By S. Sivathasan –
S. Sivathasan
Leader of the Democratic Party, former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka was common candidate in the Presidential election 2010. On 10 November 2014, he issued a warning “I can tell with my past experience as the common candidate … that the prospective candidate should be very careful when taking a decision in this regard”. The warning was directed to aspirants seeking the highest office in the land. What made him say that?
For the harmless thought of coming forward as a consensual common candidate, he was made to languish in jail. For daring to contest and putting up a formidable fight against the incumbent President, he had to suffer the indignity of incarceration. Whether the warning is real, unreal or dire, one can judge according to one’s level of political awareness. When a previous happening gets repeated will it evolve into a tradition? Time will tell.
Some traditions which may seem humble and dignified today evolved from violent beginnings. One such is the manner in which a newly elected Speaker is escorted to his chair in the lower House of Parliament. Both violent antecedents as well as acceptable manners that followed grew up in the House of Commons in UK. A Speaker then as now was not selected for his oratorical prowess. He was an MP chosen then, by the House to SPEAK for them to the King.
The term Speaker was first used in year 1377. In those times King of England was very powerful. For the purpose of levying taxes, he would call Parliament seeking its concurrence. Parliament decisions were conveyed to the King by the Speaker. If they were not to the liking of the king, or were not what the King wanted to hear, then the Speaker ran the risk of incurring his wrath.
Some of the early Speakers getting beheaded was not uncommon. In the period1394 and 1535, as many as 9 heads rolled. Of them 7 were beheaded, 1 was murdered and 1 was killed in battle. From this time dates the tradition of token reluctance of an MP becoming Speaker. Till mid-sixteenth century election as speaker meant a possible death warrant. He was then dragged to the chair by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the opposition. The warning of Sarath Fonseka implies likely arrest warrant in Sri Lanka for failing to win the Presidential contest.
After the treatment meted out to Sarath Fonseka in 2010, fear stalks prospective Presidential candidates. If there is another arrest, reluctant candidates may have to be dragged for their nomination thereafter. It will take decades for the unsavoury to be forgotten, the salutary to be remembered and for a tradition to be in place. For the good of the nation, those in authority have to be very circumspect in every decision they take and every act they commit.
You may watch a one minute video of a reluctant Speaker being escorted to the chair. Click here to watch.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / November 12, 2014
We have a precidence. Soon after winning the 1977 general elections, the JR government let loose their thugs against those who had supported the LTTE. This soon morohed into the 1977 anti-Tamil riots.
The forces that will be mobilised in the expected presidential elections by the UPFA and the opposition will be such, we have to expect serious violence on a wide scale. The police and armed forces will be mute witnesses until the violence has played out. Pray, they will not be participants.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
/
aratai / November 12, 2014
.
Will that be before or after Pope’s visit?
:-)
/
mike / November 12, 2014
@aratai
I can assure you in all confidence it will be AFTER the Pope’s visit! BTW our Medamulana Meeharaka knows “How to Win Elections by Hook or by Crook”??
/
Dhamma Asoka / November 13, 2014
The corrupt and criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa family has systematically politicized, corrupted and destroyed Buddhism in Lanka for their own personal gain and political power. This must stop and only such a movement led by Sobith Thero can do this.
It is good that Sobith Thero and Rathana are trying to rescue Sinhala Buddhism from the Rajapaksa military dictatorship and associated corrupt politicians of Sri Lanka who have distorted and made a mockery of What the Buddha Taught.
Today Sinhala Buddhism is a JOKE and has a bad reputation in the world. Sinhala Buddhists are known to attack minorities and the weak and vulnerable people. This is not a good thing for the Sinhala Buddhist Sangha which needs to be cleaned of political corruption.
The Bodu Bala Sena epitomizes the corruption and politicization of the Sangha by politicians and particularly Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa who are trying to cover up their corruption and criminality by hiding behind a DISTORTED Buddhism.
/
Rationalist / November 15, 2014
Why? Is the MM a Secret Catholic, who is outwardly a Sinhala Buddhist?
/
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / November 12, 2014
A correction: I meant SLFP, not the LTTE. The error is regretted.
Dr.RN
/
Ronaiso / November 13, 2014
Now the SLFP or LTTE both the same, dont worry bro
/
Sellam / November 12, 2014
The same man Fonseka who said once” the Tamils should accept what is given and should not ask for more”. If he had won the presidential elections, what would have happened?
/
lynx / November 13, 2014
The Tamils have very short memories. Main reason why they keep being misled by their politicians.
/
BBS Rep / November 13, 2014
Raja,
Sri Lanka whether you like it or not is a country full of very violent men and women. All political upheavels had a good dose of violence thrown in before and after elections. We have an extremely violent political dynasy in power at the moment. With so much power concentrated on this dynasty it is foolhardy to think that they are going to lose in the first place or will peacefully go away if they do lose the elections.
