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By Nilantha Ilangamuwa
“It is better to perform one’s own duty, even imperfectly, than two perform correctly the duties of others. By performing one’s own prescribed duty according to one’s nature, one does not incur evil.”– The BhagavadGita - ch. 18:47
(December 06, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Mayankote Kelath Narayanan, the National Security Advisor (NSA) to the Prime Minister of India, once described the Army General Sarath Fonseka as the "best army commander in the world”. His comment was very popular around the world, because it came from a highly respected and the esteemed security adviser in India.
Having enjoyed this upbeat comment until recently (the President and those ringing around him) the achievement of Sarath Fonseka since the declaration of the Presidential election has become a pathetic political joke.
In hindsight, it will not be surprising if Mahinda Rajapaksha is re-elected and become the sixth executive president of Sri Lanka in January 2010. It will pave the way for him to remain in office until 2016. With the sheer manipulations and misusing the state machinery to his advantage at the election Mahinda is in a better position to win, but ground reality is not that clear for him to take the absolute comfort. The purpose of calling the election is to strengthen his mandate by securing two thirds votes but whether he will achieve even 50% of the votes is a million dollar question boggling the political pundits and the President.
This Presidential election is the crucial chance for the people of Sri Lanka, to play their role to restore democracy and to disband the family bandit rule which is eroding the basics of democratic values that are much needed for the country. If Mahinda’s crony family governance is not brought to an end with this election, destiny of Sri Lanka will be an un-mitigating factor and further erosion of values in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka will further sink into a tin pot dictatorship that will undermine democracy, justice and peace in the island.
Some political commentators are critical of General Sarath Fonseka too. They consider the President is the supreme commander of the forces according to the constitution and all what Sarath did to defeat the LTTE was President’s leadership and not that of the Army Commander. Whatever justification can be attributed to this claim, one must remember that the so-called constitutional supreme commander is not a military man to deal with logistics and the operational aspects. It must be noted the President’s conduct has become highly questionable to govern the country.
If Sarath wanted, it would not have been difficult to oust the President by military means. But his conscience and deeply embedded values prevented him from doing so. When he experienced the wrath of the Rajapakse family’s dictates, he decided to confront the President democratically than by military means. This shows his respect for democracy and the need to strengthen that process.
There were news reports and political analysis speculating election of Sarath Fonseka will lead to militarisation and eventual military rule in Sri Lanka. This must be simply considered as analogy. It is not difficult to comprehend when Sarath has chosen the path of democracy than using military means to achieve power that he is all out to uphold democratic values. If he is elected, he will be the best candidate to be the supreme commander of the states forces as per the constitution.
The President has ruled the country for the past four years, using jamboree methods. He not only solely presided the armed forces constitutionally but also has presided over the clandestine Tamil paramilitaries, the underworld gangsters, death squads, violent ministers and also presided the strong commission Kaaka society with the help of his beloved brother Basil Rajapakse who is well known in the commission kaaka circle as Mr 15% on every deal he was involved in. Even the death of veteran journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga is said to be a pre-empted strike to stop the publication of daring revelations about his commission deals.
Gen. Sarath Fonseka has gone into common alliance with the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU). His whole emphasis is to restore democracy in the Island nation. Without considering the principles of the MOU, it is laughable how even people who are opposed to Rajapaksha, are closing the doors for General Fonseka to enter the political mainstream. Their conduct is only protecting President Rajapaksha’s seat for another term. This is attributable to the inherent fear and Gen Sarath Fonseka has to go a long way to convince this anti-Rajapakse group to bring them into his fold. This is a huge challenge compared to what he faced when he was fighting the LTTE.
Death of the LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran, on 17 of May 2009 has created considerable apathy against the Rajapakse regime as he is unable take forward the nation further to achieve better governance. President Rajapakse has created internal strife’s within communities and political parties to hold on to power. His overtly manipulative and sickening meddling conduct has undermined good governance and accountability in a far reaching way.
As I stated in my recent articles, President Mahinda Rajapaksha is the replica of V. Prabhakaran and pursuing the very same principles to run his authoritarian rule. I referred both of them as two sides of the same coin.
