The Questionable Arrest Of Gen. Sarath Fonseka Of Sri Lanka

It may be just a wild guess encouraged by something which is a plain coincidence. However, the world is predictably finding it very hard to believe that the ongoing government actions against the former Sri Lankan Army Chief Sarath Fonseka have nothing to do with his failed challenge to the re-election bid of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

As I said that it may be just a coincidence that the initiation of government actions against the war hero came close to the heels of his high-pitched “Presidential” fight against Mr. Rajapaksa. However, there are a couple of factors that are forcing the world to believe that all these government actions (including the controversial arrest of the beleaguered former army chief) are actually being carried out to “punish” the “audacious” soldier for daring to challenge the incumbent President in his re-election bid.

For example, let us look at this charge against General Sarath Fonseka that he had started plotting and conspiring against Mahinda Rajapaksa even when he was still the Army Chief. Fine. But in that case why did not the Sri Lankan Army take any actions against him at that very point of time? He was permitted to retain his office, and he eventually played a crucial role in giving the final blow to LTTE. There were no actions against him even after he quit his Army position. It is only after he contested against Rajapaksa and failed to “dethrone” the latter that the government has suddenly become aware of his illegal activities, and has started taking actions.

OK, it may be so that the government was unaware of Sarath Fonseka’s offensive activities when he was the Army Chief, and incidentally came to know about the same only after the recent Presidential election (the “coincidence” angle that I was referring to). But in that case the Sri Lankan government was expected to make it very clear to the nation as well as the world, thus leaving no rooms for any rumours. Was it very difficult for the government to understand that the timing of Fonseka’s arrest would raise questions and doubts in the minds of people?

Another thing that “apparently” reflects the Sri Lankan government’s vindictive approach is the manner in which the once revered Army Chief was arrested. The basic human rights principles demand that even when a petty criminal is arrested and taken into custody, it should be done with some dignity. And this former war hero was held by hands and feet, and dragged away by the Military Police. How humiliating it must have been for the person to be treated in this way by the same people who used to salute him till the other day. And after arresting him the government was seemingly not even eager to disclose his whereabouts, at least not initially (though later Fonseka’s wife was permitted to meet him).

Anyways, as I have said that all these may have been just a case of coincidence, sending a baseless smell of a foul play while the actual reality is completely different. If the former General has really done something wrong then he must be punished. And in that case the Sri Lankan government has certainly not done anything wrong by initiating actions against him.

However, the government must appreciate this fact that the timing of the actions is sending this message to the world that everything is not fair and square in this “Sarath Fonseka drama”. And, this doubt is gradually gaining ground. So if the Sri Lankan government is confident that it is on the right side of ethics, then it must carry out all the related activities with utmost clarity and transparency, while involving the global media in every step. This will ensure that there is no room for any rumour, with no chance for the Sri Lankan government’s credibility coming under question.