WikiLeaks: “I don’t know anything, that’s all Fonseka and the JVP” Ranil to Gota
By Colombo Telegraph –NOVEMBER 19, 2011
“Rajapaksa told Ranil, ‘You should have been the candidate. You would have got more votes.’ He said Ranil was very reasonable, a professional politician, but a UNP – JVP alliance was unsustainable,” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
Ranil arrives Cinnamon Grand hotel to see Fonseka- ‘I don’t know anything about that. That’s all Fonseka and the JVP’
The Colombo Telegraph found the relevant leaked cable from the WikiLeak database. The cable recounts details of a meeting the US Embassy has had with Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on February 2, 2010. The cable classified as “CONFIDENTIAL” by the ambassador Patricia A. Butenis.
“Rajapaksa mentioned several conversations with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. He had told Wickremesinghe that no one had anything to fear from the government, but that Fonseka was plotting violence. He said Ranil replied, ‘I don’t know anything about that. That’s all Fonseka and the JVP.’ Rajapaksa told Ranil, ‘You should have been the candidate. You would have got more votes’” the Ambassador wrote.
“He said Ranil was very reasonable, a professional politician, but a UNP – JVP alliance was unsustainable. The parties were diametrically opposed ideologically, and there was too much bad blood between those who remember the JVP insurrection against the UNP government of late 1980s. But Rajapaksa cautioned the JVP was very dangerous. He said the JVP had played hell in the villages during the presidential campaign,” the Ambassador Butenis further wrote.
Below we give a part of the confidential cable.
Related news links;
To read Gotabaya – Embassy meeting visit ; WikiLeaks: ‘white flag’ accusation particularly was egregious – Gota to US
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000085 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020 TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE SUBJECT: DEFENSE SECRETARY ON FONSEKA AND POST-ELECTION DEVELOPMENTS REF: COLOMBO 81 COLOMBO 00000085 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: AMBASSADOR PATRICIA A. BUTENIS. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: On February 2, Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa summoned DATT to a hasty meeting under the pretext of discussing an upcoming engagement activity with the U.S. military. As expected, Rajapaksa also wanted to explain the government's position on the treatment of General Fonseka following the January 26 presidential election. He did not mention a coup attempt, as had been charged in the media, but said Fonseka was planning violent reprisals against the Rajapaksas and their supporters if he had won. He claimed Fonseka his supporters had no reason to fear government reprisals but also warned there would be more transfers and compulsory retirements of officers who were seen as Fonseka supporters in the security forces. END SUMMARY. DISCUSSIONS WITH RANIL WICKREMESINGHE ------------------------------------- ¶5. (S) Rajapaksa mentioned several conversations with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. He had told Wickremesinghe that no one had anything to fear from the government, but that Fonseka was plotting violence. He said Ranil replied, "I don't know anything about that. That's all Fonseka and the JVP." Rajapaksa told Ranil, "You should have been the candidate. You would have got more votes." He said Ranil Read More
