambassador Patricia Butenis, British High Commissioner Peter Hayes, Australian High Commissioner Kathy Klugman, European Union's Sri Lanka representative Bernard Savage and Rannveig Skofteland representing the Norwegian Ambassador, Tore Hattrem.
Gen. Fonseka urged the diplomats to be vigilant about the witch-hunt that was being carried out against him. He also said that the media were continuing to be harassed. The Rajapaksa administration, he said, was continuing to suppress dissent. Fonseka claimed that result of the Presidential Elections was fraudulent and declared that the opposition would file action in Courts.
Opposition faces uphill task
Opposition leaders at a rally in Hyde Park expressed the same sentiments on Wednesday. If the Government expected a poor turn out for the rally, the JVP had mustered its full strength to ensure a turnout estimated of over 10,000. Larger numbers of UNP supporters were conspicuously absent.
Whilst the main opposition waits for Courts to determine their losing battle over the outcome of the polls, they face an uphill task over the pending parliamentary elections. If there was unity in diversity among them during the Presidential Polls, it no longer exists. Our front page story today reveals how the coalition that supported General Fonseka has collapsed leaving most constituents in a dither.
The UNP hierarchy says that all its district chairmen are insisting on contesting under the UNF banner but with the elephant symbol, while the JVP is egging they contest under the Hansaya (swan) symbol. Businessman Tiran Alles is one of the key figures in forging this alliance among the Presidential poll parties to remain in tact. Fonseka has been invited to join the UNF in the meantime, a Front, which as a party is still seeking official registration, but he seems currently inclined to contest under the swan with the backing of the JVP. The Joint Opposition Alliance is now headed in different directions.
That is more good news for President Rajapaksa as he embarks on a parliamentary poll to garner a two-thirds majority. He will return from Russia to see an embattled opposition unable to recover from the wounds of a Presidential poll.
For him, luck and good fortune seem to remain. Now that a General who turned to politics has failed in his new offensive, and opposition parties have chosen to go their different ways, there will be more concern for their leaders than ever before. Parliamentary polls will surely determine their destiny, for good or for worse. |
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