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

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