Fonseka’s Letter To The Elections Commisioner
A joint communique in Sinhala – Page 1, Page 2
This is the text of Sarath Fonseka’s letter to the Elections Commissioner. He is saying that the elections were not free and fair and were conducted illegally. I think it is naive, politically tone-deaf, foolish, helpless and dumb. But I don’t think his complaints are wrong. The election did violate the Constitution and Elections Law, blatantly. We’re used to it and we don’t care. For us it was fair enough. But in a legal sense, his complaints are actually correct.
The President is Constitutionally bound to appoint a Constitutional Council competent authorities for police and public service beneath that. He didn’t, so those appointments were illegal. There are specific elections rules regarding use of state media and properties which were violated. This doesn’t even get into the allegations of ballot stuffing.
Of course, in Sri Lanka we accept all these things and the government has been violating the Constitution for years. Sarath Fonseka should probably just accept that. Even I pretty much have. But he’s pretty dogged, and he wants to take this to court. On paper, I think he’s right, though in a hotel surrounded by troops, who knows. The full text of the letter is below.
…
I being the common candidate representing the New Democratic Front backed by several main opposition political parties contested for the Presidential Election held yesterday. I have decided not to accept the results which are being declared by you as the same are not valid and void in law. I also will institute appropriate legal proceedings to have the said results annulled on the following amongst other grounds. I also request that you shall not pronounce the final results until the legal proceedings are over.
- Prior to the handing over of the nomination and after the deliver of the same as well the state media made a series of intimidatory and defamatory publications tarnishing my good will and reputation.
- State media published a series of false allegations stating that I am not a citizen of Sri Lanka and a party to an international conspiracy.
- The incumbent President being a candidate of the Presidential Election made use of a large number of public properties for his election campaign including state owned resources, vehicles, fuel and the “Temple Trees”, the official residence of Prime Minister.
- The incumbent President being a candidate made use of state resources and properties including state media violating the directions given by yourselves in terms of the powers vested according to law.
- State officers were not independent as they were succummed to the pressure of the politicians since the Government has not established the Public Service Commission.
- The police services were being dominated by corrupt politicians since the Government has refused to establish the National Police Commission.
- The last two days of election namely 24th and 25th of January and the day of election namely the 26th January State media abused their authority and misused the same making a series of false allegations.
- Controllers and officers of the state media organization were working as party organizers of the candidate Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa.
- Internally Displaced Persons in war torn Northern Province were prevented from casting their votes.
- There had been a series of malpractices committed in the election including the change of fake ballot boxes.
General Sarath Fonseka
Isn’t this the same whining that Ranil did when he lost?
This was a much awaited post. thanks for posting it
Has Ranil made any statements regarding the election? There was the statement on BBC from the opposition leader saying that he accepted the result. Any ideas what SF’s allies are saying?
WTF Indi!
Take a step back and look at what is unrolling.
Do not be a tool to distract others from what is really going on.
It is not fucking SFs fault.Ranil ,Mangala and Somawansa used this power hungry ,vindictive and horny general to keep their power for another 3-4 years.
If the UNP has the guts find a new leader they would not have been in this mess.How in the world a guy can keep his party leadership after loosing 20-25 elections?What will be lost in this brouhaha is that Ranil is awful and UNPers does not have the balls to kick him out.He will probably keep his job another 3-4 years giving him access to young gay males who like to fuck old guys with money ,fame and power.If he does not have the UNP leadership he will loose fame and power.
The above is not my opinion (brought up by a Sinhala blog Taboo Subjects.Their English needs some improvements but mastery of Sinhala langauge is impeccable) but I whole heatedly agree with their observation.
“If the UNP has the guts find a new leader they would not have been in this mess”
This is the best I heard in a while.
Soori Asgaram, a civil engineer who returned to Sri Lanka three months ago after living in Britain for 44 years, thought the result held out the best prospect for a resolution of the Tamil issue that has bedevilled the island for decades.
“Unlike Fonseka, Rajapaksa has not made racist speeches,” he said from the northern city of Jaffna. “He has pledged to push for devolution of power to the north and east, and has said that the solution to the national question must have the agreement of all parties.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/27/mahinda-rajapaksa-wins-sri-lanka-election
This is hilarious, yet oddly appropriate coming from this man. Throughout this election the opposition political campaign was never been anything more than a collection of empty platitudes, vacuous accusations and puerile sentiments. What better way to close its curtain than cry boo boo.
The political culture of Sri Lanka is as such that the government will always abuse the state media and misappropriate state resources. Ranil et al know very well how this game works because the UNP started this. The most important thing in the election is the casting & counting of ballots. as far as the former is concerned even the UNP leader was satisfied. If there had been major discrepencies in the counting of ballot why haven’t people from the PAFFEl, the foerign observers, as well as party observers themselves complained? This is a classic case of “nattana bari minihata polawa edai”
Indi, you earned your pay… really. Thanks for being there.
Looks like SF camp has decided on the nuclear option. Unfortunately they don’t nearly have the hand to play it.
This move is political harakiri from the perspective of faithful UNP and JVP supporters. SF is digging himself deeper but that is the nature of the beast.
Sri Lanka has a long democratic history. We still debate about the results of the 1956 election. Not the fact that we had one.
Just how many countries had this democracy thing for that long. How many non-European countries anyway. There is something about people power in Sri Lanka that is beyond anything our foreign visitors will understand.
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) reported that some counting officers and agents of the main opposition candidate at counting stations in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala and Matale had been physically assaulted when they were carrying out their duties – Daily Mirror
Call him a sour grape or what not, but you have to admit that there were problems at counting stations. We just chose to ignore them because we don’t care anymore. Because this happens during every election and we know nothing will be done about it.
All we can do now is wait and watch while corruption and abuse takes over and Sri Lanka is hurled into hell. :)
Two types of rumors:
1. Innocent rumors:
People speculate based on what is going on. They just want to fill in the blanks with whatever private fantasies they have.
2. Sinister rumors:
These are calculated attempt to confuse facts with fiction. Usually started by cynical interested parties with a hidden agenda.
It’s actually a request by Ranil, Somawansha and others to give security to Sarath Foneseka in awake of recent incidents.