Fonseka issue is being used to hush up leadership problems in the UNP

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Fonseka issue is being used to hush up leadership problems in the UNP


Friday, 08 October 2010
Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe, who never wrote a letter either to former President Chandrika Kumaratunga or to President Mahinda Rajapakse requesting clemency for Mr. S.B.Dissanayake, despite he being the National Organizer of the United National Party at that time is using the Sarath Fonseka imprisonment issue to hush up leadership problems in the UNP.
The Deputy Minister of Economic Development Mr. Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene, addressing a media conference at his Ministry this morning said that crest-fallen political parties rejected by the people have made the Fonseka issue as a political slogan with the objective of gaining political mileage, and build up a political movement against the government. Mr. Yapa explained that Sarath Fonseka has been imprisoned following a verdict by the duly constituted Court Martial in accordance with the Army Act of 1949, and the same law has been applied when Fonseka was the Army Commander to court martial over 150 officers and over 5000 soldiers. Three members of the Court Martial appointed on the recommendation of Sarath Fonseka to enquire into the General Parakrama Pannipitiya served in the Court Martial that enquired the Highcorpe Case against Sarath Fonseka, and during the Pannipitiya case time that was no objecton about these members from the political parties or any other organization. Referring to the letter that has been sent by Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe to the President, he said if Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe or the JVP honestly want to get Sarath Fonseka freed there are three options to follow and these are to go to civil courts, to request for clemency by Sarath Fonseka himself or by his family members and stage agitations throughout the country. He said these defeated political elements have abandoned the peaceful options and have resorted to violent methods and agitations. He said these political elements in coordination with terrorist rudiments have even staged agitations in England with the participation of a family member of Sarath Fonseka. Mr. Yapa said that when Mr. Vijaya Kumaratunge was imprisoned on an alleged nexalite charge, regardless of people’s demand for Mrs. Chandika Kumaratunge to not to go to President J.R.Jayawardene to get clemency, the person who disenfranchised her mother Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Mrs. Kumaratunge went to meet President Jayawardene and got clemency for Mr. Vijaya Kumaratunge because she wanted to get him released. He said that Sarath Fonseka’s family members also seem to be not interested in getting him released but aiding the political discards. He further explained that the President has used his Executive Powers only to win the war and he has never misused his Executive Powers. The best example, he said, was when Dr. P.B.Jayasundera had to leave his post following a court order, the President could have used his Executive Power to override the Court Order. He said he did not do so and wanted Dr. Jayasundera to get his reinstatement declared through the Courts. Therefore, the President may consider clemency for Sarath Fonseka, if his family members make a request following the accepted procedure. He also reminded a statement made by the Judge enquired the case against Major Janka Perera saying that “we all know that you are a good soldier, you have done a lot of service to the country, but in this case we will treat you as Janaka Perera”. (niz).