Common Candidate: Who’s controlling whom?

On behalf of voters in Sri Lanka, a Sri Lankan-born Canadian, Warna Hettiarachchi in Ontario, has posed a few questions to the common Opposition Candidate General (Retd.) Sarath Fonseka.

Following are the most important questions Hettiarachchi has raised.

1. It was the President Mahinda Rajapakse (Commander-in-Chief) that kept you from retiring and prolonged your term as the Commander of Sri Lanka Army affording you the opportunity to be the incumbent Commander during the unprecedented war’s victory. How did you pay your gratitude to this true leader?

2. Are you being controlled like a puppet by the record-breaking election-loser Ranil Wickremesinghe?

3. The so-called Tamil National Alliance was in effect the LTTE’s political wing outside the mythical Tamil Eelam. They have gone on record saying “LTTE is the sole representative of Tamils in Sri Lanka”. They accused the Sri Lankan Government, the Army, Air Force and you for killing innocent civilians in no-fire zones using heavy artillery.

4. Why did you join a handful of traitors who wished LTTE well, wanted to prolong the war and people’s suffering and wanted to bring the brave Sri Lankan leaders and its military to international war crimes tribunal?

5. Ranil Wickremesinghe repeatedly insulted the very Army you represented and led, during the final phases of the War before and after decisively winning. Mangala Samaraweera said that you are unfit even to lead the Salvation Army! Why did you join hands with them to wage a political war with the Sri Lankan leader who gave you the opportunity to finish the war and destroy the world’s most ruthless and dangerous terrorist organization?

6. Why did you complain to the international media (through the Sunday Leader) with the unsubstantiated allegation that the very Army that you led killed LTTE terrorists who supposedly carried a white flag and offered to surrender?

7. What are the 10 terms that you have agreed in response to the TNA’s proposal, in order for you to get their support?

8. In the event of your election victory, former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva has reportedly promised to consider re-merging the North and East which were de-merged following legal action to bring about effective governance at provincial and municipal levels. Can you confirm this?

9. LTTE may have been militarily annihilated in Sri Lanka but they are very active overseas, particularly the Europe, Canada and the USA. So with the TNA backing you are now receiving and the pro-separatist stance of Ranil Wickremesinghe and other Tiger sympathizers how do you plan to fight Tigers at an International level?

10. With the support you are receiving for your campaign from all the countries where LTTE is very active, how do you plan to protect Sri Lanka’s territorial integrity, independence and unitary nature of the State?

11. How are you going to stop LTTE cronies from regrouping internationally to restart the terrorist war?

12. Are you going to change the Sri Lanka’s agreement with China and India for joint Maritime Surveillance, under which Chinese naval vessels will use Hambantota harbour to monitor sea routes in Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Antarctica? If yes, which countries would replace China (NATO members, US Pacific Command Fleet, etc)?

- Asian Tribune -