Sri Lanka’s just resigned Chief of Defense Staff General Sarath Fonseka is at the top of assistant secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Bureau of the U.S. State Department Robert Blake’s agenda; his moves in Sri Lanka’s politics to Mr. Blake is not ‘breaking news’ to him, and the moves Blake’s office expects to take in the event of Fonseka returns to the U.S. soil as a ‘Resident Alien’ on a permanent basis if he fails to get the opportunity to serve the nation and the people is to re-focus on alleged human rights violations and war atrocities of the Rajapaksa government in general and defense secretary in particular.
What Robert Blake has been reiterating to Sri Lanka since he became the assistant secretary seems to have clearly reflected in the ‘confidential’ section of the Letter of Resignation General Fonseka addressed to Sri Lanka president which Asian Tribune managed to lay its hands.
Here are the last two paragraphs of the ‘confidential’ portion of General Sarath Fonseka’s Resignation Letter to President Rajapaksa:
(Begin Quote) Your Excellency’s government has yet to win the peace in spite of the fact that the Army under my leadership won the war. There is no clear policy to win the hearts and minds of the Tamil people, which will surely ruin the victory, attained paving the way for yet another uprising in the future.
The peace dividend the whole country expected at the conclusion of the war has yet to materialize. The economic hardships faced by the people have increased while waste and corruption have reached endemic proportions; media freedom and other democratic rights continue to be curtailed. The many sacrifices the army made to end the war would not have been in vain, if we can usher in a new era of peace and prosperity to our motherland.(End Quote)
The Asian Tribune has been recognizing and found the ‘dots’ in Sarath Fonseka episode, and in the process of connecting these ‘dots’ starting from Sri Lanka – over to the United States Department of State – and back to Sri Lanka – and possible final connection of the ‘dot’ to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
One of the essential ‘dots’ is some of the comments made by Sarath Fonseka to the media following his religious ceremony at the Most Sacred Kelaniya Buddhist Temple in the out skirts of Colombo. He attended the religious observation after sending his Letter of Resignation to the president on Thursday, November 12.
This is what Fonseka told the media at the Temple premises, and Asian Tribune carries the dialogue in full:
Q: Why are you retiring?
Gen. Fonseka: I have passed my retirement age, what I intend doing after that I will decide.
Q: What is your next step?
GF: I will decide when I retire end of the month. The reason is I thought I have served enough in uniform.
Q: Are you contesting the presidential election?
GF: It is not appropriate here to state as I am still in uniform.
Q: Why did you decide to retire?
GF:I am in service even after four years of my retirement age. I thought that my service while in uniform is over.
Q: The government spoke high about your contribution. Couldn’t you extend that support to the government further?
GF: I think I have given the support as much as I could. I have no special responsibility or serious duties attached to the position I am holding now. Therefore, I decided to step out as I have passed my retirement age.
(In his Letter of Resignation to the president Fonseka lamented that he was put to a position which was greatly devalued and had no command authority but just coordinating responsibilities)
Q: The impression created is that there is a rift between you and the government.
GF: That, you have to ask the government.
Q: But, what’s your opinion?
GF: I am still in uniform
Q: We remember you stated sometimes back in an interview that you will never enter politics after witnessing what happened to Gen. Janaka Perera. Do you still hold those views?
GF: At that time I had not decided to retire from active military service. Now, I have decided to retire. Only after I retire that I will decide what steps I should take. As a citizen I have all the rights as other citizens.
Q: Did you tender your resignation with regret or with delight?
GF: With delight.
Q: When are you going to retire?
GF: End of this month.
Q: If the President refuses to accept your resignation?
GF: Retirement is one of the fundamental rights of an individual.
Q: Are there any requests for you to enter politics?
GF: Not yet.
Q: Your name is being mentioned as a possible common opposition candidate (for president).
GF: I know my name is being mentioned. You have to ask the media people of the credibility of such stories.
Q: If there is a request that you should step forward to serve the people – will you accept?
GF: All these years I have been in service to the people. In the future also I will commit myself to the service of the people.
General Sarath Fonseka in late October at a religious observation at the Washington Buddhist Vihara addressing the gathering said that ‘If the country is moving toward the wrong path I am prepared to shed my uniform to put the nation on the correct path in service of the people.”
