Sit Rep 31 Oct 2009

A cautionary note on the present situation re Gen Fonseka. Our task was to allow things to settle down on their own which has worked. However, recent developments led particularly by a section of the diaspora Sinhalese is a cause of concern for DefenceWire.

DefenceWire team's stance up to now has been to avoid commenting on this dispute knowing fully well the capacity of both the present government and SF to come to a compromise on:

1. The direction the Sri Lankan Military will take
2. The direction General Fonseka would have to go

These may not be the most ideal directions for either, yet they are ones that are at best described as realistic and unavoidable.

There are many moves by politically motivated Sri Lankans, including Sinhala groups and also non Sinhala Sri Lankan groups to exploit a disagreement that has unnecessarily spilled over into the public's eye due to politics in the military and a very small section of the military in politics.

These groups, particularly those civilians involved who are not insiders or have little inside information can or will not understand the discipline of a professional soldier to take what he wants and to relinquish duty when required sans insubordination.

A professional soldier is not Dutugemunu. The Sri Lanka Army/Military is a modern Army/Military positioned within a democratic society. The professional soldiers serving in it will know when to let go. By asking them to perform a larger role based solely on selfish motives of individuals in the periphery, they may destroy that soldier and even themselves and their reputation.

The Sri Lankan Military and its leaders are now hailed the world over for their victorious feat. Their role in bringing peace to the country through military means will be remembered for decades to come as the ultimate example of a trained military executing its sacred task flawlessly from start to finish. But remember this, dear readers, military action is a means of achieving the end and the end is always political.

DefenceWire, as an impartial site whose work you have witnessed for over 3 years now wish to appeal to our readers to refrain from joining or supporting either 'camps' and to allow the professional soldier and professional politicians to resolve potentially resolvable issues mentioned above.

Thank you