General’s quest for credit. And lurking danger for minorities

In a democracy, the buck stops at the door of the political executive. For good or bad. It is the political executive that faces the music.

Because the political head is accountable to the people, who reposed faith in him (or her) leadership and entrusted the reins of the nation. This is the accepted maxim.

Internationally! Sri Lanka is no exception. So, why this hullabaloo over who should be responsible for the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam?

It is amusing that General Sarath Fonseka has claimed 95 per cent responsibility for the Wanni victory. Why 95 per cent? Why not 100 percent? Unfortunate it is indeed that a war hero, who Gen Fonseka is undoubtedly, is stooping low.

Was the role commanders of the Navy and Air force and the head of Police played limited to that five per cent turf space so graciously left for them and others by the General? Does the General think or his ‘today’s advisors’ think that the Navy, the Air force and the Police just did a peripheral ornamental job?

It is elementary my dear Fonseka no army can win a war, all on its own against an adversary who is a non-state actor and had his own air wing and naval wing besides ‘pill carriers’. Also elementary my dear General that wars is not won by army alone.

Political leadership matters. The quality of political leadership decides the outcome. Otherwise how the armed forces that had remained bruised and that often allowed it to be battered could become a fighting force.

Once political leadership is in place and once its backing to the hilt is assured, others pieces in the jigsaw of war fall in place – coordination, strategy and so on. Because strong leadership generates fear of heads rolling for any failure.

That is why it is disgusting to hold elementary lessons to a highly decorated General but then the situation was brought about by General himself, who till yesterday appeared with no personal agenda, and his ‘today’s advisors’.

If his claims were not questioned so far, well, it was because the claims appeared like an unwarranted aberration. Also because of the expectation buttressed by the genuine belief that the General himself would see the absurdity of his clamour for 95 per cent credit and the niggardliness of leaving just five percent to others.

Will he (or his ‘today’s advisors) condescend to tell the nation why the Sri Lankan army so ably led by none other than himself could not turn the tables on the Tigers till President Rajapaksa appeared on the scene.

Or did he need an extension to display his talent for strategy and for the ability to lead men from the front?

Common Gen Fonseka! Tell the nation what was the secret of your sudden success? If you want to take full credit, take it by all means, no body is standing in your way, but tell the nation with conviction, not in a small measure but with transparent conviction, how the miracle was achieved.

We began writing this commentary by drawing every one’s attention to a basic tenet of democracy – political leadership and its accountability. We are recalling that reference again now because of the circumstances in which Sri Lanka finds itself today. Mahinda Rajapaksa promised peace four years ago, dignified peace as he put it, and the people voted him to the high office of President of Sri Lanka.

President Rajapaksa redeemed that promise- not in a small measure but fully – 100 per cent. And in the Most Honourable Way. By providing leadership to the armed forces, he saw that scourge of terrorism is removed from the soil of Sri Lanka.

In the beginning Sarath Fonseka was not challenged for his claims because people in Sri Lanka were a little reluctant to take up an issue with him as long as he remained a soldier who had the country’s interest at heart.

But, after 24 October when he went to Washington and made apolitical statement at the Buddhist vihare and after he accepted a ‘voluntary interview’ with Homeland Security against the Defence Secretary, the situation changed - changed dramatically, and irrevocably with intentions never suspected or expected of him began to unfold.

Former Navy Commander *Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda has said Wanni War result was a combined effort – every body starting from the President worked diligently with unwavering commitment. Every one from the highest in the land to the lowest orderly in a front line formation contributed 100 per cent in their areas of responsibilities.

“Team effort it is as any military campaign is always. No one can take credit all for one self’, said the Admiral. A statement that befits a leader.

The navy did no mean job – it blocked all water ways, sealed the coast line and patrolled intensely the territorial waters and high seas – just not to let in, not to allow any exit of the Tigers, whose might it had crippled convincingly.

This writer had an opportunity to meet with Sri Lanka President on 3rd June 2008 when he visited Rome to participate in UN Food and Agricultural Conference. As usual we discussed many issues.

One of these issues was the war that was raging in the country. President Mahinda Rajapaksa appeared to have made up his mind.

He told me: “K.T. We have tried our best to bring him (LTTE chief Prabhakaran) to the negotiation table to bring about peace with dignity. We met his men in Switzerland and in Norway and tried to engage in a meaningful dialogue. But all our efforts were in vain. Now I think we have to speak to him in his own language and fight to the finish.”

