When the razzmatazz fades
One and a half months ago, Colombo was a tense place. Elections results had been declared, with the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa emerging as the clear victor, managing to secure almost sixty percent of the total cast ballots. His defeated foe in the race and one time ally, (Retd.) Gen. Sarath Fonseka and supporters were taking residence at Cinnamon Lakeside hotel in Colombo for the election night, and found themselves surrounded by armed personnel. Fonseka alleged he was being intimidated; Government refuted the claims and stated that he is being provided increased security. The atmosphere was explosive.
Then things cooled off a bit. Word started spreading along the grapevine that Fonseka would be arrested. Tension ensued.
The campaign office of Fonseka being raided was the first sign.
A week later. He was arrested at the same venue.
Fonseka was charged with committing military offences. His supporters along with his partners for the failed Presidential bid sprang into action. When legal means were taken from one end, the other protested in the form of demonstrations, shouting slogans and holding placards. The demonstration outside the Supreme Court complex brought together massive numbers, to an unprecedented level. In several places around the country, these protests came under attack from Government supporters, or were disbanded by the police. One thing was visible, which was the large numbers in which they gathered and the immense energy they possessed.
Now however, the energy seems to have run out.
On Monday March 8, a month since Fonseka was arrested, the Democratic National Alliance led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna held a rally to again call for the release of Fonseka. On the International Women’s Day, they made Anoma Fonseka the star.
The wife of the arrested former Commander of the Army was thrust upon the limelight by circumstance. Anoma, who was previously a mere supporting character, was all of a sudden taking the lead role in the drama that unfolded upon the political stage.
Whilst the drama was unfolding, the spectators were dwindling and the popcorn ran out.
Although the initial processions and rallies gathered thousands who were pumped up with vigour, the momentum was seen slowing down with time. When the common opposition called for a rally to protest the the Government’s actions during the elections, more than four thousand came to Hyde Park. The crowd spilled over to the roads were witness to the public’s state of mind, and its sentiments towards Fonseka.
Monday however, was a different story. The crowd was there, but in small numbers. It started small at around a thousand heads bobbing up and down, and sideways, and with time grew by about a thousand more.
The speeches, which were once articulately prepared and powerfully delivered, now seemed ad hoc, and at worst, dead. The people were the same. Cheers went up at the usual intervals, but were lacklustre compared to the vitality and dynamism which was once there.
Fonseka remains under detention. The Army reported that the Summary of Evidence against Fonseka has been completed, and now handed over to the Commander of the Army. The drama continues. The question is, how long will the popcorn last?