The ‘dots’ have been identified, but it is a process to connect them to get the complete story that may involve Sri Lanka-United States bi-lateral relations.
The drama is performed in Sri Lanka but Washington seems to be engaged in developing the lyrics, dialogues, melody and strings. Washington has found a perfect actor in General Sarath Fonseka.
- Asian Tribune -
Comments
This affair is very pathetic.
This affair is very pathetic. Sarath Fonseka several times almost derailed the war by his stupid utterances. Even the suicide bomber who attempted on his life is connected to his own cook Fonseka has hand picked. He was boasting that he had to call Wimal Weerawansa to support the government to continue the resources Army needed to defeat the terrorists. What has he done now? In peace time Sri Lanka this stupid commander had another agenda always agitating the government to increase the number of soldiers. How can the government maintain such a large force without burdening the masses who has already sacrificed such a lot? Government on its own part did not start disbanding the army units after the war, though it was feasible. And also it was this stupid General who insisted to hold the IDP in the camps to weed out the terrorists. But now he is blaming the government for holding them. This man is already taken to very cheap politics. He is the goody goody, and every body is bad. To get the support of UNP jokers who slandered him right royally during the war is hilarious.
Pls. refrain by insulting the
Pls. refrain by insulting the good general.. It seems some party hacks and elamist will do anything to denigrate the great soldier. He has served the country and people with dignity with huge personal cost..
What right these morons have, to insult the great general ?
It is any ones right to enter into civilian life and dedicate his expertise.. Opposition today are traitors and foreign agents trying to create more trouble for Sri Lanka and hope good general will not work with these traitors...
The confidential parts of
The confidential parts of Gen. Fonseka's letter of resignation, if accurate, suggest that the points I raised at this site recently were eerily right on the ball. The confidential paragraphs clearly suggest that General Fonseka feels the Prez Rajapakse Administration has failed to follow-up on the military victory to usher in real and permanent peace. And this was a point that I also made. I indicated that if Prez Rajapakse wants to win another term, he will have to forget about his stated aim of solving the problems AFTER THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, and solve the problems BEFORE THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION. And that, otherwise, he may find himself booted out of office just like Sir Winston Churchill got booted out after the World War II victory. And if Prez Rajapakse fails to grasp this plain and simple reality, any possible chance of his victory at the next presidential election is doomed.
I have also pointed out at this site that the foot-dragging by the GoSL on solving the problems that made it possible for the advent of militant groups could lead to the birth of other militant groups, or even the re-emergence of the defeated group. And it seems to me that this is exactly what General Fonseka is also suggesting and warning against. And Prez Rajapakse, who seems to be more a politician than a statesman, should not have much difficulty in understanding this basic fact. He may have no chance of re-election if he does not get down to the business of solving the problems BEFORE THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. AND AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT GEN. FONSEKA IS STATING IN HIS CONFIDENTIAL PARAGRAPHS.
FURTHERMORE, WITH TWO STRONG PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, IT WILL BE THE MINORITIES WHO WILL TIP THE BALANCE FOR ONE OR THE THE OTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSE, IF HE IS INDEED AN ASTUTE POLITICIAN, CANNOT OVERLOOK THIS POINT. AND THE TAMILS AND MUSLIMS SHOULD BE FULLY COGNIZANT OF THIS FACT.
Permanent peace and prosperity is within reach. If Prez Rajapakse blows the chances for permanent peace, he will pay the price at the next presidential election. The current situation calls for statesmanship. And this is probably what Gen. Fonseka is also suggesting.
