Loosely structured stories of conspiracy in Sri Lanka

(January 31, Colombo - Lanka Polity) The opinion builders linked to Sri Lanka government is lacking common sense as seen in many of the stories propagated by them. 

This was seen in the story of arms deals of the former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and in the bribery drama of government coalition MP Muzammil. 

However, the story of Fonseka exposing Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on war crime charges was better written by Fredrica Janz, an experienced journalist.

Latest example is the story of opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka hatching a conspiracy to overthrow the government. 

We are not experts in these subjects but any person with common sense can raise doubts. Following are the patches of this loosely structured story. 

• Why didn't Fonseka do this when he could do it more easily as the victorious commander-in-chief of the Army?
• What is the relation between booking rooms in a star hotel and the conspiracy? 
• What happened to the 400 army deserters that were in the hotel rooms?
• What happened to their weapons said stacked in a hotel room?
• How did they escape with weapons while an Army contingent had surrounded the hotel? 
• The President said that there was a conspiracy to kill him and his family. Why the hell is the said perpetrator is still free?

Many more questions can be raised. This script is still being built up unfortunately by unsound writers. 

Apparently, the government is applying severe pressure on the war veteran in democratic politics to make him decide to flee the country. 

Victor finishes the defeated in savagery. In democracy, the loser also must have a chance to compromise or to continue the fight. 

Newspaper sealed in Sri Lanka

(January 30, Colombo - Lanka Polity)  Sri Lanka government under the President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was swept to the office for the second term with an overwhelming majority sealed an opposition newspaper office today.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said to have taken a court order to enter the newspaper office, sealed the office and a journalist attached to the newspaper meanwhile said that CID officials at the scene had said to Daily Mirror that the premises were being sealed off because an article published by the newspaper posed a threat to national security.

Lanka Truth, a sister website of Lanka newspaper said that the officials said they took the steps on powers they have been bestowed with under Prevention of Terrorism Act.

President's brother and Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said to The Divaina Sinhala newspaper yesterday that an article published in Lanka insulted him.

The editor of the newspaper Chandana Sirimalwatta was arrested by CID yesterday when he reported to give a statement on the request of the CID.

Journalists expelled, arrested, disappeared and media institutions sealed in post-election Sri Lanka

(January 30, Colombo - Lanka Polity)  Sri Lanka government has taken strict measures to control media. Press offices have been rounded, sealed, raided and one journalist is disappeared since January 24. Prageeth Ekneligoda, a freelance journalist and cartoonist disappeared and his whereabouts are yet to be known.

A body that floated in the Kelani River today was later identified as one of a disabled man who committed suicide. The family and friends of Ekneligoda were alarmed of the news but breathed a temporary sigh of relief later.

Lanka-e-News, a pro-opposition website was rounded by a group yesterday and the staff found was illegally sealed by this morning.

CID raided the office of the 'Lanka' Sinhala weekly today and the editor of the newspaper Chandana Sirimalwatta that went to the CID was detained for grilling regarding an article published in his newspaper. Defense secretary and President's brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said to Divaina Sinhala newspaper that an article in the latest issue of Lanka newspaper insulted him.

In the latest development, the government cancelled visa of a Swiss Public Radio journalist that angered Minister Susil Prema Jayantha, the secretary of the ruling coalition at a press conference questioning about the election malpractices.

The German language journalist Ms. Karin Wenger, 30, who is based in the Indian capital, New Delhi, said on Friday that the Sri Lankan immigration service had cancelled her accreditation since February 01, which was originally valid until February 17. A spokesman for the radio said no reasons had been given for the expulsion.

Photos: Lanka editor Chandana Sirimalwatta (above), Prageeth Ekneligoda (below)

Is Sri Lanka ruling party divided over executive presidency?

(January 29, Colombo - Lanka Polity) Sri Lanka ruling party appears divided regarding abolition of executive presidency. The non-cabinet Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abewardhana, a dissident of the opposition United National Party wants the support of the opposition to abolish the executive presidency. But the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party secretary and Minister of Agriculture Maithripala Sirisena, a contender for the post of Prime Minister in a future government says that abolition of the executive presidency is non issue following the ruling party victory in the presidential.

The Sri Lankan government is government is prepared for a constitutional amendment, if the opposition extends assistance, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo today, the Minister said the government seeks the support of the opposition to change the constitution and requested the opposition to express their willingness to the government's proposal within the next week.

If the opposition does not agree, the government is prepared to dissolve the parliament and to seek a two thirds majority for a constitutional revision, he said.

One of the main constructional reforms demanded by the opposition is to abolish the executive presidency which requires two-third majority in the parliament. The other major issues are the current gargantuan cabinet, solution to the ethnic conflict and the appointment of commissions implemented by the 17th amendment. (http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10/Jan1264700846CH.html)

SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena, MP, yesterday said that the abolition of the Executive Presidency could no longer be an issue as the people had overwhelmingly rejected the joint Opposition’s vow to do away with the executive powers.

