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| Sunday, 11 December 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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'Let politicians prosecute war or peace'
"Let politicians prosecute war or peace, our duty is to provide security and defend our people", said Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer Editor Jayatilleke de Silva last week. "It is our duty to do so all the time," he added. Speaking of the present volatile situation in the North the Army Commander said the security forces were capable of meeting the challenge and there was no need to be unduly concerned. He also promised to build a new Army which is technologically superior and modern and said it could be done with the available financial and human resources by going all out against corruption and fraud and preventing waste and mismanagement. Excerpts of the interview: Q: Commander, almost simultaneously with your appointment the LTTE began claymore attacks against the security forces in Jaffna, signaling a new level of intensity in an undeclared low-intensity war against the state despite the Ceasefire Agreement. How do you view this situation? A: Yes, almost simultaneously with my appointment the LTTE started fresh attacks. Of course, they say they are not involved. You would remember they officially withdrew from the government controlled areas some weeks ago closing their political offices. Yet, it is the LTTE that are responsible for these attacks. We have complained to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). I do not know what their motive is. Perhaps they want to send a message of warning or impress upon me their firepower. They may want to trigger shock waves in Colombo. Or else it may be part of a long-term plan of theirs. Q: How do you intend to meet this challenge? A: We have a plan to control the situation. I went there personally with the Defence Secretary and other service Chiefs. We have already taken certain decisions. We are conducting search operations. The security forces are capable of meeting the challenge. There is no need to be unduly concerned. In a way the situation is similar to what prevailed there in the early 1980's. If we are attacked we will defend ourselves. We have the duty to maintain law and order and guarantee security even under the CFA. Q: The LTTE is reported to have used the CFA to enhance the number of their combatants and acquired more arms and equipment. What is the preparedness of the Army in the event of a breakout of hostilities? A: It is true that the LTTE has increased its fighting cadres, especially in the North. They continue to recruit child soldiers despite the CFA. They have certainly increased their arms and equipment too. At the same time they have suffered heavy losses in both manpower and equipment in the East due to the defection of Karuna. The armed forces, however, are capable of meeting any challenge and are well prepared. Q: The LTTE has also used the CFA to eliminate a large number of state intelligence officers and informants. Certain weaknesses in the intelligence apparatus also came to light in these incidents. How do you propose to revamp the intelligence set up in the Army? A: We will restructure the entire intelligence system. We have to review our intelligence work in the past to find out our strengths and weaknesses. Some of our intelligence gathering practices are old and not up to date. Field commanders do not get necessary intelligence reports in time. Very often reports arrive after the incidents and not before. We have to find new officers to the positions held by those killed by the LTTE. We have to modernise and update the intelligence systems. There is also a problem of the quality of intelligence. We must get high quality intelligence that is timelier, more efficient and more effective. Q: In the context of a long-drawn-out war there seems to have been a lot of corruption and fraud in the Army. How do you propose to clean the Army of corrupt elements and practices? A: Yes, it is true there has been corruption and fraud in the army. There are people who have become billionaires due to the war. There have been instances when proper tender and other procedures have not been taken due to pressure from business or political circles. I will go all out to eradicate corruption, bribery and fraud. All complaints will be thoroughly inquired into and the guilt punished without fear or favour. There were also cases in the past when the results of inquiries were shelved or the recommendations of the inquiring officers were partly or inadequately carried out. Even they will be re-investigated and the guilty punished. Nobody will go unpunished. Even undue promotions given earlier will be revoked. To begin with all those who are suspected to be corrupt will be removed from positions where they could indulge in corruption and officers with integrity will take their positions. Bad management, favouritism and political interference are responsible for most of these misdeeds. I will strictly follow the tender procedures and institute good auditing practices. Q: Commander, One final question. Mahinda Chintana has become state policy. It claims to build a new Sri Lanka. How do you propose to build a new Army? A: In the past we have been trying to beat the enemy by matching the enemy's numbers with equal or higher numbers in our ranks. Yet modern armies have to depend more on technology for their superiority. I intend to enhance the technological strength of the Army so that it could best meet any challenge. Strength does not lie in mere numbers. It depends on the training and technological level of the Army. Moreover the soldiers have to be well looked after. At present 70 percent of the budget allocations to the Army are spent on paying salaries and wages. I believe, however, with proper management and eradication of fraud,
corruption and waste we will have enough capital to update the technological
level of the Army to required standards. |
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