February 10th

Yesterday, Sri Lankan civilians rose up to demand a valid, reasonable answer for my father's arrest. They weren't looking for a fight. They were looking for an answer. The people were holding non-violent rallies all over Sri Lanka. When thugs began throwing rocks at the protestors, the police only stood by and watched (http://sl-tube.com/video/Battle_in_Colombo_a_Protest_Demanding_Release_of_Sarath_Fonseka ).It has been over 48 hours that the government has held my father without charge sheets. They have intermittently come up with reasons such as: my father conversed with the political parties while he was serving the country as general. My father clearly mentioned and showed to the public that he would not do or say anything regarding politics while he was still serving the country in uniform ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSzNfY26wLI ). After the elections took place, their allegation was that my father was conspiring to start a military coup against the government to assassinate the president. This is a pointless argument because if he had wanted to do such a thing, he could have easily done it while in the army. He had no such intention.

On the 8th of February when my father was arrested, a feeling of tremendous helplessness overwhelmed me. I called up my mother and was unable to bear hearing her cry. I wanted to speak up, speak out but I didn't know where or how to start. I felt weak. The last time I had heard her cry so was when my father had been taken to the hospital after the suicide bomb attack. She's been the rock of strength in our family and when she faced the media on the 9th and spoke her heart out through tears, so many mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers cried with her. It felt to me like Sri Lanka was weeping, too. The reactions and support we've had since has given me the courage and hope to be strong, knowing that our family hasn't been left alone. I've been getting messages asking how my father is, prayers and concerns for my family from Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and Sri Lankans of every ethnicity. People have risen against injustice non-violently and it was encouraging to see that people are refusing to be blinded again; religious leaders such as Ven. Malwathu Mahanayke (http://www.lankatruth.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4678:-this-leader-doesnt-listen-to-us-only-pretends-he-takes-our-advice-ven-malwatu-mahanayke&catid=35:local&Itemid=50) and Mahanayake of Asgiriya Chapter are some examples (http://www.lankatruth.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4686:arrest-of-gen-fonseka-is-illegal-and-unacceptable-mahanayake-of-asgiriya-chapter&catid=35:local&Itemid=62 ).

I do not affiliate myself with politics. I write this blog as a Sri Lankan, a civilian, and a daughter. I respect those who are risking their lives for my father but I do not want others to lose their fathers, mothers, brothers, or sisters either. I realize that my father is not just my father but that he has become a symbol for the nation. And yet, because he is my father I cannot express enough gratitude to the people who have risked their lives for his and for our country. Because of your commitment, my mother was allowed to file a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court against my father's arrest. We have also made an appeal to the Red Cross ICRS requesting to make arrangements for my father's military doctor who is familiar with his medical history since the suicide attack to attend his medical needs. He still has a lot of shrapnel parts in his body and needs regular medicine for them to heal. We hope that the appeal will work. My family will never forget the sacrifices and commitments you've made, big or small. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.


Yours sincerely,
Aparna Fonseka

Note of thanks

Yesterday, my mother had the opportunity to go and see my father. He is currently doing fine and I pray that he will be safe and fine in future too. I will keep you all posted on how he is as the days pass by. I did not get the chance to talk to my father but hearing from my mother that he is fine has given me some comfort.

From the depths of my heart, I thank all of you for your well-wishes and prayers. I want you to know that I've read each posted comment and appreciate your reaction, your time and words. Thank you to our friends who have supported us through these intensely difficult times. Thank you especially to those who were ready to come forward and speak on our behalf. Thank you even to those who may not have agreed with my father's views but were not accepting of the recent turn of events from the current president. It takes courage to make those decisions and I respect that. Thank you to those who have criticized or turned us away when we asked for help. Without such criticism and indifference, I might not have felt the need to create this blog. But above all, thank you to my friends and family. It is a huge relief to know for certain where my father is and that he is okay.

I wish you all the courage we need to make it through these times of trials when our beliefs are shaken.

Sincerely,
Aparna Fonseka

Where is my father?

I am Aparna Fonseka, youngest daughter of General Sarath Fonseka of Sri Lanka. Today, 8 February 2010, I decided to start this blog because of the unfortunate and disgraceful incident that happened to my father. I am tired of watching from the sidelines and reading what people have written without being able to defend. However vile, destructive or poisonous the remarks about him and my family have been, I’ve been listening silently. I’ve stayed silent even after there was an assassination attempt on his life. I’ve been silent when they accused my brother-in-law of being an arms dealer. I’ve been silent when they surrounded our house and put us under arrest. But today, my father was dragged away before his family and his life is in danger again. I cannot be a silent spectator any more.

