“I Am At Risk” — Gen. Sarath Fonseka
By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema
Following General Sarath Fonseka’s resignation from the post of Chief of Defence Staff last Thursday November 12, the government on Friday, November 13, reduced his security contingent consisting of 400 elite commandos to a mere 25.
General Sarath Fonseka was assigned 400 security personnel and 25 vehicles after he was appointed Chief of Defence Staff.
Announcing that the General’s resignation be made effective immediately from November 13, the General’s security contingent was reduced to 25 security personnel. His official vehicles have been reduced to two jeeps and one bulletproof BMW car.
Former Navy Chief Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda is provided with 100 security personnel and six official vehicles including two bulletproof cars.
Former LTTE leader, Colonel Karuna has been provided with more security than both the former Army and Navy Chiefs.
The President during a discussion with the General after last week’s Security Council meeting had said measures would be taken to provide the military chiefs who played a key role in the war with life long security. However, the President went back on his word barely 36 hours after Gen. Fonseka had handed in his letter of resignation.
Gen. Sarath Fonseka meanwhile expressed grave concern over his security after retirement from the post of Chief of Defence Staff. He has told confidants that there is a very real and high level of threat to his life from the LTTE.
Apart from the LTTE, the General has confided that if Sri Lanka’s bloody history of politics is anything to go by then there also exists an extremely high risk to his life “from other quarters.”
General Fonseka observes that the threat to his life has not ceased with the military victory as the security forces and intelligence units were still apprehending LTTE cadres with arms and ammunition months after the war has ended.
Citing the killing of Major General Janaka Perera, Fonseka has said the country’s political culture was not conducive for the entrance of key military figures into politics after retirement.
A key military officer to be assassinated after entering politics was Major General Janaka Perera, who was killed in a bomb attack in Anuradhapura in October 2008.
Defence Spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the security provided to General Fonseka following retirement would be in line with the criteria generally followed when assigning security to retired forces chiefs.
When asked if special consideration would be given to General Fonseka’s security given the key role played by him during the war, the Minister said, “The military victory was a result of a collective effort by all forces chiefs, the police, the civil defence force and even the soldiers who fought in the battlefront. Therefore, all military heads were provided with appropriate security.”
He added that General Fonseka’s security was enhanced after the war, but the normal procedures would be followed after his retirement.
Dear Sir. You can do lot ,We need your service.
SF show your trust to the person who made you ,not to the persons who made you gona
Never comes to president election for another one year.
Great theatrics. A new twist to the movie “Dead Man Walking”. Sir, if you have any brains, you would have plotted to oust the existing regime while in exile in the USA or from outside the country. Who are you fooling? If you join politics, you will be joining a team of vulpine’s on either side with the intent to screwing us right royally. I suggest if politics is for you, then you might as well auction yourself on “EBAY” for the highest bidder! At least this will allow the rest of us to see how much you fetch for while maintaining transparency!
SF it may that you are about to face your Karma. I still remember the lies you told about that you having to go and hide in the jungles as a kid when the Tamils went on rampages in your villages. When youw ere a kid there were only Singhalese riots not LTTE. Only Tamils had to go and hide in jungles like in places like Polannaruwa. This is only a sample of your lies and misdeeds.
Now you are shedding crocodile tears for the Tamil IDPs. Don’t you even dream of minority votes in the coming elections with the help Mano Ganesh or TULF. No way Jose !
I know your grievances about LTTE for their trying to kill you. But took it as your personal crusade to go after the Tamils in general.
I think Mahinda is an angel compared to you, though personaly I think he too is a race based politician who did notare for anything but power for himself and his family.
so true,
i had high respect for mano ganesan sometime back but all these politicians r the same. all they want is to make money. Mano Ganesan is gonna loose his popularity n nothing else by joining the UNF coz gen sarath is the prez candidate.
LTTE who started the war by killing a jaffna mayer yes he was stupid prabhakarans first target – A TAMIL!
is not……tamil enemy
Kugan,
How is your migration work doing in Melbourne Australia?
ohhh fonny,
i’m not in australia.
dont think all tamils have just migrated to aus to do blue collar jobs.
how u dieing in the lanka with politicians corrupt to the core. U’d not see a high tech air port or metro train….just use ur diesel engine grandfather trains.
How come he changed his stand within 4 days ,THanks 2 CIA’s $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$’s
I credit the citiizens of Sri Lanka with greater intelligence. They will not elect someone with no political experience and no clear idea of what he would do if he (perish the thought) should become President. The report unfairly infers that President Rajapakse reneged when he withdrew the security Gen. Fonseka enjoyed. Gen. Fonseka became a private citizen and a retired General the moment he resigned the post Chief of Defence Staff and the government cannot be expected to provide security to all and sundry even if they are retired Generals or former government employees.
