TheIndependent)
- The indefatigable solider, former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka is in
the news once again. His newly formed Democratic Party (DP) was
formally recognised by the Commissioner of Elections last week and
assigned the symbol of a burning torch.
The entry of the DP into the political
arena does alter the parameters of domestic politics slightly. However,
whether it willbe a force to be reckoned with and be accepted by the
masses as an alternative government is a moot point.
The recognition of the DP is the latest
in a series of twists and turns. Fonseka’s career has been subjected to
after leading Sri Lanka’s war effort against the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that culminated in an emphatic victory for the
military in May 2009.
Since the war ended, he was promoted as
Chief of Defence Staff, retired from the Army, contested presidential
elections, contested general elections and entered Parliament, been
tried on several charges in both civil and military courts, jailed and
released following a presidential pardon.
Such
travails may have shaken a lesser man but Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka’s
most decorated soldier who was once described by Defence Secretary
Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the ‘best Army Commander in the world’, must be
considering these as mere occupational hazards in politics.
Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka, now 62 years of age, is a native of Ambalangoda. He schooled at Dharmasoka Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda and later at Ananda College Colombo. Like many others from Dharmasoka, he excelled at swimming while at school.
Fonseka joined the Army after leaving school and rose through its ranks. In so doing, he quickly acquired a reputation of being a strict disciplinarian and a highly professional soldier, who single-mindedly pursued his objectives, regardless of the obstacles he faced.
Fonseka’s career in the Army coincided with its war against the LTTE. He led a series of notable military victories against the Tigers — relieving the siege on Elephant Pass in 1991 and regaining control of Jaffna in 1995 being significant among them.
Even Fonseka’s critics acknowledge that he was as effective as he was ruthless in the battlefield. Soldiers joked that if they went forward, there was ‘Jhonny’ (the Johnny mines) but if they retreated, there was ‘Fonny’ (Fonseka)! In 2005, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and it was at that time that Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected President of the country. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a year junior to Fonseka in the military, was appointed as Defence Secretary. Rajapaksa handpicked Fonseka for the job of Army Commander with the objective of defeating the LTTE.
With unqualified political backing from the Rajapaksa government, Fonseka set about the task of destroying the LTTE. His skills were obviously recognised by the Tigers because they attempted to assassinate him in April 2006. Fonseka was seriously injured but survived.
This strengthened Fonseka’s resolve to annihilate the LTTE, which he did some three years later. However, in so doing, there was little love lost between Fonseka and the other service commanders, most notably Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda with whom he clashed publicly.
With the end of the conflict, Fonseka was hailed as a war hero. It was at this juncture that relations between Fonseka and Gotabaya Rajapaksa became strained. It is not clear whether that led to Fonseka nursing political ambitions or whether it was vice versa, but whatever the reason, the dice was cast.
Although Fonseka expressed a desire to remain as Army Commander till the end of the Army’s diamond jubilee celebrations, he was denied that honour and was ‘kicked upstairs’ as Chief of Defence Staff. Irked by this move Fonseka submitted his resignation and announced his candidature for presidency.
The state media, which only months ago was singing Fonseka’s praises and anointing him as the saviour of the nation, worked overtime to slander him. Many allegations against him were made public. Untrained in art of politics, Fonseka himself made a few comments that he would regret later.
Fonseka rallied the principal opposition parties — the United National Party (UNP), the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the Sri Lanka Mulsim Congress (SLMC) and even the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). But victory on the political stage eluded him; he secured only 40 per cent of the vote and conceded a 1.9 million vote majority to the incumbent President.
Since then, the wheels of justice have been turning at lightning speed against Fonseka. He was tried on a string of charges both in military and civil courts and found guilty. He served time in jail and became the Welikada prison’s most celebrated prisoner.
In May 2012, President Rajapaksa pardoned Fonseka, leading to his release from prison, following months of negotiations. Nevertheless, the pardon did not include the restoration of Fonseka’s military rank, pension or his civic rights.
The latter will remain a major stumbling block in any effort by Fonseka to contest elections or hold political office. It is as yet unresolved although there is speculation that his wife, Anoma, who maintained a high profile during his incarceration, may stand in on his behalf.
Another concern is Fonseka’s prowess as a politician. In the 2010 presidential campaign, even those who supported Fonseka criticised his abrasive manner and gung ho political statements. Many attributed this to Fonseka having spent all his working life in the military.
While the UNP and the JVP have now distanced themselves from Fonseka, some of his former allies –notably Arjuna Ranatunga and Tiran Alles–have moved away from Fonseka.
Last week, he was feted in the North Western Province by some UNP members including Palitha Range Bandara and Ashoka Abeysinghe who are disgruntled with the party leadership. Whether this will translate into a national phenomenon is yet to be seen.
Fonseka’s present political allies are few and far between. they can hardly be described as politicians of national stature. It is also unlikely that there will be room for Fonseka in the UNP, which is finding it hard to accommodate both Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa.
Last week’s recognition of the Democratic Party is just a first step for Sarath Fonseka. But in a scenario where he lacks many political allies to support him and crippled by his civic disabilities, it is doubtful whether the determined solider will be able to translate the party registration into a more meaningful journey.
Sathya Liyanasuriya