Prapakaran ruled the Tamils with his Valvettithurai boys. Mahinda is doing the same with the family members and his loyal ruffian friends. All others associating with them are feeble worshippers or beneficiaries. Then for both, any opposition is intolerable. They both brand any discontent against them as treachery and treat them with contemptible ‘traitors’ punishments.
In the outset of the Tamil liberation struggle, there were 32 Tamil militant organizations which had its roots in the northern Sri Lanka and had the backing of India. Eventually the Tamil Tigers established supremacy over the other groups, to become the ‘sole representative’ of the Tamils to establish a separated state of Tamil Eelam. Prabakaran used a simple strategy to archive his dream. By marginalising his Tamil opponents, he established his absolute authority over the Tamil community.
V. Prabhakaran was able to run his hegemony for more than 33 years from the May 1976.He killed hundreds and displaced more than six hundred thousand people. He is comparable to another Polpot of Asia.
Prabhakaran used this strategy to eliminate the leaders of Sinhalese political parties.
But since end of 2003, significant part of Sri Lankan society changed its attitude against the LTTE including sizeable Tamil population. Tamil people too reflected their detestation towards the LTTE, as its conduct went beyond limits. LTTE created conflicts within communities and paved the way for communal riots to establish its legitimacy and authority.
If one compares the LTTE strategy with the Mahinda’s rule, can easily realise the transposition of the modus operandi of the LTTE. Electing him for another term will vest him with extending his abhorring methodology of governance further.
The opposition Mangala Samaraweera who was behind the election of Rajapaksha as President, have fully understood the destructive path of Mahinda. He too became a victim of Mahinda’s family rule and has been portrayed as a ‘traitor’ by the Chinthanaya government. Having realised the fallacy of the Mahinda rule, Mangala is all out to change the regime and it is the righteous thing a friend can do when his friend is abusing powers to become an Idi Amin of Sri Lanka.
Mangala and his associates are motivated by the emotional and psychological developments of the voters. He and his campaign team are engaging in high profile political business within the voter bases, but unfortunately Ranil cannot understand that and is seem far away and talking about economy and his baby dream to become a president at least once before he part this world and this is not helping at all.
Even, Rajapaksha and his one time ally Mangala Samaraweera and his fans stampeded the Tamil people rights to vote in the past, and they never attempted to win the hearts of the Tamil people. It is during last Presidential election, Mahinda Rajapaksha violated the basic human rights of the Tamil people by going into back door dealing with the LTTE to prevent the Tamils from voting in the elections. Responsible journalists were unearthing this anti-national conduct of Mahinda, which ultimately rested them in the cemeteries. Their yeoman’s role did not extend any further and all those should have exposed the scandal following these deaths have either gone silent or have left the country to safe heavens.
Mahinda presiding over the violent gangster world has brought havoc to the country and the country’s reputation is being tarnished in the international spear as a result.
Rajapakse’s highhanded behaviour went beyond all bounds. For example The Late Cabinet Minister John Fernandopulle’s (who was assassinated in a bomb blast) Tamil speaking Canadian Passport holding friend is held in prison under the PTA on suspicion of LTTE connection. This victim told me how he had supported the President and his sincerity was abused by the President to put him behind the bars as part of his political point scoring exercise.
[Sri Lanka former army chief Sarath Fonseka and his wife Anoma prepare for a photo shoot in Colombo, November 27, 2009. Sri Lanka's main opposition party said on Thursday it will back Fonseka's bid in a presidential election, the most serious challenge to President Mahinda Rajapaksa's re-election campaign. Fonseka, a key figure in the defeat this year of Tamil Tiger separatists after a 25-year war, has yet to formally announce his candidacy to challenge his former commander-in-chief.-Reuters]Sri Lanka has never seen a President who is so much involved in skulduggery. His manipulative vision divided the United National Party. After losing more than fifteen local and national elections, the leader of the opposition Ranil Wickaramasinghe relalised the true impediments facing him and is trying to counter them with the help of others. This is the first time Ranil Wickramasinghe is trying the much wanted strategy against his opponent and he is stepped back at the correct time to respond to the political needs of the day.