Chandrika did not have political experience and your citizens of Sri lanka with greater intelligence made her the president. wake up you idiot.
wot !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CBK didn’t have the experience ????????????????comedy comedy she waz daughter of two prime ministers
We often forget that nothing is permanent . When the General was in in office so many vanished, killed, establishments were burnt did he worry about this, appearently not. Now he is worried about is life, This is an oppertunity for him to ponder what an agoney others would have undergone. Hope others who have the power will think doing good to nation rather than for themself and some of there own.
General, all the anti-war and HRs activists/politicans/mediamen in SL are WILLING TO SUPPORT YOU BECAUSE THATS THE ONLY WAY TO GET RID OF ME. otherwise it si higly hypocritical for us to support a person like you who lead the balltefield. Now stop whining and lead our alliance forward!
Don’t worry GD whole sri lankas are behind every patriotic citizen,these traitors and jokers can do nothing to us
The general says “I am at risk”. Where was he when Gen Janaka Perera’s security was reduced? Lasantha’s last editorial concluded with the following profound quotation:
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Mike Wilson, GOSL has killed only rats, so not to worry. Haaaa!
Some Iyya
Too bad you were not included in the rat pack, may be next time.
cheers
Miki Mouse, be mindful, there won’t be anyone to speak for you.
Bye
another MR will come
MR is a traitor for reducing his security.
CIA give him the security
Fonseka Iye, Karma is catching up you were not worried when so many Tamils and Singhalese got killed for politics. Please do the good for humanity and you all will be able to live with dignity for long time and God also will help you for long life.
i think you made a mistake by resigned from top military post to enter politics. Opposition is using u as wepon. Ranil does not have backbone to contest in Presidential Election. He is using u to come to power and later he will dump u to dustbin. think twice before enter politics. you are great man. hero. once u enter politics u will come down to zero. my guess is first parliment election. then presidential election or janamatha vichranaya also will possible after general election.
I understand you have the green card. Why don’t you migrate to the United States. Are you scared to go there? Don’t ever think of joining the SL dirty politics. Profesional soldier should retire in a professional manner. Don’t worry about your security Sarath, “Old soldiers never die”. By the way Iam one of your grade 8 class mates, if you remember. Good luck Sarath
Come on Ranjan(NZ). Politics is not for the chicken hearted, especially SL politics !!!!
As the saying goes: ” The Tough gets going when the going gets tough”
Dear Son Of Freedom(SF) we hope to see you evolving as a TRUE son of Sri Lanka and emerging as a GREAT STATESMAN
Deshapriya
I can remember SF’s younger daughter saying to the gathering in his house ,when he was appointed as the Army commander, My father is going to be the best army commander .Her wish came true!. Now as a friend of the General I will say he will be the best President Sri Lanka will get. At last we can wish that an honest person will lead the country.
Dr.W
MR MUST GO………………………………………..
LET THERRE BE PEACE IN SRI LANKA.
u will see pieces not peace … in SL all cry for power. and when they get that power they forgets therest. thats the truth
with the big help of CIA
Ranil must come through SF ‘cos he has no backbone to compete with MR,he he he hey…..
Why all this hype about FEAR, KILLING, SECURITY ETC, when so many innocent and helplesscitizensof the nation are being tortured, tormented, and even killed on adaily basis. Whwere is the security for thecitizens of SRILANKA. All those in power and with connection to power are the only one who are somewhat secure. Family dominance, disrespect to the laws of the nation, greed, stealing the nations little left wealth and thuggary have to be eliminated first, for any prosperity and peace to be restored to this beautiful PEARL OF THE INDIAN OCEAN. Let the people rise and bring about a true change. GOD BLESS SRILANKA
mr fonseka u kill over twenty thousands innosent people in final battle.but god is there he will punish u .
TELL this to your Mano ,
UNP is bankrupt to go behind this person who was all out to get LTTE! Shameful!
