Sarath’s Security
Sarath Fonseka* by Perambara.org
Read bits of Sarath’s first press conference. It’s OK. If he runs on cleaning up the government he may have a chance. I was ready to believe in him last week, but he went on about his house and security. On the latter issue, however, he has a point. The last military man to enter politics literally blew up. There is one scenario no one talks about (or can/should, really). I think Mahinda I would give Sarath all the security he asks for, and more.
Sri Lankan politics is very much reduced to survival of the fittest. People believe in Sarath not for his eloquence or ideas but because they think he’s tough enough to win, and survive. Whatever shit we talk about politicians, they really do put their lives on the line. Presidents, Prime Ministers, opposition candidates, all have been blown up, or had attempts against them. Mostly this was the LTTE, trying to reap Eelam out of chaos, but also the JVP and elements of the government. It’s a high risk job and you have to respect those that have the balls (or ball) for it.
Sarath is very much putting his life on the line by entering politics. He is also a national hero. God forbid, if anything happens to him there will be riots in the street. Hell, I would be in the streets. He has to be given the utmost security not because he is the opposition candidate, but because any tragedy would certainly topple this government. That is, it is in Mahinda’s self-interest to both give and appear to give full security to Sarath Fonseka. So give him everything he asks, and more. I suspect it’s a dick measuring contest (how many cars you have, how many riders, how many guns) but the stakes are way too high for this shit.
*SRI LANKA, Colombo, November 29 – Former Army Commander and the subsequent Chief of Defence Staff Lt Gen Saratth Fonseka today announced that he would be challenging President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the January 26, 2010 Presidential election. “Can I win? Yes, I can,” Fonseka told a media conference attended by over 100 media personnel. (Amantha Perera/Perambara)
Nope, if anything happens to fonseka nothing will happen to the government. Not anything serious at least. Government would declare it is the UNP and JVP that should be held responsible for taking Fonseka into politics and it would work to a certain level as in the case of Janaka Perera.
There will be riots, but only by the people of opposition. No government supporter would give any shit about Fonseka now that he challenged their leader. The riots would continue but the opposition would find no viable candidate to field after Fonseka and Mahnida would win in a landslide. After two months Fonseka’s name would be successfully erased from the minds of people by the propaganda machines of the government.
True!
When reading about Srilanka and its perennial political, social economic issues the universality of the message in Animal Farm comes to find.
The written transcript does not do justice. Preferable to listen to the original on YouTube
Part 9 to 12 are the question and answers. Some in Sinhalese and others in English.
Seems reasonable.
Part 09
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
True, politicians put their lives on the line. But they do also expect a lot of returns. The benefits outweigh the losses.
Sarath a national hero?? For the vast majority of sinhalese, yes. But I’d like to know how many Tamils were killed or not?? Why haven’t they opened up the north for so long?? Is this what you call national hero? shame on you!
One man’s Terrorist, another man’s Freedom Fighter.
For your information the North is now open. All you need is a NIC. And reason for going there.
Remember that he is a national hero because he stopped a year that spanned more than 2 decades. A war that tore the nation apart and hurt it. Us winning the war was just closing the wound. We now have to do the stitches and heal the wound…
Those who live by the sword die by it.
If Sarath can put his hand to his heart and say, “i didn’t authorize the collateral killing of tamil civilians’, you are justified in going out to the streets in protest.
But this fucker has a llllllllllllllllllllllot of innocent blood in his hands in his bid to finish off LTTE. There will be thousands of people around the world who if given a gun in hand will shoot this man like a dog. He deserves it. So does Gota.
I thought you were one of the sane voices from SL who knew better than to go on the streets if Sarath is killed.
@ Ahmed Nizar
1. True one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. That’s why I said Sarath may be nat’l hero to sinhalese.
2. But as a muslim you have to be concerned. Don’t forget what he said about the minorities.
3. The war was created by the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), it could have been stopped without so many dying
4. If the sinhala political leaders had given the reasonable demands of the Tamils there would have been no war
5. Let’s not forget the 1915 riots against muslims
6. Let’s not forget the 1956 mini-riots against Tamils
7. Let’s not forget the 1958 riots against Tamils
8. Sporadic riots between years 1958 and 1983 against Tamils
9. Let’s not forget the burning of the Jaffna public library in 1981
10. Let’s not forget the 1983 riots against Tamils
11. Let’s announce the 2006 riots against Tamils in Trinco, where armed forces and media looked the other way
there was a better way, unfortunately a most of the majority community didn’t see it