Be ready for some really high end fireworks pre and post polls. The shame is that the fireworks will be unleashed even if they win.
This is Sri Lanka the thrice blessed country of Buddha which will very soon be graced by a thrice blessed president.
/
Paul / November 12, 2014
‘For the harmless thought of coming forward as a consensual common candidate……..’
Ah yes, this paragon of democracy who publicly threatened to hang his opponents at Galle Face….do you think he would have been any better than MR?
/
Native Vedda / November 12, 2014
Paul
“who publicly threatened to hang his opponents at Galle Face…”
I have been looking for the link to Fonseka’s pronouncement for many months now which I thought I had stored somewhere and unable to find it.
Could you site the link.
/
Paul / November 12, 2014
I found some references to it in articles but I will search on Youtube for his election campaign. That was when he said it. It will probably be in Sinhala if it is there.
/
Native Vedda / November 12, 2014
Paul
Thanks
If I remember correctly it was in English. I may be wrong.
Language is not a problem, as long as it is not imposed on others.
/
Paul / November 13, 2014
Very true. I know many Tamils who were only too happy to learn Sinhala until they were ordered to. The tragicomedy continues today with the governing clowns.
/
lynx / November 13, 2014
Did Mr. Sivathasan forget the threats OR did he omit deliberately ?????
/
S,Sivathasan / November 13, 2014
Lynx
In this the briefest of my articles, an assessment of SF was far from my mind. I quoted him because his warning was genuine and correct.
My message was just one. Reprisals on a challenger will drive away good candidates. The analogy I drew from English history was the behaviour of the Speaker Elect. He literally ran away and had to be taken on tow to his chair. Let this not happen in Sri Lanka to the prospective Presidential nominee with the best chance. So I wished.
Why is politics a dirty game and why is it dirtier in SL? Because only dirty people enter it and dirtier still enter it in SL. It can become dirtiest in this country, if an arrest warrant is added.
Election is like a war and now the battle is joined. Enlarging the coalition for the defeat of evil is overweening. So is the need to consolidate unity for assured victory. Listing out the foibles of even a single partner is poor comfort.
/
K.A Sumanasekera / November 12, 2014
I thought Mr Siva is reminding us the threat Fonny made from Singapore after meeting the Fashion Designer..
That is to demand all SSPs to remove Mahinda’s bust sorry portrait from their offices , to avoid dire consequences after the election..
But that is another story, I guess…
/
Peace Lover / November 12, 2014
well I certainly hope K A Sumanasekera gets rewarded with his daily dosh for the tireless service he renders by licking the govts bum
/
Native Vedda / November 12, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
“I thought “
Strange, you too are capable of thinking?
/
K.A Sumanasekera / November 13, 2014
Dear Native,
Prabakaran , Fonseka…
You have a penchant for Megalomaniacs as your Heroes.
/
Peace Lover / November 13, 2014
but how come you hero of May 2009 has now been termed a megalomaniac post 2010,can you answer that K A Sumanasekera or are you as usual dodge the question again
/
Native Vedda / November 13, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
“You have a penchant for Megalomaniacs as your Heroes.”
Just after the war had ended did you confess to your old man that talking about Fonny was orgasmic? Now you find talking dirty about Vellala is erotic. Any endocrine disorder?
What has happened to your testosterone count in between?
/
Tamil from the north / November 13, 2014
Hey Sumanasekeram, while your master was hiding under the bed sucking his thumb and holding his &*&*, SF fought the LTTE and almost died in a suicide attack. After he won the war, your clown master came out charging from under the bed and put SF in prison. Now clown’s servant you are making fun of him. You coward and boot licker, you have no redemption.
/
Native Vedda / November 13, 2014
Tamil from the north
Hindians fought the war without firing a shot.
Stupid Sinhalese supplied the cannon fodder from poor villages.
/
justice / November 12, 2014
Fonseka is correct.
He was dragged out of the hotel by his very own subordinates to a vehicle and taken away.
Now, MR cannot afford to lose the election – this will make him a layman without “security”.
He wont survive for long.
All dirty tricks will be used including physical threats to even commit murder, against those who will dare to contest – MR has minions who are ready to do so, on his behalf – this is the dangerous state of contesting for most elective offices, including the highest, today, in this dharmadwipa.
P.S
The elections commissioner – and his family – too, are at risk of abduction during counting after the election.
/
Taraki / November 13, 2014
‘He was dragged out of the hotel by his very own subordinates’
Now that is a new one. I’ve never heard them called subordinates before.
/
Know All / November 12, 2014
Never mind, what Sarath Fonseka threatened or did not threaten to do. The fact is that what happened to him at the hands of MR’s mob, actually happened. There’s the difference – a huge difference.
