Dr.P.A.Samaraweera, Australia

In article on ‘Missed opportunities for reconciliation and healing’, to an English DailyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of 23rd February, Jehan Perera (JP) says, that the President despite a handsomeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 18% majority at the election does not appear interested in being magnanimous to the defeated opponent. He adds, “…the governments apparent unwillingness to soften its approach to Fonseka who continues to be incarcerated in solitary confinement is a frightening example to other dissidents…”
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Contrary to what JP says, the President in an interview to The Hindu has said that Fonseka is getting five star treatment in custody. He had been given a luxury flat formerly occupied by the Navy Commander. Obviously, he cannot be accommodated at Hilton, Oberoi or any other Five Star HotelƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as he had been taken into custody by the Army under the Military Act. In 1982, when Ratnasiri Wickremanayake,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ now Prime Minister and Vijaya Kuamaratunga were arrestedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by the UNP govt. they were kept in solitary confinement at Mahara prison.
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The President had also added that, the Army had wanted to take Fonseka into custody for an inquiry into serious allegations against him but he stopped it because of the elections. According to the Army, even before the elections Fonseka had been working to divide the army and engage in activities prosecutable under the Military Act.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He had also mentioned thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ now it is a matter for the courts and heƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ does not want toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ interfere in it.
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In this connection we may also add that Fonseka at meetings and media interviews had publicly said that, immediately after assuming office as President on 27th February he would imprison his opponents. He asked them to be ready to go to prison. This was to be his treatment fo his dissidents.
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JP also sheds crocodile tears for the arrest of Fonseka’s daughter’sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  mother-in-law, Mrs. Tilakaratne. She had been arrested as she had deposited in the vaults of a bank a sum of US$ 527,000, which were all brand new notes with numbers in sequence. According to the Exchange Control Regulations Mrs. T should have declared how she obtained such a large sum of money. In the UK, USAƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and Australia people have to declare if they bring in or take out more than US$10,000.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We may note that her son, Danuna, has a case against him for dealing with illegal arms through tenders obtained from the army when Fonseka was Army Commander.
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Finally, JP also claims that the people in the North and the East voted against the President. This was because the TNA, which is a proxy of the LTTE, wanted the Tamil people to vote for Fonseka.
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JP’s lament is no surpriseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ because during the Eelam war he was an ardent activist along with Human Rights organisations, Peace Councils and so onƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who opposed the war and argued vehemently for negotiations with the terrorists and put Sri Lanka back to square one.
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Dr.P.A.Samaraweera,
Australia.