My father dedicated forty years of his life to serving my motherland, Sri Lanka. Unlike other politicians or top officials, he did not earn a single penny other than respect from his country men. He rescued Sri Lanka from the ruthless terrorists, the LTTE (Liberation of Tamil Tiger Eelam), who spread fear and violence in the nation. Today, he was arrested without a warrant or a valid reason at his office in a manner that even a criminal or enemy would not be treated.

The person who came to the office to arrest my father was Major General Sumith Manawadu who was the officer in charge of Mullaitivu during the Eelam War IV and he was transferred to the Army headquarters in Colombo as punishment for issuing wrong orders to the ground troops, which resulted in the death of 117 soldiers in combat. According to what I’ve seen in newspapers, The Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa knew of this rift and used Major General Manawadu for several operations against my father. It was Major General Manawadu who also played the role of Commanding Officer in “Operation Trans Asia” who kept us under house arrest till the election results were called off and spread false rumors saying we were keeping army deserters. The only men who were with us on Election Day were my cousins, some party leaders, few retired army officers and the men who were legally appointed by the court for my father’s protection. The state media published news stating that the military that surrounded the hotel was for our own protection. This coming from a government who wouldn’t even assign enough military personnel for my father’s protection after he had resigned! Why would they send five hundred for our protection on Election Day? It was another story that the government cooked to silence skeptics and dampen questions that were being raised. We had decided to go to a hotel because of the threats we’d been getting from the government.

The state media is trying to label my father as a traitor to brainwash civilians. The rural areas only hear the voice of the state media and if some person raise their voice against the government in power, they will lose their jobs and even their lives. As soon as the election was over, the government seized my father’s office, took most of the equipments, and with no valid reason, arrested over 13 men who worked there. This was only the beginning they had launched against my father. They fired 14 military officers with the accusation that they were planning a military coup. There is no evidence for any of these allegations but I am also aware that they are capable of making false evidences after taking these people under arrest. Democracy in Sri Lanka has screeched to a halt. As the president said after the rigged election results were announced, “the law is equal to every person who lives in the country but to the president.”

On 2009, my father was known as the best army commander in the world. (Eg. http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items09/150109-8.html) Everyone wanted to know his methods and tactics. They were impressed by how he ended terrorism which had been going on for almost three consecutive decades. I can wholeheartedly say that he is the most patriotic man I know and possibly the most patriotic man who has ever lived in Sri Lanka. He sacrificed his life in the war not once, but three times! Sri Lanka, what more do you want from him?

Only my mother, sister and I can understand the amount of work and thought he put into the miraculous victory. There were countless days when I fell into restless sleep not knowing whether he would arrive home from work safely because of the many threats he had on his life. For weeks we wouldn’t see him because he had gone to join our brave soldiers at the war front. After the suicide bomber’s attempt, I sat for two whole days in the emergency room praying for a miracle to save my father’s life.

Now, I am sitting here clueless begging people for information and for help. I do not know where my father is, where they’ve taken him, what they’ve done to him. Why are they attacking him? For trying to save our country from corruption? Or because he is the only man with courage enough to stand up against the corrupt government? Or is it because he was the only one who understood the hardships of Sri Lankan civilians who live from one day to the next? My father is a hero and this is how they show their gratitude? I need my father back. This is an urgent and sincere request to help find him.

Sincerely,

Aparna Fonseka

(Daughter of General Sarath Fonseka)

Urgent notice

Dear All,
As you know by now, a few hours ago, former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka was falsely arrested and dragged away forcibly by the same military that he served so faithfully for over 40 years.
The government has alleged that the General violated the military code of conduct during his tenure as the Army Commander.
The General was arrested by the military despite the fact that he is retired and is now a civilian. Therefore such an arrest, if at all, should have been conducted by the police. If the government alleges that military law still applies to General Fonseka, the law stipulates that he should be arrested by an officer holding a similar rank. This was not the case. Under the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the arrest was made by Major General Manawadu an officer two ranks his junior violating all military and civilian protocol.
The arresting officer insulted and dragged the General away when he questioned his arrest. He has not been allowed a lawyer, due procedure of detention, or even a call to his family - as yet no one knows where he is detained or what is being done to him.
It has come to light that the administration has made elaborate plans to kill the General, their claim being that he was shot while resisting his captors.
Although we are unable to verify this fact, we believe that he is being held at the Navy camp in Rangala.
As a nation, we should be ashamed of our leaders and of ourselves. For 30 years he fought on our behalf and risked his life for each and every one of us. Be it under threat of prosecution or even death - he never faltered in his duty and never once disobeyed his honest conscience.
Now it is your duty to do what you can to save his life. We at the media center of Sarath Fonseka, urge everyone to email us at sarathfonsekamedia@gmail.com with any information of his whereabouts.
Most importantly, we urge you to contact your politicians, religious leaders, media, civil society organizations and foreign embassies and make your voice heard to save the life of General Fonseka and democracy for our nation.

SF Media Unit