President Vs the General – to be or not to be?

(by Luxman-Arvind)

Sri Lankans, blessed as they are, usually are not short of humour in even the most difficult circumstances. Here they are equal to the British. Kotiyage valige is as good as the Bard’s to be or not to be fate poor President Mahinda Rajapakse finds himself in today. The Mahanayakas, now three, too are under pressure from all around and are urging the President to release “the National hero” - a pledge they gave Mrs Anoma Fonseka when she called on them for support. Ven. Sobitha Thero, Mahanayake of the Kotte Naga Vihara just managed escape getting rammed twice by a lorry on his way to Kandy – bringing back to memory the fate that befell the affable Sarath Muttetuwegama years ago. Ven. Sobitha continued somewhat shaken in another vehicle on his dual purpose of both “a fast unto death with hundred other Theras” and/or offer himself as substitute in jail so that Sarath Fonseka is released. Clearly, the Thera’s grasp of Buddhism must be far superior to his familiarity with our modern laws. Surely, if the law permits one to be substituted for another sentenced to jail, there will be utter confusion at Welikade, Bogambara and most everywhere else. Not that the crime lords, kudu kings and the sundry underworld, with able assistance from prison/police authorities, have not tried this alternative regularly for years with some useful help from Parliamentary big-wigs. Now the scenario is changed because the crime lords, kudu karayas and the underworld are right there in Parliament and higher above so that the task becomes much more easier. Little boys and girls will have difficulty in distinguishing between hora-polis now a days whereas in our time the lines were clearly drawn and we knew who the hora and who the polis was.

The Catholic ecclesiastical hierarchy that prudently keeps away from sensitive political issues has also got into the act too with a request that the General be released. It may not be long before the Muslim clerics too express their solidarity. Ranil Wickremasinghe, who seemed to have lost all his marbles in his recent unending quarrels – not with the outside – but with his own party men, has rediscovered a chance to salvage his badly bruished leadership reputation. He now brings the best of the lawyer within him and is throwing the book at his adversary the President – yet another lawyer. Ranil reminds the President Article 65 of the Army Act and Articles of 34 (1) of the Constitution empower the President to pardon the War Hero. Ranil, the clever man he is, also refers to a meeting the President graced at Pollonaruwa where the latter silenced the Ven. Habarana Rathana Dhamma of the Sri Priyadharshana Ramaya that “he is not a revengeful man and he would consider a pardon to release the General if made duly” To make matters easier for the President, Ranil makes the formal request for a pardon. That the request must be made by Fonseka or his wife or his daughters is nothing but irrelevant and evasive trivia. The legal issue maintained by Fonseka and the JVP there is no question of asking for pardon because he has throughout maintained he is not guilty is one that should await the current wrangling between the President and Ranil.

But pardoning another in similar circumstances and Sarath Fonseka are two world’s apart. If Fonseka can be such a recurring headache while in chains, he could be a life-threatening danger if released is a reality that the brothers must be debating hour in and hour out. Meanwhile, Fonseka’s reputation is gathering momentum around the country. His informing the military tribunal he does not recognize their legitimacy and he fears not going to jail for a wrong he has not done makes him more of a hero in the eyes of the people who now spend time and money to see him, cheer him and touch him when he comes to attend Court. This certainly must be causing much discomfort to the Rajapakse regime who must be worried whatever tough action they take against the former General he still continues to fight back.

Fonseka in chains is becoming a much more lethal force to be reckoned with than the Fonseka before he was incarcerated is a thought that cannot escape the Rajapapakse calculations. The regime certainly is not keeping quiet. Recognising Rev. Sobitha can cause problems if his campaign balloons, there is now an inspired leak to the media the government is in possession of “sensitive political material” to be used against the popular Buddhist cleric. The same sources say the President is holding action in this regard in order not to bring the Maha Sangha into “disrepute and controversy”

Foreign governments with regular contact with Sri Lanka expressing the view releasing Sarath Fonseka will be the right thing to do gains further strength when the Tamil National Alliance adds to the chorus of pleas for his release. Astonishingly, a strong voice from the Tamil diaspora - David Poopalapillai of the Canadian Tamil Congress - coming out of his tree to ask for the release of Fonseka surprises many. Poopalapillai is widely identified with the LTTE for long – despite his denials now. The large Tamil community in Canada recognises him as a strong LTTE supporter - a fact confirmed even in TV programmes by Asoka Yapa, a long time and respected Lankan resident in Toronto.

As suggested in these columns earlier, the way out of this impasse for the government and Fonseka will be that win-win situation where he is coaxed to leave the country with his family either for good or for some years until matters calm down here for both sides as a quid pro quo for his unconditional release.

Is David Poobalapillai re-born in this world to justify the arrest of Former Army chief Sarth Fonseka and support him? David just forgot all his past records of how he was critic on Fonseka for his participation on Ellem war VI and arrest Tamils in Colombo area. He is calling Kangaroo court for democratically elected Goverment's Judicial system and forgot to mention where he was when Pribaharan's LTTE so call Police was arrested Innocent Sri Lankan Police constables who has crossed to LTTE so called Territory Land to inquire a culprit who hiding in this land after committing sexual offense on underage girl and his Kangaroo Court was Passed jail term on this Constables. Mr.David Poobalapillai can recall this incident,  He was jubilant to say Tamil Community that law and order in his Leader Pribaharan's dream land Tamil Ellem is a excellent. what a double standard personality. How people trust this man. He is an opportunity without any principal on his own life.

President Vs the General – to be or not to be?