Precisely one week after the United States administration attempted to get a confession from Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defense Staff, Sarath Fonseka on possible war crimes by Gothabaya Rajapakse – the Defense Secretary of Sri Lanka, the Army General has submitted his resignation. The resignation letter submitted by Sarath Fonseka outlines the frustration he had to endure since the days he declared victory over the Tamil rebels – the only group with which the Sri Lankan army has every been ordered to fight.
Sarath Fonseka – the name evokes mixed response among Sri Lankans. It depends on who you are talking to – except for the small group of Sinhalese who view the nation as sliding towards its darkest days since its inception, many Sinhalese with nationalistic sentiments, view him as a hero who has helped the nation defeat what they call “terrorism” – a reference to the secessionist resistance by the minority Tamils of Sri Lanka. However almost all Tamil civilians of Sri Lanka (including the large Tamil Diaspora) view him as an individual who had no respect to the sentiments and lives of the Tamil civilians or the lives of the Sinhalese army men of the nation.
His career is surrounded with black marks. It is during his tenure, the Sri Lankan army earned some not so desirable reputation across the globe.
During Sarath Fonseka’s command, in Nov 2007 – a total of 108 of the Sri Lankan army servicemen were sent home for sexually abusing minor girls in Haiti where they were deployed as part of a UN peace keeping mission. UN spokeswoman Michele Montas reported that the Sri Lankan soldiers are sent back and that they are going to be prosecuted in Sri Lanka. However, there is no verifiable reports to confirm if they were prosecuted or any action was taken to that respect.
BBC: S Lanka troops ‘abused Haitians’
In the home front, the Army under Sarath Fonseka received the largest funding from the government to engage in an all out war against the Tamil rebels who at one point were running a parallel government in the Tamil inhabited North and East of the island. The Rajapakse government which spearheaded the war initiative gave the tactical advantage of a total blackout from world media that allowed Sarath Fonseka and his Army to advance with no regard to human lives or the “Rules of War” as laid out by the Geneva convention. This war is largely regarded as the most bloodiest war in this part of the world. UN reports indicate that almost 1000 civilians were killed every day during the last phase of the war. Total civilian casualties is reported to exceed 80,000 since the start of the all out offensive two years back.
Sarath Fonseka seen with Tamil rebels in this undated picture. The Lankan Army is accused of having shot dead the Rebel political leaders while they surrended with white flags during the last days of the war.
The Army is also accused of continuously shelling schools and hospitals in spite of international warnings during the last months of the war. Video footage showing Hospitals being shelled were made available during the war. Recently, video footage of Tamil civilians stripped naked and shot by Sri Lankan soldiers at point blank range was released by Canada’s Channel 4 news channel and sent shock waves across the world. The video initially rebuffed as fake by the Sri Lankan government was then verified and certified as original by an independent agency in the US.
Investigating claims of Sri Lankan ‘war crimes’
In an interview to Canada’s National Post in September 2008, Sarath Fonseka said he “strongly believed that Sri Lanka belongs to the Sinhalese, but there are minority communities and we treat them like our people”, and of the other communities “They can live in this country with us. But they must not try to, under the pretext of being a minority, demand undue things.”
Sarath Fonseka’s anti Tamil sentiments served the President Rajapakse well, in his mission to put an end to the Tamil resistance. However, it is the post war developments that revealed Rajapakses shrewdness that lead to the rift between the President and the General. Immediately after the war, Rajapakse, in a clandestine effort successfully striped Sarath Fonseka of his command by promoting the General to Chief of Defense Staff – a ceremonial position that actually removed Sarath from his command of the Army. Sarath Fonseka seem to have realized this too late. The General describes in his resignation letter about the series of attempts by the President that had frustrated him and has lead to his submitting the resignation letter.
