Has the UNP abandoned Fonseka?

An early victim the fighting for parliamentary seats appears to be the movment to secure the release of former Army Commander Retired General Sarath Fonseka from military custody.

The arrest of Common Presidential Candidate, General Fonseka on February 8 initially brought about a massive agitation campaign calling for his release by a broad coalition of opposition political parties.

A protest rally was held at Hyde Park, another was held outside the Supreme Court Complex and members of the broad opposition commenced island wide agitation campaigns.

The broad opposition alliance included the main opposition UNP, JVP, SLMC, DPF, SLFP (M) Wing and many other recognized opposition parties.

General Fonseka’s agitation campaign has now become limited to the JVP and several parties that have pledged allegiance to the newly formed opposition alliance under the General’s leadership, the DNA.

The first sign of the UNP moving out of the campaign was witnessed when the JVP organized a protest march and rally at Lipton Circus in February, soon after that the UNP decided to contest the general election separately under the elephant symbol.

The split in the broad opposition alliance has now resulted in the UNP distancing itself from General Fonseka’s agitation campaign. The UNPers are even conspicuous in their absence when the cases filed by General Fonseka are taken before the Supreme Court.

General Fonseka’s agitation campaign is now completely handled by the JVP. The DNA’s general election campaign led by the JVP in the absence of General Fonseka has added the agitation campaign in to the election campaign.

The party has focused on the need to get General Fonseka released from military custody along with the slogan of fighting to protect democracy.

Given that General Fonseka is heading a separate campaign for the general election, the UNP led opposition alliance, UNF, is unable to join in the agitation campaign as it would in some way promote the DNA election campaign.

DNA front liner and JVP parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake said they would continue to agitate for General Fonseka’s release with all the progressive forces committed to safeguarding democracy in the country.

Dissanayake eyed with disappointment the UNP’s decision to contest the general election separately under the elephant symbol, saying it is time to act on the national interest rather than for petty political gains.

However, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said the UNF had not abandoned General Fonseka in any way.

He noted that although the party along with the UNF had not been on the streets agitating for the General’s release, they have been working on getting him released. “The Opposition Leader met with the President to request for General Fonseka’s release and we have also raised the issue with the diplomatic community in the country in order to highlight the matter internationally,” he said.

Attanayake also said the UNP was committed to get General Fonseka released from military custody and has therefore included in the UNF’s general election manifesto.

General Fonseka is now being tried before a court martial on several charges against the Army Act.

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

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