WE SRI LANKANS BOAST THAT WE ARE RATIONAL AND NEUTRAL. BUT THE COMMENTS FROM BOTH SINHALESE AND THAMILS INDICATE THAT THEY ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH CURRENT REALITIES. THERE IS NOT POINT IN HARBOURING OLD ANIMOSITIES IF YOU WISH TO BUILD A PROSPEROUS AND UNITED COUNTRY. ALL OLD CHUVANISTC MYTHS WILL HAVE TO BE FIRST ABANDONED BY BOTH COMMUNITIES. GENERAL FONSEKA THEN HAS TO ACCEPT THE REALITY, CONSIDER THE COUNTRY FIRST, REFUSE TO ACCEPT POLITICAL IOUs AND COMEFORWARD WITH A SOLUMN PROMISE TO THE MINORITIES. CURRENTLY HE SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY GUY WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO LEAD THE COUNTRY IN TO A CORRUPTIONLESS FUTURE
vanakkam Fonseha
you are welcome as President, we know that you’re an extremist. you have killed 20 thousand innocent Tamils in the Vanni area. We will never punish you, we give the job to be God.
but one thing is quite certain, sri lanka needs change now. SL need close contact with China and pakis. rely not on india
RISE AND FALL OF MR IS CERTAIN. THE GHOSTS OF 20,000 TAMILS KILLED BY MR WILL HAUNT HIM. GOD IS GREAT AND HE WILL GIVE THE PROPER PUNISHMENT TO MR.
IF SF won the war how you wanna punish MR
SO, MANO GANESHAN AND GEN. FONSEKA TO SIT ON THE SAME PLATFORM ! LET THE TIME DECIDE EVERY THING.
We heard commanders of three arm forces and IGP were not present at the farewell parade of General Fonseka. Now, how knows whether they were not well and reported sick. Haa haaa haaaaaa…! Parakrama
SRI LANKA NEED A CLEAN AND A STRONG MAN LIKE GENERAL FONSEKA ,FOR IO TO ESTABLISH RULE OF LAW AND MAKE ROAD FOR PROSPERITY.TODAY SRI LANKA IS RUN BY THUGGERY,MURDEROUS AND CORRUPT GROUP.SUPPORT THE GENERAL FOR TO CHANGE THE LAWLESS AND CORRUPT COUNTRY.THOSE WHO LOVE SRI LANKA SHOULD OFFER THEIR FULL SUPPORT TO GENERAL.OTHERWISE SRI LANKA WILL REMAIN SAME AS NOW FOR NEXT MANY DECADES TO COME.
correct sam
FOR THERE TO BE A RADICAL CHANGE IN OUR POLITICAL CULTURE, WE NOW HAVE SOMEONE WHO COULD AND WOULD MAKE THAT CHANGE. IF WE DONT DECIDE NOW, IT WILL BE ANOTHER DECADE OF HEARING CREDIBLE STORIES LIKE, HELPING HAMBANTHOTA, MIHIN LANKA, STORMING OF STATE INSTITUTIONS BY MINISTERIAL THUGS APPOINTED BY OUR POLITICAL HEADS, APPOINTMENT OF FAMILY MEMBERS TO KEY GOVERNMENTAL POSTS . LET US GIVE SF A CHANCE IF HE COMES FORWARD AS A CANDIDATE FROM WHICHEVER PARTY HE WISHES TO – HASN’T HE DONE ENOUGH FOR THE COUNTRY AND SHOWN US THAT HE IS INDEED A SUITABLE CANDIDATE, IN COMPARISON TO THE OTHER TWO LIKELY CANDIDATES? …. SRI LANKA TO THE FORE…..
IF GENERAL FONSEKA BRINGS UNITY BETWEEN ALL RACES IN SRI LANKA HE WILL BE THE IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENCY.
MR BROUGHT HATERED BETWEEN SINHALESE-TAMILS AND THE MUSLIMS.
You sihalese racist politician is directing the killing of Tamils since 1956, but no body even UN or anybody did anything, in the name of gorverment you guys killed a lots of Tamils that is a pact, but the way it is looking you guys are going to funish each other, the minimum Fon is going to joint with Genega perera but one thing for sure you will have to face the god.
As a Sri Lankan domiciled in Australia I dont believe the Karma of this cursed nation will dissappear witha General comes to politics or no.
The masses should THINK and work on a political regiment other than thinking of the price of Dhal or Rice or Gas prices.
The Sri Lankan electorate is all about what they can get free/cheaper and not the progressive footing of the country.
Dr. K. Kaluarachchi
VIC.
Dear Gen. your verdict for minorities we will not for get, Sri lanka is majority
sihaleses nation, muslims & tamils are the minorities would have to live with what they are been provided or by their blessings. Similala statement of Merwin(MP)
What is the different between you and him. If you would have respected the rights of the minorities as a human we would have voiced our support to u at this hour
or even in your future politics.
Yes, and established apart the joblessness pace, in addition as huge debts and deficit, the lagging financial state, our downward standing included in the eyes on the entire world, the shredding of our Constitution, the insidious and treacherous takeover of our govt, the expanding type warfare and racism, and all in the opposite damaging things which have been continuing to transpire, non-stop, as the Hussein Regime de trabalho needed a lot more than