“I have not read the book ‘Gota’s war’. Do you know that there is no other name in its title “?
SARATH FONSEKA’S FIRST MEDIA CONFERENCE AFTER FREED
The first media conference after Sarath Fonseka was freed was held yesterday at Hotel Taj Samudra amidst several local and foreign media personnel.
The talks that he would join with the government, is all incorrect and fake. He had not received any invitation from the President or any other person in this regard. At this press conference the questions posed and answers given are appended below:
Q: For you not to allow contesting or using your franchise at an election isn’t a violation of human rights?
A: If one is feared of another he is jailed and released and after which he cannot contest or use his franchise. That is what has happened to me. Some said I would be hung or given a life time imprisonment. From this too I may not come out of a comfortable situation
Q: Under this context how could you get indulged in politics?
A: I can form a political party. I can be a political leader. I could convene meetings. I can attend meetings and I also can ask the people to vote.
Q: There is a lot of pressure internationally to remove army camps and troupes from the North. What is your opinion about it?
A: “After the war was over 12000 staunch LTTE supporters were rehabilitated. However there may be 100 to 200 LTTE cadres who are freely loitering not taken in for rehabilitation. Hence this could be tactic of those internationally interested personnel. Hence the army camps should not be removed, but kept in tact. It has to be done slowly and very systematically. The army should not be involved totally involved in administrative activities. I cannot say for definite about this process. When I was the Chief of Staff I laid a plan for implementation.”
Q: What do you say about the LLRC report?
A: “I could not read it. As I far as could know there are three important facts in it. I totally agree with the human rights violations. I agree with its implementation. It is said in the report about human rights violations during the period of the war. That is the cause for International pressure. I will stand by it to protect the army and the country. Do not ask me anything beyond that. It is the responsibility of the government”.
Q; in your policies report you have not mentioned about foreign policies. Could you elaborate on that?
A: With India and other Asian countries we have had and having cordial relationships. India as our closest neighbor country has had very close links. Likewise China too had helped us. During the Human Rights Commission meeting in Geneva they rendered the fullest support and respect to us. China rendered a close rapport with Sri Lanka.
Q: Is it true that at the time of the Presidential you had collected a sum of Rs 1000 m as aid for the campaign is it true? This amount of money it is learnt is in the hands of Tiran Alles? Is it true?
A: “There was necessity for me to collect funds. We did receive funds from donors for our campaign. But it was not such an exorbitant sum. We received a sum of around Rs 600 m. We spent 50% of it to the media. There was nothing that remained. Tiran Alles is a businessman. He need not steal money that was collected. He has enough money.”
Q: Are you satisfied with the security provided? Are there any threats to your life?
A: “There are threats. As I fought the ar from the ground naturally there has to be threats to my life. The senior officers who were involved in the war are having about 300 army security personnel for guard. When I as the army commander I was provided with 500 security personnel. At present I have been given only 15 Police personnel as my security. This security is barely sufficient, the fact that even a small child would understand.”
Q: The Government is accusing that you never asked for security. Did you make a request?
A: “I told Tiran while having talks with the President to inform him that I need security as I was hoping to recommence my political career. They were considered as only proposals and not as conditions.”
Q: Were there any hidden conditions?
A: “There was no such a thing. Only certain points were surfaced. From the government side no conditions were disclosed at the time I was freed.”
Q: What is your opinion in deploying army soldiers in development activities?
A: “As The Commander of the Army a made the staff to bring laurels to Sri Lanka in respect of work and discipline. I never allowed political influences to take place within the Army. Today the Colombo Municipality has deployed Army soldiers for cleaning drains and other odd jobs. It is a sad situation. When asked to work inside a muddy drain today how could one expect to wear the uniform and perform military duties tomorrow. Would a layman respect and obey him. Where is the dignity of the soldier? No one knows who gives the orders against the ethics and morals of these soldiers and the Army.”
Q: The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has said they are interested in having talks with you. Are you agreeable to that suggestion?
A: “I need to speak to all parties, TNA, CMC and other parties before I decide to a conclusive decision to talk to the TNA”.
Q: The solution to the conflict in the North some say would be resolved if the 13th Amendment is brought into operation:
A: “It is useless in bringing in the 13 amendment resolution without gaining the confidence of the Tamil people.
Q: When you were imprisoned the Government stripped off your ‘GENERAL’ title. However Anoma Fonseka always addresses you as ‘GENERAL’ Have you got your title back?
A: “The title ‘GENERAL’ has not been taken off or erased by the people. I have no intention of begging for it from those who stripped it.”
Q: Did you receive an invitation to join the government?
A: “No”
Q: What do you think of the book written under the title “Gota’s war”? What do you say about it?
A: “I have not read the book. Could anyone get up and enlighten about it to me. What is it that the book as given that ‘title’. I would not mind if the person who wrote the book is here to make me aware of its substance.”
Q: Who gave orders to kill the LTTE leader?
A: “An army contingent had found his body. That’s it.
Q: At the time of ending the war some say you were not in Sri Lanka and hence credit should not go to you?
A: “I was not there during the last week from 11th to the 17th May. I had to be in China for an official matter. However I should boldly say that for a continuous period of 2 ½ years starting from Mavillaruwa. I drew various strategies with the troupes in capturing area by area and was anticipating raising the winning flag. I was present in person during this entire 2 ½ years barring the last week of the war. Only those who had not followed the war will speak of the last week of the war.
Q: One Member of Parliament had said that you will make a statement of the violation of Human Rights during the war.
A: “I do not know about his statement. To answer to war crimes and violation of human rights have been already been made known.”
Q: Is there a need to remove the army camps from the North?
A: “There are already 12000 LTTE cadres who have been rehabilitated. There are also may be 100 to 200 staunch LTTE cadres who had escaped from been caught. They are also loitering in the North. The Army personnel on duty in camps in the North should not in anyway intervenes and harms the civil administrative process in the North.”
Q: Have you received your ‘GENERAL’ title back?
A: “The people did not remove my ‘GENERAL’ title. The respect I get from the people is more than sufficient. I need not be that foolish to go behind and ask those people ho removed my title. I do not want to lose my self respect. If people think it should be given back, naturally I will get it back through justice”.
