By Noor Nizam, Sri Lankan Peace Activist and Freelance journalist, Canada, 4.11.2009.

The international media and the press is frenzy about the news that General Sarath Fonseka has already left the USA at 11.30 p.m. US time last night (3.11.2009) on his return trip to mother Sri Lanka after a private trip accompanied by his wife to visit their children and in-laws in Oklahoma.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Sri Lanka Government Information Department made an official announcement last evening that the Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka has left the United States this morning (November 04) to return to Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To those who knew General Fonseka as the humble patriotic soldier, this was not anything to be of excitement. Yet the backdrop to this scenario created by the opportunistic political vultures and the scheming political party leaders and political vendors, has hurt all of us ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” patriots, be we Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims or Burghers.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The political bankruptcy of a left oriented Political party had also published this tarnishing statement in their party website which is completely un-TRUTH. This is what they said:

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Meanwhile, the government of Sri Lanka had stated that Gen. Fonseka was going to betray Defense secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse. Media influenced by the government attempted to brand Gen. Fonseka as a betrayerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Evidence shows that the government has never said so at any stage of this issue. It is now simple to understand that the JVP resembles the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-hyenaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ or the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-cunning foxƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in our surroundings, trying to grab a part of the popularity of the outstanding love and compassion that the Nation of Sri Lanka has towards this great Sri Lankan ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” General Sarath Fonseka ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the humble patriotic soldier of Sri Lanka. Is the JVP trying to hoodwink the rural voters of Sri Lankan by shouting slogans in supporting General Sarath Fonseka in Parliament and outside, of his return, when indeed this brave soldier is simple and humble and did what he has to do to defend the Nation, the Constitution, his Commanding Officer (The President) and the office of the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army. The scared oaths of Sarath Fonseka taking office as Commander of the Sri Lanka Army ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ were administered on December 6, 2005 and July the 12^th., 2009 as the Chief of Defence Staff. Both oaths were administered in the presence of HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa and the later made in accordance with the powers vested in the President by the Chief of Defence Staff Act No. 35 of 2009. A true soldier always defends his oath, not like the JVP (sahodarayas) or the LTTE (podiyangala) – members who wage war and treason against the state and a democratically elected government.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In 1993, as the Jaffna Fort was under siege for a long period, the then Colonel Sarath Fonseka led troops in the “Midnight Express” (military operational code name) operation to rescue the besieged troops. Incidentally, the incumbent Secretary of Defence Lieutenant Colonel Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was with him. Several hundred soldiers were saved in this fleeing operation. His run of significant military victories against the LTTE during the Eelam War 1V led to the Indian National Security Advisor M.K.Narayanan to describe him as the best Army Commander in the world. On his way to the officers mess, on April 25^th., 2006, then Lt. General Fonseka, survived an LTTE suicide bomb attack by a pregnant Tamil woman, in which he was seriously injured and nine others were killed.General Sarath Fonseka defended his motherlad and over ran the LTTE on May the 17th., 2009 along with Lt. Colonel Gotabhaya Rqajapaksa and HE. the President.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Never the less, the Secretary of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, his trusted colleague was also a veteran soldier. During his military career, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been awarded the PresidentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Commendation letter by former President J R Jayewardene and medals for valour in combat such as Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP) Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” by former Presidents R Premadasa and D B Wijetunga. He has also received a commendation from the Commander of the Army for his bravery in action. He has commanded many anti-terrorist operations in the North and East in different capacities. Among them was his Command of the 1st Battalion of the Gajaba Regiment in the important Vadamarachhci Operation in 1987 and Operation Thrividabalaya in 1990 respectively, to rescue Jaffna peninsula and the Jaffna Fort from terrorist control. On Friday, December the 1^st., 2006 near the Pithala Junction in Dharmapala Mawatha in Kolupittya around 10:30 a.m, Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa escaped a suicide bomb attack on his life too.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is therefore no right of any Sri Lankan citizen to hurt the General or the President any more. Do not hurt Gotabaya too. DO NOT DIVIDE THEIR UNITY PLEASE. These are patriotic citizens of Sri Lanka who have given their best to the nation to remove the threat of violence and terrorism and create an atmosphere of peace and sustainability inclusive of harmony to the Nation of Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ General Sarath FonsekaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  – The humble patriotic soldier of Sri Lanka should not be made a political tool to disrupt the unity of the Patriotic Forces of the Sinhalese, Tamils and the Muslims. Their UNITY and DEDICATION should be harnessed to bring reconciliation and PEACE to the suffering Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Minority communities in the North and East, specially the MUSLIMS. They should be helped to bring the misled tamil youth to the main stream of “participatory and representative brokerage political representation”.

The government is doing it’s utmost and the programs should not be distrupted at any cost. It is not for us, but for our future generations.

This is a message that should be well understood by all opposition political leaders, political parties, joint alliances, specially cabinet ministers and MPƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s and all those who deceptively claim that they are with the President in his noble WAR against TERRORISM in Sri Lanka. HE. Mahinda RajapaksaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s persistence and consistence in the WAR against TERRORISM administered by Lt. Colonel ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and General Sarath Fonseka ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in Sri Lanka, can also turn out to eradicate TERRORISM in the whole world ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” a noble service to humanity.