/
Sylvia Haik / November 12, 2014
“Ah! Infamy, infamy, they’ve got it in for me”. This saint of a man unjustly pilloried. His greed and embezzlement, together with his son in law (in hiding, but still wanted for questioning) should be excused as a malady of Sri Lankans in high office and there was no one higher than Sarath Fonseka in the Army.
Had he become President in 2010 (please don’t laugh) he assured us he’d do away with corruption.
Apart from that malady, he was also accused of sexually molesting young country lasses, wife beating, threatening, intimidating, abducting and killing. That too merits excusing as he was reportedly suffering from erotamania (a sickness related to excessive sexual desire and a delusionary belief that every woman he sees was in love with him). (Source: Asian Tribune).
As Army Commandant, Sarath Fonseka had access to the Inmarsat Satellite phone for Army emergencies but he soon abused it by calling his family in USA and others to the tune of Rs.2,082,995.80 in 2000/01 which came to light only because the Army refused to pay Sri Lanka Telecom in 2004.
/
Ali Baba Sabry / November 13, 2014
“Had he become President in 2010 (please don’t laugh) he assured us he’d do away with corruption”
Lest you forget, Sylvia, he also assured us he’d do away with the minorities. Now, dont laugh, AGAIN.
/
K.A Sumanasekera / November 13, 2014
Sylvi Haik says Fonny’s phone tab was LKR 2 Million plus in 2000/ 20001.
Just talking to the family in the US.
Has Fonny got all his extended family in the US.
Was he just filling in his SIL on profit and loss on a daily basis.
I mean 2 Million even in our delapidated Rupphias is a heck of a lot of dosh when converted into Greenbacks.
My elders tell me that Erotomania dudes in Diaspora lands clock up big Phone Bills talking on 24 Hour live Erection lines ,
Wonder whether the Inmarsat handsets connect to those E lines in America , Canada , UK and Australia…
/
Peace Lover / November 13, 2014
ah the cat is out of the bag when you say
“My elders tell me that Erotomania dudes in Diaspora lands clock up big Phone Bills talking on 24 Hour live Erection lines “
that shows that poor K A Sumanasekera too likes to call these adult chat lines ;-) and is jealous of the sickos who use them !
so my solution is make K A Sumanasekera as our next high commissioner to UK or USA and he can call these adult chat lines as much as he wants and let the SL tax payer foot the bill ;)
/
Native Vedda / November 13, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
“My elders tell me that Erotomania dudes in Diaspora lands clock up big Phone Bills talking on 24 Hour live Erection lines,”
However are you still practicing on life size xxx dolls locating erogenous zone after being rejected by many of the potential partners? Do you find it more satisfying than the real thing?
/
Peace Lover / November 13, 2014
see NV,as usual KAS has been a coward and not answered my question!
/
K.A Sumanasekera / November 14, 2014
Dear Native,
Are you trawling the bargain bins in 24/7 Sex Shoppe in Down Town Toronto looking for cheap gear including over size latex Blonds ….
….Chikaayeee Native…..
/
Native Vedda / November 14, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
Dhinka chika… aye, ayee..
Some lines aptly describe your pathetic existence, in case others didn’t know what you are talking about I have provided few from its lyric.
Haye January mein jab aayegi winter
When the winter will come in January
On kar lenge chaahat ka heater
We will switch on the heater of love
February jitni chhoti rajaai
Inside a short quilt like February
Jisme khelein hum chhupan chhupayi
we will play hide-n-seek
March hoga romantic mahina
March will be a romantic month
Woh karenge jo kiya kabhi na
We will do what we have not done until now
April mein jo hum mill na paaye
What if we couldn’t meet in April
Hoga kya kuch nikalo upaaye
What would happen, get some solution
Ik tujhse chatting main karne ki khaatir
Just to chat with you
Internet lagwaunga re
I will get Internet connection
There are good life size Japanese dolls available, they look real might benefit you. I am only helping you, of course free of charge, most probably available on allibaba.com, $100 mill worth company.
Dhinka chika ….. aye aye .. – 2
Dhinka chika, aye, aye – 2
I cannot help you all the time, as you know my partner keep me busy.
/
K.A Sumanasekera / November 14, 2014
Dear Native,
My elders tell me even Vellalas can’t get while girls.
But they don’t want to pay USD 80 upwards for 1/2 hour service.
Is that why you guys are cheesed off about the new permits system to visit the North?.
Still you can go to Anuradhapura and have a Ayrvedic Oil Massage for Under USD 30, And they thrown in a happy ending too…
And you will be singing Chinka Chiki all the way back to Scarborough….
/
Native Vedda / November 14, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
“Is that why you guys are cheesed off about the new permits system to visit the North?.”
