Kumar Moses

Various factors lead to the present predicament of Fonseka. Canceling arms shipments, not giving enough power and not giving enough recognition are some reasons but these are all ancillary reasons. The real reason was never published.

It all started with the Tamil Nadu election which was held on 13^th May 2009. This was scheduled a long time ago and it was public knowledge. Fonseka, the army commander at that time, knew this as well. He planned a trip to China long time ago with his son in law who was in Sri Lanka at this time. The trip was planned well ahead and airline tickets were booked and the itinerary was well planned. He left the island on 11^th May 2009.

At the same time a massive international effort was underway to free LTTE leaders. It came to a point when it was uncertain whether the war would continue. Tamil Nadu election was held at a very crucial time when sensitivities of the war in Sri Lanka were very high. Expecting the Tamil Nadu election and the impact on it by the war in Sri Lanka, local authorities scaled downed the war for a few days allowing IDPs and relief services.

Fonseka agreed with this plan and left the island hoping that nothing much will happen until he is back.

The Tamil Nadu election concluded and the humanitarian operation gathered momentum. Votes were counted and the incumbent party had secured victory. Congress-I after winning elsewhere was preparing for talks with the DMK – the winners in Tamil Nadu. It was certain that the DMK leader would press for a ceasefire of some sort during these bargains.

Sri Lanka and India had to make a choice. They decided to make good use of the small window of opportunity and finish off the tigers before talks, negotiations, bargains and horse trading would begin between the Tamil Nadu winners and Congress-I for power in Indian parliament. A well planned attack was launched on LTTE fortifications disabling the terrorists, forcing them to release all civilians. Once all the civilians were out of LTTE control both parties got locked in a brutal battle. LTTE was annihilated in no time. By May 17^th the war was over. At this time Fonseka was abroad. He felt he was let down by the Defence Secretary, Vanni overall commander and the best ground commanders who ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t wait for himƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.

He came back to Sri Lanka and was feeling that he ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”missed the actionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. He feared that he would be unable to claim glory for the war which made him hysterical. He started making statements to the press at a rate unseen before. He even broke the news of LTTE leaderƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s death himself. But still he was feeling ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”let downƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. The Defence Secretary was instructed by his colleagues in India and he had to do what was best for the nation. Security forces could not wait for any auspicious moment, they couldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t wait for any planets, stars or individuals; they had to grasp the opportunity and end the cancer for good and they did it.

Fonseka never thought the war would end in May 2009. To his sheer astonishment, able commanders won the war without his input. This led to an enormous hate build-up against the Defence Secretary, the Vanni Overall Commander who is the present Army Commander and best Sri Lankan ground commanders. This hatred was displayed many times from FonsekaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s statements. Other issues aggravated it.

The highly popularized statement he supposedly made to the Sunday Leader on the 13^th December 2009 was one such event of display. It is not likely to end there as the Defence Secretary has, quite correctly, sought legal redress. Now the Sunday Leader is at crossroads whether to handover the tape or not. If the tape is not handed over, the newspaper and the journalist may be charged for defamation, etc. If it was handed over and if a competent court finds that Fonseka was misreported, still the same charge would emerge. But if they handover the tape and if it can be established that the Sunday Leader didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t misreport the statement by Fonseka, he will have to face the law. To divert attention Fonseka has merely threatened to sue the Sunday Leader alleging that they misreported him. However, so far no letter of demand has been sent and no legal action has been taken which means it is merely a threat.

The Defence Secretary must persist with his case and should not stop until the damage caused to the nation is rectified and appropriate punishment is levied on the wrongdoer/s.

Decades, even centuries later, Sri Lankans will look back at this victory with gratitude. They will appreciate the fact that King Dutugemunu ended the 44 year rule of Tamil Nadu invader Elara; King Vijayabahu the Great ended the 77 year rule of Tamil Nadu Chola invaders and a team of able men and women of the Rajapaksha administration ended the 22 year old terror unleashed by Tamil Tiger terrorists. Those who defected from the team may not be regarded as heroes, then.