General Sarath Fonseka Out Soon?
General Sarath Fonseka was arrested on a bunch of trumped up charges, but mainly for daring to threaten Mahinda in a Presidential election. Despite his poor health, Fonseka was arrested in February 2010 and sentence to three years. Word on the street now, however, is that he’ll be released soon. Like any day now. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has told the Hindu so, so it looks like the General will be out soon. Without his title, a proper house or much shot at power, but out still.
Historically, Sri Lankan leaders have to be very cautious of Generals. They frequently take power, at least in the Mahavamsa. Mahinda was uber-conscious, surrounding Fonseka’s hotel with troops right after the election. It was super dodgy, actually, but Mahinda wasn’t taking any chances. He also saw fit to eliminate him from politics by putting him in jail. I’m not sure if Fonseka even has political rights when he gets out. This has happened to leaders like Srimavo Bandaranaike and they’ve recovered, but Fonseka is not a career politician, and not naturally skilled.
If he does get out, what does it mean?
Fonseka was an MP, but he’s been stripped of that. He was the head of his own party, but that’s frittered away. The next Presidential election isn’t till 2016, unless Mahinda decides to call it earlier. And I’m not sure Fonseka can even run with his conviction. From what I hear a lot of his campaign money was taken to start Ceylon Today (newspapers), so maybe he has a mouthpiece, or maybe he doesn’t. One of his major campaign issues was not having a house, and I think he still doesn’t have one. But it’s better than jail.
It’ll be good if he gets out. He really didn’t do anything except running against Mahinda, which isn’t a crime.
Mohsin Hamid, author of How To Get Filthy Rich In Rising Asia, has a nice 
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I won’t add too much commentary, but just read I guess. The youngest Rajapaksa, Rohitha (Chi Chi) has given an amazing interview to the 
In 2009 this strange character appeared on the Sri Lankan Internet scene, getting angry, flaming, trolling whatever. Then he started naming anonymous bloggers, posting comments as people’s kids, nasty stuff, for which I removed him from 
Great news. I didn’t believe it would happen.
The general’s lung condition must be bad, and Mahinda knows that the people wont forgive him if anything were to happen to SF, and it was thought that he was denied proper medical care. Epecially these days when the government seems to be doing nothing right.
Or else Tiran Alles has something to blackmail MR with.
Get real. SF is being released because the US is pressuring the Govt, not because MR has suddenly gone soft.
I agree. This depicts the situation well.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/caption-story/18696-cartoon-of-the-day.html
Not soft, just pragmatic. The only reason why MR keeps winning elections is the state of the opposition, and the support of a certain “patriotic’ section of the population. MR can’t be unaware that their support is fast eroding with the rising COL and the many recent blunders of the government. He’s probably betting on SF shooting his mouth off as soon as he’s released, and consequently shooting himself in the foot.
I dont see why releasing SF would be a priority on the US list of demands unless the pardon included reversing the conditions that prevent him from contesting in a future election.
I also like the blackmail theory. It goes with my conviction that all politicians today are blackguards.
Shammi’s right. US pressure has nothing to do with it. Jailing the opposition never looks good, no matter how many charges tou cook up. MR probably is realizing this. Also, note the upcoming elections in crucial areas.
I have a suspicion the government will restore SFs right to engage in political activity since his participation will effectively split the opposition votes – and is unlikely to attract any more support from the government’s SLFP base. This is on top of the positive image the govt can convey for having followed through on the release. Whatever his other faults the Medamulana Machiavelli is a superb political operator, and it is unlikely he signed the release without seeing the political advantages to himself and the ruling party.
Sarath Fonseka is a symbol of division. Even his release has divided society in general (well, at least Sinhalese society in general) and not united it going by the reaction of various people.
I just wrote the above and then went to google news about Lanka and was met with this:
Sri Lanka ‘must face war probes’
Sri Lanka must co-operate with any international investigation into alleged war crimes, ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka has told the BBC, a day after his release from jail.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18156260
Nothing wrong with the Sinhalese being divided by politics rather than united by ethnicity. And yes, of course SL must cooperate with an international investigation if one is initiated. We can’t afford not to. The idea is to avoid such an investigation being launched.
Isn’t SF a US Permanant Resident?
“… mainly for daring to threaten Mahinda in a Presidential election”
He did make some statements that may amount to treason in any country. Search google/youtube for Sarath Fonseka Ratnapura speech.
I just hope he doesn’t go back to shooting off his mouth in a base manner, and trying to bring down the government. We have some political stability now and it should continue for the foreseeable future. I wonder whether he will leave the country for the USA and be their puppet/tattle tale? I guess we will find out soon enough.