Then and Now

 "What about Karuna, KP and the masters? It is true that all these were with the LTTE at one time or the other and fought against not only what they call the Sinhala government but the Sinhala people as well. However, they have realised their blunder and switched over to the side of the government."

by Nalin de Silva

(October 06, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Ven. Maduluwave Sobhitha Thera has offered hundred Bhikkus including himself to go under rigorous imprisonment unto death for the release of Sarath Fonseka, the former commander of the Sri Lankan army. Obviously Ven. Sobhitha Thera knows that it is not possible to do so and the Thero would be able to continue with his "ulpechcha" or simple life at Naga Vihara. However, we have to admire the Thera for thinking of the offer to leave the temple and spend the rest of life not in an "aranya" or under a "tree", or in a cemetery but in the prison and thus sacrifice even the little things at the temple for a cause though not quite in the tradition of an "abhinishkramanya". We are indeed fortunate to be present among such Theras and we would also gain pin (merit and not a PIN "number" as they say) by at least whispering "Sadhu Sadhu" at the thoughts of the Thera.

Of course the question is raised as to why imprison Sarath Fonseka when KP and the masters such as Daya are free. Karuna is now a member and a Vice President of the SLFP and if they could be pardoned why not the "war hero" Sarath Fonseka? Most of the people who raise such questions were against the "war" and did not consider Sarath Fonseka to be a "war hero". However, after defeating the LTTE they project the image of Sarath Fonseka only to take the credit away from the President Mahinda Rajapakse. Sarath Fonseka may have been the best general to walk on the earth but it is very clear that he could not have led the Army to victory if not for the support given by the Navy, the Air Force, Police and the Civil Guards. The combined Armed Forces could not have defeated the LTTE terrorists if not for the political leadership given by the President. What is most important is the political leadership and not the leadership of the army.

There were equally good commanders of the Army before Sarath Fonseka but they could not lead the army to victory. It was due to lack of political leadership and only President Mahinda Rajapakse was able to stand up to pressure from the west as well as from India. Even without Sarath Fonseka the President could have won the humanitarian operations against the LTTE but without Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse Sarath Fonseka could not have led the army to victory. The "war hero" is none other than the President Mahinda Rajapakse, and the UNP and the JVP however much they try cannot take the credit away from the President.

It is sad to see Sarath Fonseka in the "jumper" instead of his uniform. However, he was not satisfied with the uniform and wanted to wear what is known as the "kapati kit". When people who are used to the military uniform get an interest in the "kapati kit" very often if they do not succeed, end up wearing the jumper. There are number of people who are responsible for getting Sarath Fonseka to wear the "jumper". As usual it is he who has to be blamed first. It now appears that he had political ambitions even before the humanitarian operations ended and that he had developed a grudge against the Defence Secretary Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapakse for whatever reasons we may not speculate on. He came out with the "white flag" incident and was used by the westerners who were thinking of ways and means to bring the President Rajapakse and the Defence Secretary Rajapakse before a so called international war crime tribunal. Sarath Fonseka with his "white flag" story most probably connived with the west to send the President and the Defence Secretary to the guillotine. Since the day the "white flag" issue was raised I had always maintained that Sarath Fonseka should be tried before a court martial and whether he was the army commander or not if he had attempted to betray the country by volunteering to be a "crown witness" for the west in a so called international war crime tribunal against the President and the Defence Secretary then the former should have been tried for treason.

The government was able to defeat the plans of Sarath Fonseka and he was tried before two courts martial and also before the normal courts of law. The verdict has been given in some of the cases and at least for the time being the west has had to roll their plans. When the President went to USA to attend the UN sessions Ban-Ki Moon had no option but to speak on a very low key on his advisory commission on Sri Lanka. Imagine what would have happened if Sarath Fonseka had the upper hand in theses affairs?

Fonseka was driven into politics not only by his ego but by the JVP and the UNP as well. Both these parties had no candidate at the Presidential elections and both parties decided to field Sarath Fonseka who had a superego. Sarath Fonseka did not have a dream other than winning the elections and becoming the President of the country which most people opposed by giving Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse an overwhelming majority. The drama at the Trans Asia Hotel on the election day and the following day exposed the plans of the JVP, the UNP and Sarath Fonseka to a certain extent, and had he won the elections we could have witnessed the biggest blood bath that the country has ever experienced. They would not have given the Rajapakses even the luxury of a prison not to mention that of temples visited by the upper middle class of the country.

Then what about Karuna, KP and the masters? It is true that all these were with the LTTE at one time or the other and fought against not only what they call the Sinhala government but the Sinhala people as well. However, they have realised their blunder and switched over to the side of the government. At present they support the government, protect the state and do not have leanings towards the LTTE or the west and India that supported sponsored and aided the LTTE. Karuna today is not the same Karuna of yesteryears and there is no point in punishing them for what they had done if they now think it was all wrong and protect the state.

On the other hand Sarath Fonseka led the army against the LTTE under the supreme commandership of the President Mahinda Rajapakse. However it has transpired that he had not acted properly with respect to procurement of arms and has been dealt accordingly. Also with his "white flag" story he has sided with the west that supported and financed the LTTE at least partially, and he has betrayed the sovereignty of the country. Up to now he has not said that he has done anything wrong and to that extent he has to be punished from the point view of the state and the government. I am sure the day he realises his blunder and switch his allegiance from the west to the Sri Lankan state the President Rajapakse would grant him a pardon without bothering the hundred Bhikkus of Ven. Maduluwave Sobhitha Thera.