“Sri Lanka has pioneered nonalignment and will remain committed to nonalignment. We have a special relationship with India and shall continue to build on this. India is the closest and the biggest neighbour of Sri Lanka. Anyone professing otherwise does not know the history of India-Sri Lanka relations.”…………………………………
By Kallol Bhattacherjee
Courtesy: The Week
(December 30, Kochi, Sri Lanka Guardian) South Asia is not new to army generals debuting in politics. But Gen. Sarath Fonseka’s emergence as the challenger to the power of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has added some much needed break to the Rajapaksa overdose in Sri Lankan politics. Like a clever politico, Fonseka has already acquired the politically correct tone. Gone are the bombastic pronouncements for which he was known. Excerpts from a telephonic interview with the challenger:
What are the grounds of your opposition to President Rajapaksa?
The biggest challenge is saving democracy in Sri Lanka. The war was fought against the LTTE in the name of the entire Sri Lankan nation. But it is the family of President Rajapaksa that is taking all credit for defeating the LTTE. They have also emerged as hugely corrupt. No business in Sri Lanka is immune from political interference today. If anyone wants to build a bridge or a building, you have to please the president and his family members.
But your record as a military leader appears anti-Tamil.
I wonder how you form this opinion. I am criticising the president for his failures in addressing the issue of the internally displaced persons efficiently. So many soldiers lost their lives in the war. Now it is our responsibility to address the fallout of the war effectively. I promise to resettle the Tamils in their homes if I come to power.
There was a rumour that you were planning a coup to overthrow President Rajapaksa.
The president of Sri Lanka has been panicking about the army. Rajapaksa has behaved in an unstatesmanlike manner by downgrading the army. After the victory over the LTTE, the armed forces were becoming more professional. He has stopped it. He has become a dictator. Senior people are not given authority.
It is said that you are miffed with Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The Rajapaksa brothers are building up a family arrangement. They want a share of all new enterprises in Sri Lanka. They want their dynasty to rule the country forever. The finances of the country are also at their mercy. Most of the things in the country are controlled by the president.
What will be your foreign policy initiatives?
Sri Lanka has pioneered nonalignment and will remain committed to nonalignment. We have a special relationship with India and shall continue to build on this. India is the closest and the biggest neighbour of Sri Lanka. Anyone professing otherwise does not know the history of India-Sri Lanka relations.
But it is said that you harbour anti-India sentiments.
I never had any problem with India. I have been a friend of the Indian armed forces, which have helped us in the past. So there is no question of harbouring anti-India feelings.
Who are your friends in India?
I know National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan well. I hope to meet Sonia Gandhi sometime soon. My last visit to India took me to Mumbai. Hopefully, I shall return for a more extensive visit to India soon.
What are the other Indian factors in your life?
I am not a very social person and in the last three years I have not had any free time to pursue my private interests. But I like old Bollywood films like Aradhana, Abhimaan, Milan and Mother India. I like old Hindi film music, too. Whenever I have time, I go out swimming.
Have you tried to establish contact with politicians in Tamil Nadu?
I have not worked on that front yet. I would like to establish a channel of communication with Tamil Nadu politicians.
Will you be accepted in Tamil Nadu?
Why not? My fight was not against the Tamils. It was against the LTTE.
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