No Tamils' and Tamil speaking Muslims' political parties have come forward to support the retired General Sarath Fonseka.
Majority of the political outfits of the Tamils and Tamil speaking Muslims have already decided not to support General (retd.) Sarath Fonseka in his presidential bid.
Eelam Peoples Democratic Party led by Minister Douglas Devananda, and Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal led by the Eastern Provincial Council Chief Minister T. Sivanesathurai alias Pillaiyan, are not even ready to consider for a moment, extending their support to the candidature of Sarath Fonseka.
As far as the up country Tamils are concerned, Asian Tribune reliably learnt that Ceylon Workers Congress led by Minister Arumugan Thondaman and the Upcountry People’s Front led by Minister Periyasamy Chanthirasekeran are supporters of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa from the very inception of his presidency in November 2005 and there is no chance for them to leave the President and support the retired General Sarath Fonseka.
Majority of the legislators belonging to the Tamil National Allaince opposes Sarath Fonseka for his chauvinistic pronouncement as well as for his ruthless approach.
In an interview to Stewart Bell of the National Post (newspaper) of Canada, on 23 September 2008, Sarath Fonseka very clearly told his thoughts on the Tamils and Tamil speaking Muslim in Sri Lanka to the consternation of the Minorities in the country, as, "I strongly believe, 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. “
Subsequent to this news report, Tamils began to be skeptical of Sarath Fonseka and have decided not to be associated with him in his political entry.
Though they very much oppose Sarath Fonseka, it is not clear whether they will either support President Mahinda Rajapaksa. But it is reliably learnt that as they have already decided conclusively not to support Sarath Fonseka, they may consider to be a part of the system on merits, however TNA is yet to announce its position .
In the meantime, All Ceylon Muslim Congress led by Minister Abdul Risath Bathiyutheen, who is with the government led by Mahinda Rajapaksa and there is no chance for them to support Sarath Fonseka. They have already pledged their support to Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress led by Rauff Hakeem is one of the constituent party of the United National Front led by Ranil Wickremasinghe. So far he has not openly declared his position.
Asian Tribune learns that majority of the Tamil speaking Muslims in the Eastern Province opposes Sarath Fonseka and Rauff Hakeem is playing his cards safe before making his position known.
It is further learnt that up to now General Fonseka has not responded to the questioner handed over to the General’s men when they met last time Mano Ganesan MP, the leader of the Western Peoples’ Front.
Furthermore, Sarath Fonseka is not a tested politician, but a greenhorn in politics. Therefore Western Peoples’ Front has it reservation to anounce their position, though they are also a member of the United National Front.
In the absence of a response forthcoming from the former army commander, the politburo of the Western Peoples’ Front is meeting today evening to consider their position
The twenty member politburo of the Western People’s Front is expected to decide on the four options available before them – whether to extend their support to the General (retired) Fonseka, or to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on the other hand either to extend their support to a common candidate selected by the Tamil political parties or else to boycott the election.
But it is reliably learnt that Mano Ganesan, the leader of the Western Peoples’ Front opposes the boycott of the Presidential election.
Tamil United Liberation Front led by V. Anandasangaree has so far not made his position clear. It is learnt that he along with D. Sitharthan of the PLOTE and T. Sritharan of the EPRLF (Pathmanabah Group) might soon make a joint statement on their position in the Presidential election
- Asian Tribune -
Comments
Sarath Fonseka is trying to
Sarath Fonseka is trying to test of his ability to see if he can swim upward the river against the strong currents which generally flows down as he did with the war which is not his single effort only.