As a Sri Lankan citizen, I wish to comment on the open letter from Sisira Fonseka, brother of General (Retd.) Sarath Fonseka, to the President (Sunday Times, April 18). It was indeed a moving letter, extolling the General’s undeniable contribution as a team member in achieving the great victory that ended the 30-year war against the LTTE.
Certainly, most patriots agree that General Sarath Fonseka was the right man in the right slot for the job of winning this “unwinnable” war, as were Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as Defence Secretary and Mahinda Rajapaksa as the President.
 |
 |
 |
| President Rajapaksa |
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa |
General S.Fonseka |
The three men had agreed on a joint goal; their strategy to achieve this victory was planned and executed with an absolute singleness of purpose. All three men motivated our fighting men to give of their best.
After winning the war, the Government, through the media (and Lake House in particular), gave equal credit to all three as equal partners in the war effort. Photographs of the three men, accompanied by congratulatory messages, appeared in the press.
This was a generous gesture on the part of the President, who did not wish to hog the limelight but instead publicly acknowledged the significant roles played by the Defence Secretary and the Army Commander. But if any one person out of these three were to be nominated as the architect of the victory, so to speak, everyone would agree that it would be President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Not only did President Mahinda Rajapakse motivate all concerned – from the brave and determined combatants to us members of the general public – he also inspired us to think positively; he made sure the armed forces were adequately equipped to fight the war; he kept the LTTE-sympathetic powerful West at bay; he stood up to the bullying heavyweights of the various world bodies, and he brought together three nations – India, Pakistan and China – nations that are known not to be on the best of terms with each other – to back us and help us annihilate the world’s deadliest terrorist outfit – the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. My considered opinion is that Mahinda Rajapaksa deserves the Nobel Peace Prize – for deeds done, not Barack Obama, who was awarded the Prize for deeds still to be done.
Unfortunately, instead of the winning team and the main players glorying in the victory, and being forever united in this historic achievement, a split started to show within a few months of the end of the war. All three gentlemen showed their very human side by succumbing to such human weaknesses as craving, hatred and egotism. Eventually a rumour, true or false, set one against the other: the Brothers Rajapaksa versus General Fonseka. A disgruntled Sarath Fonseka fell victim to the wiles of failed politicians. The General, jumped in at the deep end of politics, although only a rookie in a game meant only for the very astute.
Sisira Fonseka’s long letter refers to the good points of Sarath Fonseka’s character, but not to the alleged unethical conduct and accumulation of illegal assets that the Government charges the General with. Sisira Fonseka should have touched on these allegations. Sarath, son-in-law Danuna and Danuna’s mother have many questions to answer to the public. Sarath Fonseka does not seem now as squeaky clean as he projected himself to be during his Presidential campaign.
It would bring joy to all Sri Lankans if Sisira Fonseka would mediate to bring back harmony and friendship between these three heroes of our time.
The public needs to be reassured that General Sarath Fonseka is not being harassed, humiliated and mistreated. It would go a long way to allaying public fears if the President were to permit the publication of photographs showing Sarath Fonseka looking comfortable and enjoying the comfort and amenities the Government says he is provided with during his period of detention.
It would also be reassuring for the public to have what medication the General’s doctors are giving him. We – members of the public – are anxious to see that Sarath Fonseka is not being ill treated. Such a gesture on the part of the President would silence the government’s critics, who claim the Government is giving General Sarath Fonseka shoddy treatment.
G.V. Premalal,
Pannipitiya |
E-mail
