Fonseka warns govt of consequences of reducing his security

Warning the government of the consequences of reducing his security,Sarath Fonseka has said any attack on him due to inadequate protection could also kill hundreds of passers-by.

Warning the Mahinda Rajapaksa government of the consequences of any reduction in his security,ex-Sri Lankan army chief and presidential aspirant Sarath Fonseka has said any attack on him due to inadequate protection could also kill hundreds of passers-by.

“Obviously,when security personnel (for me) is reduced from 600 to 25 and vehicle fleet of 25 is reduced to 3,it is not practically possible,” Fonseka told reporters yesterday when asked about his complaints about inadequate security.

“There is threat on me when I move on the road. If they (the LTTE) attack me,over hundreds of others will also die on the road. That is not good for the security of others also,so I have gone to court on that (security issue),” he said.

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The former army chief,credited for the annihilation of the LTTE in a military offensive earlier this year,quit as Chief of Defence Staff three weeks ago following a spat with Rajapaksa and yesterday announced that he will enter the fray to challenge the incumbent in the next presidential polls.

Claiming that his fundamental rights have been violated by the state as it drastically reduced his security after his retirement,Fonseka has moved a court seeking more protection. In a letter to the President’s secretary before his retirement,Fonseka had asked for enough security after giving up his uniform. It had said as agreed upon by the President,the requisite officers or soldiers and vehicles should be made available for security duties for him.

Fonseka in his letter dated November 16 had sought one commando officer and 20 of other ranks besides personnel from Sinha Regiment. “I would like to point out that the officer of the rank of Major is necessary to command all the officers and other ranks,” the letter written by him stated.

He had also claimed that a bullet-proof vehicle assigned for his security is old and needs complete overhauling. The former army chief in the letter to secretary Lalith Weeratunga had said,”under your verbal instructions the Army had allocated a second-hand bullet-proof BMW vehicle and two jeeps.” But the bullet-proof BMW vehicle had run 63,163 km and all the systems of this vehicle need to be repaired,he said.

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“It would take a considerable time to do a complete overhaul and even after that it would not work in the original condition,” Fonseka had said the letter. He sought the original vehicle he used as the army chief and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) besides three Land Rover vehicles for his security officers and soldiers. Fonseka also gave a list of arms and gadgets for his security.

In his reply,Weeratunga said Fonseka would be provided ten commandos,two officers and 50 soldiers of the Sinha Regiment. He also pointed out that the bullet-proof vehicle he had requested has been given to the present army commander. Fonseka was,however,provided two Land Rover security jeeps as requested by him. “The Sri Lanka Army will provide a suitable vehicle for administrative purposes whenever the need arises,” the letter had said.

On weapons and communication equipment,Weeratunga had said Army Commander Lt Gen J Jayasuriya was deciding on it and will be releasing the gadgets to him.