Mainstream Effort to Politicise the Military -The Hindu
To say that the decision by Sri Lanka’s major opposition parties to field Sarath Fonseka, the prematurely retired general, as their consensus candidate in the January 26 presidential election against the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa is opportunist is to state the obvious.
The more serious question is what kind of political and ideological message the United National Party, the Janatha Vimukthi Perumana, and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Mahajana wing) are sending to the people, the Sinhalese, the Tamils, and the other ethnic groups. Is this an invitation to yet another South Asian variant of Bonapartism? This is the first time in the 61-year-old history of independent Sri Lanka that a mainstream effort is being made to politicise the military, which has unswervingly stuck to its job unlike some of its counterparts in the region.
The island nation stands at a crossroads of history following the comprehensive military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. There is a new opportunity to redefine and settle the terms of unstable relationship between the 75 per cent Sinhalese majority and the Tamil and Muslim minorities on the basis of genuine devolution, equality, and justice.
President Rajapaksa, who has remained cool and confident in the thick of this drama, says he chose to advance the presidential election by two years in order to restore to the people of the Northern Province the right to a free vote that was snatched away by the Tigers. There is absolutely no reason for any one to grudge him the sentiment.
Opposition parties have a lawful right to go for their best shot at the top political job, especially when the odds seem stacked against them. Moreover, the combined Sri Lankan opposition can be given some credit for placing on the agenda the issue of the long-promised abolition, or at least whittling down of the powers, of the executive presidency. To be fair, Army Chief Fonseka commanded the respect of his men and had a reputation for professionalism — as long as he stayed a soldier. The problem was that, from time to time, he crossed the lines and betrayed quirkiness, triumphalism, chauvinism, and hints of political ambition.
At the height of the Eelam War IV (August 2006 to May 2009), he went on record with assertions like “I strongly believe that this country belongs to the Sinhalese” and that the minority communities “can live in this country with us but they must not try to, under the pretext of being a minority, demand undue things.” Immediately after the final victory over the Tigers, he went completely over the top — publicly demanding a 50 per cent increase in the Army’s numerical strength for the peacetime challenge! Nor were the general’s political transgressions confined to domestic issues. He caused diplomatic embarrassment to the government he served by characterising sections of Tamil Nadu political leaders as a “bunch of jokers.”
His most recent political pronouncement — that the 13th Amendment, which provides for devolution of powers to the provinces, needs “a re-look in the present context” — has mystified political observers. Ironically, Fonseka-in-uniform was waging a parallel war with his current political sponsors, some of whom dubbed him a racist and went so far as to accuse him of manipulating the data on Tiger cadres killed in the fighting to bolster the ‘sagging morale’ of the Army.
Opportunism may be the norm in piquant situations such as the one that has arisen in Sri Lanka. But for the combined forces of the Opposition to be essaying into political adventurism, with a maverick and unpredictable retired general (in fancy dress) at their head, is to court humiliation and possibly trouble.
(This is the full text of an Editorial "Sri Lankan Drama" in "The Hindu" of December 1st 2009)
6 Comments
If only this editorial showed some balance in advising President Rajapakse to release the IDPs; not to make the “war” a platform to win the elections - the integrity of thewidely read Hindu would have been retained.
But evidently, Shri N. Ram and colleagues chose to defend his new found friend in Colombo and strengthen his personal equation than plead the case of the suffering Lankan Tamils in general and the IDPs in particular.
The sham of the opening of the A9 road; suspect release of those held in the Concentration camps on a fortnights “leave; the sudden lifting of check-points in Colombo are items of crucial import to Lankan Tamils missing in this piece.
The article also shows no surprise in the poor manner in which Gen. Fonseka was treated post-May 17 and in demoting him from the sublime as an administrator to the Sports Ministry – a junior entity in the Lankan Cabinet anyway. Mediocre mishandling by the Brothers erupted in this crisis that now threatens the nationally contested rule of the Rajapakses.
