Protect Main Witness Federica Janz
Posted on October 7th, 2010
– Kumar Moses ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
The Fonseka Militia ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”the heavily armed private army of Sarath Fonseka that occupied the Cinnamon Grand Hotel on the election day and a few days thereafter ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” will be after the main witness of the infamous ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”white flagƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ case – Federica Janz. Their plan will be to silence the main witness thereby jeopardising the case. Evidence is stacking up against Sarath Fonseka like a stack of rockets in a multi rocket launcher system! FonsekaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s response is to avoid the case as much as possible by complaining about various minor sicknesses. By doing so, he is buying time to eliminate the chief witness of the case. His aid who has a very colourful history to say the least, and who was arrested for various alleged violent criminal activities, is out on bail making it easier for the Fonseka Militia to strike.
It is the responsibility of the government to ensure security to Federica Janz.
The criminal who is on hard labour for proven crimes will be in deeper trouble when the treason case is proved against him. Treason carries a heavy punishment and he will do whatever he can to avoid it.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Gota Ordered to Kill ThemƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢
Undoubtedly this is the most despicable statement ever made in the civilised world in recent times. Just 7 months after the war, the army commander of war times alleges this against his very own team member for a few votes and a green card. In doing so he was fully aware that LTTE leftovers were desperately seeking such hints to frame war heroes on bogus war crimes charges.
There are only two possibilities with the above statement. It is either true or false. If false, it is a malicious allegation against the nation, its armed forces and the people. It is illegal and must be punished. Fonseka alleged this command was given to Brigadier Shavendra Silva. However, SilvaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s brigade was on reserve when the final battle broke out! Fonseka knows this. It was only when LTTE tried to breach the FDL did SilvaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s brigade responded defensively. It was not planned in advance. It so happened that cleared territory had to be defended and the remaining territory under terrorist control must be cleared.
If FonsekaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s allegation is true, what was he doing as the army commander? Was he trying to sleep with LTTE terrorists the same way he climbed to bed with Tiger Nominated Agents (TNA) 6 months after the war?
So either way it points to FonsekaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s inadequacy. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Who Gains?
In any murder investigation, one of the key questions asked is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-who gainsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚? Fonseka certainly gains by the death of Janz at this moment as she is the main witness in the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”white flagƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ case. The gravity of this case which is pending at the Colombo High Court is that if the court finds Fonseka guilty, the verdict will be a very tough one. It will not be 30 months hard labour; it may well be 30 years!
Given the resistance to the 30 month verdict, one can only imagine how a 30 year verdict would affect the accused.
For the continuation of the case, Federica Janz must be protected at all cost.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
While Fonseka stands to gain from the demise of Janz, the biggest loser will be the government. The ruling coalition will be criticised the world over journalist deaths. Opposition parties will make it a political issue to get out of the dire political bankruptcy they are in. NGOs, anti-Sri Lankan elements and LTTE leftovers will jump to the occasion to criticise the government. The collapse of the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”white flagƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ case means Fonseka will be out in 30 months and he will evade justice after levelling a despicable charge against the nation and its armed forces.
No Repetition of the Lasantha Incident, Please
Lasantha Wickrematunga criticised Presidents, Ministers and others for decades but nothing happened to his life. Immediately following his death none less than the former Speaker ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Joseph Michael Perera ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” stated that journalist killings were carried out by a special team working directly under the then Army Commander ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Sarath Fonseka. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2008/07/080708_speaker.shtml) Lasantha Wickramatunga was the Editor of the Sunday Leader and now it is Federica Janz. LasanthaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s fate must not befall Federica.
It is a strange coincidence that journalist deaths stopped for good when Fonseka left the post of the army commander! This may or may not be a coincidence. Sadly the results of investigations are not conclusive.
The Fonseka Militia
The private army of Fonseka ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Fonseka Militia ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” is a heavily armed band of Fonseka loyalists. Most of them are army deserters armed with AK-47 machine guns. They came to prominence on January 26, 2010 when the Fonseka Militia occupied the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. This was the first time in history a private militia had so much clout in this country, openly conducting its affairs in the capital city! An attempt was made to house arrest the Elections Commissioner while Fonseka gave out election results to international media from a hotel room even before official results were out! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY6foimxHs0) There was even a stand off between the armed forces and the Fonseka Militia when the latter refused to obey orders and surrender. Fonseka militia planned various violent assaults on state installations but following their arrest it all fell apart.
