Former Sri Lanka’s Army Commander Court-martialled
Posted on February 10th, 2010
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . K1J 6G1 Canada
February 10, 2010
The Editor (Letters)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
THE OTTAWA CITIZEN
Sir:
The story ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Sri Lanka: Former army chief to be court-martialledƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ is a storyline fit for a Shakespearian tragic play. . It was just nine months ago that former ex-ArmyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Commander, Sarath Fonseka together with commanders of the Navy, Air Force and the Defence Secretary, directed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, wiped outƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ on May 18, 2009, the Tamil Tigers after 27 years of warring and 100,000 deaths.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He became the islandƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s instant hero that day and the people of Sri Lanka were jubilant and exhaled a pent-up sigh of relief.
But then, he was no CanadaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s General Rick Hillier who stood by his soldiers when questioned about AfghanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Taliban prisoners and neither did he plot to topple the Canadian government with a coup, nor did he want to be the political leader wanting to govern all of Canada.
That is what Commander Sarath Fonseka wanted to do so badly.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Wanted to be the President of Sri Lanka by hook or by crook, and I am not sure what he was thinking when he publicly announced through a journalist that he would spurn the bravery and sacrifices of his soldiers by exposing them to an international war crimes court on human rights violationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for carrying out his own orders in the field during the last days of the war.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He abdicated his military command and respect of being ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”an officer and a gentlemanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ by abandoning his military protocols which he had sworn into for his ego and ambition.
Media reports say that he has been charged for engaging in political activity aimed at targeting and undermining the state which he was sworn to serve whilst in uniform; conspiring against his Commander-in-Chief whilst holding the highest rank in the Army; Creating a private army of more than 1,500 deserters whilst holding the office of the Army Commander in pursuit of his self-serving politics, andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ engaging in corrupt practices in procuring arms for the forces.
With such traitorous-antics, I am sorry I have no tears for the Retired Army Commander Sarath Fonseka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ During the proceedings of the Military Court on the above charges, may the chips fall as they may.
Asoka Weerasinghe