Gamage continues his empty
Gamage continues his empty attacks on Secretary Robert Blake as if it is the latter that is Sri Lanka's problem and the State Department the primary problem maker. The author overlooks that Secretary Blake is only doing his job: advancing the agenda of his bosses Secretary Hillary Clinton and President Barrack Obama, an agenda clearly detailed by the US President at his first UN address. He emphasized that the US will deepen her engagement in international affairs with focus on bringing peace to the trouble spots of the world. The Americans through Robert Blake is only living up to this superpower responsibility by influencing the evolution of a just political solution for Lanka’s decades old ethnic problem. Contrary to Gamage's assertion, it is highly unlikely that Robert Blake is on a witch hunt to get at the Rajapaksa administration or any one person in particular. Petty political vendettas though common in Sri Lankan politics are not common practice of American politicians and officers. The broader American policy objectives always take precedence over petite personality conflicts and the State Departments focus has been and will continue to be: how to best bring about a lasting peace among all communities of the island. It is no secret that peace advocates throughout the world including European, Australian, Canadian and American leaders have been profoundly disappointed with the Rajapaksa administration’s demonstrated lack of commitment to evolving a gutsy political solution, despite its enormous power with the key Sinhalese Buddhist community. Many had believed that President Rajapaksa would spend his enormous war-victory capital wisely to expeditiously push through a viable political solution - but to the contrary, all what we have had are postponements.
Three days after the victory by the Sri Lankan armed forces, on May 21, this commentator wrote in Asian Tribune, “President Rajapaksa who is enjoying unprecedented popularity, especially among the Sinhalese masses must now consolidate political power through a parliamentary election and then submit a political proposal to establish a permanent solution to the problem. While the present window of opportunity will linger on for a while, it won't last forever and thus, the president must leverage this once-in-a-million opportunity to bring about lasting peace to the nation.” Since, no consolidation of power, no parliamentary elections, no solution – and the window of opportunity has closed. The nation lost the once-in-a-million opportunity. Why is it that the likes of Daya Gamage, attempt to portray this obvious failure by the present administration as an attack on the Rajapaksas by the US State Department or Robert Blake? What’s the rationale here? It is not Robert Blake or America our enemy but our selves.
Endgame of 2009 and Hope for
Endgame of 2009 and Hope for 2010
All Is are dotted and Ts are crossed now. Damage has already taken it’s own roots. At least, No more dotted stories biased on speculations! One should understand that these types of all biased data and speculations can only build no trust among people. Isn’t it the same that affected the so-called “Thrimurthiya”. It is sad to see how these rumors can affect strong relationships. Henchmen’s whose brains are just dotted to function for
short term gains have created the two men who worked so closely together
then against LTTE today to be bitter political adversaries. It is not others who create issues, not US, UK or EU, we are the one who ignites confusion and suspicions. It is us we make weak Institutions and authorities that can be destroyed by others.
LTTE Intl Diaspora launched propaganda at the beginning and our small country had to fight the battle of the actual war and another battle against propaganda. Always Sri Lanka
has become the victim of it’s leaders mistakes, corruption as any other country who thought and believed in “ United we loose, Separately we win” and this attitude should not be the roadmap for the future of Sri Lanka.
Learn the lesson from Gen SF’s incident, at least he is honest, a man who always spoke from his mind, he understood the work ethics in an untrusted domain and he reassigned. Brave of him not to violate freedom of speech! He never got involved in this jotted dotted businesses with crafting stories!
With the ENDGAME of 2009, should we please invest time and our energy to define the current issues and the solutions for those? I am sure Sri Lanka will never forget the Rajapakse Era’s regime as the only one who destroyed LTTE. The president under his executive power, the deliberate path they marched in winning the war was amazing. He never gave up on it’s people at a time when the Sri Lanka was under the worst international radar and scrutiny. One should never forget their achievement. It is sad to see they could not win people trust anymore.
War was Black and White, but make no colors to Sri Lanka suffer again.
Looking forward a better Hope of 2010. Asian Tribune did a great job
during the past year specially, Daya Gamage penned to do a great job
during that time but some wonder why Mr. Gamage seems to be so upset about General entering politics which is anybody's fundamental right?"
It seems some people forget
It seems some people forget what is right and wrong when they get their green cards in USA.. It is pity that human intelligence and common sense sold for a green card.
Look around man and see what happen in last 70 yrs and USA's war crime around the world.. We may have bad politicians but our heritage is solid and compassionate even though Christians and elamist try to denigrate our values.
Who says US is right ? Only a retard will do that.. Other point is who is going to investigate USA's war crimes against humanity ?
Almost millions of humans burn to crisp in Japan, Vietnam, Illegal war in Cambodia and Chemical warfare in Indo China and using Chemicals to kill vegetation... The list go on and hope one day US will pay for these crimes.
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