Siege of the Ambalangoda town after the war victory for celebrations was also done by the Fonseka Militia men when they were serving in the army. There was no security threat and this overreaction was seen as a show of excessive force by the people of Ambalangoda.
Fearsome Fonseka Militia activities must be routed and defeated before they could jeopardise the case pending at the High Court.
The shameless band of jokers conducting Bodhi Poojas and signing petitions demanding the release of Fonseka was nowhere to be found when FonsekaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s life was in real danger following the terrorist attack in April 2006. A seriously wounded Fonseka was rushed to the hospital and for the first time in history the Ministry of Defence made arrangements for him to go to Singapore for further treatment. It all took a couple of months but the political trash that is conducting Bodhi Poojas and signing petitions today didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t even condemn the LTTE attack! Fonseka is like the goat which fell into the well where a miserable fox was languishing. These political bankrupts will try to gain maximum political mileage for themselves using Fonseka as bait.
A hollow argument of the Fonseka camp is that while former LTTE terrorists are free as free can be, the man who led the army against the terrorists is behind bars, standing in queues for food and languishing in misery. Former LTTE men, who realized their mistakes, repented it and joined the mainstream whereas Fonseka went in the opposite direction.
There are many former terrorists who are in opposition political parties including Somawansa Amarasinghe, Siddarthan, etc. Nothing happens to them just because they oppose Rajapakshas!
Although no comparison, even the greatest king of India ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Emperor Ashoka ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” was a ruthless warrior whose war rage killed tens of thousands until he realized the futility of empire building and became Dharmashoka. The Christian saint, Saint Paul was once a mass murderer of Christians until he realized his transgression and changed. All this indicate bad people can turn good and verse versa. If Somawansa can take his ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”galkatasƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ away from school children and join nonviolent politics; if Siddharthan can lay down weapons and engage in consensual politics; if Douglas Devananda can lay down weapons against Sri Lanka and join forces to develop the north; if Karuna can discontinue his horrendous past and work for the betterment of everyone and if KP can procure support and consensus for nation building instead of shiploads of weapons, why canƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t Fonseka give up private militias and anti-Sri Lanka ranting?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Fonseka should be ashamed of himself when KP ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” a former LTTE terrorist ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” has agreed to testify for Sri Lanka in any tribunal when Fonseka has vowed to testify against Sri Lanka!
If the High Court gives a guilty verdict on the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”white flagƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ case, that will seal the fate of both Fonseka and the Fonseka Militia. His wife may continue his political work but will never resort to private militias. When the court specifies due punishment following a guilty verdict, it must be executed properly. That will be the Nathikandal-3 victory. A nation that sympathises with its traitors has no sympathy for itself.
October 7th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Is not Ms. janz fishing in trouble waters. She is not the angel professing to highest journalistic integerity. She seems to have her own agenda, propagating disunity among peolpe who liberated Sri Lanka
October 7th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
KM You are very correct. There are many cases in SL where the main witness was eliminated even inside Colombo Magistrate court room. Thereafter the case had gone under ground. Therefore for the continuation of the white flag case, Federica Janz must be protected at all cost. JVP is another diminishing party like LSSP & CP. If UNP did not change their leadership UPN too can join the same band wagon. Janz should be protect from many Fonseka Milit, LTTE left overs, JVP [for their survival]. All these big losers need some straw to hand on. At present its SF for their survival.
October 7th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Moses fantastic piece of history to remind the fools in our country about this hero cum traitor. He told President during the election time to find a pillow and a mattress to sleep in Bogambara. If that happened by any chance what will be the situation in our beloved country by now. Our fools in the UNP and JVP doesn’t know the difference between good and bad. They just simply wants to make confusion and create disunity among the public. I agree with you to give protection to Janz women but she too must learn to be truthful to her native land without siding with traitors and write bogus articles to satisfy our enemies. Ranil the two tonge stupid cannot unite his own party and he is a shameful guy who was kept outside the hotel when he went to visit Sarath Fonseka after the elections. UNP & JVP already rejected by the citizens of Motherlanka so no point of talking about these stupid no good heynas who prefer violence than peace.
