We knew my father would be found guilty until proven innocent
by Apsara Fonseka
Almost two weeks ago, after six whole months of illegal detention and many court cases, my father’s first court martial case convicted him of doing politics while in uniform.
I must say, this did not come as any surprise to us since we knew that the verdict was written by this regime a long time ago. We knew our father would be found guilty until proven innocent, not the other way around. But the fact that we were not even given a chance to argue the case in court was not something we expected. Many probably don’t know that the case was heard and closed without even having our lawyers present – we did not even have a chance to bring forth our evidence.
I heard the Defence Secretary has started to ‘clean up’ the army.
This is the reason he had given for dishonourably discharging my father. His comment made me wonder if it was the panel or his verdict that was handed out in court. His comment sounded as if he knew what the verdict would be at the end. Anyhow, I sincerely hope that he will not stop with the army with this ‘clean up’. I hope the other forces too will see this ‘cleaning’. Especially because if this verdict is true, he surely cannot forget the fact that the President Rajapaksa’s second son and his nephew too did politics while in uniform.
No one can forget the fact that Yoshitha went around with the ‘Blue Brigade’, campaigning for his father. I’m not saying that was wrong, but that was definitely doing politics while in uniform because as far as I know, he still is a navy officer and I don’t see a court martial in the horizon for him. Then again, there were some difference between Yoshitha and my father. Firstly, my father is not a Rajapaksa and secondly, my father retired from his position before he went on into politics. So given these confusing definitions and convictions, I’m guessing that the true meaning of doing politics in uniform lies in who is the final arbiter of the decision.
I’m very interested to see what the Defence Secretary’s thoughts would be on this.
Many, including personnel in the military are disgusted with this conviction. One respectable officer went on to say that it was sickening to hear such verdicts against the General. They seem to think that if this was done to the highest ranking officer in the army, what kind of a guarantee would they have? While some believe no good deed goes unpunished, some others seem to believe the best way to survive or to get promoted inside the military is to certainly do politics ‘while’ in uniform. It seems fair to consider so, because wasn’t that what happened during the presidential election? Didn’t several high-ranking officers come on national television to campaign for the President? Were they not promoted? Were they not given high positions in organisations?
I personally don’t understand why the government wants to accuse others when they themselves wanted to bring my father into politics. I remember in one incident, the President himself asked my father to participate in a political meeting held down South. I also remember my father very clearly saying that he will not get on any stage while he was still serving the forces.
On many other occasions, I know many more government officials came to our home, while my father was still the CDS and asked him if he would like to join the government and do politics. Even government officials working abroad flew in just to do so. However, my father’s answer remained the same. So, why blame my father for coming in to politics when they clearly wanted him to join in the first place? I guess the answer is simple – He didn’t join ‘them’.
My father’s reaction to this verdict was priceless. He showed no worry regarding it. When I asked if he was saddened by the verdict and if he felt as if all his efforts and sacrifices were in vain, he merely smiled and said that these little obstacles would not affect him. He said that although the government had the power to take away his ranks, they will never be able to take away the pride and happiness he felt every time he achieved them. He said that no matter who takes what away, they could never take the memories he built as an army officer and that there will never be any regrets for serving his country.
I personally have no worries about my father losing his ranks. Neither does any member of my family. In fact, I really don’t think any Sri Lankan really cares about this verdict. It was simply another drama created for the whole world to see. My father wrote history and that can never be stolen or erased. He marked his name. He has scars to prove his work. He neither begged nor did favours to get where he did. He believes that actions always speak louder than words and that is what brought him all the respect and honour.
He didn’t run away to another country when things became dangerous or when governments changed. He faced all obstacles that came his way and he held his head up high through it all. So, just because some person gave a verdict to make another person happy and for someone to feel superior and strong, people will always remember. He will always be remembered as the army commander who was able to architect a plan to finish a war. That fact will not change. As the people say, he will always be the General of the public. Nothing or no one can change that fact.
My family and I, with many other Sri Lankans, will always honour and respect my father for all he has done for the country. So, it doesn’t matter. History has already been written and my father’s efforts will always be remembered. There is no power that can take that away.
Many already know the final outcome. The government will try to convict him before the next parliament period if not earlier. They will then sentence him to jail with an extended time period and will make sure he loses his seat in parliament. This is to be expected.
What is not known is how the people will react.
I hope we will always fight for democracy for the sake of our future.