I could sense there was a steely determination in what the President was saying. I could see a sense of finality. Yet, I was not convinced that he would go full hog with his decision. Also, I too entertained like most others in Sri Lanka the view (it proved to be a happy misconception) that Prabhakaran and the LTTE could not be subdued.

Though I appreciated the determination of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in fighting the LTTE to the finish, I was not convinced, at least in the beginning, with the decision of the Sri Lanka President and his faith that Sri Lankan armed forces would bring an end to the bloody conflict that had been raging for well over three decades.

My apprehensions on the outcome of the President’s Rajapaksa decision stemmed from my understanding of the situation, from my meetings with some of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s predecessors. Gradually, it began to dawn on me that times had changed.

Earlier Presidents were not providing resolute leadership as Commander in Chief of the armed forces to fight to finish the war with the LTTE. One of them was even prepared to allow North and East Provincial Council under the administration of the LTTE for 10 long years if LTTE renounced separation.

Said Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda ‘… Yes, I will start with the President. He made all the difference as the Head of State and the Supreme Commander. His decision to go for humanitarian operation and for dignified peace was the starting point of our victory. To have dignified peace, he gave the go ahead for humanitarian operation to liberate the North. To have dignified peace, he, as the head of the government, ensured a stable government without which we would never be able to conduct the operation. As a finance minister he gave all the necessary funds for us. As a head of the Security Council, he supervised all the operations and all the planning and the discussions that were taking place. He gave instructions where corrections were necessary. The directions were all clear, precise, unambiguous, no wavering …As the President he galvanized the support of the people behind the forces. As president of the country he never gave into international pressure to stop the operation…’.

Admiral Karannagoda gives credit to the leadership of the Secretary of Defence. ‘He (the Secretary) played a key role by coordinating the matters with army, navy, air force, police and civil defence forces. He was like a conductor of an orchestra. When there was a shortage in one area, quickly replenishments were brought in from another area so that (operational) momentum was maintained. So he did his part 100 percent. President did his part more than 100 per cent. As Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of Sri Lanka, President Mahinda Rajapaksa gave unwavering leadership (for the Operation).”

Elaborating further, the Navy commander said “the Army Commander (Gen Fonseka) gave his 100 percent. So did I as the navy commander in respect to naval commitments to work as a team. The Air Force Commander too did his 100 per cent commitments to work as a team. The Police also did likewise and maintained security. All of us did our best as expected of us. The point is if not for the dedicated and astute leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the operation to liberate North and East could have still remained a pipedream’.

The country celebrated victory over terrorism and May 19 will remain etched in golden letters in the history of Sri Lanka.

Some leaders in the West with a vested interest are trying to pick holes in Sri Lanka’s historic humanitarian operation against the terrorists.

Also scheming politicians within the borders of Sri Lanka have begun to plot behind everyone’s’ back to set one against the other and stem the tide of outflow of euphoria.

The political schemers are trying to put the country in the hands of an ambitious general and thus endangering the democratic process and traditions the country cherishes.

Sarath Fonseka, a military officer has been lured into politics which is something new to an army general. He will fight against the very same commander- in- chief who gave him the opportunity to fight and win the war against Prabhakaran and his separatist terrorist fighters.

The emerging political scenario is not conducive to the country, and for its faith democracy and for the minorities in the country, Tamils, Muslims and others, who are just emerging out of a nightmare.

On 23 September 2008, Sarath Fonseka, as Sri Lanka’s Army Commander, gave an interview with Stewart Bell of the National Post (newspaper) of Canada and made some disquieting observations – not expected of a general, whose army has members of all ethnic groups in the country.

"I strongly believe”, the General told the interviewer,” that this country belongs to the Sinhalese but there are minority communities and we treat them like our people...We being the majority of the country, 75%, we will never give in and we have the right to protect this country...We are also a strong nation ... They (the minorities) can live in this country with us. But they must not try to, under the pretext of being a minority, demand undue things…”.

Fonseka made this statement when he was just the army commander; in case he becomes the President of the country, god forbid, how will be treat the minorities. Dump them into the Palk Strait?

*Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda -With an unblemished Naval career spanning over 37 years, he became the 15th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy in 2005. Known as an efficient administrator and farsighted leader, he led the Sri Lanka Navy through hard times with clear vision and guidance. Excerpts of his Thulawa interview is quoted in this report.

- Asian Tribune -