Responding to The Island query, at the first post-presidential poll press conference at the BMICH, the Agriculture Minister said that clipping the presidential wings had been the main campaign slogan of the UNP-JVP combine though they turned a blind eye to its appeal.

He said that in light of the extraordinary victory achieved by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Tuesday’s poll, the abolition of the executive presidency could not be a panacea for all ills as claimed by the UNP-JVP combine. It was a mandate to continue with the existing presidential system of governance.

Sirisena, who is widely believed to be one of the ruling party politicians, who had been high on the LTTE hit list, emphasised that the war effort would have failed if the ‘enemy’ destabilised the country by manipulating the Parliament. Minister Sirisena said that he did not want to ridicule Parliament though it was no secret what was going on for some time.

He said that the President had effectively used executive powers to resist foreign intervention in support of the LTTE. (http://www.island.lk/2010/01/29/news1.html)

abolishing of the executive presidency was the major slogan of the opposition president candidate Sarath Fonseka who was defeated by a wide margin according to official presidential results.

Idiaminization and de-democratization in Sri Lanka

(January 29, Colombo - Lanka Polity) The post-war Sri Lanka has moved into a post-presidential Sri Lanka. Main stream media is highly defensive in reporting and some pro-opposition media outlets are facing severe challenges. 'Lanka-e-News' website was illegally sealed by a group yesterday, said the staff that went there to report to duty. Criminal Investigation Department visited the office of 'Lanka' newspaper run by People's Liberation Front (JVP) and the editor is asked to report for recording a statement regarding an article related to Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka has sought asylum in foreign soil while claiming the government has blacklisted his passport. The government says he plotted to assassinate the ruling family. The plot described by the Director General of the Media Center for National Security seems very naive. Booking hotel rooms and arresting of several Army personnel said to be deserters do not provide gullible evidence. However, no legal action is taken. Why? 'I don't know why?' a famous Sinhala song says. 

State media continues vilifying the opposition candidate. A term that can be coined to introduce this campaign is 'idiaminization' i.e. portraying Fonseka as Idi Amin. But this Idi Amin won the confidence of at least 40% of those who voted at the presidential. 

We used the phrase 'at least' since Fonseka claims victory alleging government subtly manipulated the result. The major media in Sri Lanka today is gossip and a wide spread opinion is observed regarding rigging the election based on rumors spread island wide. The opposition leaders too repeat the gossip and no concrete fact is produced to prove the allegation so far. No authority either local or international is ready to admit the allegation that is not backed by concrete evidence. 

Anyway, people will lose confidence regarding elections and democracy if the politicians allow the rumor to consolidate. 

Sarath Fonseka letter to Sri Lanka Elections Commission

(January 27, Colombo - Lanka Polity) Excerpts of a letter by Gen Sarath Fonseka to Sri Lanka's Elections Commission, following his defeat in the presidential poll. The letter has been translated from Sinhala.


Dear commissioner of elections. Before and after handing over the nomination papers, President Rajapaksa's election campaign has made great use of state resources.
Further, there have been threats, intimidation and accusations levelled against me. Many of my supporters were intimidated.

The government engaged in a campaign abusing state media and state resources to accuse me of being a foreign agent and a traitor.
Further, 10 security force personnel provided to me as a result of serious threats to my life were withdrawn.

'Handcuffed'

They were allowed to stay until after the election after your intervention. However, after the results were announced, this morning they were called back to the army police unit.

When they left to report at the army police, under the orders of the head of the army police unit, they were arrested in front of the hotel I am staying in, handcuffed and ordered to kneel down on the street.
I have also received information that the government is planning to arrest me.

The army personnel who are stationed in front of the hotel also tried a few times to forcefully enter the hotel.
I humbly request you to order the inspector general of police and other appropriate authorities to take appropriate security measures to protect my life and to protect my freedom of movement
.

Conservative Sri Lankan polity vote to be grateful instead of change

(January 27, Colombo - Lanka Polity) Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa is in the path of a massive victory in the presidential for his re-election. Pre-election malpractices like misuse of public property and the election day violence and blockade of Tamil votes also seem not affecting the end result.


Minority communities have voted against Mahinda Rajapaksa. But the majority Sinhala community voted him overwhelmingly.


Common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka could not attract voters despite his pledges to alleviate corruption, to introduce good governance, rule of law and democracy. People eventually voted for the appeal of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa to be grateful for defeating the Tamil's violent liberation war.


People completely disregarded the allegations against the Rajapaksa regime over mass scale corruption, nepotism, waste, high cost of living, taxes etc.


It is not clear what will happen to the expectations of the minority communities for a political solution for the long standing ethnic issue.


The hotel the opposition common candidate Sarath Fonseka and his supporters stay is surrounded by pro-Rajapaksa troops. Rajapaksa regime has vowed to sue against him on various charges including treachery.