We have nothing left if we have no say, except, to remember Mahatma Gandhi’s words: “You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result.”
17 Comments
I feel sorry for the family members of Fonseka. But do they know that how many innocent civilians died even before they could prove their innocence. Fonseka is at least alive to prove his innocence.
Your father is a good soldier and we loved him very much. When a suicide bomber tried to blast him,we were shocked and we prayed for him,and conduct Bodhi poojas etc...
But I don't know the reasons why he became a vindictive politician. You and your sister and your mom should and must prevent him from become a politician. But unfortunately nobody could do nothing about it now. A brave,valiant and glorious soldier,who deserve respect and honour from the nation, today become a victim of dirty politics.Who is responsible? You better ask from yourselves.
At the rate that the civil and criminal court cases are being filed against her father, he will end up as a state guest for many a moon now that the one time kissing pals have become ardent enemies..
In my opinion, the defence secretary of the sorry nation even though he gloats that he is a pure vegetarian is full vengeance he will ensure that his one time comrade in murder will not see sunlight for many a year to come.
If only the once mighty general had accepted the offer of being made the UPFA member for Galle he will and would be singing and dancing to different tunes.
Politics, make strange bedfellows they say. a j.
Why don't I have tears for you my dear Apsara? Do you know why? Because this poetic justice. Your father is getting a taste of his own medicine (which he, in cahoot with Rajapaksas, shoved through numerous innocents -- Sinhalese as well as Tamils). Keep whining my dear!
Quote : "What is not known is how the people will react"
That's the thing. Despite seemingly inundated with harassment, Sarath Fonseka does not earn widespread public sympathy for him.
If his case is so strong, there should be massive protests against the Rajapakse's. I mean public protests, newspaper articles and all sorts of satyagraha, demonstrations, poster campaigns, work stoppages etc.
You can argue that an iron fist is curbing all the means of public outcry. But for how long? Nevertheless the mood of the country over the Fonseka saga is clear.
Perhaps the day he admits his innocent desire of entering politics against the incumbent was wrong will earn public support.
Perhaps the day he distance himself from the JVP will earn public support.
Perhaps the day he voluntarily produces his son-in-law to courts will earn public support.
Lastly but not least, the day he sheds his ego and share the military success with other Service Commanders, Def Sec and the President will earn public support for him.
Dear Aspara,
Going into politics is no offense. But your father engaged in politics at the lowest denomination.
Can't you remember him on stage screaming to the public that he was going to remove the uniforms of the good soldiers like Shavendra Silva?
Can't you remember him threatening the Rajapaksas that he was going to send them to Bogambara?
Can't you remember him promising the Western stooges to hand in our loyal soldiers to go before their concocted War Crime Tribunals?
Isn't this the reason why he received wheel barrows full of crispy Green Backs with consecutive serial numbers,?
These are the mild forms of dirty politics in comparison to his out right threats to the life and limb of Rajapaksas and the alleged plot to bring the Army on to the streets,
I think a majority of intelligent people know that this ex General wasn't joking when he made these statements.
Hi! Apsara,
As a father of two tiny daughters I would imagine what your family might be going through.
But as I always say the nation is in a trance by the sequence of un imaginable events ( e.g. sudden end of war and the end of TERROR).They were deceived by a set of crooks with white lies and either they stole their votes or rigged it.The ruling family members can do politics while in uniform etc is just a reminder for you the lack of class in Asian politics.
But The good General will live forever in the hearts of those who see things through and not the nit picking commanders who served under him who cam on TV and claim as if they execute the war by themselves(LOL). I am ashamed to say some of them went to the leading buddhist school of which a happened to be an old boy.I am shamed and I was watching them with utmost shame.You can never blame your mother or the motherland but the nation is reaping what they sow.!!! long behold we shall have the executive presidency forever held by the ruling family at the rate things go now.But , hey relax the night is still young, politics is a strange game when the tide is gainst you it doesn't matter how mighty you are just like the Tsunami it all will be washed away.
May the Good General long live, the real saviour of the nation.
( Why did the president hand over the knife to cut the cake to celebrate the VICTORY??
)Its history and it can never be re-written!!!!.
Ajith Borlaugoda
Dear Apsara, once upon a time your father stated that this country "belonged to the Sinhalese" and that all others should not demand "undue things". Well now this country belongs to the Rajapakse's and they have deemed that your father is demanding undue things.
This is always the story about power in corrupt countries like Sri Lanka. You say and behave however you want when in power, but when you lose power you're going to get it back.