Ranil’s weakness was his stubbornness and his upper class mentality. He must realise this and take a wholehearted common man posture to reach the many, instead of the few.
Mahinda Rajapaksha has already divided the Tamil National Alliance. It is divided right in the middle-half belonging to the pro LTTE sentiments and other half trying to sympathise with Mahinda.
Thanks to Mahinda the LTTE breakaway Karuna/Pilliayan & Co is in a mess. Karuna an important confidant of V Pirabaharan has become a spineless worm enjoying petty privileges. Pilliyan is treated like a little podiyan and any pressures put on the government by him has no bearing on Mahinda at all. It is the same fate our Sinhala Veeraya Mr. Wimal Weerawansa and his NFF is in. Wimal too has compromised himself to such an extent that he will find it hard to redeem himself for a foreseeable future.
Begger bowl man Douglas Devanda’s plight too is precarious. Having maintained silence when Rajapakse brothers stampeded the Tamils, he has come to the rescue of Rajapakse with his horrible and inedible ten point plan to promote the President.
Rajapaksha is well aware that his position has become vulnerable. His failures are going to daunt him in the next six weeks of uproars in the political campaigning. Knowning well, he has failed in many fronts he is betting only on the military victory against the LTTE. To further his cause, he will even publicly hang LTTE’s KP in the Galle Face Green.
Taking control of the LTTE properties have become the election theme. The Mahinda Rajapakse family is silently fighting for the sole ownership and revelation of their intents have caused considerable jerks within the SLFP circles. It was a genuine war between state forces and the rebels who were seeking a separate state. Time is up for the President to release all details of what he and his family members have taken belonging to the LTTE.
It is sad to read some reports and analysis published in the media critical of General Fonseka. Such extreme analysis questioning his political approach is not appropriate at the time when we need someone who can take forward the country beyond the entrenched politics practiced for over six decades.
People of Sri Lanka do not want martial law or a military dictatorship. Even no one can predict Gen. Fonseka will become military dictator. One issue is clear that General Fonseka’s entry is at the right time to bring in fundamental changes in governance in Sri Lanka. We feel this can be only achieved by a new face to politics and someone with the victory mindset. People seeking to restore democracy in the country should oppose the common enemy of the country.
Identifying the common enemy must be focussed, and then direct the people against that. That is what the main warring four states did in the Second Word War against the ruthless Hitler. People must think who has barred the freedom of the people? Who has limited their activities within open prisons that around barbed wire fenses?
It is time to unite against the violent President and forge the hands with the man of vision Sarath Fonseka. If people of Sri Lanka want unity in diversity, it is time to work against our common enemy.
Time has come to tame the family rule first that is jockeying on people’s rights and freedom. This is the last chance for the people of Sri Lanka.
(The writer can be reached at ilangamuwa@gmail.com) -Sri Lanka Guardian
One of the many tragedies of Sri Lanka is that we love to drive with our eyes fixed on the rear-view mirror rather than looking in front of us. Consequently, our leaders, and we, are very good at remembering what happened one thousand years ago and tearing ourselves apart over ancient history while the likes of Lee Kuan Yew look ten – twenty years down the road and are busily creating a modern state that is the envy of the world for its governance and prosperity. Come January next year and we are set to repeat our folly if we look back to the decimation of the Tigers and decide that MR should be rewarded for standing up to the Tiger proxies with a six term office instead of asking what will it cost the country to have six more years of MR as President. Just asking that question should send shivers down the spine of any right thinking Sri Lankan who believes that the welfare of the country is bigger than any individual.
It is true that the contest will be between someone we all know and someone whom we know mainly by reputation. At least, the General, whom we know least about has a trait that it sorely needed for our country. This trait is the trait of discipline. He knows what discipline means, the need for discipline, and the costs of indiscipline. Does anyone really imagine that under his watch, the police will be allowed to behave as they now do, that foul mouthed officials and ministers will be tolerated, and that the corruption at all levels of office will be tolerated? With him, we wil maybe l be on the road back to civilization and decency.