I don’t need a travel visa to visit any part of my ancestral land, particularly issued by the descendants of Kallathonies.
“But they don’t want to pay USD 80 upwards for 1/2 hour service.
Still you can go to Anuradhapura and have a Ayrvedic Oil Massage for Under USD 30, And they thrown in a happy ending too.”
You seem up to date with spot prices of commodities and services. Do you get up early in the morning before markets open? I don’t think you have the wherewithal to procure any of those services you have listed above. I suppose you are satisfied merely gathering information on prices.
/
Sylvia Haik / November 14, 2014
For your information Sumanasekera, Erotomania is a recongnised affliction that requires treatment but you have brought it down to the gutter level to which you and your warped mind belongs. I pitied Fonseka, but what I could not accept was his exploitation of the defenceless women under his command. Grow up silly man, you are backing the wrong horse.
/
K.A Sumanasekera / November 15, 2014
Sylvi,..You see to know all about horse flesh…Right.
But I never backed Fonny or his old buddy Ranil.
Our inhabitants , I mean the great majority seem to be good at picking winners too..
/
Native Vedda / November 15, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
“Our inhabitants , I mean the great majority seem to be good at picking winners too..”
And they become the losers, big time. Their selfless service and sacrifice to the clan and cronies should be appreciated.
/
Piranha / November 13, 2014
The threat is real going by what had happened to Rajapaksa’s detractors and challengers in the past. As Sarath Silva said in his speech today Rajapaksa is evil and is capable of causing serious personal harm and even murder. This is what happens when you give power to an uneducated village thug. Even if the people are not able to get rid of him the UNHRC verdict will seriously damage him.
/
Sylvia Haik / November 13, 2014
The sad part of an adverse UNHRC verdict is that they can only recommend sanctions against Sri Lanka and under them, it might only be an inconvenience to the Rajapakses, but all of us innocents would suffer the consequences. E.g. The cruel sanctions against Iraq and Libya for several years gravely hit the children and the sick with lack of medicine and medical equipments but the leaders had enough foreign currency stashed away, they managed without much discomfort.
/
Sengodan. M / November 13, 2014
We shouldn’t unnecessarily frighten the forces of opposition and potential common candidates. What is most important at the moment is an effective and forceful joint opposition and such opposition deciding on a common candidate whoever it is and backing such common candidate to the hilt without any reservation by the joint opposition. It will become a truly formidable force and whether MR wins or loses the PE, he will tumble before long!
Sengodan. M
/
Tamil from the north / November 13, 2014
Hey Sumanasekeram, Sylvia Haik has too much intelligence for you to comprehend. You are a dumb nitwit who licks the jarapakse boots every night before you go to bed. I also read your comment and are you on some cheap ganja or something? I wonder what machine produced you?
/
Sylvia Haik / November 15, 2014
Thank you for your support Tamil from the north. This lunatic K.A Sumanasekera is either a mental case or a brain-washed sycophant who is convinced the Rajapakses can do no wrong. It’s no good trying to educate him, he has gone past that stage. Only remedy left is to ignore his rants.
/
Native Vedda / November 15, 2014
Sylvia Haik
“This lunatic K.A Sumanasekera is either a mental case or a brain-washed sycophant who is convinced the Rajapakses can do no wrong.”
K.A Sumanasekera is neither a mental case nor a brain-washed sycophant.
He is a loner who is on dole (government hand out for unemployed or unemployable) living in a damp old Council Estate in his second mother country (first being North/South India). He is paranoid not a sycophant. He is paranoid because he perceives that the entire Vellalas are coming to get him in his bunker. If change of government takes place UNP is going to send its sleeper agents armed with poison tipped umbrella to kill him.
He does not leave his bunker even to get his weekly provisions as he fears for his life. Charities bring his essential stuff. His windows and doors are covered to avoid snipers targeting him. He lives in darkness and suffers from lack of vitamin D.
He believes the Tamil Diaspora, Anglican and AKD are trying to get him particularly Father Emmanuel armed with Colt 45 in its holster.
He is familiar with market spot prices of services of sexual nature procurable from Alabama to Anuradhapura. He is not a sex pervert.
Please bear with him. He is a poor soul.
I like him because he is a stupid man who does need lots of love and care.
/
Sellam / November 15, 2014
Mr.Sivathasan
The Tamils are not at all worried about the presidential elections or who will be the common candidate for that matter. Almost 6 years since the war ended, the Tamils are still walled by the military and think hard, there is no hope for the Tamils by satisfying the Sinhala people. The Tamils need a referendum to determine their fate as has happened in Catalonia. The supposed to be Tamil leaders have to be truthful sincere and unselfish in their attitude and lead the Tamils towards a successful path.
/