"""what goes around comes around""
Hi Apsara,
I write this from Chennai, India. Many of us Tamils were simply upset with what you people in Sri Lanka have done to the Tamils over the years. This War against Tamils and the masssacre of 40,000 Tamil Civilians was totally unnecessary. This was done by the Rajapakse Hoodlums at the instigation of the Italian Bandit family in New Delhi. Your father played his part in this. He had his orders from the Rajapakse Goons and paid the price for his loyalty to these Goons, when he ran for Office being a War Hero. These Rajapakses have no shame and have to be tried by the Singala people much like the Italian Mafia family in Delhi. Their day will come.
We are moved by how your father is being treated by the Rajapakse Hoodlums. The only thing your father can do as some Salvation is, Expose the Crimes of the Rajapakses and the fake Gandhis to the International Media, so that these people can be Prosecuted in the Hague. These people have to be tried.
While so much blood has been shed via Racism in your country, the time has come for the Singalas to show respect and compassion to the Tamils. Both communities should move on. Tamils should be released from Internment and their lands given back to them. Else there is going to be more trouble on the island. In any case you people should sort out matters on your own. Keep out the Indians, Chinese and others and sort out the mess yourselves. Hopefully the Sinhala people will rise up and have your father released from the Custody of the Rajapakse Hoodlums
Hi Apsara, i just wanted to add this to my writing earlier:
I still remember the day when Premadasa and Prabakaran joined to kick out the IPKF from your country. In Chennai we felt good that the IPKF was being kicked out at last. So what prevents you people now from uniting as a nation. There has to be compassion from the Singalas especially the Theros(or Head Priests) towards Tamils. In any way, keep the Indians out. It was India in 1983 that helped the Tamils grow from 30 Militants to 30,000 Militants to create trouble in your island. So keep out all foreigners from playing into your country's problems. We will all hope that Singalas and Tamils will coexist peacefully in your country now on.
Those sitting outside the box can see there is no law and order in Sri Lanka, the entire country is being dictated by one family and those happy with a piece of left over borne thrown by the same.
It is painful to express that surprisingly your father is still alive, the expectation was that he would have been given spiked food while in custody to kill him slowly and claim so called natural death. Sorry to say time will tell, expect the worst.
By the comments above it is obvious that this is a clear victory for the LTTE and it's supporters.
Well Done Rajapaksa brothers after winning the war you are still being out foxed by the diaspora !
Hi, ms fonseka,
I'm sorry for you because your papa is languishing. The fact remains that everybody has to pay. Your father is now paying penance for whatever the sins he had committed being the Commander of the army and he has nine months to go before he gets it back, by which time he will have to reflect on his past actions and make ammends, failing which he will fall into the bottomless pit into which the current people who think they have everything worked out!
Do not be in a hurry, he will be back in style, and will try more thinks than Rajapakhsas ostensibly to undo them. That is where you will have a role to play in containing him.
There were numerous letters and poems written by children of people who were massacred by your father in Wanni!! ....Did you read them?...Did you care about them?....Your father was a murderer as far as the Tamil people in the Wanni were concerned. He should be given 40,000 life sentences with hard labour!! He has only left behind a legacy of killings,maimings and most of all arrogance. You cannot ask justice from the people of Sri Lanka!..unless you consider Tamils as not part of Sri Lanka.
I think Apsara learnt her repeated lesson having desperately attempted to fool the people of Sri Lanka, don't know for how many times.
Your father was the Army commander of the Army that defeated a murderous terrorist outfit called, LTTE. Also, he was the power-greedy, swollen headed, egoistic CDS who challenged the very superiors who paved the way to his all glories.
He was such an ungrateful, pandit fellow who thought he's above everything in this country once the war was won. He had no memory of those took his hands together in the collective effort of defeating terrorism.
As a result now he's being thrown to the garbage bin of SL's history as he deserved well. Yesterday's Hero is truely today's Zero, if he doesn't know how to keep the glory achieved, just as same as yesterday's sakvithi can be today's begger when he doesn't know how to deal with the money earned. Simple.. Don't cry for spilt milk.
There won't be poeple uprisings for the opportunist types like you people.
Dear Apsara,
You should have advised your father when he went on the killing spree of Tamil civilians, including babies, children, women, old and infirm in the thousands!!!! There is no point in weeping now!!How many were buried in the chemmani mass graves for no fault of their except being born Tamils