Imeediately after the war, rumors were making rounds in Colombo that Sarath Fonseka is likely to attempt a coup. The rumor and the grim situation that it created in the nation, allowed Rajapakse regime to get the sympathy and cooperation of India and other countries that raised concern over the holding of 300,000 civilians in internment camps against their will. Several western nations had warned Sri Lanka for its gross violation of human rights in holding these civilians against their will. However the “coup” story allowed Rajapakse regime to divert the attention of the visiting Indian Parliamentarians in an attempt to buy their silence to cooperate with his administration to pass through the so called “difficult days” faced by his nation. The Indian parliamentarians never the less blew the whistle for “War Crime Investigation” against the Lankan Regime.
The Rajapakse administration played the “terrorism” card to eliminate the Tamil resistance earlier, to which General Sarath Fonseka played along very well. However little did Sarath Fonseka realize then that the Rajapakse regime was capable of playing the “Army Coup” card in containing the General himself from gaining popularity among the nationalist Sinhalese population. The General now realizes the shrewdness of the Rajapakse brothers to eliminate any possible opposition that questions their political future.
The Rajapakse brothers however, were alarmed when the US government’s Homeland Security officials spoke to General Fonseka during his US visit (to renew his US Green Card) about a possible corroboration for a war crime charge against Gothabaya Rajapakse – brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse and Sri Lanka’s Defense Secretary. However, Sarath Fonseka – who has hopes to enter politics back home and become the next President, turned down the offer and fled US before the arranged interview date. That move might possibly jeopardize his US Green Card renewal prospect – which might have offered him a secure life in the US in the event of a possible backlash that might put his life at risk back home.
The General mentions in his resignation letter, the risk he carries to his life because of his actions as the Army Chief and has also expressed his frustration at the government’s failure to provide him adequate security from the time the Rajapakse regime viewed him as a competition to President’s popularity. It’s a late realization by the General though, and leads to speculation that the risk to his life comes not from the rebels or the Tamil population, but from Rajapakse regime itself. It may not be a surprise if the General is already in the hit list of the infamous white van abduction group that operates under the supervision of the Rajapakse brothers.
In summary, General Sarath Fonseka was played very well by the Rajapakse brothers and now that they do not need his service any more, have found ways to show him the door. If the Rajapakse brother’s political manipulative reputation holds, they may have already drafted a scheme to get rid of the General from the political scene of the nation or even from the nation altogether to clear the way for a second term for the President. The General, after all has underestimated his boss and does not seem to posses the political acumen to win elections – a skill that is seldom learned from the war front.
Tags: Haiti Sex Abuse, Rajapakse, Sarath Fonseka, Sinhalese, Sri Lanka, Tamil, terrorism, war crimes
14 Comments
You obviously have no clue about what’s going on right? Admit it.
He resigned to run for president, in the presidential elections.
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSCOL37773
The Sri Lankan army is not Sinhalese. It has mixed races, including burgher and muslims.
You claim that “his career is surrounded with black marks.” That’s only amongst Tamil Tiger sympathizers raised on the Tigers propaganda. In Sri Lanka he is a war hero, and with the exception of rumours and baseless allegations, the men and women of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces does not have any bad reputation around the globe.
If you read the following: http://bailaman.blogspot.com/2009/06/more-sri-lankan-peacekeepers-for-haiti.html
Or this: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N02591186.htm
You will know that Sri Lanka peacekeepers in Haiti were accused of transactional sex, not abuse. Allegations doesn’t allow anyone to presume guilt.
Sadly ‘Truth Drive’ doesn’t drive at any truth, but looks more like a Tamil author spreading more half truths to smear Sri Lanka after the Tamil Tigers’ defeat.
Dear Author,
Your article clearly shows the colours of those involved in war crimes (Rajapakse brothers and Sarath Fonseka). Sarath Fonseka, has kept quite until he was shown the boot, and immediately started criticizing the current Srilankan regime about inhuman treatment of the IDPs. Did he not know the truth earlier?
Why did he not want to give an interview to the Americans? Why did he flee America if he had nothing to hide. Sarath Fonseka, a great general who led 50,000 soldiers to fight 2000 LTTE fighters, managed to get help from China and India, support from Airforce and Navy, finally…… defeated them, after killing close to a million people. He had to defeat them, even if it meant killing a million people. So, this is his way of providing security and protection to his nationals.
