India may give cold shoulder to Fonseka's protection plea
Former Lankan Army chief Fonseka reached out to India for protection.
By ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: Former Lankan Army chief Sarath Fonseka on Wednesday reached out to India for protection following incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s landslide victory. It is understood the former Army chief asked for India’s protection soon after armed troops surrounded his hotel in Colombo.
Gen Fonseka accused the government of trying to have him assassinated and rejected Mr Rajapaksa’s electoral victory. Without refering directly to India, Mr Fonseka’s spokesperson Mano Ganeshan had said that the former Army chief had sought the protection of a “neighbouring country” and had revealed that he was meeting a diplomat of ``a neighbouring country’’ -- ie India -- to ``seek assurances of the safety of Sarath Fonseka.”
New Delhi is unlikely to directly intervene in what is being seen as an internal matter. However, the Rajapaksa government was urged to proceed with caution by the international community. As soon as it became apparent that Mr Rajapaksa was winning by a large margin, armed soldiers surrounded the Colombo luxury hotel where Mr Fonseka was staying.
Giving a reason for the armed forces being called out, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara was quoted as saying that troops had been deployed at the hotel on the basis of information that Army deserters were among people present in the hotel. Later the government said Mr Fonseka was free to leave the hotel, but would have to face consequences from allegations he had made during the election campaign.
Even though the developments of the day were far from comforting for the neighbourhood, New Delhi was not disappointed with the re-election of Mr Rajapaksa. The government has had a good working relationship with Mr Rajapaksa who has continued to consult with the Indian government even during the height of the offensive against the LTTE. And New Delhi wants Colombo’s focus to go back to the reconstruction of the North and the East and rehabilitation of the Tamils in the area.
But allegations and counter allegations are expected to continue with Mr Fonseka rejecting the results and saying he would challenge it. Sources felt that the situation was likely to settle down in the coming days.
Some Lanka watchers felt that Mr Rajapaksa, who has won by a large mandate, is unlikely to continue a clampdown on the opposition and the media especially at a time when the international community is keeping track of the developments in Lanka.
The call for protection by Mr Fonseka was also seen as a move to ensure his own safety under the Rajapaksa regime. ``These are signals that are sent to ensure safety... He is looking for some kind of safety net...But the next three to four days would be crucial,’’ said Commodore (retd) R.S. Vasan.
However, security expert B Raman said, ``If these elections lead to political instability, its going to be a problem for India.’’
Gen Fonseka accused the government of trying to have him assassinated and rejected Mr Rajapaksa’s electoral victory. Without refering directly to India, Mr Fonseka’s spokesperson Mano Ganeshan had said that the former Army chief had sought the protection of a “neighbouring country” and had revealed that he was meeting a diplomat of ``a neighbouring country’’ -- ie India -- to ``seek assurances of the safety of Sarath Fonseka.”
New Delhi is unlikely to directly intervene in what is being seen as an internal matter. However, the Rajapaksa government was urged to proceed with caution by the international community. As soon as it became apparent that Mr Rajapaksa was winning by a large margin, armed soldiers surrounded the Colombo luxury hotel where Mr Fonseka was staying.
Giving a reason for the armed forces being called out, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara was quoted as saying that troops had been deployed at the hotel on the basis of information that Army deserters were among people present in the hotel. Later the government said Mr Fonseka was free to leave the hotel, but would have to face consequences from allegations he had made during the election campaign.
Even though the developments of the day were far from comforting for the neighbourhood, New Delhi was not disappointed with the re-election of Mr Rajapaksa. The government has had a good working relationship with Mr Rajapaksa who has continued to consult with the Indian government even during the height of the offensive against the LTTE. And New Delhi wants Colombo’s focus to go back to the reconstruction of the North and the East and rehabilitation of the Tamils in the area.
But allegations and counter allegations are expected to continue with Mr Fonseka rejecting the results and saying he would challenge it. Sources felt that the situation was likely to settle down in the coming days.
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Some Lanka watchers felt that Mr Rajapaksa, who has won by a large mandate, is unlikely to continue a clampdown on the opposition and the media especially at a time when the international community is keeping track of the developments in Lanka.
The call for protection by Mr Fonseka was also seen as a move to ensure his own safety under the Rajapaksa regime. ``These are signals that are sent to ensure safety... He is looking for some kind of safety net...But the next three to four days would be crucial,’’ said Commodore (retd) R.S. Vasan.
However, security expert B Raman said, ``If these elections lead to political instability, its going to be a problem for India.’’
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