WikiLeaks: Muslim Congress Strategy To Defeat Rajapaksa – Tamil Future In The Hands Of The Diaspora
“Segudawood discussed a strategy he believed might pull votes from the president’s United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA). He hinted that perhaps two or more UPFA officials were already prepared to switch allegiance to the new coalition. According to Segudawood, there were UPFA members who were very displeased with the Rajapaksa regime and ready to pull the plug on it. If the opposition were able to win over at least two UPFA members, Segudawood believed others would be willing to do the same. The SLMC chairman remarked that the people were tired of hearing the president’s propaganda of ‘winning the war’ as his chief political accomplishment and centerpiece for the upcoming elections. Given the current government’s unpopularity with the Muslims and Tamils, in order for the president to win, Segudawood claimed that the president needed at least 75 percent of Sinhalese votes. He hoped with Fonseka as the coalition candidate, the coalition could cut substantially into the president’s Sinhalese base. At the same time, he claimed the Tamil and Muslim minorities together comprised 1.5 million votes and noted that the coalition’s success depended on them. “the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
Basheer Segu Dawood
The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable is classified as “Confidential” and recounts a meeting the US Embassy had with the Chairman of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress,Basheer Segu Dawood. The cable was written on November 06, 2009 by the US Ambassador to Colombo, Patricia A. Butenis.
The ambassador wrote; “The SLMC Chairman discussed the signing of the MOU creating the United National Front by the United National Party (UNP), SLMC, Mangala Samaraweera’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party Mahajana (SLFP-M), and Mano Ganeshan’s Western People Front (WPF), as well as 19 other organizations and political parties. Segudawood pointed out that minority parties such as the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), People Liberation Organization of Thamileelam (PlOTE), Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), WPF, SLMC and the Upcountry People’s Front were now willing to work together with this grand coalition.”
“The SLMC chairman indicated there had been back channel talks by opposition party operatives with Fonseka about his role as a possible coalition leader. He remarked that while Fonseka’s Sinhalese nationalistic ideology might be similar to that of the Rajapaksas, Fonseka came from a family that was born-and-bred UNP and would be the only one capable of beating the current government. For Fonseka to be a viable candidate in the eyes of the minority and opposition, however, he first would have to sign an agreement to abolish the Executive Presidency within 90 days of the elections. Fonseka had yet to make a decision on whether he would run, or with which party or group of parties he might ally himself. According to Segudawood, Fonseka would want two issues clarified before considering the coalition offer: his future after the Presidency was dissolved, and concerns for his personal security, implying that the Rajapaksas might stop at nothing to prevent him running against them. Segudawood pointed out that UNP leader Ranil Wickramesinghe personally promised Fonseka that the people would protect him. Janatha Vimukhti Peramuna (JVP) was also putting forth a bill to Parliament that guaranteed former commanders and senior officers, personal security.”
“Segudawood claimed the Tamil Diaspora would be a key player in the upcoming elections. He noted that the Tamil Diaspora was hosting a conference on November 12-13 in London, which 20 Sri Lankan-based minority leaders were planning to attend. Among the possible attendees were Sivanesthurai Chandrakanthan a.k.a. Pilliyan (TMVP), Rauff Hakeem (SLMC), Sampanthan (TNA), and Mano Ganesan (TNA).” the ambassador further wrote.
Bodhu Bala Sena Secretary the Ven. Galagodatte Gnanasara Thera seen at today's news conference on the controversy surrounding Halal certification. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana-TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2013
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