General Fonseka is a mindless henchman, whose services are no longer required for Rajapakse, so he now crosses over trying to project himself as a hero. What a shame.
Arun
Arun you can’t “flee” the united states. The US authorities aren’t that stupid. It was always a voluntary meeting ahead of his green card renewal. Not war crimes investigation. The Tamil diaspora sympathetic to LTTE should just stop all this nonsense.
Face it. There will never be any war crimes investigations. ALL reports of war crimes in Sri Lanka attribute 80% of the allegations on the Tamil Tigers. It is not a violation of international humanitarian law (IHL) if any facilities, even hospitals were used by Tigers.
In Sri lanka Sinhalese switched over from Parliamentary democracy to Executive presidential system to empower Sinhalese political parties not to depend on parliamentarians from Tamil Minority for any purpose.; The only democratic control over the Sinhalese majority was removed. The political power of Tamils was made redundant.
What I suspect is that Rajapakse and Fonseka are enacting a drama
Rajapakse should have asked Fonseka to go to opposition camp to cheat both Tamils and Sinhalese opposition. By this drama they can hide all their crimes in a war of no witness where the admission of the culprits shall be the only evidence.
Rajapakse, gothabaya and Gen fonseka are the three stooges of srilanka. They keep celebrating their victory for more than 8 months. Their victory is over a civilian army with limited resources, while they had India, China, Burma, Vietnam and many other filthy countries supporting them.
I agree that their achievement is significant (however puny it is), as this is their only achievement as a race, from the beginning of Time… :)
I had no idea about this circus until now. Good to see an article on this topic.
Channel 4 is British not Canadian.
Channel 4 is British and not Canadian. “The video initially rebuffed as fake by the Sri Lankan government was then verified and certified as original by an independent agency in the US.” I would like more information about this. Your link “Investigating claims of Sri Lankan ‘war crimes’” does not give any evidence merely more assertions by Channel 4.
e wahe boru nokiya hitapando.tho baba.oya photo eka A9 para open karana dawase aran thiyenne.
Dear All,
All your comments on the article and the article itself is a bit narrow minded. If you need to critically analise the situation you need more information / data with more evidance. Fist let me tell you that LTTE is not just a civilian army. It is an organisation which evolved with time and with international backing from West and from the closest nabiour India. LTTE is bigger than Alkaeeda, Hamaz, Ireland gurillas or any other terrorist group of this world. Why? you can see that from the asset bases found now, such as Cash, Gold, Ships, Plans & other forign assests now being siezed by the Sri Lankan government with the help of other governments. But we must admit that LTTE evolved because of the loopholes in the Sri Lankan Political environment. Mainly due to cornering of the main minority the Tamils. Uprising of the Tamils was again due to South Indian influence. This can be seen from the aincent history of Sri Lanka.
Now let me tell you why West & other Super Powers are interseted in Sri lanka. They may call it Human rights, Economic affairs, Politics or what ever, everyone just want to put their hand into this island. Why? Because this island still have so many unexploited natural resources, such as One rainforest, 4 natural harbours, Phosphate, Silicon, Oil (yet to find) etc etc,. Also countries like USA & China wants to have a military base here just in case if they want to attack India. These countries are not bothered about Tamils or Sinhalese or any other national’s Human rights. If they are, they should start the investigations from Iraq, Afganistan, Eugoslavia etc. They have innecent blood all over thier bodies.
Sri Lanka is country with mixed raises. I have been living in this land for 30 years now. All what we want is peace, harmony and normalcy of life for all our brothers and sisters, irrespective of the rais or nationality. Who ever wins Fonseka or Rajapakse it is his duty to work towards that.
Looking back. This is a failed article going down the annals of journalism history as a speculative. Takes a journalist to find out facts. Takes a gossiping village lady to build rumors.
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Jude I appreciate your comment. U seems not bias to any party & love SL.
Kumaran Pradeepan commented:
>Sri Lanka peacekeepers in Haiti were accused of transactional sex, not abuse.
I just wanted to document the following link to add to his comments. The following video includes an interview by Aljazeera with the Haiti girl who was raped by a Sri Lankan soldier.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB16QeKIQ64