October 8th, 2010 at 3:54 am
Kumar you are absolutely right. Also, like ranjit says, thank you for reminding us of the recent but forgotten past. SF is a very dangerous and cruel man. Thank god he didn’t become president in our great land. Also, there are a lot of anti-government ‘journalists’ operating from Norway, UK, America, Australia, France etc.. spreading lies. One such person aparently lives in Bradford, UK, and operating his anti-government website form his bedroom. He is on the interpol red alert, but nothing has happened to him yet. SL intelligensia must get him and bring to SL and let him face the charges of frauds he has aparently committed.
October 8th, 2010 at 4:33 am
Very good article Mr. Kumar Moses. You have given a good description of the possible scenario that can take place if the government does not protect the key witness in this case. I agree with Mr. Dhane and Mr. Ranjit with their relevant comments. There is no need for Mr. Sena to try to discredit the witness. She has always stood by her story unwaveringly, unlike some others who have been changing theirs from time to time. I would like to add that further investigation needs to be done by the relevant authorities regarding the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunga and find the culprits responsible. All the circumstantial evidence points to the Fonseka Militia. The motor cycles with no licence plates and false licence plates that were found in Fonseka’s office compound needs explaining. This Militia had the firearms and trained personnel to carry out this crime. Most people blamed the Government for it and the blame rightfully fell on the President as they did not know of the existance of Fonseka’s private Militia that was carrying out a spree of violence against journalists who criticized Fonseka and the armed forces. Most people think that this Militia is part of the Government. The Government must find evidence and convict the culprits responsible for this crime if the President wants to exonerate himself of the accusations being thrown at him by the general public. This is an urgent nessicity.
October 8th, 2010 at 6:09 am
Kumar
Kumar
Excellent article. Frederica is the most arrogant journalist in Colombo.
You might know that I write to almost every newspaper in Sri Lanka, I am a poet, writer, philosopher and lots of other things. But she refuses to publish my articles in her Sunday newspaper.
Poor Sri Lankans are the poorer for that.
Please read the Dailynews daily.
Malinda
October 8th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Malinda Seneviratne, You will have a better chance in getting your valuable articles published in Sri Lanka Guardian (you know who is behind that rubbish) or Tamil net than Janz’s anti government Sunday Leader. As you know all these guys are traitors/LTTE sympathisers/anti buddhists. Why don’t you send copies of your work to this forum.
October 8th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
KP – You have made a very convincing case – yes, this whole sage reminds me of the dark days of the late eighties when political murders were rampant. CIA has left their fingerprints in many countries from Korea to Chile. Against the will of the people the success of their proteges, Chiang Kai Shek, Syngman Rhee, Suharto, Mobutu, Batista, Pinochet were limited to short interludes.
Frederiika whatever her political leanings may be, is very likely telling the truth under oath at the recent Commission hearings though she still has not produced notes or recordings of her interviews. SF had been trying to change his story to one of less certainty – i.e something he overheard in other people’s conversation. Clearly SF thought it would work to his electoral advantage to spread such worthless gossip.
This exposes the hand of various sectors that wanted to bring down the democratically elected government that unified the country against a mighty army financed by overseas donors. I look forward to the day in the coming period when more facts about secret donor of Dollar notes to the SF campaign comes to light..
October 8th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
I wish Feredica and Fonseka will remain friends. Rajapakshas created this fight between two people of the same side. They know how to make good friends fight.
October 9th, 2010 at 7:03 am
Further it seems Ms. Janz is a shrewd journalist rather than a well meaning one. She must have realized SF must be emotional due to his clashes with the government (even without such disquite SF is known to be unguarded in his comments (so are many SL politicians) and as the writer says involved in shady activities with or without the knowledge of the others. So during a “promotional” ineterview she sliped in this question with perceived innocence. SF for his lack of judgement fell for the trap. Now she has used this incidence to her advantage generating lot of negative and damaging publicity to Sri Lanka and the government (which I think she does not mind). Also journalistic ethics require her to refrain from using her work with clients in legal matters which she seems to have no problem with.