Home truths

Muthu PADMAKUMARA

**Military leadership is not to be confused with the political:

**It is so easy to promise drastic changes when someone has already done the hard work of cleaning up before you:

**The nation feels betrayed with this change in colour, their once beloved Army now tainted with the mud of politics:

Candidacy

What is there on file on the contender? A long military record, not quite the Kobbekaduwa or Wimalaratna, but a record of 40 years including participation in notable operations. Midnight Express, Balawegaya, Jayasikuru and Riviresa.

Then there is the steady graduation to Chief of Staff of the Army and upon the Mahinda Rajapaksa Presidency, promotion to Commander of the Army, rank of General, and finally Chief of Defence Staff.

Let’s turn our eyes to the champion of Western democracy and liberation, the United States of America, there is for example, Senators McCain and Kerry, both war heroes but with plenty of political experience under their belt. And yes, everyone must start somewhere, but honestly - Presidency? Right off the bat? Strange, but not a real shocker.

After all history has a good sprinkling of successful heads of Armed Forces who sought to expand and retain their power in the post-war period.

But military leadership is not to be confused with the political. Each has different requirements in a democracy, in times of peace.

Threat posed

May be General Fonseka is not up to par at present, but being a hardliner, he may manage to make the leap into being a serious contender. Stranger things have happened.

And complacency on the part of the reigning champion might propel the contender forward. Even Obama noted Palin’s sudden appearance in the race to the hot seat, knowing it would not go away on its own, and the public being fickle with a short memory cannot be depended upon to choose wisely.

However, if you listen to General Fonseka speak it is clear his substance is thin. But then hollow promises by politicians of all sorts are the usual fare in Sri Lanka’s politics, with the possible exception of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who completed one mission: forging ahead against all odds, to end the war. Sarath Fonseka is subscribing to the failed policies of the UNP and JVP. Subscription is not a qualification for Presidency. Nor is zero experience. And experience in the military field is not a substitute for the political. UNP is trying to wing it. Is this a show of having the people’s interest at heart?

Changing Commanders including during times of war is risky.

Even more so during the transition to peace and these are still vulnerable times for Sri Lanka that is trying to find it’s footing on the path to peace and reconciliation. To give a newcomer - a green one at that - the platform to play at being President is a grave mistake.

This is a political stunt on the part of those who had opposed Mahinda Rajapaksa and his determination to end the three-decade conflict that had rotted this island to the core. They now seek to minimize the reaping of the benefits war’s end and drag the nation back to division and economic strife by turning war leaders into pawns of politics.

It is so easy to promise drastic changes when someone has already done the hard work of cleaning up.

Even I could promise youth and possibilities - may be adopt Obama’s ‘Change’ campaign and bring in fresh air to the well-worn game of politics! After all I don’t even have blood on my hands.

But then let’s admit it, how many of our politicians are actually ‘qualified’ to lead.

The common factor today seems to be tenacity (the ‘keep at it till you become a pro’ approach). Of course this is at the expense of the people and their future.

The country has been a lab rat for various groups and leaders. And now there is Sarath Fonseka, a tested and tried military man, yes. But a wild card at politics at this crucial juncture in Sri Lanka’s future?

Betrayal

This does not mean ‘if you’re not with us, you’re against us.’ But you could stand alone, independent. To go and align yourself with those who were against your Commander in Chief and you, from the word go, well, what does that make you?

The nation feels betrayed with this change in colour, their once beloved Army now tainted with the mud of politics. Trust has been eroded. Sri Lanka’s has upped it’s ante in ugly, dirty, politics. Sarath Fonseka “strongly believed that Sri Lanka belongs to the Sinhalese, but there are minority communities... they can live in this country, with us.

But they must not try to, under the pretext of being a minority, demand undue things” (Canadian press). And on Sarath Fonseka’s request for expansion of the Army post-war, Mano Ganesan (Tamil MP) said, “It’ll not only be bad for Tamils but also bad for the democratic, peace-loving Sinhalese progressive forces who want a united Sri Lanka where all the people can live equally with each other, who are against a Sinhala Buddhist hegemonic state” (BBC). Now he has gone and aligned himself with those who had already volubly and publicly stated their intention of a ‘majority’ rule. The country is rife with betrayal.The sacrifice of many lives from the soldiers to the officers, to politicians, led Sarath Fonseka - allowed the Army Commander to be the man of the hour, because President Rajapaksa picked him to execute the decision to end the war.

It was the President who took all the heat so that the Army Commander could do his duty. It is truly saddening to hear the General now speak as if he had single handedly ended the conflict. What of the Navy who disbanded the serious threat of the Sea-Tigers? The Air Force who had to contain the growing threat of air power in the LTTE? Were they not integral to the success of the military campaign? What about the military heads that came before General Fonseka - who fought for the unity of the country and died, under different political leaderships?

And lastly what of the people of this country - who sent their sons to war? Are they not be credited for their contribution nay their sacrifice? There is no Presidential race here. No contention. If this is the best that the opposition and deserters can do - there isn’t any competition.