Now consider the alternative. Six more years of MR. (a) Six more year of Mervyn, the former labourer at the Sathosa on Jawatte Road who has got a honorary doctorate from a ayurvedic school in Sri Lanka and calls himself “Dr. Mervyn de Silva”. It is like Prabakaran getting a honorary doctorate from the Vellivitaturai School of Thosai Making and calling himself “Dr. Prabakaran”. NM and Colvin must be turning in their graves!!! The thug, Mervyn, is the man who gets deeds forged to other people’s properties and threatens lawyers who appear for the rightful owners with death. (b) Six more years of Bogollagama, the clownish dandy, our foreign minister jetting all over the world and putting all his relations in diplomatic postings from Washington to Singapore. (c) Six more years of jumbo cabinets with massive security and luxurious perks but no accountability. (d) Finally, six more years of MR himself, a village yokel trapped in his hall of mirrors, contemplating the giant cut-outs of himself erected at every street corner and thinking that he is a combination of Winston Churchill, Napoleon, and Alexander the Great, scurrying on a state visit when invited by the sleaziest dictators in the world. A blissed out drug addict could not be more delusionary!!
Meanwhile, the daughters and sons of the Duttugemunu, the real one and not the Kelaniya criminal, live under bridges in the middle east, surrender their bodies to the lust of cruel Bedouins flush with petrodollars, wash the backsides of Chinese babies in Singapore, and get kicked in their genitals by the Koreans. Six more years! Of what? Discipline or Mervyn? The choice will be ours. Will we be smart, for a change?
One of the many tragedies of Sri Lanka is that we love to drive with our eyes fixed on the rear-view mirror rather than looking in front of us. Consequently, our leaders, and we, are very good at remembering what happened one thousand years ago and tearing ourselves apart over ancient history while the likes of Lee Kuan Yew look ten – twenty years down the road and are busily creating a modern state that is the envy of the world for its governance and prosperity. Come January next year and we are set to repeat our folly if we look back to the decimation of the Tigers and decide that MR should be rewarded for standing up to the Tiger proxies with a six term office instead of asking what will it cost the country to have six more years of MR as President. Just asking that question should send shivers down the spine of any right thinking Sri Lankan who believes that the welfare of the country is bigger than any individual.
It is true that the contest will be between someone we all know and someone whom we know mainly by reputation. At least, the General, whom we know least about has a trait that it sorely needed for our country. This trait is the trait of discipline. He knows what discipline means, the need for discipline, and the costs of indiscipline. Does anyone really imagine that under his watch, the police will be allowed to behave as they now do, that foul mouthed officials and ministers will be tolerated, and that the corruption at all levels of office will be tolerated? With him, we wil maybe l be on the road back to civilization and decency.
Now consider the alternative. Six more years of MR. (a) Six more year of Mervyn, the former labourer at the Sathosa on Jawatte Road who has got a honorary doctorate from a ayurvedic school in Sri Lanka and calls himself “Dr. Mervyn de Silva”. It is like Prabakaran getting a honorary doctorate from the Vellivitaturai School of Thosai Making and calling himself “Dr. Prabakaran”. NM and Colvin must be turning in their graves!!! The thug, Mervyn, is the man who gets deeds forged to other people’s properties and threatens lawyers who appear for the rightful owners with death. (b) Six more years of Bogollagama, the clownish dandy, our foreign minister jetting all over the world and putting all his relations in diplomatic postings from Washington to Singapore. (c) Six more years of jumbo cabinets with massive security and luxurious perks but no accountability. (d) Finally, six more years of MR himself, a village yokel trapped in his hall of mirrors, contemplating the giant cut-outs of himself erected at every street corner and thinking that he is a combination of Winston Churchill, Napoleon, and Alexander the Great, scurrying on a state visit when invited by the sleaziest dictators in the world. A blissed out drug addict could not be more delusionary!!
Meanwhile, the daughters and sons of the Duttugemunu, the real one and not the Kelaniya criminal, live under bridges in the middle east, surrender their bodies to the lust of cruel Bedouins flush with petrodollars, wash the backsides of Chinese babies in Singapore, and get kicked in their genitals by the Koreans. Six more years! Of what? Discipline or Mervyn? The choice will be ours. Will we be smart, for a change?
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