The General’s security retinue, at any rate, would have outnumbered the entire staff of the Sports Ministry. The chronic kleptocracy - characterized by impunity of the Rajapakse oligarchy - should have provided sufficient material for The Hindu to offer much needed critique. But no. The Hindu goes for the larger patronage of the majority Sinhalese lead by President Rajapakse – their current favourite.
ISS
That The Hindu editorialists were silent till now on Mr. Fonseka's racist pronouncements when the war was on, that they come out with a critique at this time, shows their moral bankruptcy.
Those of us who want to see war criminals prosecuted, hope that this falling out among war criminals is good for the truth to come out. In the heat of election battles, accusations and counter accusations, it may well happen. Meanwhile, The Hindu should pay a price for its actions amounting to aiding and abetting war crimes in Sri Lanka.
What is the difference between Sarath Fony's Srilanka belongs to Sinhala and SWRD founded Mahinda Rajapaksha's SLFP party.
Read this to understand deep rooted fear/mind set of Sinhala mass represented by MR or hoping to lead SF.
"It is vital that the Tamils seek a deeper understanding of the factors which drive this (Sinhala) intransigence. A clue to this is to be found in a speech by S W R D Bandaranaike, the founder of the Sinhala Maha Saba and the architect of the Sinhala Only policy of 1956 which marked the beginning of the Tamil struggle for self-rule. According to the Daily News of 8, November 1955, Bandaranaike made the case for the Sinhala Only bill by arguing that "With their books and culture and the will and strength characteristic of their race, the Tamils (if parity were granted) would soon rise to exert their dominant power over us” It was not just the Mahavamsa inspired notions of 'primacy' that have been the impetus, but also something else-the fear of domination...A political solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka requires re examination of previously held views so that all parties involved in this conflict can realise their goals by agreeing on political structures to enable the two nations in the Island of Sri Lanka coexist as equals and free of the fear of domination of one by the other. " There is no difference who ever wins this or any election unless this mind set is understood and countered. Who or what can counter this? so India does not need to fear that there is going to a Singapore in its back yard it the fore seeable future to compet with their economy.
Ram Crying for MR. MR so much worries about Northern people voting right. We Sri lankan know, how much millions transfer to LTTE to prevent the northern Tamils vote. So don't try to fool us man.
Pandaravanian,
This fear that many Sinhalese have is too obvious to me. Despite all the claims that they are not racist, all you have to do is probe them a little bit and the racism comes out. They get very upset when i say that Sinhala language only came into existance after 10th century AD. That Buddhism before sinhala language was practised by tamil speaking people. I.e tamil buddhists. Many of the so called Sinhala kings were tamil buddhist kings.
I also tell them that common sense suggests that Hindu religion arrived on the Island long before the Buddhist religion even appeared in India! This is common sense. They know it is true deep down but wont accept it superficially.
They so badly want to polarise themselves and call themselves 'aryans' when they most likely have more dravidian blood in them. Their ancestors and tamil ancestors were all the same.
This is why arguing over politicians in SL is a waste of time. The general deep rooted fear of the tamils is always going to be there.
The entire problem in Sri Lanka is founded on this. Very few people actually want to look at it this deep down.
Mr. Ram,
It is funny to see your pathetic cry. Our Fonseka gave a death blow to LTTE by manipulating India. He will lead us to prosperity by right alliances with our true friends...Iran, Pakistan and China. The days of Indian viceroys like J.N. Dixit are past history Mr. Ram. Just be happy with the 'SriLanka Ratna' title we gave you and shut your mouth. We don't need your advice about selecting our President. We are fed up with Indians bossing around us. Enough is enough. We are a sovereign nation and our people know what is best for us. We need a true leader like Fonseka who will replicate his military skills into a disciplined nation building effort unlike old rats like Rajapakse clan and impotent Ranil. If your India is not comfortable having a military general as our president it is your problem. Have a basic decency and at least here after do not meddle with the internal affairs of your neighbors.